A new store opened in town off of 309 Huron Avenue back on June 7th called The Wyld and The Wyrd. Whether you have faith or not, this is not good news for our local community from a spiritual standpoint, because of the nature of the goods and services now being sold there. Some of what is being sold at the store include Reiki healing, crystal healing, astrology, and tarot card readings. This was featured in a Times Herald article also back on June 7th. Furthermore, the article states: “In the future (Jen) Jaros (the owner) plans to hire a psychic medium and card reader.”
These evil influences that are harmful to our souls can be classified under an umbrella term known as the “New Age Movement” which is contrary to Jesus Christ and the teachings of the Catholic Church. The Catechism confirms this. It states: “All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to ‘unveil’ the future. Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone” (#2116).
YOGA > BE CAREFUL! – REIKI > STAY AWAY FROM!
Yoga and Reiki can both be classified under “New-Age” spirituality too. But are they both bad? It depends. If you are strictly using yoga for stretching and exercise purposes, then it is acceptable. But some would argue against that, which will be addressed below. If you are practicing yoga for spirituality or prayer purposes, then I would recommend to stop immediately.
Yoga has come to be a very common form of exercise in recent years in the U.S. According to a report by Yoga Alliance back in January, “the number of U.S. yoga practitioners has increased to over 36 million, up from 20.4 million in 2012, and practitioner spending on yoga classes, clothing, equipment and accessories, rose to $16 billion a year, up from $10 billion over the past four years” (Source: Yoga Alliance).
In a homily, Pope Francis reminded listeners that practices like yoga aren’t capable of opening our hearts up to God. “You can take a million catechetical courses, a million courses in spirituality, a million courses in yoga, Zen and all these things. But all of this will never be able to give you freedom,” he explained (Source: Catholic.org).
Can Catholics participate in yoga? “The answer is a bit more nuanced than one might think. Catholics should not participate in any of the ‘spiritual’ aspects associated with yoga, but technically can do the actual physical exercises. However, many people who practice yoga caution that it is often difficult, if not impossible, to separate the exercises from the meditations…The Pope tells us that only the Holy Spirit can ‘move the heart’ and make it ‘docile to the Lord, docile to the freedom of love. If we are seeking a zen-like peace from yoga meditation, then we are seeking peace from the wrong source’” (Source: Catholic.org).
What is the Catholic Church’s stance on Reiki? Don’t do it! What does Reiki mean? In the June 7th Times Herald article, Jaros, the owner of The Wyld and The Wyrd states: “Reiki means universal life force energy.” What is Reiki? It is an alleged healing technique based on the principle that the therapist can channel energy into the patient by means of touch, to activate the natural healing processes of the patient’s body and restore physical and emotional well-being.
In an article published on March 25th, 2009, the U.S. bishops made a concluding public statement on Reiki in “Guidelines for Evaluating Reiki As An Alternative Therapy” which stated the following: “Since Reiki therapy is not compatible with either Christian teaching or scientific evidence, it would be inappropriate for Catholic institutions, such as Catholic health care facilities and retreat centers, or persons representing the Church, such as Catholic chaplains, to promote or to provide support for Reiki therapy.”
My recommendation would be to not only stay away from Reiki but also any of the previous goods and services mentioned in this article that are being offered for sale at the store, The Wyld and The Wyrd, as well as anything that has to do with the “New Age Movement.” In the knowledgeable opinion of Norman L. Geisler, professor of Systematic Theology at Dallas (Tex.) Theological Seminary he said that the “New Age Movement” is “the most dangerous enemy of Christianity in the world today,…more dangerous than secular humanism” (Source: Article, “The Age-Old New Age Movement” – EWTN).
The New Age Movement and these specific goods and services now being sold at The Wyld and The Wyrd store are very deceptive and highly attractive, especially to young people. It is up to us to educate them, protect them, and steer them away from this evil in disguise. “And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light” (2 Cor. 11:14). Curiosity can be harmful and dangerous to the soul and ultimately to our salvation.
