Projects of Self-transformation in the Framework of New Age Religiosity: the Case of Theta-Healing

The paper presents the first study of the American New Age (NA) movement - Theta-healling (T-h). According to its founder, Vianna Stable, this is a unique method of activating vital energy and healing with the help of theta brain waves. Radiation of these "healing" waves is activated by meditations-appeals to the Creator of all things. Interview materials, including observations (SPb) show that T-h adepts do not aspire to specific group solidarity or to a new religious spirituality. This is indicated by inclusiveness of criteria for joining the group and by positioning of T-h not as a Church, but as an institution providing paid educational services in the field of operational self-help (psychological and physiological). Included in the practice of T-h people are motivated by culture of self-search and dynamic transformation: esoteric and mystical experience is perceived as valuable accumulated capital, giving a sense of autonomy from institutions. In search of everyday transformation, adepts of NA try to redefine concepts of norm, happiness,focusing primarily on reflecting their own emotions and background. Monetary contributions to the rapid acquisition of comprehensive knowledge (basic course of T-h - 3 days) are estimated as a profitable contribution to time saving without loss of efficiency. This includes NA movements in a modern market system that responds to the supply of such demand. Variational sets of demands (whether they wish to heal their health with the help of energy or attract the "second half") in this work are indicated by the collective concept of "project", which reflects the purposeful, structural and at the same time incomplete state of the self-transformation process. The paper also shows the theoretical promise of the use and further development of the NA concept. In addition, the study of the aspirations of NA’s adepts to autonomous reflectivity may be part of a discussion about the therapeutic culture of Self and its development in Russia