To get a closer look at what’s going on in the New Age movement today, we went to Sedona, Arizona -- a breathtakingly beautiful city that has openly embraced the New Age and welcomes spiritual seekers from all over the globe.  Visitors can enjoy a variety of metaphysical experiences and healing treatments, and find more New Age book and gift shops per square mile than any other city on the planet. We spoke to Marilyn Knight, the book buyer for the popular Crystal Magic, a “Resource Center for Discovery and Personal Growth.”

Knight moved to Sedona in 1987, arguably the year that the New Age reached its peak in popularity (remember the Harmonic Convergence?).  For the past 20 years, she has had a front row seat to the ways the New Age has changed, and the ways it has stayed the same. 

 

Q: Not many people call themselves New Age anymore.  Does that mean the movement has been shrinking?

A: No, I don’t think that’s it.  I think there are just as many people involved in spiritual journeys. We get people from all over the world in our store, and not just older people, a lot of younger people too, a lot of people just learning and curious about the movement.    So there’s just as many people as there ever was.  But most of them don’t call themselves New Age because there’s been so much criticism of it in the media. People want to get out from under the reputation of being a flake.

Q: You hold the media responsible for that reputation?

A: Absolutely.  We see people with cameras come here now and again to make documentaries, or do news reports.  They come in with their bias and they get people to talk to them and then they frame it in a way that makes the New Age look pathetic.  My son took part in an interview, he was a jeep tour driver, and he took people to the vortexes and medicine wheels, and he had some powerful experiences that he shared with the reporter.  But when we watched it, they had mocked him for what he said.  He was embarrassed.  It was really sad.  So yes, I hold the media responsible.

Q:  But there is a lot of silly stuff that goes on in the New Age…

A:  True, and you do find a lot of far-out stuff here in Sedona, too.  In fact, when I first moved here, I was a little freaked out by how far out some people go.  But that’s just a small part of the movement.  The New Age is very broad and inclusive, with a lot to offer.  There is a lot of really good practices and philosophies within the movement that genuinely help people grow, but the good things don’t get any press, and I wish they did.

Q:  So besides the change in attitude toward the name New Age, how is the New Age movement different than it was in 1987?

A:  Well, it’s changed in a lot of ways, but there’s quite a lot that is still the same.  You’d be surprised how many people are doing the exact same things they were doing twenty years ago.  It makes me wonder if they’re stuck, if what they are doing is really helping them grow.  But of course, that’s not for me to say.   Spirituality is a very personal thing.

Q: So what are the ways the movement has changed?

A:  The main difference I’ve noticed is that people have pulled back from the community aspect.  The New Age community is not as united now, people aren’t interacting that much.  When I first moved here, there were a lot of organizations putting on a lot of events, sponsoring speakers, conducting workshops, and a lot of people would turn out for those things.  But now people don’t come out, they don’t get involved, they’re staying home.

Q:  Why do you think that is?

A:  It’s difficult to say why.   But it could be that people just want to do their own thing, they’re focused on their own reality.  It’s a little frustrating.  Sometimes I want to ask people, what are you contributing?   Because there’s no reason for a spiritual journey otherwise, if it doesn’t’ get you out of yourself to be part of something bigger.

Q:   Do you think it’s possible for New Agers to come together as a community again?

A:  I don’t know.  I’d say it’s possible, if we can get our egos out of the way.  If more us can get ourselves unstuck and open ourselves to growth. 

Go back to November 2009 Newsletter.