Channeling Into the New Age by Gordon, Henry

Occult Philosophy

Channeling Into the New Age

Name: Channeling Into the New Age
Price: 36.00 USD
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Rating: 4.6 (2 reviews)
Author: Gordon, Henry
ISBN: 9780879755034

Gordon, Henry

Reader rating

4.6

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$36.00

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📚 ABOUT THE BOOK

Unmasking the New Age: a spirited, unauthorized exposé of its trends, figures, and financial currents.

Henry Gordon, a seasoned columnist and magician, meticulously dissects the New Age phenomenon, exploring its pervasive influence on contemporary culture. This insightful volume delves into the movement's diverse practices, from channeling and astrology to herbal medicine and heightened awareness techniques. Gordon critically examines the motivations behind its rise, the financial ecosystem it sustains, and the prominent figures, like Shirley MacLaine, who champion it. Far from a sympathetic guide, this book offers a "roast" of the New Age, tracing its historical lineage while lampooning its more absurd expressions.

Key themes

Critique of New Age Historical Roots & Evolution Media & Celebrity Influence

Historical context

This work situates itself within the critical literature surrounding the New Age movement, offering an insider's perspective on its cultural and financial ecosystems. It serves as a counter-narrative to the spiritual guides that dominate the genre, challenging the prevailing optimism of the era.

Gordon, Henry

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Difficulty

●● Moderate

Fans will love it

Gordon Linzner · Robert Anton Wilson · Catherine L. Albanese

🕯️ Occult Philosophy

🏛 Prometheus Books 📅 1988 📖 198 pages 📔 Hardcover 📐 Hardcover ISBN: 9780879755034

Fun fact

Gordon's "Channeling Into the New Age" stands as a sharp, unvarnished critique, offering a much-needed antidote to uncritical acceptance. It shines in its historical tracing and humorous skewering of New Age absurdities and commercialism. Readers seeking validation for their own New Age explorations will be disappointed, as this book is firmly on the side of skepticism. However, for those interested in cultural phenomena, debunking, or the intersection of spirituality and commerce, it remains a seminal, if provocative, read in the field of critical occult studies.

📝 Description: Channeling Into the New Age

What exactly is the New Age movement? Why has it become the dominant force of the Zeitgeist, invading nearly every aspect of American life? After years of researching this burgeoning movement, columnist, author, and magician Henry Gordon is one of the world's foremost experts on every aspect of the New Age - its derivations and content, the people most involved in it, the forces that motivate and prolong it, and the enormous amount of money changing hands as the "me" generation takes on astrology, crystals, runes, channeling, mysticism, yoga, acupuncture, herbal medicine, telepathy, precognition, clairvoyance, biofeedback, biorhythms, reincarnation, and every sort of psychological technique for heightened awareness. At the forefront of the brouhaha is high-profile actress, lecturer, and free spirit Shirley MacLaine. This book is strictly unauthorized - a freewheeling and spirited roast of the New Age, including a history of trends leading to the movement (rooted in 19th-century occultism), and observations on the vast amount of coverage given to the movement (and to New Age celebrities) by the print and broadcast media. Although Gordon delights in skewering the absurdities of the New Age, there's a serious emphasis to his research and his message: While the gurus are busy channeling into "new realities," they are becoming phenomenally rich without contributing in any significant way to the alleviation of human unhappiness - and very often, without making any sense at all.

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Gordon delivers a spirited exposé that strips away the veneer of spiritual enlightenment to reveal financial currents and celebrity endorsements. While it offers a fascinating dissection of channeling and astrology, it is not for those seeking validation or gentle guidance. Skeptics and critical thinkers will appreciate the lampooning of absurdities, but devout practitioners may find the tone too harsh. It is a vital text for understanding the movement's rise, though its cynical edge limits its appeal to open-minded observers rather than participants.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking a clear-eyed, unsentimental look at the New Age phenomenon will find this volume invaluable for its sharp critique and financial insights. It is perfect for those curious about the mechanics behind spiritual trends, the influence of celebrities like Shirley MacLaine, and the historical lineage of these practices. If you want to understand the 'roast' of absurd expressions without wading through sympathetic dogma, Gordon’s magus perspective provides a necessary corrective to popular narratives.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.7/5

★★★★★

If you're a curious skeptic, a cultural critic, or simply bewildered by the New Age's omnipresence, this book is for you. It offers a bracing, unsentimental look at a movement often taken at face value, providing a much-needed counter-narrative.

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

Gordon delivers a spirited exposé that strips away the veneer of spiritual enlightenment to reveal financial currents and celebrity endorsements. While it offers a fascinating dissection of channeling and astrology, it is not for those seeking validation or gentle guidance. Skeptics and critical thinkers will appreciate the lampooning of absurdities, but devout practitioners may find the tone too harsh. It is a vital text for understanding the movement's rise, though its cynical edge limits its appeal to open-minded observers rather than participants.

❓ Frequently asked questions

No, quite the opposite. This book is a critical, unauthorized examination and 'roast' of the New Age movement, not an endorsement or instructional guide.

Yes, author Henry Gordon specifically addresses the influence of high-profile personalities, with particular attention given to actress and lecturer Shirley MacLaine.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Critique of New Age

Gordon's work offers a sharp, often humorous, deconstruction of the New Age movement's popular appeal. He scrutinizes the vast array of practices, from crystal healing to past-life regression, questioning their efficacy and the commercial interests driving their popularity. Expect a skeptical, yet thoroughly researched, examination of what lies beneath the spiritual veneer.

Historical Roots & Evolution

The book meticulously charts the historical antecedents of the New Age, revealing its surprising connections to 19th-century occult traditions. Gordon illustrates how ancient esoteric ideas were reinterpreted and repackaged, contributing to the movement's modern form. This provides crucial context for understanding its doctrines and enduring cultural resonance.

Media & Celebrity Influence

Gordon pays particular attention to how media attention and celebrity endorsements have amplified the New Age's reach. He highlights the role of figures like Shirley MacLaine in popularizing concepts and practices, examining how this spotlight contributes to the movement's mainstream acceptance and profitability. It's a look at the commercialization of spirituality.

💬 Quotes from the book

“One might ask if the 'heightened awareness' promised by so many gurus simply means a heightened awareness of one's own bank account emptying.”

“The latest celestial pronouncements from a 'channeled' entity often sound suspiciously like last week's self-help bestseller, repackaged with a cosmic flourish.”

📜 Historical context

Published at a time when the New Age movement was reaching peak mainstream saturation, this book provides a vital counterpoint to the celebratory narratives of the era. It places the movement within a longer tradition of spiritual seeking and commercial exploitation, drawing parallels to earlier occult revivals and demonstrating a lineage of popular esoteric thought.

📚 Glossary

Channeling
Zeitgeist
Occultism

📔 Questions to reflect on

How do modern spiritual movements, including the New Age, reflect broader societal desires or anxieties?
Consider the role of media and celebrity in popularizing esoteric ideas. Has this changed over time, and what are the implications?
Reflect on any New Age practices or beliefs you've encountered. How might a critical lens, like Gordon's, alter your perception of them?