Introduction
New Age Belief, sometimes referred to as New Age spirituality or simply “New Age”, is a range of beliefs, practices, and philosophies which differ greatly from traditional religious systems. It emerged in the 1970s, primarily out of Western counter-cultural groups who developed a heightened interest in mysticism, alternative modalities of healing, spiritual growth and exploration. This spiritual movement can be characterized by its emphasis on non-traditional forms of knowledge and its absorption of aspects from various ancient cultures and belief systems around the world. Examples include Eastern philosophies such as Buddhism and Hinduism, various indigenous traditions follow nature-based rituals for guidance in their sacred practices. It also encompasses modern approaches involving ideas such as energy healing, law of attraction, yoga, aromatherapy and astrology. In its essence, New Age Belief fosters personal responsibility and encourages people to explore their own inner truths while also connecting with the greater collective consciousness. As a result of these core principles; individuals are able to design unique beliefs that fit harmoniously within a wider spiritual framework which emphasizes peace and unity.
Popular New Age Beliefs and Practices
New Age spirituality is a broad umbrella term for many alternative spiritual practices and beliefs, though there are some core tenants that unite them. Generally speaking, New Age followers seek connection with the divine and strive to live in alignment with cosmic energies with the goal of achieving personal transformation. Below you will find more information about some of the most popular New Age beliefs and practices.
Crystals: Crystals are believed to provide emotional healing and energetic benefits by amplifying or channeling subtle energy into the body or environment. Users often incorporate crystals into their daily routines (such as wearing tumbled stones in jewelry or bags) to promote peace, calm, and focus while they work out difficult issues on a spiritual level.
Meditation: Mediation is used by many people of diverse metaphysical perspectives as a way to quiet the mind and attune one’s self to higher spiritual truths that are beyond the limited physical perceptions we have in our day-to-day lives. Meditation can be paired with crystals to amplify its effect, though not all practitioners believe this is necessary.
The Law of Attraction: The Law of Attraction is perhaps one of the most popular New Age beliefs, and states that we attract what we think about into our lives – good or bad. It encourages maintaining positive thought patterns in order to manifest desired outcomes such as health, wealth, happiness, etc.
Aura Cleansing & Balancing: This practice seeks to clear energy fields from any stagnant or blocked energies (caused by external events such as negative encounters with others) which could be interfering with one’s natural energetic flow. This often involves visualizing white light around oneself and rubbing it up from feet to head over all parts of your body while simultaneously focusing on releasing any stress or tension you may be holding onto physically or emotionally.
An Overview of New Age Books and Publications
New Age is a spiritual movement that puts emphasis on the power of individual experience to create one’s own reality. It emphasizes personal growth, holistic healing, and spiritual exploration. People who follow New Age beliefs often meditate and practice yoga in order to attain inner peace, harmony, and insight.
Those new to the New Age movement can begin by exploring books and publications published by some of the leading authors and practitioners of this subject area. There are books on self-help and empowerment, as well as topics such as karma, chakras, astrology, crystals and gemstones, angels, dreams interpretation, energy healing, psychic development and intuition. There are also numerous books on metaphysical practices like tarot reading or numerology.
Additionally there is a wealth of magazines that feature interviews with a variety of experts in various areas such as meditation masters, psychics or Feng Shui analysts. Other types of New Age materials include audio programs or videos that offer guidance on meditation techniques or proper breathing exercises for relaxation purposes. Podcasts might provide useful information on working with the energy within us. Finally there is a plethora of websites dedicated to New Age activities which offer comprehensive information about these topics along with tips for beginners.
Tips for Finding Resources for New Age Practices
1. Start With the Basics: Before taking part in any New Age practices, it is important to understand the basic principles and ideas behind these practices. While there may be some overlap with religious and spiritual beliefs, many New Age practitioners tend to rely heavily on their own introspection and developing a deeper understanding of their inner self, rather than following strict religious customs or rules.
2. Familiarize Yourself with Common Practices: Reading about and researching New Age can help you gain a better understanding of how people use these practices and how they all fit together. Popular New Age concepts such as meditation, mindfulness techniques, astrology, Tarot readings, energy healing, dream interpretation, pendulum dowsing and chakra balancing are all worth learning about.
