What is spirituality?

The terms appears more and more colloquial as young and youngish generations plunge themselves into the era of Instagram, TikTok, and other pedestals that offer platforms for a new class of social elites: the priesthood of yoga teachers, psychonauts, and nouveau riche.

The new class appears to share a set of common interests, loosely centered around personal development and the prosperity gospel. You'll likely hear them speaking about their recent Tony Robbins retreat or the non-indigenous shaman who guided them on an Ayahuasca or mushroom journey. Many of them work in tech or have gotten rich off Bitcoin.

Perhaps spirituality is the luxury good of this class. Much like peacock displays of past, current, and future travels draws attention and generates social capital within a modern social circle, so too do proclamations of spiritual paths, programs, and experiences. There is a palpable curiosity around “something more to life”, and when the members of this class share their spiritual experiences, they are often rewarded and reinforced by the attention of their peers.

Why would I call this a luxury good? Well, I don't see many poor people engaged in this particular brand of spirituality. That may be because I am not exposed to those in genuine poverty, fair. But those with a more blue / white-collar attitude, those in the middle class... I am not sure it's their priority. They have families to tend to, jobs they need to keep, too much of the practical to risk if they are to embark on a “spiritual” journey.

The qualities of youth and wealth in combination are key to a lot of the “spirituality” I've seen. Gallivanting across the world to meet shamans in Peru, Costa Rica, Bali... that's a lot easier to do when you're young (with few roots, ties, responsibilities that demand localization) and rich (when the value of money is not directly tied to your present or future security or stability).

Do I think engagement in this neavaeu spirituality is a moral failing? No. It seems more rooted in the privilege afforded to the class. Why not look at life as beautiful when your circumstances can shield you from the material afflictions of the world?

Most of the people I've met that are part of this class appear to have very genuine intention. I believe their earnestness in wanting to make the world a better place. I believe that they genuinely want to help themselves and others.

Yet there's something unsavory that I can't quite place about this “spirituality”, something shallow, like the sharp, unpleasant aftertaste of a cheap sugar.