Glossary of New Age Beliefs and Practices

Many New Age followers or Cultural Creatives hold similar beliefs and practice similar activities, several of which are described in this glossary. We encourage you to explore the beliefs and practices that feel most comfortable to you.

Age of Aquarius: A reference to the progression of the zodiac. The earth passes through each of the signs of the zodiac approximately every 24,000 years. Some believe that the earth entered the constellation Aquarius in the 19th century, so the present era is the dawning of the age of Aquarius. Others believe that it will occur at the end of the 20th century.

Astrology: The belief that the orientation of the planets at the time of one's birth and the location of that birth predicts the individual's future and personality. Belief in astrology is common amongst New Agers but definitely not limited to them. (You can find more information and a selection of astrology reports at Astrology-Charts-Books.com.)

Aura: An energy field believed to be radiated by the body. Invisible to most people, it can be detected by some as a shimmering, multi-colored field surrounding the body. Those skilled in detecting and interpreting auras can diagnose an individual's state of mind, along with their spiritual and physical health.

Channeling: A method similar to that used by Spiritists in which a spirit of a long-dead individual or spirit is conjured up. However, while Spiritists generally believe that one's soul remains relatively unchanged after death, most channelers believe that the soul evolves to higher planes of existence. They usually try to make contact with a single, spiritually-evolved being. That being's consciousness is channeled through the medium and relays guidance and information to the group, through the use of the medium's voice. Channeling has existed since the 1850's (at least), and many groups consider themselves independent of the New Age movement. The popular teaching, A Course in Miracles, was channeled from Jesus through a New Age psychologist (Dr. Helen Schucman) over an eight-year period.

Crystals: Crystals are materials which have their molecules arranged in a specific, highly-ordered internal pattern. This pattern is reflected in the crystal's external structure which typically has symmetrical planar surfaces. Many common substances, from salt to sugar and diamonds to quartz, form crystals. They can be shaped so they will vibrate at a specific frequency and are widely used in radio communications and computing devices. New Agers believe crystals possess healing energy.

Divination: The use of various techniques to foretell the future, including I Ching, pendulum movements, runes, scrying, and tarot cards.

Ecological Responsibility: A belief in the importance of uniting to preserve the health of the earth, which is often looked upon as Gaia (Mother Earth), a living entity.

Emotional Growth Movement (see Human Potential Movement): Holistic Health: This is a collection of healing techniques which have diverged from the traditional medical model. It attempts to cure disorders in mind, body, and spirit and to promote wholeness and balance in the individual. Examples are acupuncture, crystal healing, homeopathy, iridology, massage, various meditation methods, polarity therapy, psychic healing, therapeutic touch, reflexology, and so forth.

Human Potential Movement: This is a collection of therapeutic methods involving both individualized and group working, using both mental and physical techniques. The goal is to help individuals to advance spiritually. Examples are Esalen Growth Center programs, EST, Gestalt therapy, primal scream therapy, transactional analysis, transcendental meditation, and yoga.

Karma: The good and bad deeds that we do add and subtract from our accumulated record, our karma. At the end of our life, we are rewarded or punished according to our karma by being reincarnated into either a painful or good new life. This belief is linked to that of reincarnation and is also derived from Hinduism.

Meditation: A process of blanking out the mind and releasing oneself from conscious thinking. This is often aided by repetitive chanting of a mantra or focusing on an object.

Monism: All that exists is derived from a single source of divine energy.

New Age Music: A gentle, melodic, inspirational music form involving the human voice, harp, lute, flute, etc. It is used as an aid in healing, massage therapy, and general relaxation.

New World Order: As the Age of Aquarius unfolds, a New Age will develop. This will be a utopia in which there is a world government and an end to wars, disease, hunger, pollution, and poverty. Gender, racial, religious, and other forms of discrimination will cease. People's allegiance to their tribe or nation will be replaced by a concern for the entire world and its people.

Pantheism: All that exists is God; God is all that exists. This leads naturally to the concept of the divinity of the individual, that we are all Gods. They do not seek God as revealed in a sacred text or as exists in a remote heaven; they seek God within the self and throughout the entire universe.

Personal Transformation: A profoundly intense, mystical experience will lead to the acceptance and use of New Age beliefs and practices. Guided imagery, hypnosis, meditation, and (sometimes) the use of hallucinogenic drugs are useful to bring about and enhance this transformation. Believers hope to develop new potentials within themselves: the ability to heal oneself and others, psychic powers, a new understanding of the workings of the universe, etc. Later, when sufficient numbers of people have achieved these powers, a major spiritual, physical, psychological, and cultural planet-wide transformation is expected.

Reincarnation: After death, we are reborn and live another life as a human. This cycle repeats itself many times. This belief is similar to the concept of transmigration of the soul in Hinduism.

Universal Religion: Since all is God, then only one reality exists, and all religions are simply different paths to that ultimate reality. The universal religion can be visualized as a mountain, with many sadhanas (spiritual paths) to the summit. Some are hard; others easy. There is no one correct path. All paths eventually reach the top. They anticipate that a new universal religion which contains elements of all current faiths will evolve and become generally accepted worldwide.



Source: Solstice Web Site