In various traditions, people who serve in this capacity are given a title in the community such as priest, rabbi, minister, pastor, curandera, shaman, or master. A guide need not have exclusive or definitive knowledge of the terrain. Spiritual practices, and especially primary spiritual practices, are not without risk. Therefore, when an individual chooses to practice with the assistance of a guide, both take on special responsibilities. In an effort to integrate the yearning for spiritual discovery with present-day societal concerns, the Council on Spiritual Practices proposes the following Code of Ethics for those who serve as spiritual guides.
Spiritual guides are to practice and serve in ways that cultivate awareness, empathy, and wisdom.
Given that the increased awareness gained from spiritual practices can catalyze desire for personal and social change, guides shall use special care to help direct the energies of those they serve, as well as their own, in responsible ways that reflect a loving regard for life in all its forms. Participation in any primary religious practice must be voluntary and based on advance disclosure and consent given individually by each participant while in an ordinary state of consciousness. Disclosure shall minimally include discussion of any elements of the practice that could reasonably be seen as presenting physical or psychological risks. In particular, participants must be warned that primary religious experience can be difficult and dramatically transformative. Limits on the behaviors of participants and facilitators are to be made clear and agreed upon in advance of any session.