TIL that the New Age overpriced woo “healing” crystals bought by middle-class white people are mined in deadly conditions in the poorest countries.

This is true of so many things that New Age people love. My source: I used to be one.

Karma is a concept used to systematically oppress millions of people by excusing their oppression as punishment for acts committed in a past life.

Vegan alternatives like cashews are grown by slave labor.

Don’t get me started on mindfulness. I believe mindfulness exercises (spending a period of time every day just letting your thoughts go by without judging them) is a great way to help stay mentally balanced. The people making money by rehashing religious dogma and self helps books written on the 1960’s-1990’s are calling what they peddle “mindfulness”, but IME they conflate mindfulness with thoughtfulness, self hypnosis, and just general positive thinking. Even done right mindfulness meditation not a panacea and unless you’re really bringing some new idea to the table, SELLING the idea of enlightenment through mindfulness is greedy behavior. No matter how many rich white suburbanites are buying your books and giving them good reviews, it’s still just a pop culture rehashing of another culture’s religious philosophy.

/r/todayilearned Thread Link - theguardian.com