Having previously managed a destination spa that featured many esoteric services, which were always booked out, I know that mysticism has a place in spas and wellness resorts. The information I garnered from my online research supports my theory… mysticism is a growing trend.
The growing trend toward “spiritual but not religious” has spiked in recent years, surprisingly resonating with the very same demographic most likely to reject the notion of a god — liberal academics. Horoscopes, aura readings and tarot decks are common in the homes of many.
Today, with the internet offering unlimited access to information — cultural, historical and scientific — spirituality is becoming freckled with modern nuance. Wrapped up in ancient methods and novel technology, it’s reaching new (albeit splintered) heights alongside the burgeoning wellness movement. Contemporary generations may be shifting further from the pew, but there is a notion that seems to linger in even the most secular people — a longing for something less corporeal. While Westerners may be leaving their family traditions for a variety of reasons, it seems that the desire for a spiritual outlet still burns brightly.
Originating in the USA, a new aesthetic is moving over to Europe which, at first glance, reveals a desire for magic, mysticism and spirituality. Behind this movement lies the deep yearning that many people feel for a sense of orientation. In the new mystic movement, millennial women refer to themselves as “witches” and regard themselves as part of a self-empowering feminist movement. There is also a counter concept to organised religions; a new commercial spirituality – the hipsterisation of esotericism. Over the last few years, the hippie festival “Burning Man” has been fashionable, while the Peruvian transcendence ritual with the liana Ayahuasca is growing in popularity, as are freshly printed tarot cards, modern crystals and catwalk fashion, which are all finding their way into the world of mysticism. It is still too early to say if this trend will have a long-lasting impact on accessing spirituality or if it is a lifestyle phenomena.
