New Age Spirituality, Secular Paradox, and Neoliberalism

Abstract Family Constellation Therapy ( FCT ) is a popular therapeutic model in New Age spirituality, characterized by the collective embodiment of ancestral spirits linked to historical traumas, and challenges perspectives on selfhood and history within the conventions of secular discourse. This ethnographic study of FCT in Turkey, in which the author engages as a participant-observer, examines how its modern, secular and educated practitioners cultivate spirituality while reproducing secular values that condemn Islam and other metaphysical traditions they consider superstitious. New Age circles in Turkey have become a novel venue to reinforce hierarchies established at the beginning of the Turkish Republic, such as East vs West. This study adds to analyses of the secular paradox and neoliberal subjectivities, as its practitioners tend to prioritize personal healing rather than addressing broader societal issues.