“…almost all popular superstitions are vulgar interpretations of some grand maxim or marvelous secret of occult wisdom…” – Eliphas Levi
What is the New Age Movement? You likely hear this term thrown around often. If you are reading this, you are probably connected to the New Age Movement (NAM from henceforth) in some way. Maybe the NAM is what brought you here directly. Maybe the NAM is what helped you awaken and seek higher knowledge. Whatever the case, I think it is past time that the Movement be addressed on some issues that are growing worse and worse.
The NAM likely began in the 1960’s due to the psychedelic revolution. Flower power. Woodstock. Rejecting traditional societal values. Things like that. During that time, many ideas were being explored and a hell of a lot of progress was made. However, once the American government stepped in and put an end to that revolution via the War on Drugs (War on People really…) progress began to come to a slow coast. Then, the revolution was sucked back into mainstream society. The revolutionaries went home and got jobs. They had to try and function in the society that they were subjected to. We cannot fault them for that. This transition back to ‘normal’ watered down the psychedelic revolution very heavily. By the 1980s, things were not being explored the way they were before. Progress slowed to a trickle and the government squeezed harder and harder. The 1990s were about to change all of that and give birth to what the NAM really is today. When the internet hit the scene and became available for the common folk, things began to turn back towards revolution. This revolution was a different kind. This revolution was and is a revolution of information and self-education. This revolution gave rise to the sharing of information like never before. This revolution made way for the New Age Movement to really grow and develop.
So we have a little backstory on the NAM. We still haven’t really discussed what it is. Again, the fact that you are reading this indicates that you likely have some ties to the NAM and that you probably have a general understanding of the practices and doctrines the NAM perpetuates. You probably already know that the Movement is simply the collaborative efforts of millions of human beings to establish a broad and all-encompassing view of the Universe. The NAM is a Movement that has basically grown through the combined research of millions of human beings connected by the bittersweet beauty that is the internet. In this respect, the Movement is absolutely terrific. The NAM has generated more idea sharing and out-of-the-box thinking than any other spiritual system of the last thousand years. Of course much of that idea sharing and thinking is due to the development of the internet but it is nonetheless grand.
So then, what is the composition of the ideas and thinking that the NAM has generated? What is the nature of the information the Movement pushes? The NAM is nothing more than a collaborative effort. A collective mind. It is the combination of old wisdom, ancient teachings, ancient mysticism, and modern science to some degree. Many different religions, philosophies, theologies, and doctrines have been combined and mixed to create a very loose spiritual system that pretty much allows for anything without any strict doctrine. This system draws heavily from Taoism, Buddhism, and Hindu teachings. The system also draws very heavily from occult, alchemical, hermetic, and esoteric teachings. The system teaches that we are eternal, connected, unlimited by material constraints, and that peace and love are the answer. And the NAM is mostly correct, at least at its core. I say mostly because the New Age Movement is also something else…..it is shallow.
Now hold on, don’t go just yet. I have a point and I hope you stick around to read it. I do not intend to discredit or belittle the work that the Movement has accomplished. I owe much of my awakening to the NAM. Countless others probably share that beginning point. The NAM has helped in awakening (at least partially) millions of humans. I have no intention of destroying the Movement in type. However, I am a seeker. I am a finder. I am driven to find truth. It is this drive that caused me to realize a fatal flaw with the NAM. That flaw is the lack of depth and the lack of definition. The New Age crowd tends to believe that due to the illusory nature of the Universe that everyone can be right. Everyone can believe whatever mixed and mated doctrines they choose and there is no problem. All paths lead to the same destination and reality is created entirely by the observer. This belief is often rationalized with a misunderstanding of quantum physics. The NAM tends to preach that you should follow your feelings and focus on love and light. Block out the negativity of the world around you and embrace this current moment with little regard for the future. The NAM would have you believe that you need not think much of the future because you will attract the future you desire if you focus your mental energy. That statement is also based on a misunderstanding of Universal Law. It is partially correct. That is a theme with the Movement due to the lack of depth.
