For this article, let us move slightly away from traditional magic while remaining within esotericism in order to address a subject that regularly generates a great deal of discussion: New Age. A simple contemporary cult for some, a melting pot of appropriations for others, it unfortunately serves as a justification for certain excesses. Explanations.
1. Context and objective
Even though at Aeternum, we strive above all to pass on traditional magical knowledge, the point here is not to say that New Age is entirely harmful (it does, after all, promote certain commendable values such as personal development and well-being). Rather, the aim is to present it in detail precisely to help you avoid falling into the traps that justify certain forms of indoctrination under the guise of New Age, which unfortunately are common nowadays, online and in certain esoteric fairs.
2. So, what exactly is New Age?
New Age is a spiritual movement that emerged in the 20th century, particularly in the 1970s, first in the United States. It is distinguished by an eclectic and personal approach to spirituality, blending different practices and beliefs drawn from Eastern traditions, Western esotericism, humanistic psychology, and even alternative sciences.
2.1. From From Theosophy to New Thought
Its origins are said to lie in older movements such as Theosophy, founded by Helena Blavatsky at the end of the 19th century, which introduced Eastern concepts such as karma and reincarnation to the West.
This movement was also directly inspired by New Thought, which emerged in the United States in the second half of the 19th century and promoted the idea that illnesses are often caused by mistaken beliefs and that positive thinking can promote healing. In the 1960s and 1970s, New Age gained popularity, notably thanks to Marilyn Ferguson's book The Aquarian Conspiracy, published in 1980, which presented New Age as a new cultural paradigm.
2.2. Against a backdrop of cultural syncretism
In its principles, New Age values a syncretic approach (in which spiritual elements are merged without any single doctrine dominating). It also encourages personal development focused on individual fulfillment through practices such as meditation and yoga, often with a holistic dimension that views the universe as an interconnected whole. New Age beliefs also include the idea of subtle energies influencing health and well-being, addressed through energy healing techniques and the use of crystals.
However, New Age differs from traditional esoteric practices through its lack of grounding in structured belief systems and rituals transmitted through initiation. Whereas esoteric traditions seek to respect original teachings and rituals, New Age offers a freer and more personalized approach to spirituality. Although appealing, this freedom can sometimes lead to a superficial appropriation of ancestral practices, without a deep understanding of their historical and cultural context.
3. The Biases of Cultural Appropriation
Within the New Age movement, the appropriation of ancestral spiritual practices is often approached in a simplified or even distorted manner. This movement draws on a wide variety of traditions - shamanic and meditative traditions, as well as Indigenous beliefs - but isolates them from their original cultural and spiritual context. By extracting practices such as shamanic rituals or meditation from their roots, New Age tends to minimize their depth, reducing them to wellness or personal development techniques disconnected from their original meaning.
A major danger of this appropriation lies in the excessive commercialization that results from it. By turning sacred practices into consumer products, New Age risks trivializing cultural elements, often without consulting or respecting the communities of origin.
At a time when information is accessible and books are plentiful, the first instinct is to study these traditions with an informed and humble approach. Understanding these practices in their entirety requires patient learning and recognition of the contexts from which they originate.
4. The Risks of Alternative Medicine
New Age challenges what is known as scientific positivism, which is based on the idea that only knowledge obtained through observation and experimentation is valid. New Age followers believe that this approach overlooks the spiritual and subjective dimensions of existence. According to Romy Sauvayre, a sociologist of science and beliefs, “health, well-being, and ecological concerns are the new entry points for New Age thought.”
New Age promotes practices such as naturopathy, homeopathy, or quantum medicine. These approaches are presented as more natural or holistic, but they may lack rigorous scientific validation. In particular, “quantum medicine” claims to heal through “electromagnetic waves emitted by the body,” an assertion with no solid scientific basis.
Another practice is strongly disputed: lithotherapy, a practice that attributes therapeutic properties to minerals, claiming to improve physical and mental well-being. Supporters of lithotherapy claim that stones emit vibrations or energies capable of positively influencing the human body. It is clear that crystals have a certain influence on their environment, but it is necessary to study them, learn the correspondence tables, and read recognized authors to understand that they are a complement, not an end in themselves. On our online esoteric store, we explain the traditional and magical properties of stones, but they in no way replace an appointment with a healthcare professional.
Once again, the point is not to say that they have no place, but replacing medical treatments or consultations in favor of alternative medicine poses a genuine health risk.
