Sometimes I read New Age stuff – don’t judge me, work requires it now and then. I am struck, over and over by how easy it is all supposed to be. Just say your positive affirmations, cut out the money attraction symbol and stick it in your wallet. Know that the universe loves you. Buy a very expensive rainbow unicorn Atlantis faerie guide object and never worry again!
I see the New Age memes go by on twitter all the time, the ones that say you have the power to change everything, fix everything, make everything good. And I wonder how that’s supposed to apply if you live in a war zone, if your child is dying of starvation, if your family are lost, if you are in the sea having fallen out of a refugee boat… I wonder what the homeless and the hungry are supposed to do in terms of positive thinking. I wonder how much a paper charm in your otherwise empty wallet helps when deciding whether it’s going to be heating or eating.
I come back to the same thought, over and over and over again. That if your problems are small, fixing them is easy. If you have resources – time, money, health, education, security, safety – then you probably can do much of what you want to do if only you believe in yourself. If you live in a country where your sexual identity is punishable by death, less so.
It troubles me because it sends such a clear message to anyone who can’t magically fix their life in five minutes. It sends a message of blame. You aren’t positive enough. Like attracts like, so you deserved it. The war. The injury. The bereavement.
I can’t bear how cruel that is. I hate the way in which it allows those who have a lot to feel no responsibility for those who have nothing. I hate how like attracts like thinking acts as an enemy to compassion. I hate how this whole attitude is a barrier to making real change. Not everyone can wish themselves out of their problems. Many people need actual help, real interventions, support, aid, care, food, heat, water… And not some smug, entitled git telling them it’s all about karma or that this is part of their life plan.
August 28th, 2017 at 10:53 am
Hi Nimue, brilliant blog post – could you share it to the Celtic Earth Spirit group please – we have one member at the moment who keeps posting (his own) NAFF (New Age Fluffy Fuckwit) ‘positive’ thoughts (most of which are effing crap) and this will go wonderfully to combat them. I am getting close to having to remove him from the group L
How are things with you?
Peace
Tan /|\
Mad, Howling Wild – the Earth Mothers Child & proud of it.
August 29th, 2017 at 1:03 pm
I’ve not heard of the term NAFF before – I love it!
August 28th, 2017 at 11:13 am
Oh so true Nimue! New Age bullshit irritates the hell out of me too – plus the fact that these gurus are also raking in the money for selling the next must-have crystals and gongs and suchlike.
August 28th, 2017 at 10:04 pm
..and they also preach about the negativity of a huge ego when many have that problem themselves.
August 29th, 2017 at 9:22 am
Oh yes, so much of it seems to be made of hypocrisy.
August 29th, 2017 at 9:17 am
While at the same time Pagans who are simply trying to stay viable are given a really hard time about asking for money for anything. Just not good.
August 29th, 2017 at 9:27 am
Very true.
August 28th, 2017 at 11:20 am
Absolutely!
August 28th, 2017 at 11:41 am
Hi, What i want to tell you that i am very connected to you words. Thanks
August 28th, 2017 at 12:44 pm
This! So, so, true.
August 28th, 2017 at 2:19 pm
Not just a New Age thing though….back in my Christian days there was/is a thing called the “prosperity gospel”. In essence this means that if you pray for wealth it will come to you….if it doesn’t, then you ain’t got enough faith brother/sister. Stinks doesn’t it! Such a way of thinking, believing, and acting have just the effects you have outlined. Back then, I remember a friend who was a member of a church with those views. Sadly he got and died from cancer….his church, and I suspect his wife, regarded it as a failing on his behalf. So cruel! I want to see a spirituality which is robust enough to see us as we are and not find an excuse to condemn us for that. John /l\
August 29th, 2017 at 9:18 am
I know enough about Jesus to feel that the man in the book would be deeply offended by that whole approach as well.
August 29th, 2017 at 1:05 pm
the whole concept of the prosperity gospel makes me feel sick, especially when it manifests in ‘you must have done something wrong to get cancer’ thing.
August 28th, 2017 at 3:30 pm
Working with adults who have experienced horrible abuse as children and hearing the impact this has on their life I just can’t buy into the ‘put a positive affirmation card in your pocket and stick a unicorn poster above the bed’ as being a positive intervention. It is not going to make any difference to post traumatic stress disorder or any other psychological response to trauma.
August 29th, 2017 at 9:18 am
Quite!
August 28th, 2017 at 3:40 pm
Spot on. I’d like to refer my students to this blog entry once terms starts again. Thank you.
August 29th, 2017 at 9:19 am
I’m honoured!
August 28th, 2017 at 5:29 pm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlas_Shrugged
Atlas Shrugged is a 1957 novel by Ayn Rand.
I have always considered New Age to be the modern modified versions of Ayn Rand idea of if anything is wrong in your life, and you are not happy, then it is simply your fault.
August 29th, 2017 at 9:19 am
good point!
August 28th, 2017 at 5:38 pm
It seems to me that many people overlook the possibility that they are the “magic” someone is waiting for. The world could well become a brighter place if a few more of us tried to live that, imho.
August 29th, 2017 at 9:20 am
that’s a wonderful line of thought. Thank you!
August 28th, 2017 at 8:01 pm
It’s so easy to be sucked into those memes overlaying beautiful photographs…until you stop and see the sloppy use of language and reasoning. Grrr
August 29th, 2017 at 1:06 pm
as well as the massive issues you point out, they are just so damn shallow. Colour in a mandala! Think happy! Rather than putting in the actual work of a deep spiritual practice which will change your life, just share a meme!
August 30th, 2017 at 6:59 am
Quite!
August 29th, 2017 at 1:34 pm
Thanks for raising this issue, Nimue. I’ve noticed (and blogged on) it as well. (As several commenters noted, it can be found in other traditions, too). It seems a kind of ‘spiritual bypass’, mixing a bit of narcissism, a lack of empathy, and ‘spiritual consumerism’…greed.
The ‘just think happy thoughts’ and the thoughtless ‘karma’ comments are as rooted in the punitive as other traditions. I’ve heard it, and have friends and acquaintances who were on the receiving end of comments like these.
Christopher’s insight on similarities with Ayn Rand’s narci-pathic (and frightenly prolific) ‘philosophy’ is a good one, too.
Thanks again for the post, and for opening the conversation unfolding in the comments.
August 30th, 2017 at 6:58 am
thank you!
September 1st, 2017 at 6:10 am
Clapping from the bottom of my heart, with all the hands, footsoles, and flippers I have.
September 9th, 2017 at 2:41 am
After 20 years of wilderness living I’ve found that the ancient guides are forever before us if we place ourselves in the proper position to hear.
December 2nd, 2017 at 5:22 pm
Reblogged this on Blue Dragon Journal and commented:
Ascension is NOT easy, nor is life on this planet right now.