From whence does this lack of depth and definition arise? It is simple really. When the internet hit the scene and New Agers all around realized the potential for global growth they begin hammering it immediately. Like all spiritual movements, they recognized that must simplify and water down the message to attract new followers. This is fine to some degree. You can’t awaken anyone if you hammer them with complex ideas and shit they don’t understand. You have to start them out with the simple things and help them get an understanding of where you are coming from. The problem is that most religions and spiritual movements maintain this watered down flavor. They reduce the complexity and oversimplify things to the point of no return. They do this to attract larger crowds. The simpler the message the more readily it is understood. This is a double edged sword. Sure, simplicity is imperative when you are dealing with ignorant masses and unlearned people. They must grasp the base things before they can grasp the complicated things. However, once someone grasps a small concept they should begin to expand upon that idea rather than remain in awe of the symptoms and side effects thereof. Once you grasp that the Universe is really just one Consciousness, one thing manifested in many different ways then you should not marvel at that information any longer than you must. Take that knowledge and apply it to unlock yet another secret and another bit of information. This is where the NAM falls seriously behind.
The NAM has a tendency to focus on the details and effects rather than tracing the cause. Such a mindset can cause one to become infatuated with a certain idea such as crystal healing or meditation. Both of those things can have great benefits but they are merely effects of a greater cause. Such a mindset can cause one to focus only on positivity while ignoring negativity. This is fallacy as we all recognize that the Universe operates via balance. Positive and negative are not different forces. They are the same but merely vary in degree. Much like light and darkness. There cannot be one without the other. What is light without the dark to compare it to? They differ only in degree, not in composition. Anyways, this tendency to focus on anecdotal things or peripheral effects is damning, harmful. It serves only to keep us from discovering OUR true power and the truth that we really ARE everything. The Movement must develop depth and definition.
What does that mean? Depth and definition? When I say that the NAM needs to develop depth, I mean that we must stop being comfortable with our current level of knowledge. You never know enough. You can never really have it figured out until the end. Why would you stop pursuing more and more depth of understanding? It is through depth that we discover our Godliness. It is through depth that we discover the creative force and planes of escape from this material existence that is such a burden to all of us at times. When we find doctrine that we enjoy, do not accept it as truth. It is that doctrine that we must be even more questioning of. Our ego desires to KNOW. To be right. If you feel comfortable with a certain doctrine (think crystal healing, reiki, meditations, earthing, sun gazing, reincarnation, etc, etc, etc) it is imperative to examine that doctrine with a very good microscope. As Terence McKenna said, “My technique is don’t believe anything. If you believe in something, you are automatically precluded from believing its opposite.” So when you find yourself in unquestioning agreement with ANYTHING you are in grave danger of stagnation and being drowned in shallow waters. Question everything. Including yourself. ESPECIALLY yourself.
When I say that the Movement needs to develop definition, I mean that there IS a right and a wrong way to do EVERYTHING. There are many right ways and many wrong ways often. Some ways are more right that others while some are more wrong than others. Yes, all roads may lead to one final point but it seems obvious to me that one of those roads will be the most efficient route. So then, is it not wise to seek that path? Of course it is wise to seek the best way. So then, this nonsense that everyone is right and that every idea is a good idea is…..well it is nonsense. That kind of thinking makes it difficult to call out bullshit when it arises. If someone claims that the Sun is made of cookie dough would we not all immediately rebuke them for such a silly idea? The same should be done of spiritual ideas. We must use science as a measuring stick. Just as a note here, when I say ‘science’ I mean the style of thinking and the method of verification rather than the modern institution of science which is often unreceptive of a non-material Universal viewpoint (even though quantum physics verifies this as true). The modern institution of science is just as close minded as most religions. Back on topic now, we should not only call out bad ideas but we should encourage that behavior. Just because some YouTube guru or some ancient manuscript says something does not make it so. We must be willing to define truth and untruth. We must be willing to call bullshit as well as be receptive when someone calls out OUR bullshit. We must DEFINE truth and lie. This open approach is great for beginners and the newly awakened but there must come a point where we become serious about the truth and untruth.
In closing, I do not want to bash or offend. I did not write this as slam piece. This is an effort on my part to elevate the movement to higher ground. The NAM is growing at an amazing rate. We must do this now before it becomes another religion of half-truth. The focus needs to shift from awakening to growth. The new comers will find us. The message is out there. The internet is up. Social media is filled with memes and articles on the topic. There is no need to water the message down any longer. We must go deeper. When you find a new superstition or idea, examine it. Trace it to its roots and find out what the original message was. Often you’ll find that many things the NAM takes as fact are simple perversions of the symbolism of some very old idea. Often you will find that NAM ideas are grossly manipulated teachings of the alchemists of old.
