I used look at every phenomena in a Marxist lens. I mean, I still do; but in 2016, I self-diagnosed with anxiety and seasonal depression, and was clinically diagnosed with PCOS in 2017. Back then, during the first months, I could still calm my nerves by justifying the reason for my deteriorating mental health to capitalism and class struggle. However, darker days arrived; and although I was still aware how my inner struggle and the greater class struggle could intersect, I needed a more tangible way to deal with my worsening anxiety and seasonal depression due to hormonal imbalance, or else I would not be here today writing this.
I was introduced to New Age philosophy in the most absurd way possible! But desperation and the will to survive can take you to new heights. One day, I found myself listening to Youtube videos on the Law of Attraction and then the following days were about rewiring subconscious thinking through on-loop self-affirmations. It showed results after about two weeks of practicing; moods were better, anxieties were more controllable, and morale was boosted.
But I can’t go all the way. The philosophy is just too problematic for the following reasons:
- You are taught to operate in subjective reality, which means that what is “real” is however you would like it to be, or however you have thought it to be.
- The philosophy is comfortable that others are poor and it tells you that they are poor because they do not posses the mindset required for the Law of Attraction. For short, poverty becomes somehow a state of mind.
- It tells you that the reason why there’s only a small percentage of people in the world that are wealthy and successful is because they are the only ones who are open to receive the blessings of the universe; that they know this ‘secret’ of receiving that’s why their wealth and success are justified. It doesn’t matter whether that’s Donald Trump or whoever exploitative billionaire that is.
- It cultivates toxic positivity and aggressive individualism. Because you would have to block every negativity that comes your way to supposedly stay in tune to the ‘channel of blessings’; therefore, you would not only police your own thoughts but whatever comes out of other people’s mouths, too! And because you have to practice staying positive all the time, you would have to think about yourself above everything and everyone else. Your question to yourself will now be, ‘Will this make me feel good?’ and no longer ‘Is this the truth?’.
I am not an expert about the whole New Age movement so there are, of course, points that I have failed to enumerate (and what I might be talking about is just one part of the whole New Age movement). But those are particular tenets of the philosophy that do not sit well with me and my core beliefs. However, I would like to believe that we–at least I–can make something out of it.
This is why I am launching series of mini exploratory researches on reconciling pieces of the New Age philosophy and Marxism. My blogposts will revolve mainly on my musings about the Leftist ideologies and will try to locate where we can apply New Age philosophy without diluting the revolutionary cause. I would love this blog to become a platform for open to discussions , too! So leave a comment or question and let me respond thoroughly through
musings x science.
Disclaimer
This is one of my self therapy. Please respect this decision of publishing my thoughts.
If I did write anything you think is harmful, please write me a message and I will respond accordingly.
My write-ups are targeted to specific audiences. I am aware that you might not like what I write.
But please feel free to join the discussion either way.
I know this may ooze of certain privileges, but as I’ve said, I’m targeting specific audiences.
Which you might not be one.
I also write other stuff for fun!
Just-New-Age-Things you can try for better mental health with personal reviews on how it worked or did not work for me.
Anything art related! Mostly art experiences that moves people.
The New Age Marxist 