2020 and the Rise of Spirituality

In 2020, the coronavirus shocked the world, leading to stay-at-home orders, mask mandates, and other major social and political changes. From workplace standards to social upheaval, the coronavirus has changed the world in more ways than one could possibly conceptualize at this time. One notable change was the rise in spirituality in mainstream culture, particularly among the Gen Z and Millennial generations.

Millennials are increasingly identifying as spiritual but not religious. While this trend was on the rise prior to the coronavirus, it was undoubtedly accelerated by the major changes of 2020. Without the familiar structure of religion, many are turning to less traditional belief systems such as spirituality. The use of social media has also contributed to and documented this drastic increase in spirituality. On Twitter in 2020, the platform saw a 43% increase in conversation about spirituality, a 109% increase in conversation about tarot and physics, and a 41% increase in conversation about astronomy and the stars. According to a Pew study, a quarter of adults in the United States reported that their faith has grown stronger because of coronavirus.

It was a year of self-reflection and a year of change. Many called their own belief systems (or lack thereof) into question, seeking answers. A similar change has been noted throughout history, from the Bubonic Plague to world wars. However, there is far more that is specific to the 2020 spirituality story than the others. For example, the context of the culture at that time, the social conditions of a global health emergency, and the access to social media. All of these factors and more played an important role in these large-scale changes.

Difference between spirituality and religion

Both spirituality and religion saw an increase in faith and participation since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, but it is important to note the difference between the two. While they used to be used interchangeably, the two terms are becoming increasingly distinct from one another. Both reference a belief in a higher power, but spirituality is less dogmatic and particular about the higher powers it references. This looser definition opens spirituality to the more supernatural aspects of divinity. Religion is also far more specific, as it is rooted in practices, traditions, and scripture. Those who practice spirituality may follow spiritual thought leaders such as Deepak Chopra or Eckhart Tolle, but most of the journey is specific to the individual and based upon what they personally resonate with the most. Spirituality is more focused on introspection and self-awareness.

Recently, religion has become more associated with its negative qualities such as fundamentalist behavior and divisiveness. Radical religious groups have tainted the reputation of religion, inciting fear and hate in their wake. On the other hand, spirituality is viewed in a far more positive light. Some people are opposed, but it is generally viewed as a tool for self-growth and a connection to nature and greater meaning.

Spirituality on the rise pre-pandemic

Before the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, spirituality and non-traditional faith was already on the rise. Many Millenials and Gen Zers were raised with a strict set of religious beliefs. However, as they grew older, they felt that those beliefs no longer represented them. Despite this, they still possessed the human desire for community, guidance, purpose, and meaning. They found this in nontraditional faith and spirituality. Young people chose to instead embrace practices like tarot, astrology, meditation, energy healing, and crystals.

In 2017, a Pew Research Center poll reported that nearly thirty percent of Americans believed in astrology. Both the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times covered the resurgence of astrology in 2018. Astrology’s aesthetic and feminine appeal were the perfect recipe to make it go viral on social media. Accounts like @NotAllGeminis profited off the personality typing of astrology, attracting a wide base and encouraging them to share content on their own feeds. Costar, a popular astrology app, offered users both aesthetically pleasing and humorous daily horoscopes that people enjoyed reposting, and its social networking features connected friends. Costar’s popularity among women also spread to men when users were encouraged to check their astrological compatibility with potential romantic partners. Aside from Costar, apps like Pattern or Vice’s Astro Guide have also arisen that provide astrological predictions for users.

In the years leading up to 2020, social media also gave people interested in spirituality a platform that they could use to connect with one another. Prior to social media, people interested in this topic had no means of getting in contact with others. This limited access to educational resources, communities of support, and meaningful conversation on the topic. Spirituality is already difficult to access, as it is a stigmatized topic. Many people get uncomfortable with its ideas and beliefs, whether it be because of religion or personal reason. They write it all off as fictitious or absurd. Without a support system, many are discouraged from further pursuing their interest in spirituality because of negative comments or feedback from skeptics. All social media, but especially platforms like Twitter and Tik Tok, gave people who had a budding interest in the topic a community and a space to really delve into the greater meaning of it all.

Causes of increase

While this culture change was already on its way prior to the coronavirus pandemic, the pressures and social changes of 2020 are what led to its overall takeover. Times of distress, such as a global pandemic, are bound to lead to an increase in spirituality and religion. People felt lost, alienated, and alone. Stay-at-home orders may have been a nice break at first, but months of social isolation took a major toll on mental health. People lost their sense of routine, the ability to go out and see loved ones, and access to distractions such as movie theatres or bars. People were seeking connection and community, and could no longer find either of those things in person.

Stay-at-home orders also provided people with far more free time than they were accustomed to. With this extra time, many were given the chance to explore their religion and spirituality in a way that would not have been possible in the past. Self-education on an entire belief system was unlikely when there were social obligations or opportunities, but without those stimulants people were able to take the time to learn more about the foundations and beliefs associated with spirituality. Many were looking for ways to fill the seemingly endless days at home, and spirituality was able to fill that void.

At a time of such uncertainty, people were also searching for answers. Whether they were answers about how their romantic lives and careers would be impacted by coronavirus, when the pandemic would end, or what their life purpose was, people were looking for something greater than themselves. This led to the appeal of astrology and tarot card readings, because they can seemingly provide the answers that we cannot find on our own. As Dayna Lynn Nuckolls, a full-time astrologer, puts it, “Ultimately we want to feel in control, and in times of a pandemic and economic uncertainty, humans feel inclined to get clear on exactly what we have control over, and how to use the limited allotment of time we have been given. It can be difficult to discern. But astrology offers tools that bring clarity we’d otherwise lack.”

