Start here · Essential guide
New Age Spirituality and the Occult Revival
How the New Age movement grew out of older occult currents like Theosophy and Spiritualism, what its practices and beliefs involve, and how scholars read it.
Magic and Modern Movements
New Age Movements
Theosophy, Spiritualism, New Thought, Anthroposophy, channeling and the Akashic Records.
Anthroposophy: Rudolf Steiner's Spiritual Science Explained
What Anthroposophy is: Rudolf Steiner's spiritual science, its split from Theosophy, core ideas, and its use in Waldorf schools, biodynamic farming and medicine.
Atlantis in Occult and New Age Spirituality
How Plato's Atlantis became an occult and New Age legend, from Blavatsky and Cayce to modern crystal lore, and what scholars say about where it was.
Can ChatGPT read Akashic Records?
Can ChatGPT read the Akashic Records? A plain answer on what AI chatbots can and cannot do, why 'AI akashic readings' are not real access, and how to use them.
Edgar Cayce, the Sleeping Prophet: Readings, Beliefs and Legacy
Who was Edgar Cayce? A look at the American trance medium's life, his readings on health, reincarnation and Atlantis, the A.R.E., and the criticism he faced.
Esoteric America: Occult Movements and African American Esotericism
A survey of esoteric and occult movements in the United States, from Spiritualism to Theosophy, with a section on African American esoteric traditions.
How true is akashic reading?
How reliable is an akashic reading? There is no scientific evidence for the records, but readings can feel meaningful. Here is how to weigh claims and avoid pitfalls.
Is New Age a Religion? Scholars on a Loose Spiritual Movement
Is New Age a religion? Scholars generally call it a loose spiritual milieu rather than a single faith. See the arguments for and against and the key researchers.
Spiritualism: The Religion of Mediums, Seances and Spirit Contact
What Spiritualism means as a religion: its 1848 origins, what mediums do, core beliefs, the role of fraud and skepticism, and how people join today.
The Age of Aquarius: Astrological Meaning and Its Role in New Age Belief
What is the Age of Aquarius? Learn the astrological idea of precession and ages, why its start date is disputed, and how it shaped New Age belief and 1960s culture.
The Akashic Records: Origins and Religious Views
The Akashic Records are a claimed spiritual archive of all events. Learn their Theosophical origins, how readings work, and how religions and skeptics view them.
The Ascended Masters: Theosophy's Hidden Teachers and Their Modern Followers
Who are the Ascended Masters? Follow the idea from Blavatsky's Mahatmas to the I AM Activity and modern groups, with the figures named and the criticism.
Theosophy: Blavatsky's Religion and Occult Science
Theosophy explained: Helena Blavatsky, the Theosophical Society, its core teachings, the Masters, the controversies, and its influence on the New Age.
What are New Age spiritual beliefs?
A clear summary of common New Age spiritual beliefs: holism, inner divinity, karma, energy, spiritual evolution and the Age of Aquarius, with notes on how views differ.
What Is Channeling? Mediums, Entities and New Age Channeled Texts
What is spiritual channeling? Learn how it differs from mediumship, its roots in Spiritualism, famous channeled works like Seth and A Course in Miracles, and the skeptical view.
What Is New Thought Spirituality?
New Thought is a mind-centered spiritual movement behind affirmations and the law of attraction. Learn its origins, beliefs, churches and how it differs from New Age.
What is the difference between religion and Spiritualism?
Religion is a broad category; Spiritualism is one specific religion built on communication with spirits. Learn the differences and how it differs from spirituality.
Which religion is most aligned with science?
No single religion is universally 'most scientific.' See why the answer depends on definitions, how scholars model science and religion, and which traditions are cited.
Who are some famous esotericists?
A chronological guide to famous esotericists, from Renaissance figures like Ficino and Agrippa to Blavatsky, Steiner, Crowley and Manly P. Hall.
Related topics