New Age is not a religion, nor a set of beliefs. There is no doctrine, creed, or central religious figure. The New Age is an individualistic, experiential path that is a "spiritual buffet", if you will. You take the parts that work for you, and leave the practices and ideas that do not.
Here are several practices and beliefs that are often found among those who identify with New Age thought:
Synchronicity Most in the New Age do not believe in coincidences or accidents. There is a belief in an ordered, benevolent Universe, with many believing in a loving Deity/Energy. Some call this Force God, while others call it Source, Goddess, All That Is, or other title. There is also a belief in synchronicity. Swiss Psychiatrist and Psychologist Carl Jung coined this term to describe meaningful events that happen at the same time. Some would call them coincidences, but Jung believed that synchronicity showed evidence of a Collective Unconscious and an ordered, meaningful Universe.
Divination Those who practice divination seek insight in the past, present, and future in order to become more conscious--more spiritually aware. By tapping into Source Energy, we can gain insight into the present energy of a situation so we can make choices more consciously. We're always creating--always. When we become more conscious, we create consciously. This usually means we get more of what we want and less of what we don't in terms of personal growth. Divination is a tool that can help us understand unconscious motivations and past life influences, as well as aiding us in tapping into a Higher Power (or our Higher Self) to receive guidance for our highest good. Some tools of divination you'll find in the New Age include Tarot, oracle cards, runes, and the I Ching.
Angels and Ascended Masters Many in the New Age believe that benovolent guides assist us in our lives for our soul's growth, and for our highest good. These beings are often messengers, like angels, or Ascended Masters--highly evolved Light Beings. These beings are multi-dimensional, and assist when called upon.
Reincarnation The idea of Past Lives is pretty standard among those identifying with the New Age. Most believe that we incarnate to learn certain lessons for our soul's growth. We design these lessons before we incarnate in conjunction with our Guides and Teachers in the spirit world. We choose our individual bodies, our relationships, and our life circumstances--all in the hopes of learning certain lessons and contributing to the evolution of our soul's enlightenment. Ultimately, souls are seeking perfection--to be like their Source.
Channeling Channeling is a form of divination in that a question is asked, and an answer is given. A Light Being, Angel, or other loving Entity speaks through a vessel, imparting their evolved wisdom to humanity. Some well known channels include Kryon/Lee Carroll, The Group/Steve Rother, Orin and DaBen/Sanaya Roman and Duane Packer, and Abraham/Esther Hicks. There is quite a bit of channeled material, as well, including the popular spiritual work A Course in Miracles. ACIM is the work of Helen Shucman, a professor of medical psychology at Columbia University, who channeled Jesus.
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