New Age, Is There A Darkside?
Over the years, I’ve witnessed so many people—dear friends, fellow moms, even strangers on the internet-go on their own winding spiritual journeys. There’s a hunger in us, deep and aching, that longs for peace, connection, truth, and something real. We feel it in the stillness and in the chaos. We look around and know, deep down, that this world is broken—and we long for wholeness. I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Ali Tate and talk through her story, and wow—what a ride she’s been on.
Ali’s journey started like many of ours might have. She was raised with exposure to multiple religions and spiritual frameworks but didn’t feel grounded in any one truth. As a model traveling the world, life was exciting, but it was also shallow. When cancel culture hit her hard, she spiraled into a dark place of anxiety and suicidal thoughts. In that pain, she sought healing, meaning, and purpose. That’s where the “new age” path came in—plant medicine, breathwork, tantric retreats, astrology, even psychedelic journeys that claimed to bring her closer to God.
What struck me most is how she described the initial beauty of it all—the healing from trauma, the sense of community, the food sovereignty movement, and how it led her and her whole family to start fresh in Austin, Texas. But eventually, that path also revealed a darker underbelly: polyamorous “radical monogamy,” narcissistic spiritual leaders claiming divine revelation to justify sin, and people chasing euphoric highs instead of grounding themselves in truth.
It reminded me of something so simple, yet so powerful: there’s nothing new under the sun.
“What has been is what will be,
and what has been done is what will be done,
and there is nothing new under the sun.”
— Ecclesiastes 1:9 (ESV)
The same lies whispered in the garden of Eden are still being whispered today: You can be like God. You can have ultimate knowledge. You don’t need Him—you just need the right experience. That same pride that led to the Fall is still leading people into spiritual confusion, masking darkness in light.
Ali shared so vulnerably about the spiritual exhaustion that eventually came from the new age path. The highs of ayahuasca, the mystical experiences—none of it sustained her. It wasn’t enough to carry her through motherhood, through marriage, through daily life. When something dark entered her home and she called on the name of Jesus, that’s when the darkness fled. That name—Jesus—was the only one that held authority.
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
— John 1:5 (ESV)
She’s now attending church for the first time in her life, and finding that Jesus isn’t just a mystical figure in a mix of world religions—He is the way, the truth, and the life. Her heart is opening to a love that’s not performative, not self-seeking, and not mystical—but personal. Jesus is real, and He meets us not only in the mountaintop moments but in the daily, ordinary rhythms of life.
Ali also spoke about marriage and motherhood—how “boring” isn’t bad, it’s beautiful. Choosing one person, choosing to show up for your kids, day after day, isn’t a downgrade from freedom—it’s actually the doorway to lasting joy. In a world chasing dopamine and novelty, sacred union and committed parenthood may not be flashy—but they’re holy. And they’re one of the clearest pictures we have of God’s heart: sacrificial love, unshakeable commitment, and the joy of stewarding life.
I’ve walked this journey, too. I’ve felt the pull toward “doing more,” being “more spiritual,” or chasing after what culture says should fulfill me. But the more life I live, the more hardship I face, the more I realize: Only Jesus satisfies. Only Jesus brings peace that outlasts the storm. Only Jesus holds the truth our souls long for.
Let’s not be afraid to ask hard questions, to press in when we’re confused, or to acknowledge the places where we’ve strayed. But let’s also remember that truth isn’t some floating concept. It’s a person. And His name is Jesus.
Major Takeaways:
New Age spirituality may offer temporary peace, but only Jesus brings lasting truth and freedom. The allure of mystical practices, psychedelic experiences, and “radical” ideologies often fades when real life hits. Only the truth of Christ has stood the test of time.
There is sacred beauty in the ordinary. Choosing your spouse again and again, raising your children with intention, and walking in faithful community may seem countercultural, but it’s God’s design for flourishing.
Listen to the whole podcast here!
If you’re seeking truth today, or if you’re feeling disillusioned by what the world offers, I want to remind you: Jesus is still calling. You’re never too far gone. There’s still time to return, rebuild, and rediscover the fullness of life found in Him.
With love and grace,
Bethany 💛