5. New Age and sectarian abuses
Unfortunately, New Age is particularly fertile ground for indoctrination and sectarian abuses. One of the main reasons is the absence of an organized structure and unified doctrine, allowing individuals or groups to claim its values without genuine oversight or regulation. This freedom of interpretation creates practices that can easily drift toward psychological control, especially when vulnerable people seek answers or solutions to their personal or existential difficulties.
Sectarian abuses in New Age circles often emerge around the attraction to charismatic figures who present themselves as spiritual guides or healers. These leaders, who claim to have extraordinary abilities or superior knowledge, attract followers seeking personal development, healing, or “spiritual truth.” However, once involved in this type of group, some followers gradually become isolated from those around them and dependent on the principles or products promoted by the leader. This dependence is reinforced by psychological influence techniques intended to sever family or social ties in favor of exclusive loyalty to the group or its leader.
Another aspect of New Age that encourages these abuses is adherence to beliefs in alternative health practices, often presented as “medicines for the soul” or holistic remedies superior to conventional medicine. Some groups encourage their followers to abandon traditional medical treatments, claiming that the spiritual or energy-based practices they offer will be enough to cure illnesses. This can be particularly dangerous, as individuals may then forgo crucial medical care, putting their health, or even their lives, at risk.
The Interministerial Mission for Monitoring and Combating Cultic Deviances (MIVILUDES) has also noted that promises of spiritual well-being and emotional or physical healing, which are often costly, can lead to financial abuse. By exploiting individuals’ search for meaning, some New Age groups demand high financial contributions for sessions, products, workshops, or spiritual training courses without a solid foundation. This financial manipulation is reinforced by a form of guilt-tripping or implicit threat: followers are encouraged to believe that without these investments, their spiritual journey or healing could be compromised.
6. Beware of influencers and training courses
Given the undeniable influence of social media today, a new category of players is becoming more important every day: influencers. Although the majority work hard for their communities, others, on the other hand, try to take advantage of them. This has been seen in sales of counterfeit goods, cryptocurrency, medication... and wellness products. This field has seen the emergence of a thriving industry of courses, workshops, and retreats designed to promote personal healing, relaxation, or spiritual fulfillment. Although these offerings can provide tangible benefits and are entirely respectable, they are also associated with certain abuses. In particular, the often very high prices charged by coaches, “spiritual masters,” or even “shamans 2.0” for services such as meditation courses, personal development workshops, or retreats in nature can raise questions about the ethics and transparency of this market.
These programs, which can range from simple workshops lasting a few hours to immersions lasting several weeks, are sold as “transformative” or “revealing” experiences supposedly designed to unlock trauma, improve self-confidence, or open the door to a new spiritual dimension. However, behind these enticing promises, some practices raise concerns. The prices of these courses or retreats can be exorbitant, and some wellness professionals justify these high costs through their (supposed) expertise, patented techniques, or exclusive locations, without providing concrete evidence of the effectiveness of their methods. Sometimes, participants, drawn in by testimonials or recommendations on social media, do not realize the oppressive financial aspect until they are already committed to the process.
This dynamic also relies on highly sophisticated marketing methods that play on the emotions and vulnerabilities of people seeking well-being. Many wellness professionals highlight promises of personal fulfillment, supported by success stories. They reinforce this approach through campaigns that often target people searching for meaning or healing, offering them multi-level programs with increasing prices. This “escalation of commitment” often encourages participants to invest more and more, for fear of missing an essential step in their progress.
Some people thus find themselves financially and emotionally trapped, feeling implicit pressure to follow the successive stages of the courses or retreats. In some extreme cases, followers become dependent on these “growth programs” to feel fulfilled or to manage aspects of their personal lives.
7. And what about witchcraft?
Witchcraft and the “modern witches” movement are growing increasingly popular, particularly on social media, where they captivate many followers with promises of empowerment, healing, and spiritual connection. Although this phenomenon is sincere and valuable, it is also unfortunately accompanied by commercial abuses that exploit our esoteric and magical heritage.
Thus, what can be called "New Age witchcraft" is often characterized by a simplified and widely accessible approach to magic, combining elements from various spiritual and esoteric traditions, such as paganism, Wicca, crystal healing, and other practices. When this approach is pursued authentically, it can genuinely help individuals explore their spirituality in a personal, creative, and powerful way. However, some figures in the modern witchcraft movement turn it primarily into a consumer product. Magic, once practiced in sacred contexts and with extensive knowledge, is often reduced to a series of recipes or rituals accessible through online courses, subscriptions, or esoteric products presented as indispensable.