Seek truth even through the pain of being wrong. Seek truth even through the pain of having to reconstruct your entire view of the Universe. There is no greater reward than drowning in the deep.
The NAM likely began in the 1960’s due to the psychedelic revolution. Flower power. Woodstock. Rejecting traditional societal values. Things like that. During that time, many ideas were being explored and a hell of a lot of progress was made. However, once the American government stepped in and put an end to that revolution via the War on Drugs (War on People really…) progress began to come to a slow coast. Then, the revolution was sucked back into mainstream society. The revolutionaries went home and got jobs. They had to try and function in the society that they were subjected to. We cannot fault them for that. This transition back to ‘normal’ watered down the psychedelic revolution very heavily. By the 1980s, things were not being explored the way they were before. Progress slowed to a trickle and the government squeezed harder and harder. The 1990s were about to change all of that and give birth to what the NAM really is today. When the internet hit the scene and became available for the common folk, things began to turn back towards revolution. This revolution was a different kind. This revolution was and is a revolution of information and self-education. This revolution gave rise to the sharing of information like never before. This revolution made way for the New Age Movement to really grow and develop.
So we have a little backstory on the NAM. We still haven’t really discussed what it is. Again, the fact that you are reading this indicates that you likely have some ties to the NAM and that you probably have a general understanding of the practices and doctrines the NAM perpetuates. You probably already know that the Movement is simply the collaborative efforts of millions of human beings to establish a broad and all-encompassing view of the Universe. The NAM is a Movement that has basically grown through the combined research of millions of human beings connected by the bittersweet beauty that is the internet. In this respect, the Movement is absolutely terrific. The NAM has generated more idea sharing and out-of-the-box thinking than any other spiritual system of the last thousand years. Of course much of that idea sharing and thinking is due to the development of the internet but it is nonetheless grand.
So then, what is the composition of the ideas and thinking that the NAM has generated? What is the nature of the information the Movement pushes? The NAM is nothing more than a collaborative effort. A collective mind. It is the combination of old wisdom, ancient teachings, ancient mysticism, and modern science to some degree. Many different religions, philosophies, theologies, and doctrines have been combined and mixed to create a very loose spiritual system that pretty much allows for anything without any strict doctrine. This system draws heavily from Taoism, Buddhism, and Hindu teachings. The system also draws very heavily from occult, alchemical, hermetic, and esoteric teachings. The system teaches that we are eternal, connected, unlimited by material constraints, and that peace and love are the answer. And the NAM is mostly correct, at least at its core. I say mostly because the New Age Movement is also something else…..it is shallow.
Now hold on, don’t go just yet. I have a point and I hope you stick around to read it. I do not intend to discredit or belittle the work that the Movement has accomplished. I owe much of my awakening to the NAM. Countless others probably share that beginning point. The NAM has helped in awakening (at least partially) millions of humans. I have no intention of destroying the Movement in type. However, I am a seeker. I am a finder. I am driven to find truth. It is this drive that caused me to realize a fatal flaw with the NAM. That flaw is the lack of depth and the lack of definition. The New Age crowd tends to believe that due to the illusory nature of the Universe that everyone can be right. Everyone can believe whatever mixed and mated doctrines they choose and there is no problem. All paths lead to the same destination and reality is created entirely by the observer. This belief is often rationalized with a misunderstanding of quantum physics. The NAM tends to preach that you should follow your feelings and focus on love and light. Block out the negativity of the world around you and embrace this current moment with little regard for the future. The NAM would have you believe that you need not think much of the future because you will attract the future you desire if you focus your mental energy. That statement is also based on a misunderstanding of Universal Law. It is partially correct. That is a theme with the Movement due to the lack of depth.
From whence does this lack of depth and definition arise? It is simple really. When the internet hit the scene and New Agers all around realized the potential for global growth they begin hammering it immediately. Like all spiritual movements, they recognized that must simplify and water down the message to attract new followers. This is fine to some degree. You can’t awaken anyone if you hammer them with complex ideas and shit they don’t understand. You have to start them out with the simple things and help them get an understanding of where you are coming from. The problem is that most religions and spiritual movements maintain this watered down flavor. They reduce the complexity and oversimplify things to the point of no return. They do this to attract larger crowds. The simpler the message the more readily it is understood. This is a double edged sword. Sure, simplicity is imperative when you are dealing with ignorant masses and unlearned people. They must grasp the base things before they can grasp the complicated things. However, once someone grasps a small concept they should begin to expand upon that idea rather than remain in awe of the symptoms and side effects thereof. Once you grasp that the Universe is really just one Consciousness, one thing manifested in many different ways then you should not marvel at that information any longer than you must. Take that knowledge and apply it to unlock yet another secret and another bit of information. This is where the NAM falls seriously behind.
