n age of the guru, where it seems as
meone to turn to in times of trouble — or
hen we’re scrolling through Instagram,
d of a boost to get us through the rest of
about everyone I follow (and by that
ollow) on social media has something
n for faith and affirmation. I’ve lost count
ve seen someone credit their massive
ry from heartbreak/long-awaited
en major life milestone here] to their
ook or a citrine crystal.
e more inclined than ever to believe that
success, it comes as little surprise that
eriously on the decline. According to the
ensus, in 2016, “no religion” is now
e, ahead of Catholic, Anglican, Uniting
st, Presbyterian, Eastern Orthodox,
stal, Lutheran and Sikh. Furthermore,
g paganism, Wiccan and even druidism
rs. Where traditional belief systems
suffering from major PR crises (the Royal
ex abuse, for one), smaller, more
re gaining traction. And alternate forms
as — from astrology to self-help to
ations — are cropping up everywhere.
new philosophy, one that doesn’t give
ender identification or socioeconomic
and influencer Cori Amato Hartwig
en). Many millennial women feel these
offer a type of inclusive, accepting
ways found in more traditional forms of
why people are into this stuff, even if to
e kooky. Jess Magic, the musician who
the living rooms of tech billionaires
Man at home”), encourages all
, smile and have a “songversation” with
as turned her Instagram affirmations
ir bestsellerHeart Talk: Poetic Wisdom
come a guru for the millennial feminist
ended the March For Our Lives in
gans for their placards. “[Girls] revere
would adore your favourite loving,
ster,” says Reese Witherspoon of
called her “the millennial Oprah”.
hs could not have come at a better time
pularity is indeed due to the current
ring moments of political and cultural
rong narratives and solutions to tricky
the ability to put the question out there
urton, writing inThe New York Times,
of these new forms of faith to a future
We’re trying out new things that are
actually old things,” she says, referring to crystals, astrology
and the positive kind of charismatic leadership. “We’re seeing
what else could make life a little more meaningful, a little more
bearable.” As the world gets (literally) hotter, as house prices
rise and rise and as politicians continue to disappoint, is it any
wonder we’re turning to ourselves (through the guidance of
others) for introspection and nurturing?
This quest for personal transformation — whether it be fuelled
by gurus such as Gabrielle Bernstein, Elizabeth Gilbert, Cheryl
Strayed, Sheryl Sandberg or even Oprah — is nothing new, says
Cristina Rocha, an associate professor at Western Sydney
University. “It has its roots in the Human Potential Movement of
the ’60s and ’70s, and other counterculture movements,” she
explains. “It’s about understanding and healing yourself —
constantly being on the lookout for ways to improve who you
are.” Sophi Bruce, who teaches at The School of Life, says the
desire to be more self-aware is noble. “People need to be
nourished in different ways, and if looking inside yourself to find
healing can help you, then I think that’s fantastic.” The flipside of
this, though, says Rocha, is that these new forms of faith are so
introspective they don’t allow for collective action and collective
growth. “Turning to something like astrology because you feel
lost is fine, but it doesn’t allow you to look at the structural
problems in society and what role you might play there.”
If there are any women in this brave new world of gurus who
have a real shot at making lasting changes that could overcome
structural inequality, it’s those like Glennon Doyle, who have
parlayed their fame in this new sphere into true political activism.
Doyle, a Christian mummy blogger turned bestselling memoirist,
who ELLE US referred to as “the guru of the moment”, has
positioned herself as the leader of the Christian resistance to
Trump. She told ELLE US last year, “We wake up in the morning
and literally say to each other, ‘Coffee and revolution.’”
The guru movement is not without its detractors, of course
— there are those who dismiss astrology or affirmations or
self-help as inconsequential and lacking in substance.
Banu Guler, co-founder and CEO of popular astrology app
Co-Star, says she’s used to people seeing her field as silly.
“We’re so quick to dismiss things that are embraced or driven by
women — think about fashion or beauty, how quick we are to
write those off as trivial.” Astrology, she says, is a “social glue”
that helps women, in particular, find a sense of community.
“Politically, we’re in a tumultuous moment,” she says. “The
situation is untenable, so people want something to cling to that
can make sense of the chaos.” When it comes to the dissolution
of faith, Guler points out that people aren’t just losing their faith in
politics, it’s social media as well, especially after Facebook’s
Cambridge Analytica data-leak fiasco. “People want to find
meaning and structure. So what if they find that in astrology or
crystals or in reading a book with new ideas? I just don’t get why
you’d want to dismiss that, if someone found real meaning in it.
Isn’t that what we all want?” E