I too would love to know what modern spirituality actually consists of. There are plenty of options on offer out there. My problem with what passes for modern âspiritualityâ is that the people that do it can degenerate into candle-waving idiots very quickly. Ripe for exploitation by influencers and other profiteers. I very much distrust anything that requires me to buy something to be âspiritualâ. Iâm including christianity in this list, and itâs a long one.
I guess the operative word here is community - cos we all need at least one as we are pack/herd animals at a very basic level. Community is worth seeking out but comes in a lot of different flavours and uses a lot of different jargons. Iâm all in favour of researching the topic personally, but would encourage you to keep your brain cells engaged while you do so. There will be other events like this expo - there are too many fools out there ready to spend their money on shit.
dumblederp@aussie.zone â¨2⊠â¨months⊠ago
What do you think modern spirituality is? Philosophically, stoicism and buddhism have all the answers I need.
Iâve found a big part of the spirituality community is guru-type guys trying to spirituality their way into young girls pants and a bunch of women burned by said guru-guys. Eg, confest creeps, anyone ever met a guy who goes by Quoll?
I have ZERO time for reiki, tarot, psychics or anything to do with crystal energy. I think itâs nonsense and avoid getting to know âbelieversâ. Iâm not interested in debate with someone so off the deep end of reality, I feel theyâre akin to flat-earthers.
These days the whole eat healthy food --> crunchy parents --> right-wing nutjob pathway seems very prevalent. Many of my loose bush doof friends have started talking about satanists taking over and the need to protect ourselves from the government. One mate called the whole Trump trail a false flag because Trump was going to reveal the truth about âhow it all worksâ. The anti-government / right-wing view come thick and strong.
Iâve grown up Buddhist but have left the community. Iâm fine handling my relationship with the universe on my own terms. Thereâs no shortage of self-directed study material. I have zero belief in an afterlife.
StudChud@aussie.zone â¨2⊠â¨months⊠ago
Youâd hate my mum hahahah! I do! đ
Gibsonisafluffybutt@aussie.zone â¨2⊠â¨months⊠ago
As I replied further up the thread, itâs an investigative process. I used to be a part of that community a very long time ago before I chose to throw my life away for about 10 years.
I grew up in a muslim household, and if people knew what went on in those families, they would understand when I say I donât generally associate with that crowd. Similar to how you feel about Buddhists.
I canât speak for the predatory behaviour, because back in the early 2000âs it was all bush doofs and lsd. Or maybe I didnât notice.
Iâm surprised to hear that a portion of that community has turned towards the right wing. I hadnât heard that before.
As for the âwoo-wooâ, I donât particularly subscribe to much of that, but I am agnostic, and find that crowd at least willing to discuss things around that idea. Canât say Iâve had any luck finding people into that sort of thing in the circles Iâve travelled the last 8 or so years.
Appreciate the info though.
just_kitten@aussie.zone â¨2⊠â¨months⊠ago
I think even they donât know it themselves. The podcast âConspiritualityâ is pretty good at investigating this stuff, from what I hear. I think itâs a distinctly post-Trump thing that went into overdrive with Covid. Distrusting the lockdown and vaccine measures opened up huge swathes to hardcore rightwing communities that were ready to suck them in and provide them with a sense of community in a time of crisis overriding rational thought (which was unfortunately the basis of many hippie groups in the first place tbh).
Not subscribing to identity politics is also a hard one with progressive circles as you mentioned.
Every âsceneâ has its downside tbh, especially if you have a difficult past and/or are not white. Itâs an everyday task to rewire the brain to allow moments of belonging and areas of common ground to sink in, vs the sometimes disproportionate amount of attention given to the moments of not-belonging. Hard to not be hyper vigilant and to trust. Trying to seek a community in that frame of mind is difficultâŚ
Gibsonisafluffybutt@aussie.zone â¨2⊠â¨months⊠ago
I figured that vaccines and lockdowns would be the thing that brought them across to the right. And itâs not surprising that the right welcomed them with open arms to swell their numbers.
You make an interesting point about fitting in. For me, it resonates that I would have a disproportionate perception of not fitting in. The 2 natural communities I would belong to, I donât want anything to do with. One of them being Alcoholics Anonymous.
I generally keep my past to myself in real life. Which creates a sort of glass wall between myself and others. I feel that the âhippieâ community would be less inclined to judge me harshly for the life Iâve lived previously, than say, the average person.
But youâve given me something to consider. Thank you :)