The NAM has a tendency to focus on the details and effects rather than tracing the cause. Such a mindset can cause one to become infatuated with a certain idea such as crystal healing or meditation. Both of those things can have great benefits but they are merely effects of a greater cause. Such a mindset can cause one to focus only on positivity while ignoring negativity. This is fallacy as we all recognize that the Universe operates via balance. Positive and negative are not different forces. They are the same but merely vary in degree. Much like light and darkness. There cannot be one without the other. What is light without the dark to compare it to? They differ only in degree, not in composition. Anyways, this tendency to focus on anecdotal things or peripheral effects is damning, harmful. It serves only to keep us from discovering OUR true power and the truth that we really ARE everything. The Movement must develop depth and definition.
What does that mean? Depth and definition? When I say that the NAM needs to develop depth, I mean that we must stop being comfortable with our current level of knowledge. You never know enough. You can never really have it figured out until the end. Why would you stop pursuing more and more depth of understanding? It is through depth that we discover our Godliness. It is through depth that we discover the creative force and planes of escape from this material existence that is such a burden to all of us at times. When we find doctrine that we enjoy, do not accept it as truth. It is that doctrine that we must be even more questioning of. Our ego desires to KNOW. To be right. If you feel comfortable with a certain doctrine (think crystal healing, reiki, meditations, earthing, sun gazing, reincarnation, etc, etc, etc) it is imperative to examine that doctrine with a very good microscope. As Terence McKenna said, “My technique is don’t believe anything. If you believe in something, you are automatically precluded from believing its opposite.” So when you find yourself in unquestioning agreement with ANYTHING you are in grave danger of stagnation and being drowned in shallow waters. Question everything. Including yourself. ESPECIALLY yourself.
When I say that the Movement needs to develop definition, I mean that there IS a right and a wrong way to do EVERYTHING. There are many right ways and many wrong ways often. Some ways are more right that others while some are more wrong than others. Yes, all roads may lead to one final point but it seems obvious to me that one of those roads will be the most efficient route. So then, is it not wise to seek that path? Of course it is wise to seek the best way. So then, this nonsense that everyone is right and that every idea is a good idea is…..well it is nonsense. That kind of thinking makes it difficult to call out bullshit when it arises. If someone claims that the Sun is made of cookie dough would we not all immediately rebuke them for such a silly idea? The same should be done of spiritual ideas. We must use science as a measuring stick. Just as a note here, when I say ‘science’ I mean the style of thinking and the method of verification rather than the modern institution of science which is often unreceptive of a non-material Universal viewpoint (even though quantum physics verifies this as true). The modern institution of science is just as close minded as most religions. Back on topic now, we should not only call out bad ideas but we should encourage that behavior. Just because some YouTube guru or some ancient manuscript says something does not make it so. We must be willing to define truth and untruth. We must be willing to call bullshit as well as be receptive when someone calls out OUR bullshit. We must DEFINE truth and lie. This open approach is great for beginners and the newly awakened but there must come a point where we become serious about the truth and untruth.
In closing, I do not want to bash or offend. I did not write this as slam piece. This is an effort on my part to elevate the movement to higher ground. The NAM is growing at an amazing rate. We must do this now before it becomes another religion of half-truth. The focus needs to shift from awakening to growth. The new comers will find us. The message is out there. The internet is up. Social media is filled with memes and articles on the topic. There is no need to water the message down any longer. We must go deeper. When you find a new superstition or idea, examine it. Trace it to its roots and find out what the original message was. Often you’ll find that many things the NAM takes as fact are simple perversions of the symbolism of some very old idea. Often you will find that NAM ideas are grossly manipulated teachings of the alchemists of old.
Seek truth even through the pain of being wrong. Seek truth even through the pain of having to reconstruct your entire view of the Universe. There is no greater reward than drowning in the deep.