In this episode, Tamara explores one of the most painful but least acknowledged wounds in high‑control religion: the loss of belonging when the Church decides you aren’t “worthy” to enter the temple.
From standing outside a loved one’s wedding while family gathers inside, to decades of everyday “just come to church” pressure, Tamara breaks down how exclusion becomes a spiritual injury that lives in the nervous system long after you leave.
Inside this episode:
• the truth behind “You can choose… as long as you don’t actually choose”
• why temple exclusion creates an attachment rupture, not a doctrinal disagreement
• how “just” language (just come, just participate, just bear your testimony) dismisses your inner truth
• the erasure of women inside the temple’s true order of prayer
• how coercive spirituality hijacks your sense of worthiness and belonging
• reclaiming direct access to the Divine—no mediators, no gatekeepers
• the freedom to raise your children outside a system built on fear, shame, and obedience
• how spiritual sovereignty feels in your body: safety, grounding, breath, softness
Tamara closes with embodied practices to help you release coercive conditioning, rebuild true belonging, and trust the inner voice that’s been leading you home all along.
You were never meant to earn love through ritual.
Your spiritual belonging was never meant to be conditional.
Get your Guided Meditation for Reclaiming Yourself after High-Control religion here
Click Here to learn more about the Inner Light Longevity Reset
🌿 The Inner Light Companion is hosted by Tamara Ridge, LMFT — guiding spiritually curious souls into deeper connection, intuitive healing, and divine remembrance.
💌 Connect with me:
Website & Guest Submissions: www.innerlightcompanion.com
Spiritual Counseling: www.guidinglightspiritualcounseling.com
Instagram: @innerlightcompanion
🎧 Subscribe for weekly stories, tools & reflections to help you reconnect with your inner light.
However you show up on this path, your story is sacred.
Let’s walk it together. 💫
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!