In today’s wellness and coaching industries, spirituality has become more than just a practice—it’s an identity, a status symbol, and for many, a perceived pathway to exclusive wisdom and success. This modern brand of spirituality, often cloaked in the trappings of pseudoscience and magical thinking, is deeply tied to privilege. It positions those who participate in spiritual practices as somehow more enlightened, special, or deserving of success than those who do not. But behind this spiritual façade lies an uncomfortable truth: much of what is being sold as “spiritual growth” is only accessible to those with wealth and status, reinforcing existing social inequalities.
From Counterculture to Commodification
Historically, spirituality had roots in countercultural movements like the hippy era of the 1960s and 70s, where practices like meditation, yoga, and psychedelics were embraced as acts of rebellion against mainstream materialism and authority. Ironically, much of what the hippy movement once stood for has now been absorbed and commodified by the very systems it sought to reject. Spirituality has morphed from an anti-establishment pursuit into a booming industry, complete with retreats, supplements, life coaching programs, and expensive wellness products.
Today’s wellness culture, with its emphasis on self-optimization and personal empowerment, has become a playground for the wealthy. Practices that promise enlightenment, healing, and transformation—whether through manifestation, energy healing, or alternative therapies—are frequently marketed as the key to unlocking happiness, success, and spiritual fulfillment. But these “solutions” are often only available to those who can afford them, making spirituality yet another marker of privilege.
The Entitlement of Spirituality
One of the most troubling aspects of modern spirituality is the belief among its followers that their spiritual practices somehow make them more deserving or entitled to success and well-being. This entitlement is often wrapped in the language of the “Law of Attraction” or manifestation—beliefs that positive thinking, intention setting, and spiritual rituals can influence the universe to bring about desired outcomes. The message is clear: if you meditate, practice yoga, use Tibetan singing bowls, or surround yourself with symbols of Eastern religions, the universe will reward you with health, wealth, and happiness.
For many of these privileged spiritual thinkers, their practices are seen as the reason they have access to these “magical” solutions. There’s an implicit assumption that they are more spiritually evolved than those who don’t engage in these rituals. In their view, their success is not a result of their privilege or circumstances but of their alignment with the universe or spiritual forces. This thinking absolves them of the need to acknowledge the structural advantages they enjoy, such as wealth, access to healthcare, and social networks, which are often the real foundations of their success.
The Cult of Pseudoscience
Spirituality in the wellness industry frequently intersects with pseudoscience, particularly in leadership and development programs. Practices like Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), the enneagram, and various forms of energy healing are often packaged as legitimate tools for personal and professional growth, despite lacking scientific validation. These methods offer simple, almost magical, solutions to complex problems, whether in the workplace or in one’s personal life.
What’s striking is how these pseudoscientific practices, often divorced from any evidence-based foundation, are embraced by people in positions of privilege. Whether through expensive leadership programs or personal coaching, these individuals are drawn to the idea that they can access secret, esoteric knowledge that gives them an edge over others. This belief reinforces a sense of superiority—if they succeed, it’s because they’ve tapped into some spiritual or metaphysical truth that others are too blind or unenlightened to see.
But in reality, these practices are often nothing more than modern-day snake oil, sold to those with the means to afford them. The sense of personal empowerment they offer is an illusion, built on the shaky foundation of pseudoscience and magical thinking. The real privilege lies not in spiritual insight but in the ability to participate in this industry in the first place.
A Gendered Marketplace
It’s also important to note that much of modern spirituality and wellness culture is marketed specifically to women. From Oprah’s endorsements of spiritual gurus and alternative health practices to the rise of Instagram influencers promoting wellness products, the industry frequently targets women, playing on societal pressures around beauty, weight loss, and success. These pressures create a market for products and practices that promise to “fix” perceived inadequacies, often under the guise of empowerment.
For many women, spiritual practices become a way of navigating the impossible demands placed on them by society—expectations to be beautiful, successful, and constantly improving themselves. But the tools they are sold—expensive retreats, supplements, and pseudoscientific treatments—are, once again, accessible only to those with financial means. This further entrenches the idea that spirituality and success are the domains of the privileged.
The Community Trap: Spirituality as Belonging
At the heart of modern spirituality is the desire for belonging and community. In a fragmented and increasingly disconnected world, many people turn to spiritual practices as a way of finding like-minded individuals who share their values. This sense of community is deeply appealing, offering social validation and support in a world that often feels isolating.
But this community also has a dark side. It often becomes insular, creating echo chambers where pseudoscientific beliefs are reinforced and dissenting voices are silenced. Spiritual practices, especially when wrapped in the language of magical thinking, offer a kind of cult-like belonging where questioning the group’s beliefs is discouraged. Those who do not engage in the same rituals, or who rely on more traditional, science-based approaches to health and success, are often viewed as unenlightened or lacking.
The Dangers of Magical Thinking
Ultimately, the belief that spiritual practices grant special access to success or well-being is rooted in magical thinking. It encourages people to believe that they are in control of their fate through rituals, intentions, and positive thinking, while downplaying or outright ignoring the role of systemic inequalities, privilege, and the real-world complexities of life.
Magical thinking allows those in privileged positions to avoid facing uncomfortable truths about their advantages. It turns spirituality into a competitive game where success is determined not by effort, fairness, or even luck, but by one’s supposed alignment with the universe. This creates a dangerous narrative: if you’re not successful, healthy, or happy, it’s because you’re not spiritual enough—you’re not doing it right.
Conclusion: The Illusion of Specialness
Modern spirituality, as marketed through the wellness industry and embraced by privileged individuals, has created a harmful illusion. It sells the idea that through spiritual practices—often wrapped in pseudoscientific rhetoric and magical thinking—individuals can become special, deserving of success, and protected by the universe. But this illusion is only accessible to those who have the financial means to participate in it.
The real danger lies in the entitlement that comes with this belief system, where the privileged few are led to think that their spiritual practices elevate them above others. It ignores the systemic factors that contribute to success and well-being, creating a false narrative that undermines real progress toward equality and scientific understanding.
In the end, spirituality should be about personal growth, connection, and meaning. But when it becomes intertwined with privilege and magical thinking, it risks becoming yet another tool for reinforcing societal hierarchies and excluding those who can’t afford to buy into the dream.