We are all drawn to what we need in the moment, and it’s all stepping stones – phases of a continuing process of unfolding.
As so many, I went through an early New Age phase where I was into Shirley Maclaine (!), Shakti Gawain and some others. It was important to me as it opened up my world and gave me permission to be “weird”. The phase didn’t last for very long, but I am grateful for it. I even re-watched Out on a Limb again last year as it made an impression when I first saw it at the beginning of my own exploration (this time it was mildly entertaining).
When I see folks who are into New Age now, there is recognition, gratitude and appreciation, because I know that for them too – it can be a very important stepping stone. Even if they stay there, there can be much beauty and meaning in it for them.
Just to balance the picture, I can mention that I also read Jung, Jes Bertelsen, Buddhism, Christian mysticism, quantum physics, academic psychology, Steiner and much more at the same time (late teens, early twenties).
Source: A conversation with my gratitude partner.
E: I’ve also noticed the bashing of new-agers by the “integral” community (Ken Wilber fans) as well. It doesn’t make complete sense, really, other than perhaps there is some regret/blame they hold (I notice it myself at times, but really just a minor story as not held firmly) for me that I went through some novice new-age teachers that I could say was a waste of time and distracting. Except in all honesty there is no way I could have made a leap to teachers as gut-wrenching and sword-weilding as Adya in one fell swoop, so I can appreciate the path it took for the “me” I was then it was only one accessible.
Me: I went through an early phase where I was into Shirley MacLaine (!), Shakti Gawain and some others. It was very important to me as it opened up my world and gave me permission to be “weird”. The phase didn’t last long though, but I am grateful for it. I even re-watched “Out on a Limb” again last year as it was made a big impression when I first saw it at the beginning of my own exploration (this time it was mildly entertaining).
– With clarity comes gratitude and appreciation.
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Note
This is a “shoot from the hip” post, and finding where it doesn’t quite match what’s true for me is actually more interesting than the post itself.
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Valuable and not
In what way is New Age valuable?
It’s valuable because it opens up the world for people, it helps people go outside of conventional ways of looking a the world.
It’s valuable because it’s well intentioned. There is a wish to make people’s lives better.
It’s valuable because people may experience a great deal of meaning and beauty through it.
It’s valuable as a stepping stone to something else, as it is for many.
In a more real sense it’s valuable as an expression of reality. It’s reality exploring, experiencing and expressing itself.
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In what way is it less valuable?
In a conventional view:
New Age may encourage wishful thinking and blind projections.
And how is that too valuable?
Projections are helpful because it helps us become aware of what’s here.
We put it out there, get familiar with it out there, and there is then the invitation to find it right here.
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Assumptions
Writing/reading this post is slightly uncomfortable for me because I know there are some assumptions behind it, especially about those who treat New Age with less gratitude and appreciation.
I get it, they don’t.
They are less clear.
Clarity, gratitude and appreciation is somehow better than the reverse,.
With clarity comes an inevitable expression of gratitude and appreciation.
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What do I find when I look into these assumptions?
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I get it, they don’t.
I don’t know.
I am sure they get much I don’t, perhaps including on this topic.
They are a mirror for me, and what I see there is what’s here. We are the same.
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They are less clear.
I don’t know.
They are most likely more clear than me on many things, including possibly on this topic.
–> They are a mirror for me, so in that way I am certainly not more clear.
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Clarity is better than confusion.
No. Reality obviously doesn’t see it that way. Who am I to disagree?
–> Confusion is as much an expression of reality as clarity. They both have equal rights to exist. They both have their life.
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With clarity comes an inevitable expression of gratitude and appreciation.
No. Even if there is gratitude and appreciation there, it’s not necessarily what’s expressed.
Sometimes, more punch may be seen as appropriate.
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