Conspiracy theories abound these days. In a rapidly changing world overrun with uncertainty, governmental distrust, and fear, it’s one way of making sense of the chaos. A conspiracy theory is defined as a theory that rejects the consensually accepted explanation for an event such as the pandemic and instead credits a covert powerful group or organization with carrying out a secret sinister plot unknown to the general public. Those who believe themselves to be really in the know, often feel superior to those who are blind to the actual nefarious nature of what is happening.
The fact that far-right groups such as QAnon have been promoting Covid 19 denialism, demonizing Dr. Fauci, alleging dystopian motives behind public health policy, and the dangerousness of the vaccine is common knowledge. What is perhaps less well known is that charismatic influencers with huge followings in the New Age spiritual and wellness community are also promoting bizarre conspiracy theories. These theories include the cause of the epidemic, the exaggerated dangerousness of the virus, the malevolent motives behind social distancing recommendations, the lack of efficacy of masks, and the safety of the vaccine.
What these seemingly strange bedfellows share is the conspiratorial mindset which can be characterized by three assumptions:
- Nothing happens by accident
- Everything is connected
- Nothing is as it seems
Since I endorse these metaphysical beliefs about the nature of reality, it’s been particularly fascinating to recognize that they also underpin the conspiratorial world view.
Another shared belief between QAnon and many members of the spiritual community is that we are in the midst of a Great Awakening. For QAnon the #hashtag, The Great Awakening, means awakening to both truth and facts about the Deep State. “At its core are lurid claims that an elite cabal of child-trafficking pedophiles, comprising, among others, Hollywood A-listers, leading philanthropists, Jewish financiers and Democrat politicians, covertly rule the world. Only President Trump can bring them to justice with his secret plan that will deliver what QAnon’s disciples refer to as “The Storm” or “The Great Awakening”. (1)
The notion of “awakening” is also a concept integral to the spiritual community. Though it’s the same term, the meaning is quite different. An increasing number of individuals are reporting mystical experiences, a shift in consciousness, which has been referred to as “awakening”. This is a complex concept to define, but central to it is the experience of the sacredness of everything as well as a mature state of awareness that transcends the experience of the separateness of “I” and “Other”. The YouTube video at the bottom of the post is an episode from “Buddha at the Gas Pump”, a podcast devoted to interviews with spiritually awakening people. There are currently close to 600 episodes.
Given the overwhelming scope and nature of the planetary problems we are facing, such as the collapse of the biosphere and the pandemic, which both call for global solutions, it is particularly unfortunate that efforts to come together to propose strategies and cooperation are often met with paranoia and conspiracy narratives about the global elite controlling the world from both the far right and the New Age/ wellness community.
Since 2011 the planet Neptune, which is associated with dreams, illusion, delusion, addiction, and loss of control has been exerting a particularly powerful influence on the collective consciousness, and in this last period even more so. Astrologer Alan Oaken called the current configuration a signature of “mass psychosis”. We are now particularly vulnerable to confusion and difficulty sorting out what is real and true.
There is an understandable temptation to throw up one’s hands in resignation, succumbing to a feeling that we simply have no idea what is really going on and have no way of finding out. That may in some ultimate sense be true, but nevertheless, all of us have a responsibility to resist that defeatist attitude and to continue to seek out the highest-quality in-depth journalism from a wide variety of sources that we can find, read critically, listen deeply, and engage in discussion with others, in order to dispel the paralyzing fog of confusion and disinformation that is making it so hard to see clearly.
Here is a thought-provoking conversation about conspiracy theories and the New Age/wellness community on the podcast “Buddha at the Gas Pump“. Rick Archer, the host, interviews three guests, a journalist, a cult researcher, and a philosophical skeptic. These three men also host their own podcast called “Conspirituality”. It describes itself as ” a weekly study of converging right-wing conspiracy theories and faux-progressive wellness utopianism.” As hosts of their own podcast, I found their tone and attitudes often dismissive, contemptuous, lacking in discernment, and all too ready to throw the baby out with the bathwater. They were more respectful and measured as guests on “Buddha at the Gas Pump”.
(1) 09.20.2020 Jamie Doward The Guardian How the Qanon Conspiracy Theory is taking Root in the UK
I stopped by to see your latest posts and this one is a very good one, thank you. I’ve never made the connection you do above (right-wing & New Age) but it is good to think about and to be aware of.
I also see some of myself in your characterization of Conspirituality (sigh). I’ve never seen it, now will skip it, too many excellent videos out there, but I can be dismissive and contemptuous at times in my thinking though do have a pretty good grasp on reality and many of the issues. I feel there is very valid criticism of Fauci (not a fan) and his vaccine claims. It’s an experiment, 40 days as ‘long-term’ evaluation of vaccine safety is well, not very long term, and of course the paralysis and deaths from vaccine are being conveniently poo poo’d as not related.
It’s also not really conspiratorial thinking to be critical of his behind closed doors bromance with Bill Gates and others who profit immenseley (then don’t pay taxes to give back to the system) from people getting sick and dying. And many of his other actions, not needed to mention here.
I’m extremely concerned for my son – 23 years old – who is very bright but prone to ‘wanting to do good’ and being manipulated by much of the vaccine propaganda going on, and could risk his health because of it. They will not be injecting anything in my arm, that’s for sure, but I am low risk, wear a mask, socially careful and maintain distance for the most part, etc. I understand for other high risk groups getting the vaccine may be worth the associated risks.
If we didn’t have to sort through lies, intentional deception (paralysis happens, so if someone experiences it after vaccine can’t say it’s related so don’t worry anyone, it’s all safe and effective like all our good medicines are) making informed decisions would be much easier and I think we would have less of the extremist type of backlash you describe so well above.
But that’s not the world we live in, so conspiracy theories will be what they are and most likely continue to flourish – as the reality is some of them have elements of truth.
My thoughts for the morning, hope this wasn’t annoying.
Each of us has to find our own way and discernment is paramount in the face of all of the disinformation campaigns from all sides. There are risks in getting the vaccine and risks in not getting the vaccine. Each person will have to make that decision for themselves. It’s a very challenging transformational time on the planet.
Yes, and it is a very difficult decision, thank you for your reply.
I felt I should have clarified that I didn’t mean to suggest there is ANY “element of truth” to the absolutely heinous groups QAnon, Proud Boys, etc. and all they stand for and promote.
I was referring to mainstream media, alternative health channels, and our corporate-controlled medical establishment that promotes many conflicting views depending on who is paying for the information/disinformation at any given time and the motives behind it.
It is very frustrating.
The for-profit nature of our health care system does create so many situations that have nothing to do with public health. 🙁
Very good commentary. I still recall my 6th grade teacher Sr. Agatha who decided to talk to us about “critical thinking” one afternoon. It made an impression.
It’s interesting, isn’t it, how certain things like what Sr Agatha said to you made a lasting impression.
I have similar memories. One of them was when I was in high school and I was sitting around a black and white television with my classmates and we were watching the Watergate proceedings. Nixon was making some sort of statement and we were all mocking and heckling him. The headmaster said, “Kids, this is not funny. This is terrible. This is the president of the United States, and there is nothing funny about what is going on here. It’s awful.” He was of course right and we sobered up. Anyhow, thank you Sr. Agatha and it makes the important point about talking to our kids and imparting our values.