Monday, July 7, 2014

The peril of the New Age Revival

Would it be an over-generalization to observe that we seem to be in the middle of a rebirth of the New Age movement?  Revivals of these sorts have roiled America ever since the Puritans first hit the beach. Suddenly, I'm discovering a new metaphysical book daily; some good, some otherwise. People are actually bothering to read this blog.  This recent wave started, I guess, with all the paranormal shows which (I hear) are on television now. But it seems to be gaining traction. A cottage industry of "mediums," seers, channels, and whatnot are springing up--even in my own neighborhood (which is quite remote).  I've debated joining one. I signed up online. The seer in question lives down the road from me. But I don't get out much anymore... And a few things about this seer threw up a flag or two. I'm sure she's legit; that's not the problem. I just have a personal ethical problem monetizing an ability that we all have.

Does it not strike you as strange that someone might want to charge you money to chat about spiritual matters, contact your spirit guide, maybe speak to a dead relative or two? It does me, but I can't put my finger on exactly why. After all, if I fix your computer, the service might be worth a buck or two. I happily pay Valvoline quite a bit of pocket change to change my oil. And, as these New Agey folks are wont to argue, they need to earn a living too. They are sacrificing their time and energy to provide a service. Isn't this worth something?

Still. Without going into a lot of detail about the person involved, there's a line that's crossed. It's one thing to charge a nominal fee for providing a valuable service by exercising a God-given gift; but, to actively market your abilities as a way of gaining lots of money, fame, and notoriety, is quite another. Maybe it's the motive that's the line. If I want to provide you with a needed service--to serve and help--receiving money for this service is not, in my opinion, unethical...  But if my motive is to make money, gain attention, credit, and inflate my ego, by using a God-given gift that isn't entirely "mine," is this somewhat morally suspect?

I'm just asking the question. My opinion is apparent, but I'm not the judge.

But--in my opinion--I just have a problem with this New Age revival in general because it strikes me as phony. It's about the money. A full three-quarters of the books that I purchase on this subject are just recycled ideas plundered from earlier books on the same topic. And the writers almost always have websites that hawk an assortment of CDs, books, and "personal readings" that charge lawyer's fees for services of dubious merit.

Look. I've been researching this field for forty years. I've learned my lessons on my own; I've gained insight through considerable personal experience, most of it unpleasant. While I won't deny consulting personal spirit guides, I won't blog about it, either. I won't pretend to tell you what my guides think people should do, for an essential reason:  We all have access to the same instruction. We are all guided and helped. We all can communicate with our deceased relatives. We all can receive warnings, insights, and advice about our paths. It is up to the individual to "find the signal," as it were... To learn to listen, and then, to learn.

The New Age revivalists seek to monetize an innate and natural spiritual ability by duping people into believing that they possess special abilities, and you don't. They're wrong. Don't believe them.  Find your own path. It's there, for everyone, free for the taking.

2 comments:

  1. As a psychic-medium-I do the work you have trouble with for a living but I don't want to be famous , charge a lot of money, or guarantee that my predictions will always be right . But if I don't charge and even when I do people will take advantage -call you everyday-plague you with nonsensical questions and in general interfere with your peace of mind. I charge because then I am engaged in your problems, trials, healing, and development and not my own. I recently have encountered many charlatan healers ( second- hand through a client) and have been amazed by what people will try to sell(some from overseas; Africa and Russia) . Everyone does have the ability to be psychic , communicate with guides and passed loved ones but if you look around most people are more interested in checking their text messages, their FB page and their emails and don't take time to meditate and focus on their spirituality-that's what we do who work in the field. I prioritize and open myself to a different experience than most people and so when I do it for others I charge. But you're right about the egos involved in the New Age profession...

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    1. I was aiming this entry at the famous, "public" mediums. In your case, you are very highly rated on afterlifetv.com and I have little doubt that your abilities are genuine. I do believe in mediumship and am personally vested in promoting the "genuine" practitioners. I approach the field as a believer, but as a believer who realizes that most critics are *not* believers who have set a high bar of proof.

      I have personally experienced too many genuine communications from the dead--communications that left no doubt at all--that it's real. But how to write about mediumship to the skeptic? It's difficult.

      I think that I wrote this blog entry after an encounter with someone who I did not think was genuine, and who was trying to make some money (lots of money) from her ability, and it made me mad. I just got a negative vibe from her.

      For some reason, mediumship (like the UFO field) seems to attract some negative practitioners. I'm not sure why. It rankles me and gives the field as a whole a bad name.

      Recently I wrote about a medium who I thought was genuine. I was even tempted to get a reading from her. Money was not an issue. But I've always been afraid at what I may find out. So, in my case, it's not a question of belief, but of a recognition of how my life works. The spirit world has always found a way to let me know what I need to know to stay on my path and avoid danger. In one case about ten years ago, I had a vivid dream about being attacked and killed while walking downtown. A few days later, an elderly friend had a "premonition" of me being attacked in a way exactly as I had dreamed. Needless to say, I changed my walking habits. In this case, the spirit world directly intervened to save my life. I have never forgotten it.

      I think that you have much to contribute to the understanding of the afterlife. Do you have a blog that I can visit?

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