New Age Excuses

thanks starrynightskys. Well thought out answer from a new perspective. Always appriciated.

And I agree with you on the premise that if people find enlightenment through door number 1 and door number 2 then who am I to argue? If meditation AND Kalija dancing do it for someone then rock on.

I think it's just the buffet style spirituality that gets on my nerves. But that shows it's head in every religion.

Anywhoo--thanks for the honest reply.

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But i live in Seattle. We have more white kids with dreadlocks/vortex worshipers/high priestesses then a lot of places. Except for maybe Hawaii. Heee.

I also live is seattle and i have to say WORD! There is so much of that here it is crazy. I find this discussion interesting, thanks for posting it.

I think a lot of people like New Agey stuff because it requires little or no effort or mental discipline. Compare American suburban yoga and meditation to the real thing, and what you have is a rather shallow imitation.

Kids use the word "cool" as a replacement for: "I like it but don't have the vocabulary or analytic ability to say why." New Age is kind of the adult equivalent of that. It's cool. It's also ultimately unrewarding in itself.

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Originally posted by Not the First Continental Op:
What the hell are you two doing in the Spiritual Traveler's forum? Isn't there a Uranus thread you should be tending to?

It's never good if money is involved.

After years of dabbling in different religions I currently find myself sitting comfortably with great posture (thanks yoga) under the term agnostic. I don't bother myself with thoughts about potential higher powers and energies and guidelines for enlightenment. Instead I try to value the visceral, tangible things of daily life. Having said that I do smudge my house regularly and I have a wide assortment of crystals, many of which sit on an altar in my bedroom surrounded by other things i find sacred. No longer a picture of the Virgin Mary or Krishna, but my parents 1965 graduation photos, no longer a rosary, but a necklace given to me by a childhood friend....Okay I'm lying, I still have my Krishna picture and the rosary...and i have them because they are symbolic to me, they are symbolic of my own growth and my own learning process which is what is most sacred to me. it is human nature to seek understanding and it only seems likely that powerful religions or powerful corporations will have their way with us first. i only hope people will eventually be able to see past the foolishness and find personal happiness in their own unique way.

Fact. Yoga is really good for your body.
Fact, Mediation is really good for your mind.
Fact, Books need prices on them in order to be manufactured.
Fact, stretching doesn't cost anything

Random thought: I'm not so sure there is anything innately special about crystals, but I do know that due to the rituals i have created around mine, they hold special significance for me...and i'm sure if i worked at it, I could make a lulu lemon track suit and yogamat hold some sort of significance for me as well....but i don't really want to.

For some reason, taking time for JUST yourself is considered selfish these days. It's selfish to go the spa. It's selfish to go out with friends when there are children at home. It is selfish to take an hour, you could spend cleaning the bathroom and just hum for a bit. Or selfish to call in sick to work and stay home all day messing around with a new boyfriend.

Hey, we all have needs! Any religion, spirituality, or belief system that tells you not to take care of yourself is deluded. I'm not saying that someone should capitulate to the urge to buy a $300 toilet brush or go out every night and leave their kids alone, but sometimes you need to go with your instincts. My sister just got married this week and there have been more dinners/happy hours/events than I would care for, but I went to most. I had to skip out on one because I needed a break. Is this selfish? Yup. I wanted some alone time with my boyfriend. It felt GOOD.

As for the yoga mats, videos, crystals, etc., I don't see anything wrong with someone selling those things. A sale of goods requires a seller and buyer. If a buyer chooses to meet some of their needs("evolved" or not) by purchasing a sellers goods, it has value to that person. Where people get confused is the WHY do I want/need this thing. People need to figure it out on their own and it has nothing to do with what the item is "spiritual" or not.

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