Hey folks, I’ve noticed a common misconception people have about New Age - specifically, that the term “New Age” refers to it being a relatively new form of spirituality. Because of this, many people also think it’s appropriate to refer to any form of spirituality they perceive as new as “New Age.” So, the term “New Age” actually refers to the belief that the world is on the cusp of entering a new phase in the cosmic cycle - the so-called Age of Aquarius, as it was often called in the 20th century; or the Fifth Round, as it was called by Theosophy founder Helena Blavatsky. (The Fifth Round/Age of Aquarius, in turn, is tied to all that spiritual eugenics stuff.) It’s both inappropriate and misleading to refer to things like neopaganism, tarot reading, etc. as “New Age.” Yes, New Age can sometimes incorporate these things, but that doesn’t mean that these things are themselves part of New Age.
