Since the beginning of quarantine, everyone has had a lot of time to sit in silence and ponder over their thoughts and beliefs. Since the start of the pandemic,  TikTok has erupted with the idea of New Age Spirituality. Spirituality is a broad term that is ambiguous, but essentially, it is the belief that human life is divine in nature and more than just a sensory experience. Fundamentally, spirituality is meant to gain control over one’s life and open the heart and mind. 

Though commonly expressed through crystals, aligning Chakras and becoming more aware of the power of the human mind and spirit, New Age Spirituality has taken pieces from different cultures and beliefs and TikTokers have found a way to express these practices in a way that resonates with them. Though this is a great thing, the history behind some of these primary beliefs are not being acknowledged enough. 

The root of this problem can be found in the general public’s lack of understanding and willingness to research deeper into their interests. Many young people take everything that is said on TikTok to heart, putting their trust in creators who use their thirst for knowledge to their advantage. Creators on TikTok will often lie about the origin of some beliefs or lack depth in their explanations, leaving viewers with only a glimpse of the truth. Though this may not be purposeful, this is a direct cause of cultural appropriation on the app. 

The idea of “aligning” or opening one’s Chakras is actually an idea that dates back 4,000 years and stems from Hinduism, an Indian religion and way of life which does not receive the credit it deserves. A few other practices that people learning about New Age Spirituality haven’t quite acknowledged are Native American and African beliefs which both emphasize harmony and peace amongst humans and nature. 

Through watching videos of people from different backgrounds and practices and listening to their opinions on the matter, I have gathered that the spread of ideas via social media is totally okay and encouraged by other cultures- as long as the history of these beliefs are acknowledged and aren’t taken and reclaimed as their own by other peoples. Chiefly, it is imperative that research is done before slapping a new name on important pieces within a religion or culture, but despite this, New Age Spirituality is a completely valid and interesting practice as long as credit is given where it is due.