An example? The spell jar, this witch's bottle traditionally used in a precise way as part of a specific magical working, is often reduced to a highly Instagrammable bottle made with rather standard ingredients and sometimes sold at a very high price without any details about the ritual used during its assembly (assuming there even was one). For the record, genuine spell jars were made with herbs, crystals, powders, urine, fingernails, and other bodily fluids. Thus, however beautiful it may be, a spell jar made without any ritual or intention will be of no use to you (this applies to all magical preparations).
The marketing surrounding this movement amplifies magic in a way that attracts a broad audience seeking spiritual guidance and personal development. Numerous products and services are sold on the pretext that they will provide immediate benefits, protection, or profound transformations, such as consultations, tarot readings, or personalized spells at high prices, relying on a mystical image and emphasizing special effects during rituals. In some cases, it is merely smoke and mirrors: promises of magical or spiritual results are made to customers who end up disappointed by minimal or even nonexistent effects.
There is one essential thing to know for anyone interested in magic or witchcraft: yes, it exists all around us, but it is demanding and requires work and rigor, whether it is a gift or not. There is a vast heritage of magical knowledge that is unfortunately gradually falling into disuse, leaving only what “sells”: alchemical theories, esoteric traditions, cultural rites, and even the contributions of the figures who shaped esotericism.
That is why our Aeternum magical oils were blended according to a traditional recipe, respecting both the favorable planetary hour and a ritual performed within a traditional magical circle. Moreover, we strive to offer you only products from genuine practitioners or mages. Admittedly, some products may not be the most aesthetically pleasing, but they will be the most effective in rituals.
8. How can you detect spiritual manipulation?
Let me reassure you: most of the time, you will encounter passionate, talented, respectful people who have made it their mission to pass on or restore the magical knowledge of our ancestors, such as through the translation of ancient texts, the study of peoples, or the republication of foundational works.
But you must also protect yourself against attempts at cult-like manipulation, mainly in the form of training courses:
-
One of the first signs of spiritual manipulation is the presence of manipulative or guilt-inducing language. If a teacher, group, or practitioner claims that you can only progress spiritually by following their specific methods, this may be a sign of manipulation. Unscrupulous individuals or groups often insist that you have a “problem” that can only be solved with their help. This rhetoric plays on guilt and fear, making it difficult to distance yourself.
-
Spirituality offers emotional and psychological benefits, but it does not solve every problem in the blink of an eye. If a group or practitioner promises miraculous solutions, it is essential to remain cautious. Promises of quick and perfect results are often a lure. Genuine spiritual practices require time, patience, and deep personal commitment.
-
If prices for training courses, workshops, or spiritual products are unclear or gradually increase with additional modules deemed "essential", this may indicate an approach that is more commercial than spiritual. In addition, practices that encourage you to spend endlessly to reach new "levels" or "initiations" may conceal unethical financial motives. Conversely, very substantial discounts such as -50% should also make you suspicious.
-
A good indicator of spiritual manipulation is how the group or practitioner reacts to criticism or questions. A healthy environment welcomes skeptics and questions as opportunities to clarify and reassure. On the other hand, if you are discouraged from asking questions or skeptics are seen as enemies or "negative" people, this may mean that the group or practitioner does not tolerate being challenged.
That covers the short list of warning signs that can protect you from losing money at best, or indoctrination at worst.
9. So, is New Age bad?
So no, New Age is not inherently bad in itself; above all, it is a spiritual movement that seeks to restore meaning and well-being in a society where many people feel disconnected. Its approach can pave the way for personal discoveries and encourage the exploration of other cultures, philosophies, and personal development methods. Many people find New Age practices that help them better manage stress, explore their creative potential, or connect more deeply with themselves and the world without running the slightest risk.
Keep a critical mind, compare information, but above all: learn from those who came before! Build yourself a library of works by great names, learn the rules and theories, and learn about traditions and rituals from around the world. Knowledge is the tool that will enable you to harness your abilities and achieve your goals. Shamanism, Buddhism, Vodou, Santeria, Candomblé, and many others are rich and fascinating! Once again, magic exists: it is up to you to learn how to master it.
Par Olivier of Aeternum
Passionate about esoteric traditions and the history of the occult from the earliest civilizations to the 18th century, I share some articles on these topics. I am also co-creator of the online esoteric shop Aeternum.
