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Which traditional occult practices became tools for personal transformation in the New Age movement?
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The New Age movement integrated various traditional occult practices, repurposing them as tools for personal transformation and spiritual well-being. These practices were often detached from their original cultural or religious contexts to serve individual growth and the broader goal of societal transformation.1
Key practices adopted by the movement include:
- Divinatory Arts: Astrology, tarot reading, and the I Ching were frequently integrated with psychological counseling to provide personal guidance.1
- Mind-Body Techniques: Yoga and various meditation techniques, such as Zen meditation, were utilized to explore and alter states of consciousness.1
- Spiritual Communication: Mediumship evolved into the practice of "channeling," where individuals claimed to communicate with preternatural or extraterrestrial entities to gain spiritual and philosophical insights.1
- Energy Tools: The use of crystals became a prominent feature, as they were believed to act as reservoirs of energy capable of facilitating healing and personal transformation.1