How The Spiritual Movement Benefits The Luxury Market.

By Lorre White, the international luxury marketing expert www.WhiteLightConsulting.net

The New Old Spirituality.

It seems that in these days of turbulence, people are not turning to the restrictive doctrine of the primary religions but are instead embracing “spirituality”. Memberships in
churches, synagogue and mosques are on the decline. There is new trend now to not be “religious”
but to be “spiritual”. It is a more
empowering movement where each individual is part of God and everything in the
Universe is interconnected. This oneness
makes us aware to care for everyone and everything because we are them. We are facing situations globally that are
unprecedented and the religions of the past have not helped solve these
problems. People are reaching out for
something new.

Actually much of the new age spirituality is really just based on the yogic belief which dates back 5000 years BC, predating all the major religions. Some resent discoveries finds that yoga may be even older
going back 7000 years BC. Yoga is not a
religion but a spiritual practice.
Reading the ancient yogic writings it is easy to see where it perhaps
gave birth to the primary religions of the world. Modern day westerners often think of yoga as
exercise but the asanas, or poses, only go back to about 2000 BC. Yoga means union and oneness. It is about finding balance in spirituality,
body and mind. The exercise portion was
created to keep the body fit so that it could sustain the meditative state
longer.

Yoga use to be considered to be very “hippie” but now the fasted growing group is the wealthier demographics. Yoga studios have changed from run down communes to elite Madison Ave
spas.

Spirituality gives people more control over their lives. They are encouraged to bloom and are not restricted by the religious doctrine used to bind parishioners. In spirituality you cannot buy your way to
heaven by paying for a new addition to your church or synagogue. As a deity on earth it is your right to experience,
even obligation to feel joy, travel, create and all this is good news for the
luxury market. Responsible consumption
is just fulfilling of your destiny.
Presented correctly it is a way for luxury brands to navigate around the
limited parameters of the middle class sensibilities that shaped the American
culture and cause guilt. So luxury
brands should be bending and twisting with delight with the return to the new
old spirituality.