Despite living in a materialistic world, alternative spiritualities have found a way not only to remain present, but even to grow amongst the younger generation, as recent surveys show.

It is even very common to find influencers on social media explaining their experiences with tarot, power stones and other items that connect them to the spiritual realm. “It is a form of spirituality that is almost à la carte”, tells us Miguel Ángel Fernández Núñez, who, in his book God Does Not Deal the Cards: The Voice of God in the Face of the Esoteric (published in Spanish langauge by Andamio), recounts the stories of various people who have explored these alternative spiritualities only to ultimately find true hope in Jesus.

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According to the author, his exploration was not prompted by a personal experience, but by the realisation that following the pandemic and lockdown, many people who previously had no spiritual concerns suddenly showed an interest in tarot, astrology or healing. “Before the lockdown, it was rare for anyone to go on a spiritual retreat, but upon returning, it suddenly became very common,” he recounts.

The final catalyst was the case ofa close friend who, after becoming immersed in the world of tarot, turned to Christianity. “We realised everything they’d experienced there, which was completely unknown to us,” says Fernández. From that moment on, he began compiling material to share in his church and with young people, eventually turning it into a book.

The rise of the New Age and consumer society

According to Fernández, the appeal of these new spiritualities is no coincidence: they connect with a culture that seeks immediate results. “They’re very fast”, easy to “consume” and offer partial answers, which lead people to become hooked. The author describes it as a spirituality “tailored to the self”, where each person creates their own blend of practices — “you take a bit from here, another bit from there” — without any hierarchy or demands.

This amalgam, he warns, is not without risk, as it is based on a principle of exchange. “In these spiritualities, you give something in order to receive an answer,” he explains. This model can even end up influencing the Christian faith when some “declare” or promise “well-being or prosperity” in exchange for something.

Testimonies of deliverance

The book brings together the experiences of people who went through various branches of esotericism — tarot, astrology, reiki, Santería — before, according to their accounts, finding a way out in Jesus. Fernández describes a common pattern: a downward spiral that “never stops”, moments of extreme darkness that even lead some people to have suicidal thoughts.

But in different ways, these people find liberation when they encounter Jesus, who is “like a lighthouse in the middle of the dark sea”.

Furthermore, Fernández warns that these esoteric practices have no place in the lives of Christians. “We cannot serve two masters”, he says, quoting Jesus’ words in the Gospels. On the other hand, he does believe that we Christians can be attentive to “so many people interested in spirituality” in order to explain Christianity fully and make disciples, without allowing ourselves to be swept away by the cultural trends of the moment.

The key is that we can introduce people to Jesus, “who has the power to set free those who have fallen and who ultimately became trapped in these snares”, the author concludes.