Mindful Practices... A New Religion?

In the past few years, mindful meditation/practices have become the newest fad.  Whether you're on the East Coast and fully immersed in the practice, or somewhere in the midwest just beginning to discover this practice, one can't deny the ever growing trend.  From mindful practices, chakra cleansing, reiki healing, tarot cards, and astrology, people can surely find a practice that suits their needs.  For some, these practices are merely placebo effects that provide no real healing effects; however, licensed/certified allopathic professionals would argue otherwise.  These professionals undergo schooling and accreditation to serve the communities who believe in the benefits of mindful practices. 

12 Zodiac signs via Astrology Signs

A recent Times Guest Opinion article on June 15th briefly explained how Astrology could be a substitute for religion.  Krista Burton, the guest columnist who writes for Rookie magazine and her own blog, tells her story of essentially "giving in" to the mindful practice of chakra cleansing.  Her article outlines how queer culture has embodied crystal cleansing and says, 

"Show me a larger group of people who’ve been more discarded by their childhood religions, or who’ve turned their backs on cultures, traditions and gods that don’t serve, love or want them as they are. Oh, look — it’s the queers waving back at you, plumes of smoke from smudge sticks wafting behind us like spiritual chemtrails as we sage away those negative vibes."

Her aforementioned quote may have a point. The gay community has been cast aside as if they weren't people. Not being able to participate in your childhood religion or culture can have drastic side effects. And where would one go after cast aside by their church? According to Burton, the answer is crystals. These crystals and larger community are accepting and relatable in ways that other communities aren't. I understand how the hope these groups can provide would be comparable to having a religion.  Although Burton says that astrology isn't a religion for the queer community and that it turns you into the "kind of lesbian you swore you'd never be", the rest of her article hints that astrology is something more than a casual hobby.

Burton later goes on a rant about how millenials are adopting these practices to make life more bearable.

"The meteoric rise of New Age practices may be trendy, but it’s one way millennials are acknowledging that the current system isn’t working. We’re trying out new things that are actually old things; we’re seeing what else could make life a little more meaningful, a little more bearable."

Although I can't directly relate with the habits of queer culture, I can understand her point that millennials are struggling against the current system.  Millennials seem to be adopting any strategy possible to "buck the system" or as Burton phrased it, "make life a little more meaningful, a little more bearable".  When society has been blaming millennials for ruining just about everything, I can understand the pressure and scrutiny that queer millennials would have to endure.