My Testimony & New Ageism

I was interviewed (via email) about my testimony today. Perhaps my response also serves as a meaningful first blog post. Cheers! 

I used to practice astral projection, a form of witchcraft which involves the intentional departure of the spirit from the physical body to explore the spiritual realms at will. This is different from a spontaneous out-of-body experience (SOBE), which you may hear about in comatose and near death experiences, as astral projection occurs on purpose. If you had asked me about it at the time (circa 2018-2019), I would have absolutely denied that this practice had anything to do with witchcraft. Rather, I would have told you that it was a practice in alignment with my New Age spiritual beliefs; that it was helping me. Perhaps even worse, I would have told you that a person engaging in New Age practices could simultaneously be a Christian. 

When I was a teenager, I fell under a series of sleep paralysis attacks. During sleep, I often heard voices, saw shadowy figures, and even felt entities crawling into my bed. My body was paralyzed and I was terrified. I clung to any scientific explanation the internet could offer but as attacks continued, these offered no comfort. I was raised a Christian, so naturally, I prayed for relief. So when nothing changed, I became discouraged with God and decided to take matters into my own hands. In flawed thinking, I thought that if I could develop some form of control in my sleep/ dream space, then maybe I could be freed from these constant attacks. Over time, I practiced lucid (controlled) dreaming, opening my third eye, meditating to the “conscious universe,” yoga, aura reading, etc. My goal the entire time was to reach a heightened state of consciousness; the internet explained that this elevated state-of-self was a key to obtaining control and higher awareness. I found hope in this New Age way of thinking. And for a while, it seemed like it was working. The demonic attacks were slowing as I continued to develop in my practices. Yet underneath it all was an undying obsession; a relentless desire to achieve deeper and deeper esoteric experiences. I was often proud of my progress, but rarely satisfied and found myself always seeking more. I eventually learned about astral projection and believed that stepping out of my body on command would be the ultimate form of spiritual control. Because… if I could control my very soul… who could touch me then?

For a long time I kept these things secret. It seemed like there was more power in it that way. (All of the occult hides in secrecy; the word “occult” literally means “secret, hidden, or disclosed.”) Eventually, I opened up to my boyfriend (now husband), hoping he would be proud of me for “overcoming my demons” and even desire to join me in these practices. Instead, his response changed the trajectory of my life. He said, “Well if you’re going out of your body, what if something else comes… in?” In instant frustration, I replied, “No! That’s impossible! The Holy Spirit lives in me!” 

But then I was forced to ask myself… was that true? When was the last time I prayed to God? When was the last time I read my Holy Bible? It had been quite a while! All along, I convinced myself that I was “still a Christian.” I had justified my practices, saying to myself, “This is helping me; this is enlightenment; I am not using physical devices like Ouija boards or tarot cards, all I have used is my own mind and determination.” But deep down, I knew that my New Age practices were pulling me directly away from God. I knew that my nighttime prayers had been replaced by a longing to grasp the unknown. And that a desire to serve myself had replaced my desire to serve God and serve others.

That is just the thing about New Ageism; it encourages a selfish pursuit of higher power. It emphasizes the lie spoken by the serpent in Genesis 3, that we have the potential to “be like God.” Remember that New Ageism promotes “enlightenment." Well, consider the Latin roots -luc and -lum, which mean “light.” Isn’t it interesting that words like LUCifer and ilLUMinati also proclaim light? New Ageism stands on FALSE enlightenment and deception.

When I asked Jesus to save me, he exposed the darkness and restored the truth in my life. He showed me the demons that came near to me through the practices I believed were helping me. Through this, I learned about the power in the name of Jesus, and I witnessed demons flee as I spoke His name. The Lord taught me about fear. Why should I fear demons when God created them, too? He created ALL of creation, and all of creation bows in His mighty presence. The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding (Job 28:28). And after years of sleeping in fear, I can finally say, “In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety” (Psalms 4:8). In the same way that the light of Jesus Christ exposed the darkness in my life, I believe He is asking me to share the truth about this dark topic with others.

“I used to follow my dreams in a literal sense, never satisfied and always chasing more. God has given me a new dream, one worth my life’s pursuit. It is my deepest passion to expose the enemy who sought to destroy me and to glorify the God who sacrificed His life to save me. What He has done for me, He can also do for you. Praise God, forever!" —Kayla

More About New Age Practices

New Ageism is popular because it offers a whatever-your-style, make-it-your-own kind of spirituality, consisting of various occult (demonic) practices and eastern belief systems. It is open-ended and is not defined by a particular set of rules, which is why it appeals to many. New Agers often believe that the spiritual potential of the self is unlimited, regarding oneself as a god capable of reaching an enlightened consciousness. Some New Agers believe that they can still be a Christian, but this is not true. No one can both serve God and also serve oneself as a god. Matthew 6:24 says, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other…” New Agers often believe the universe IS God, whereas Christians believe that God created the universe; that God the Creator is distinctly superior to elements of his creation. Romans 1:25 says, “They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised.”

Many who have New Age beliefs will argue that occult practices are “good” or “safe” if done correctly or with positive intentions. They will say that demons only appear if these practices are done out of fear or negativity. Not true! On that same note, many will say that "white magic" or "white witchcraft" is acceptable, as it is done out of positive intentions. Another lie. "White" magic and "black" magic are two sides of the same coin. LUCifer wears white, and he also sells the lie that "white" magic is permissible. All forms of divination allow for demonic access to one's life; no exceptions. There is nothing new about false religion, and astral projection, a New Age practice, is an ancient practice indeed.

For the Long Version of Kayla's Testimony, Read Her Memoir, Expose the Darkness: Lost and Found.