My Unconventional Journey into the New Age (And What It Taught Me)

My journey into the New Age wasn’t exactly traditional. Most people I know find their way through Hinduism and yoga, Buddhism and meditation, Reiki or energy healing, or even Native American shamanism. My path, however, came through a more distinctly East Asian route—Taoism, Qigong, and Korean shamanistic practices.

I was introduced to this path through a Korean spiritual organization called Body & Brain Yoga and Tai Chi. They operate yoga centers across the U.S. and internationally.

Interestingly, they also have ties—however loosely—to the K-pop world. For example, members of groups managed by HYBE, including BTS, attended Global Cyber University, which was founded by Body & Brain’s founder. In other countries, the organization might be known by different names such as Dahn World or Dahn Hak.

If you’re unfamiliar, South Korea is known for having a mix of new religious movements and a strong tradition of shamanism. You can even find K-dramas and documentaries on Netflix exploring this side of Korean culture. For better or worse, Koreans have a remarkable knack for creating compelling spiritual movements—some inspiring, some questionable. I happened to cross paths with one of these groups while living in the U.S., and that’s how it all began for me.

Back in college, a coworker introduced me to their studio. There, I experienced mindful Taoist yoga, tai chi/qigong, energy dance classes, and even private energy healing sessions, workshops, and retreats. My early experiences were overwhelmingly positive. I broke out of my shell, especially through the dance classes, which helped me become more confident. I also developed a deeper understanding of life and was introduced to spiritual concepts that felt profoundly real—like sensing energy, receiving divine messages, and experiencing lucid dreams. All of this happened quite naturally, without any formal training.

Then life moved on. I took a seven-year break, during which I got married, built a career in tech, and bought a house. Still, I never forgot the powerful experiences I’d had. At a particularly vulnerable time—on the brink of divorce and under immense stress at Microsoft—someone from the group reached out and invited me back. Hoping to find peace again, I returned.

This time, life was messier, and I was more emotionally raw. But I dove in, attending classes and eventually participating in expensive retreats. I was all in. I wanted to heal myself and the world—mirroring the group’s vision. Honestly, I was never happier. Those early retreats hold some of my best memories. After 3–4 years of partial involvement, I became a full-time employee.

But here’s what I glossed over: right after I set the intention to become a “master” in their practice, things started to unravel. Internally, I heard warning voices urging me to stop and walk away. Traumatic experiences followed. Yet the group encouraged me to “own my darkness” and keep pushing forward. And so, I did.

It’s impossible to share everything in one blog post, but I want to make a few crucial points about my journey into the occult and New Age spirituality:

1. Vulnerability is a magnet for spiritual entanglement. When life breaks you open, be especially cautious. That’s when you’re most susceptible. Looking back, I should have taken time to fully process my divorce and find grounding before diving into a spiritual group. Instead, I was trying to rebuild my life through them, from a place of instability.

2. Don’t ignore your intuition. The signs were there—I just didn’t want to see them. I was, metaphorically, putting my hand on a hot stove.

“They are all hot as an oven… gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.”—Hosea 7:4–10 (KJV)

When we’re young, our parents tell us not to touch the stove—not because they’re controlling, but because they want to protect us from pain we don’t yet understand. God works similarly. Many of the dark or confusing experiences in the New Age could be interpreted as warnings—signs meant to draw us back to the safety of His truth. God's kingdom protects.

3. Sincerity matters—but it’s not always enough. I believe that my deep longing for spiritual truth eventually led me to a higher truth. I wouldn’t wish my path on anyone else, but I do believe that’s why I eventually found Jesus in my heart. Without a sincere desire to seek real truth, you can get stuck for years or a lifetime in New Age practices, chasing the illusion of progress without ever arriving anywhere meaningful.

In the end, the answers I was searching for weren’t found in the New Age. They were found in returning to God, connecting to Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

🕊️ A Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for walking with me through every chapter of my journey—even the ones I didn’t understand at the time. Thank You for never letting go, even when I wandered far from Your truth in search of meaning and healing.

Lord, I ask You to be with anyone reading this who is also searching, questioning, or hurting. Let them feel Your presence, Your protection, and Your peace. Open their hearts to Your truth and give them the courage to discern the difference between light and dark, between what feels good and what is truly good.

Heal the broken places in all of us, and guide our steps back to You. Where there has been confusion, bring clarity. Where there has been pain, bring comfort. Where there has been darkness, bring Your light.

Jesus, thank You for meeting me in the depths of my searching. I pray that others may also encounter Your love, not through fear or force, but through the deep, undeniable call of Your Spirit.

Let us walk forward not with regret, but with wisdom—and let our lives be testimonies to Your grace.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

🤍 You're Invited

If you're feeling confusion or wrestling with questions, you're not alone. Feel free to share your story in the comments or reach out — I would be honored to walk alongside you and pray for you.