Esotericism and conspiracy thinking: "Conspirituality" - the dangerous alliance of incense sticks and tinfoil hat

Chakra meditation in the morning, chemtrail theories in the evening: There are dangerous overlaps between esotericism and conspiracy thinking. "Conspirituality" is spreading, especially on social media. A phenomenon with serious consequences for those affected and for our society.

One side preaches love, light, and positive vibes, while the other suspects dark forces and secret plans everywhere: At first glance, esotericism and conspiracy beliefs seem to have little in common. A closer look, however, reveals a different picture. Anyone who uses esoteric channels and profiles on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube has a good chance of coming into contact with conspiracy ideologies of all stripes. This isn't just due to the algorithm that continually offers suggestions for media consumption. Rather, many esoteric believers tend to subscribe to conspiracy narratives. This phenomenon is called "conspirituality," a portmanteau of "conspiracy" and "spirituality"—a spirituality that is susceptible to conspiracy myths.

And indeed, there are some thought patterns that can be found in both esoteric worldviews and the worldview of conspiracy theorists. Incidentally, they are also not uncommon in so-called "sects" that have little or nothing to do with esotericism. It's not for nothing that the Christian fundamentalist "Organic Christ Generation" (OCG for short), often referred to as a cult, and its platform kla.tv are among the biggest drivers of conspiracy-ideological thinking in German-speaking countries.

But what is it that makes this mix so attractive? What factors make spirituality susceptible to conspiracy thinking—and why is esotericism particularly susceptible to this? Of course, not everyone who adheres to an esoteric worldview is also a conspiracy believer. Nevertheless, there is a strikingly large overlap, exemplified by the very small group of the "Christian Essene Church" (CEK). The CEK is an esoteric group centered around the self-proclaimed healer and Reiki grandmaster Eckhardt Strohm. They participated in Querdenker demonstrations during the coronavirus pandemic, and their credo includes classic esoteric beliefs. At the same time, they reject mRNA vaccinations because they allegedly manipulate human DNA—a view that is scientifically untenable. It belongs to the realm of conspiracy myths because it is rumored that DNA manipulation is allegedly based on a global conspiracy that wants to influence us all in this way.

The tempting promise of special knowledge

This already reveals a first parallel between the two worldviews: Many esoteric belief systems see themselves as a kind of "secret knowledge" that has supposedly been passed on through initiates since ancient times. Both esotericism and conspiracy ideologies promise access to a supposedly "secret knowledge" that remains hidden from the masses.

The coronavirus pandemic acted as an accelerant for this unholy alliance. Suddenly, yoga teachers on Instagram were sharing not only tips for the perfect sun salutation, but also wild theories about 5G radiation and microchips in vaccines. Wellness influencers who were touting green smoothies yesterday were warning of the "New World Order." The line between spiritual self-discovery and conspiracy theories became increasingly blurred.

The feeling of being among the "awakened" is attractive. Who doesn't like to think of themselves among those who have recognized the truth behind the veil of illusion? While the "sheep" blindly follow the mainstream media, the initiates have seen through the system.

What's particularly perfidious is that wellness esotericism offers low-threshold entry points through harmless topics: It may begin with skepticism about additives in food – justified! But from there, it's only a small step to the conviction that "those at the top" are intentionally trying to poison us. Admittedly, there are often a few more intermediate steps. But ultimately, the topic of healthy eating turns into a belief in a global conspiracy.

The TikTok mysticism continues to radicalize

One form of behavior that has become increasingly important on social media, especially in recent years, is what researchers refer to as "algorithmic conspirituality": Users interpret the personalized suggestions of social media platforms as cosmic signs or divine intervention. Especially on TikTok, one repeatedly encounters esotericists who seriously claim precisely this to keep users engaged: "I manifested that this video is shown to you because the message is directed precisely at you—it's no coincidence!" One could call this TikTok mysticism: The opaque mechanisms of tech companies are thus transfigured into a mystical experience.

And so this digital echo chamber continues to reinforce beliefs. Anyone who starts consuming esoteric content may be served increasingly extreme versions by the algorithm. The path from chakra meditation to chemtrails is shorter than one might think.

Magical thinking: complexity reduction par excellence

Another reason why many esoteric worldviews are so compatible with conspiracy myths is the principle of cause and effect. This, too, sounds attractive at first: Everything that happens to us has a clearly identifiable cause—not a random one, but one that is controlled and intended by often abstract forces and energies. There is a prominent example of this: the "German New Medicine" (GNM), a highly dangerous esoteric doctrine that repeatedly claims lives. GNM is based on the assumption that illnesses, including cancer, are not triggered biologically (i.e., by chance or, for example, by viruses or bacteria), but that every illness is based on an internal conflict. Therefore, resolving an illness does not require medical treatment, but rather the resolution of this conflict.

And it's not for nothing that the doctrine of GNM is permeated by anti-Semitism and conspiracy ideologies. It's the same mindset that underlies these ideologies. Nothing happens by chance. Behind pandemics like the coronavirus lie powerful forces seeking to bring about a new world order; behind "chemtrails" lie chemicals deliberately sprayed to influence us and the weather; behind 5G radiation lies the intention of supposed elites to weaken the population across the board.

The problem is bigger than esotericism

But to claim that esotericism alone is susceptible to such thinking is too simplistic. Behind "spirituality" in "conspirituality" lies no specific religious denomination, even though some—and one can count an esoteric worldview among these—are certainly more susceptible than others. Rather, behind it lies a way of thinking, which is evident, among other things, in the principles mentioned. These often reduce complex issues to a simple cause. And this can also be found, for example, in fundamental Christian circles and groups that adhere to a strongly dualistic worldview. They see a struggle between good and evil, between Satan and God, behind everything and everyone. They are therefore skeptical of anything that does not correspond to their own beliefs and suspect a supposed attack from the devil.

The tragedy of "conspirituality" in all its forms is that it addresses real needs: the desire for meaning, for control in a confusing world, for belonging to a community. But instead of genuine empowerment, it offers only pseudo-solutions. Instead of addressing the complex problems of our time, scapegoats are sought. Instead of encouraging critical thinking, blind trust in "alternative experts" is preached. The consequences can be devastating: Families break apart when relatives are caught up in the conspiracy vortex. People refuse life-saving medical treatment and die. Social cohesion erodes when segments of the population retreat into parallel worlds.

What can be done about it? The first step is to take the phenomenon seriously. "Conspirituality" is not a harmless fantasy, but a real threat to society and democracy. At the same time, it doesn't help to mock or exclude those affected. They are often people in crisis situations who are looking for support.

It's important to strengthen media literacy and remain critical, even when faced with supposedly purely "spiritual" content. Not everything that appears positive and loving is harmless. The mix of wellness and conspiracy theories can be particularly toxic because it comes under the guise of self-care.