3. Seek Out Local Classes and Workshops: One of the best ways to practice New Age beliefs is to attend classes or workshops lead by experienced professionals in your local area. You’ll have a chance to learn more about the specific practices that interest you in an environment full of other like-minded individuals who offer support.
4. Connect With Experienced Practitioners Online: If there are limited resources close by or if you’re not able travel to them, look for experienced teachers online who provide educational materials such as ebooks or video lessons on popular New Age topics. This way you can still receive guidance regarding your questions or doubts while practicing right at home.
5. Join Discussion Forums: Finding discussion groups or forums for New Age practitioners can be very helpful when starting out on your journey towards spiritual growth and development. It’s an excellent way to get answers from knowledgeable experts as well as pick up new tips from those who are also learning about these concepts for the first time like you!
Navigating Your Way Through New Age Beliefs
New Age beliefs are rapidly growing in popularity. For those brand new to this philosophy, it can be overwhelming trying to understand exactly what goes into New Age ideas. Fortunately, despite its many aspects, there is a basic structure for getting started exploring and understanding the concepts behind it.
The first step to exploring New Age beliefs is to start by familiarizing yourself with the various spiritual traditions within the umbrella of New Age philosophies. Examples of such include Buddhism, Neo-Paganism, Theosophy, and Hermeticism. Consider reading the texts associated with each tradition and looking up information online. It’s also helpful to engage with others who practice these faiths—attending events or seminars and speaking with knowledgeable individuals can be invaluable when wading through the nuances of each individual sect.
The next step is understanding how spiritual paths come together under one unified belief system. What ties them all together? Generally, New Age beliefs strive towards more integration between individuals and their environment—both physical (like plants) and metaphysical (like meditation). Achieving this integration involves better understanding of energy concepts such as chakras, auras, and psychic forces; mysticism; healing practices like Reiki; and connecting with nature through rituals such as drumming circles or tree offerings. Additionally, divination practices such as tarot card readings are an integral part of the New Age spiritual journey because they allow for an individual to look deeper into themselves in search for guidance. Each practice provides insight that supports in developing an attitude towards life based on acceptance, love and compassion for oneself as well as others—a key pillar in most New Age ideologies.
Finally, remember that different people will experience their spiritual journey differently depending on their own backgrounds—just like any other religion or belief system! So don’t feel like you must conform to set conditions to be included in discussions or groups related to these beliefs. Have fun learning about your own unique connection while participating without fear!
Finding Support Within the New Age Community
The New Age community can be an incredibly supportive environment, especially for those new to exploring their spirituality. It is a great way to explore what resonates with each individual while filtering out ideologies and concepts they do not find meaningful or helpful. Here are some tips on connecting with other spiritual seekers and becoming more involved within the New Age community:
1. Research online forums — Online forums can be very useful in discovering information about any topic you explore related to the New Age movement such as meditation groups, crystal shops, tarot readings, etc. Through participating in conversation threads about these topics, seekers can discover ideas that resonate and connect with others who share similar beliefs.
2. Attend local gatherings — One of the best ways to interface with like-minded people is by attending events where individuals meet up in person such as conferences or retreats; many communities will even have monthly meetings where seekers get together and discuss spiritual topics. Additionally, there may be sessions held involving ritual practices that connect all in attendance–such events can be a great place for newcomers to learn about different areas of the New Age spectrum.
3. Join your local metaphysical bookstore — Metaphysical bookstores carry books related to ancient wisdom and those exploring metaphysics— this can serve as a great opportunity to meet other seekers of knowledge who congregate here regularly! Furthermore, shelves of crystals, incense and other essential items used within spiritual practice provide excellent clues on how beginners might use these tools according to the desires of their own journey.
Exploring new age beliefs can open a world of positivity in your life. It lets you tap into spiritual practices that promote personal, emotional, and even physical healing from within yourself.
By embracing the holistic approach to life that is provided by these beliefs and principles, you are allowing yourself to take part in an experience that has been known to others for centuries and provides joy and healing on a deep, soulful level.
With this incredible gift comes the knowledge that there is always something more out there than what meets the eye. New age beliefs allow us to have a greater understanding of our relationship with our environment, ourselves as individuals, and spirit.
By engaging with these conceptions of belief in a mindful way enables us to develop improved relationships with both ourselves and those around us, so we can live life better—mindfully—and continue fostering our own spiritual growth.