One resource I would like to direct you to is a long but insightful document on the “New-Age Movement” known as “Jesus Christ: The Bearer of The Water of Life – A Christian reflection on the ‘New Age’” that can be found at the Vatican website, www.vatican.va. This long article can give a fuller, more thorough explanation of what the “New Age Movement” is. In addition, a recent article was published by the L.A. Times entitled, “How millennials replaced religion with astrology and crystals” which shows the evil influence the “New Age Movement” is having on our young people.”
In The Truth and Love of Jesus Christ,
– Fr. Jeff
RESOURCES:
- Be Healed: A Guide to Encountering The Powerful Love of Jesus in Your Life, by Bob Schuchts
- Unbound: A Practical Guide to Deliverance (and here), by Neal Lozano
"Speak The Truth with Love," A Catholic Blog by Fr. Jeff Allan 
Thank You Fr. Jeff. I am sure glad that you are on our team. Karen Stone
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Thank you Fr. Jeff for the clear explanation!!
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All the Yoga position are the many different way to “bow” in front of their gods.
There is no Christian Yoga, just ask any Hindu or Buddhist.
Wikipedia stats:
“Yoga (/ˈjoʊɡə/;[1] Sanskrit, योग Listen) is a physical, mental, and
spiritual practice
or discipline which originated in ancient India.”
A lot of people love to quote Vatican II saying that we can learn from other religions.
Without saying it, they are quoting the
“Dogmatic Constitution on the Church” (LG) #16.
The first part mention this, but if you read #16 further, you get Holy Mother Church’s warning:
“But rather often men, deceived by the Evil One, have become caught up in futile reasoning and have exchanged the truth of God for a lie, serving the creature rather than the Creator (cf. Rom. 1:21, 25).”
If you have a Hindu do the sign of the cross has an exercise, every Catholic watching will know that is a Christian prayer.
The same is for yoga, you can say it’s an exercise, but every Buddhist & Hindu know better.
The movement of your body aids to the philosophical and theological spiritual aspects.
If you disagree and say No to the above statement, then ask yourself; why bother kneeing in front of the tabernacle? Why bother making the sign of the cross prior to prayer?
Your actions, your words, the way you live your life matter.
There are far many better Catholic ways to pray and meditate. Why would you want to follow someone who does not know Jesus, when you are looking for mental, physical, or spiritual peace?
Jesus said in John 10:9 – “I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”
Only through Jesus do you find the true path: to the abundant life, to true peace, to the Truth, & to God.
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Lumen Gentium
“#16. Finally, those who have not yet received the gospel are related in various ways to the People of God. In the first place there is the people to whom the covenants and the promises were given and from whom Christ was born according to the flesh (cf. Rom. 9:4-5). On account of their fathers, this people remains most dear to God, for God does not repent of the gifts He makes nor of the calls He issues (cf. Rom. 11:28-29).
But the plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator. In the first place among these there are the Moslems who, professing to hold the faith of Abraham, along with us adore the one and merciful God, who on the last day will judge mankind. Nor is God Himself far distant from those who in shadows and images seek the unknown God, for it is He who gives to all men life and breath and every other gift (cf. Acts 17:25-28), and who as Savior wills that all men be saved (cf. 1 Tim. 2:4).
Those also can attain to everlasting salvation who through no fault of their own do not know the gospel of Christ or His Church, yet sincerely seek God and, moved by grace, strive by their deeds to do His will as it is known to them through the dictates of conscience. Nor does divine Providence deny the help necessary for salvation to those who, without blame on their part, have not yet arrived at an explicit knowledge of God, but who strive to live a good life, thanks to His grace. Whatever goodness or truth is found for the gospel.60 She regards such qualities as given by Him among them is looked upon by the Church as a preparation who enlightens all men so that they may finally have life.
But rather often men, deceived by the Evil One, have become caught up in futile reasoning and have exchanged the truth of God for a lie, serving the creature rather than the Creator (cf. Rom. 1:21, 25). Or some there are who, living and dying in a world without God, are subject to utter hopelessness. “Consequently, to promote the glory of God and procure the salvation of all such men, and mindful of the command of the Lord, “Preach the gospel to every creature” (Mk. 16:16), the Church painstakingly fosters her missionary work.”
Excerpt From: Walter M. Abbott, S.J. “The Documents of Vatican II With Notes and Comments By Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox Authorities.” iBooks.
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