New Age In’s And Out’s
Fairies and astrology are in but Bigfoot, channelers and paganism are not.
St. Paul, Minnesota - Tim Miejan became the editor of a New Age magazine this year. And he found himself smack in the middle of the shifting, fractured New Age world - where beliefs change faster than you can flip a tarot card.
“We are about what it means to be human, in the metaphysical, holistic and spiritual realms,” said Miejan, of Woodbury, who bought The Edge magazine with a partner in February.
As the editor, Miejan has become a New Age gatekeeper, deciding which legitimate beliefs get into the magazine and which are too far out to be included.
It’s not an easy job.
Chiropractors want out of the New Age movement. Channelers wonder if they belong at all, and pagans feel jilted. Organic farmers don’t want to be near pet psychics. And no one knows what to do with the witches.
For a movement based on peace, love and understanding, New Age looks like a battleground.
“I have customers who completely believe in fairies and will laugh at you if you believe in Bigfoot,” sighed Teisha Magee, owner of the Sacred Paths Center, which describes itself as an “organization celebrating earth-centered spirituality,” in St. Paul.
Lest anyone laugh at their beliefs, New Agers point to the tenants of mainstream religions that seem bizarre to nonbelievers - such as virgin birth, turning water into wine and rising from the dead.
“Is there a way to prove the afterlife?” Miejan said.
Until Miejan took over, The Edge was “an airy-fairy New Age publication,” he said. But he is redefining the magazine’s mission - and whipping up some Age of Aquarius acrimony.
Miejan favors articles on stress reduction and spiritual quests. He welcomes columns on astrology, written by “Moonrabbit.” He recently featured an article which pleaded for a halt to construction of wind turbines because of the harm to life-force energy flows called “prana.”
He says he would include stories about “nature divas,” the politically correct name for fairies. “We would never say those do not exist. We are one of the forums where people can share those ideas,” he said.
But even Miejan’s open mind sometimes snaps shut.
Channelers - people possessed by spirits of the dead - are out. So is the belief that reptile-like aliens have taken over the bodies of celebrities, including Queen Elizabeth and - according to one Web site - former Minnesota U.S. Rep. Bill Luther.
Paganism? Out.
“I am not saying that because paganism offends anyone,” Miejan said. “But it is a complete niche by itself.”
Other New Age leaders are appalled.
“He is excluding channeling? Yikes. Or pagans? He should not be doing that,” said Kathy McGee, editor of the Washington-state-based magazine New Age Retailer.
“New Age is an umbrella term encompassing anything on a spiritual path - Bigfoot, Jesus, Buddha. Even worshipping a frog is sort of OK,” McGee said.
She said New Age thinking is all-or-nothing - you either have an open mind to all beliefs, or you don’t. It is wrong for anyone to pick which beliefs are acceptable.
“You don’t want to say, ‘This is OK, and this is not,’ “ McGee said. “There is nothing we would exclude. We are about goodwill to men.”
Her definition, then, puts Bigfoot believers shoulder-to-shoulder beside organic farmers. Along with channeling, she includes the Fair Trade movement, which promotes products that benefit Third World farmers.
Organic farmers aren’t sure if they want to be included or not.
Some of them recall the 1960s, when the New Age movement was an early and valuable ally.
“That support helped us grow to where we are,” said Honor Schauland, Web editor of the Organic Consumers Association of Finland, Minn. “It seemed like a crazy New Age idea at the time.”
Yet today, every corner food store touts organic food. Organic farmers have graduated to the mainstream - and perhaps no longer can benefit from association with witchcraft and pet psychics.
“I do not want to make out all those topics to be completely crazy. People can judge for themselves,” Schauland said.
“But we think our ideas are not crazy. I think being considered ‘New Age’ sends the message we are associated with crazy ideas. I am not sure that’s such a good idea.”
But Gail Graham says all publicity helps the organic food movement. “Anyone can associate themselves with organics,” said Graham, general manager of Mississippi Market Natural Foods in St. Paul.
In the same way, local yoga practitioners welcome the publicity - in any form.
“I am not concerned about being lumped in with things that are more edgy,” said Chris Gordon, owner of Big River Body Works in St. Paul. “They can put it in whatever category they want.”
Chiropractors can’t seem to get away fast enough. Several New Age Web sites list chiropractors, to the chagrin of Deb Hurston, director of the Minnesota Chiropractic Association.
“That New Age connection should not be made,” she said. “I cannot see how anyone can put chiropractic care and Bigfoot together.”
Definitions don’t matter much to publisher McGee. What matters is believing - in just about anything.
“It is all just a huge, wonderful blend,” she said. “I know, that sounds 1960s-peace-love.”
Image: Teisha Magee holds a citrine sphere which is believed to be good for “hope” and “mental organization
Author: Bob Shaw
Source - http://www.twincities.com/
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