Esotericism and New Age

Definition

New Age recognizes as esotericism all that is still occult within the individual and what is possible to be unveiled and achieved by practices, procedures, and studies. Although not part of esotericism in its strict sense, New Age derives some of its content and key features from it. Often seen as a commercial simplification of a much deeper understanding, New Age can be understood as an aspect or a stage of development of Western esotericism.

Introduction

The relationship between the New Age Movement and esotericism is quite intimate. For some, the term esoteric is supposed to be used as an adjective for New Age practices, thoughts, and products. For others, however, the New Age Movement only popularized the term esotericism, having nothing to do with the latter. It is therefore important to investigate the differences and connections between these two instances.

Esotericism can be defined as a way of thinking in which reality is conceived in a specific way (Faivre 1994)....