Healing the Layers of Faith: Understanding Stage 2 of Faith Development
This is the second article in a series of seven, designed to teach you about the stages of development and how we can get stuck emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually if we don’t work on past issues and traumas. Each piece also offers solutions for resolving childhood issues, so you can heal past wounds and create a future filled with more love, joy, and purpose. [Read Stage 1 here.]
We all come into this lifetime with ancestral and past-life shame, doubt, and guilt. Many of these issues activate in childhood so we can resolve them later in life. Healing these patterns doesn’t just free us—it also helps our ancestors and the collective, since we are all interconnected.
Stage 2: The Intuitive-Projective Stage of Faith (Ages 2–6/7)
My last article covered Stage 1, an unnamed stage in Fowler’s original work, which spans ages 0–2 and focuses on the earliest development of trust and attachment. During this preverbal phase, infants form their first impressions of safety, love, and connection. If their early experiences are unstable, neglectful, or traumatic, their ability to trust—both in others and in life itself—may be compromised.
Now, we move into Stage 2, which aligns with Fowler’s first official stage: Intuitive-Projective Faith. This stage typically occurs between ages 2 and 6 or 7, when a child’s understanding of the world is shaped by imagination, personal experiences, and the stories they absorb.
At this stage, children cannot compare multiple perspectives or analyze the validity of their beliefs. Their world is built on magical thinking—where emotions, dreams, and experiences merge to form their reality. This stage also relates to Erik Erikson’s developmental conflicts of:
Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt (Ages 2–3): Developing confidence in oneself vs. feeling insecure and hesitant.
Initiative vs. Guilt (Ages 3–6): Learning to take action vs. feeling guilty for mistakes or failures.
Because children lack the ability to reason critically, they often internalize blame for things beyond their control. They may believe:
“I made my parents fight.”
“If I had behaved better, my mom wouldn’t be sad.”
“I caused my sibling’s illness, my parents’ divorce, or a house fire.”
This stage plays a significant role in how we form early beliefs about ourselves and the world. If traumatic or confusing experiences occur, they can plant deep seeds of shame, guilt, or fear, which may continue shaping our lives long after childhood.
The Role of Shame, Doubt, and Guilt
We all carry karmic (past-life) baggage that can manifest as shame, doubt, and guilt—emotions that, if left unaddressed, often persist into adulthood. Stage 2 is a key developmental phase where these emotions take root, shaping how we process difficult experiences.
Because magical thinking dominates this stage, children tend to internalize blame for events beyond their control. They may believe they caused:
A parent’s unhappiness,
A sibling’s illness or death,
A job loss or family instability.
Without the ability to see the bigger picture, a child may unconsciously assume responsibility for circumstances they had no control over. This stage can even act as a reenactment of unresolved guilt and shame from past lifetimes, reinforcing limiting beliefs that follow them into adulthood.
For children who experience trauma—such as emotional, physical, or sexual abuse—this phase can intensify self-blame. They may believe they should have prevented the event or that they were somehow responsible for it. When these feelings remain unhealed, a part of the psyche can become developmentally stuck at this young age, influencing emotional responses and behaviors throughout life.
Healing Shame, Doubt, and Guilt from Stage 2
Since these emotional wounds formed before logical reasoning, healing them requires working with both the subconscious mind and the body.
1. Acknowledge the Stored Emotions – Recognize that shame, doubt, and guilt from this stage are outdated emotional patterns.
2. Talk to Your Body – Just as you would comfort a small child, speak gently to your body: “These old beliefs and emotions are no longer relevant. You’ve been holding onto feelings that are not true. It’s time to release them and embrace the truth that you have always done your best.”
Even if this affirmation feels unfamiliar, repeat it daily—it gradually replaces outdated subconscious programming.
3. Seek Professional Support – For deep-seated childhood wounds, working with a skilled practitioner can help you release subconscious patterns and restore emotional balance.
Spiritual Awareness and the Magic of Stage 2
Interestingly, this phase of magical thinking also fosters spiritual openness. Children at this age often remember past lives, see deceased loved ones, or perceive other dimensions. Their vivid imagination allows them to tap into unseen realms, providing glimpses into spiritual truths that may fade as logical reasoning develops.
Final Thoughts: Embracing Your Divine Journey
You are not defined by childhood experiences or limiting beliefs. Emotions are meant to be felt, processed, and released—not carried indefinitely. Healing allows you to step into your true self, free from guilt and shame.
If you're ready to release these subconscious patterns, you may find these energetic healing audios helpful:
Removing Limitations – This audio guides you to the root of your limitations, helping you transform early memories and release unhelpful energies that have held you back. You’ll clear ancestral and past-life patterns, allowing you to step into authenticity, freedom, and your highest potential.
Moving Out of Chaos – This audio helps you release limiting beliefs, repeating patterns, and old memories, allowing you to move through life’s transformations with clarity and inner peace. By clearing internal and external blocks, you’ll step into the new era of your life with confidence, alignment, and freedom.
As you navigate your journey, remember: You are a divine being having a human experience. Your past does not define you—your healing does!
Many blessings,
Maureen
Maureen Higgins owns Wings of Freedom, an alternative counseling and coaching business. She helps people be their best selves and recognize they are part of the Divine. Maureen also founded School for Higher Consciousness. Maureen has developed numerous energetic healing systems you can learn through the school’s workshops. You can also experience them through her energetic healing audios.