Tarot Cards, Crystals, and Manifestation - Looking for Meaning During Uncertain Times
Like so many others during quarantine, I started picking up a myriad of different hobbies to keep me sane. From taking up painting after many years, to jewelry making and embroidery, I’ve finally landed on learning how to read tarot cards. It began as a whim, after seeing it practically everywhere on social media these days. If you’ve spent any amount of time on TikTok (which I admittedly have, fully embracing my Gen-Z tendencies) you will have probably come across videos that are ‘specifically for you’, with a tarot spread and a witchy-looking-20-something year old telling you about what your future holds, what your love life will look like, or simply relaying an important message from your “spirit guides”. If not, perhaps you have encountered a video that is trying to teach you about manifestation, or maybe one that is explaining the reasons why certain crystals can be ideal to buy if you are trying to “see a real and significant change in your life”. I admit that I’m hooked on them, even if they are the textbook definition of the Barnum Effect: a psychological phenomenon where individuals identify as accurate certain descriptions of their personality that are supposedly tailored specifically to them, but that are actually increasingly vague and general enough to apply to a lot of people.
Illustration by @kaysthetics3000
It may be easy to dismiss these practices as simple fun and the result of a very sophisticated algorithm that shows you a variety of different things you might be interested in , but I believe there is something to be said about the sudden surge in these practices and the revival of new age spirituality. As we see the trend of ‘spiritual but not religious’ people continue to grow, we start to see people being drawn to these paranormal beliefs, moving away from how the older generations seek solace in traditional organized religion. Especially now when we face so much uncertainty about the future, coupled with both economic and political turmoil, these beliefs may lead to a more tangible sense of control and a way to cope with the insecurity that arises from the increasingly complex situations we find ourselves in.
New Age is the name given to a range of spiritual beliefs and practices that originated during the 1970s and continued to grow rapidly through the 80s and 90s, while ultimately becoming widely rejected in the 21st century. It is highly eclectic in nature and a variety of practices fall under this umbrella term, including the belief in astrological cycles, psychics, healing and alternative medicine, and the individual as the principal source of authority on spiritual matters. Regardless of its storied history, the advent of the internet and its unlimited access to new information has seen its practices dissected and disseminated and sprinkled with modern sensibilities. Anyone with access to a copy of “The Secret” -- A wildly popular self-help book of the early 2000s based on the belief in the law of attraction-- can start posting online about manifestation and tips on how to make all of your wildest dreams come true. There is as much misinformation as there is truly helpful advice to anyone seeking to understand more about these practices, depending on your level of interest and your desire to delve into the ‘occult’. This can range from a belief in general spirituality, to having an interest in meditation and astrology, to practicing Wicca, to being a full-blown witch.
Illustration by @kaysthetics3000