“Millennial mysticism” thrived during the pandemic. According to Pew, six in ten Americans believe in a New Age concept like reincarnation, astrology, physics, and “the presence of spiritual energy in physical objects like mountains or trees.” Pre-pandemic, YPulse’s Practical Magic report found that 51% of 18-35-year-olds had participated in some sort of supernatural or mystical practices, and the trend was accelerated even more during COVID as young people sought comfort. In the last year, astrology site Dazed Digital saw a 22% increase in horoscope-related traffic compared to the previous year, while Bloomberg reported that the market for gems and healing crystals were outpacing the diamond market. Meanwhile, tarot readers, mystics, and physics are racking up thousands and millions of views and followers on social platforms like OnlyFans and YouTube. (Elle, Dazed)
