The term “New Age” was coined back in the seventies and eighties as a catchall category for weird stuff. Bookstores created New Age sections for their astrology books, record stores followed suit so they had a place to put Enya and Gregorian chant CDs, and every town eventually got a New Age store, which were basically incense emporiums. New Age was a descriptor for anything and anyone who was a little off the beaten path, at least when it came to spirituality.
Even back then none of these things were new. The whole concept of New Age depended on a “rediscovery” of centuries-old practices like yoga, meditation, and astrology. But in the face of eighties excess, New Age became something reserved for women with homemade earrings and men with gray ponytails.
These days, we call these same New Age concepts by another word: wellness. And no one is looking down on it, at least not in the same way. We can thank the Internet, the land of conspiracy theories and millennial angst, for the resurgence of concepts like astrology and tarot cards (this time in meme form). Truthfully, sociologists and other experts often say that in times of great stress, like political unrest or financial crisis, cultural interest in alternative forms of spirituality increases. It could also be that in today’s screen-focused world, everyone is reaching for a little more connection. Basically, everyone wants to know there’s more to their lives than the tweets they send.
As these “New Age” concepts become more mainstream, the fact of the matter is that alternative forms of healing and spirituality are tools. You can live a long and fulfilled life without any of them, but they can be useful in forging a stronger relationship with your inner self, the world around you, and the universe that holds us all. Many of these tools rely on the belief that there are unseen forces at work in the world around us, even in one’s own body, and seeking to understand them can be helpful and healing.
Integrating one of these tools into your self-care practice is easy. It could be as simple as not skipping over the daily horoscope in the morning paper or having Reiki added on to your next massage. The best thing about the resurgence of these alternative forms of healing is that they are readily available. If you just open your eyes, you might be surprised.
The ancient practice of astrology is more than just asking, “What’s your sign?” at a bar. It’s built on the idea that the planets in the solar system have an effect on people’s lives similar to how the moon affects the ocean’s tides. These invisible influences change as the planets move in their orbits through the twelve sections of the sky called the zodiac. Astrology is complex and hard to understand, which is why it’s so mysterious. But paying attention to it, and learning from it, can help attribute meaning to some of the seemingly random parts of life.
How to Make It Self-Care: Astrology isn’t a salve you can rub on your knee to make the pain immediately go away; it’s more of a calming breeze in the background. You can’t do anything to change the movements of the planets, but what’s going on in the skies can hold answers to what’s going on in your life. Paying attention to what’s happening astrologically could provide answers to questions or reassurance that you’re on the right path.
Reiki is a Japanese form of energy healing where practitioners manipulate your energetic life force. When a person’s life force is blocked, they can feel sluggish, stressed, and anxious—both physically and mentally. Reiki practitioners, or masters as they are called, can help get things moving and heal physically, mentally, and emotionally. Reiki masters use their hands and their own energetic flow to change yours.
How to Make It Self-Care: Many spas are now offering Reiki sessions, so if you see it on a spa menu, give it a try. You can also find a specific Reiki practitioner by doing online research and reading reviews. Reiki sessions are relaxing and stress reducing, but they aren’t the same as a massage. Reiki masters are highly trained professionals, so in order to get Reiki, you have to see someone who knows what they’re doing. Don’t think you can DIY.
Most people think tarot cards tell your future, but they actually don’t. The cards are a complex system of archetypal images that symbolize the life path of humanity. Tarot readers use these cards, and how they are arranged in a specific spread, to divine meaning from the images and offer a glimpse at what is happening in a person’s life.
How to Make It Self-Care: Tarot is a tool for reflection and is best used to try to get answers to a question. If you’re feeling confused, stuck, or stressed, using tarot to figure out what to do can be incredibly helpful. Learning to read tarot cards yourself takes practice because each card can have thousands of meanings. If you’re interested in trying yourself, get a deck and a book for beginners and start drawing one card a day so you get a feel for what they are and what they mean. You could also find a reputable tarot reader in your area or even online (many popular tarot readers offer Skype or video chat readings).
A form of meditation, sound baths use nonverbal sound to help you reach a deep meditative state. It’s a similar idea to using a chant or mantra while meditating, but in this case, something else is making the sound. Sounds baths usually involve things like Tibetan singing bowls, gongs, chimes, or rhythmic drumming to create vibrations that affect your body. The thought is that these sounds and vibrations help you reach a deeper state of meditation and open your consciousness in ways you can’t on your own.
How to Make It Self-Care: If you’ve ever played a certain song to relax, you get the idea of a sound bath. You can find recordings of singing bowls and gongs to play while you meditate, but finding a live sound bath can make a big difference in your experience. Look for meditation or yoga studios that offer sound baths, and give one a try.
Mediums are people who have a specific connection to the spirit world and can communicate with forces on the other side. For skeptics, this can be a hard pill to swallow, but you don’t have to completely believe in spirits to get something out of a medium. Most people seek them out because of a deep need to communicate with someone they have lost, but some just need guidance. Think of it as another form of therapy. Many mediums say everyone each has their own spirit guides who are constantly trying to communicate with us—the medium is simply the tool.
How to Make It Self-Care: Seeking out a medium takes some effort. They’re few and far between, and not everyone who says they are a medium is legit. If you know someone who has been to one, ask for a referral. It’s more likely that you don’t, so head online. The good thing about mediums is that you don’t usually have to be in the same place to meet with them, so look for ones who offer phone or video chat sessions. Enter your session with an open mind and heart and listen to what they have to say. What you get out of it depends on how well you listen.