Faith in times of crises

While this resurgence in nontraditional spirituality is specific to 2020, it also is a part of a larger, grander pattern. Throughout history, in times of crises, many turn to faith for answers and comfort.

In “A Journal of the Plague Year,” which was recovered from the 1665 outbreak of the bubonic plague, the author, Daniel Defoe, discusses a phenomena very similar to what we saw in 2020. Defoe says, “The people … were more addicted to prophecies and astrological conjurations, dreams and old wives’ tales than ever they were before or since.” He continues to discuss how books about astrology went viral immediately preceding the plague, with people sharing visions warning them to leave London “so that the living would not be able to bury the dead.” Astrologers in the 1660s predicted times of drought, famine, and pestilence, and there was a large increase in the sale of books on the topics of astrology. Although the author, Defoe, is skeptical of the spiritual foreshadowing of the plague, he still recounts how people ran to “magic” and “the black art,” or to tarot readers, astrologers, and other psychics.

Throughout history, astrology has impacted policy and leaders during times of uncertainty. Theodore Roosevelt is said to have kept his birth chart on a table in his drawing room and Ronald Reagan’s chief of staff said that Reagan consulted an astrologer before “virtually every major move and decision,” such as the timing of his reelection announcement.

World War II saw similar patterns of civilians looking to spirituality for comfort, but leaders also turned to it for military and political use. During World War II, America was introduced to Louis de Wohl, a German-born Catholic author and a famous astrologer. His popular newspaper column was part of an elaborate propaganda campaign to organize American public opinion in favor of Britain. He worked for British Intelligence and used his public sway and predictions to ultimately encourage members of the United States public to join the Allies. This method of using citizen interest in the supernatural came from techniques used by the Nazi party. Numerous high-ranking Nazis were obsessed with ideas of astrology and other forms of divination. They scoured the globe looting artifacts related to magic. Himmler’s second-in-command, Deputy Fuhrer Rudolf Hess, betrayed Hitler and defected to England based on the advice of an astrologer.

Gen Z and Millenials

As mentioned earlier, the rise in spirituality was largely championed and powered by the younger generations: Millennials and Gen Zers. This coincided with the fall of traditional religion among these age groups along with the use of social media to spread messaging. Traditional religion largely lost its appeal among the younger generations because of its problematic actions towards the LGBTQ+ community and women. The more liberal and radical members of younger generations took major issue with the ways the church establishment as a whole, not including or properly representing the beliefs of all members, stood against marital rights for same sex couples as well as the opposition to abortion and birth control. Even though these views may not be representative of these religions, institutions, or constituencies as a whole, they give organized religion and faith a bad reputation. The rigidity of organized religion was too confining for these generations that are more focused on fluidity and challenging the current norms.

It is also important to note the context of these generations. Not only did young people grow up in one of the worst economic recessions in American history, but they were also tasked with the responsibilities and anxieties of the impending threat of climate change and the spike in school shootings. These struggles illustrate how the status quo has failed these generations, encouraging them to reject it entirely and look for something new and improved.

In 2020, these younger generations were faced with the largest challenge yet: a life-threatening global pandemic in the middle of their formative years. The promises of reward and the celebration of youth was overshadowed by the fears and anxieties of coronavirus. While everyone in the world is undoubtedly struggling and making sacrifices to adjust, these generations were forced to give up significant stages of their life like high school and college. The years when older generations were able to travel, expand their horizons, and enjoy themselves, Millennials and Gen Zers were forced to spend at home in isolation. They still do not know what the job market or the world will look like once the pandemic ends.

2020 left people of all ages feeling lost and hopeless. It is a very human trait to desire greater meaning and connection to something larger to themselves, and religion typically offers that to its followers. After Gen Zers and Millennials wrote off traditional religions, many chose to instead look towards the stars. Spirituality fits the need because people can pick and choose what resonates with them. It is also being spoon-fed to users of social media, which is primarily a younger age group. The skepticism and rejection from older generations adds to its appeal, because these generations are more rebellious and looking to challenge everything that is currently accepted.

Takeaway

While spirituality is growing in popularity, many still reject the ideas of the supernatural or divine. This surge is still mainly confined to the younger generations, and it is largely female. Many like to poke fun at these ideas in ways that they never would with religion, because it is uncomfortable and unfamiliar to them. Only time will tell if this popularity is here to stay, but, in the meantime, the positive impacts of this change are wildly underestimated.

The National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health did a study on the rise of spiritual beliefs and its impact on public health. They note spirituality as a common way that patients cope with illness, and that “65 percent of patients with depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric conditions indicate that they want spirituality to play a part in their treatment.” Spirituality was a source of strength and comfort, associated with reduced length of hospital stays.

This study found many benefits to spiritual practice during the coronavirus. It reduced the negative effects of pandemic, especially social isolation and routine deprivation. It also empowered patients in their self-esteem, social ties, and intellectual endeavours. Caregivers relied upon faith and spirituality to cope with the burdens of caring for loved ones and helped those who were suffering from grief.

Whether or not a person believes in the universe or tarot cards, faith in any kind of higher power has bettered the lives of countless people around the world. 2020 was a truly dark and devastating year. People were looking for something to believe in as everything they have ever known was being erased and rewritten. The many who felt lost were seeking stability and community. It may seem ludicrous or extreme, but the rise of spirituality provided people with strength and hope when they desperately needed it. So who cares how weird it is?