The NEW AGE movement isn't just about crystals, suburban yoga studios, dubious medical cures and positive affirmations – though there’s plenty of all of that to be found on YouTube.  

The concept of changing your mindset, accessing a higher spiritual power or vibration – and ushering in a utopia is a powerful and enduring promise that emerges again and again in America. 

And the American New Age movement has deep ties to Washington State and the West.

Journalist Leah Sottile examined the history of several spiritualists and new age leaders – some may say cult leaders – in  a new book published earlier this year.

It’s called Blazing Eye Sees All: Love Has Won, False Prophets, and the Fever Dream of the American New Age. 

GUEST: Leah Sottile

RELATED LINKS:Book Review: ‘The Instability of Truth,’ by Rebecca Lemov; ‘Blazing Eye Sees All,’ by Leah Sottile 

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

The NEW AGE movement isn't just about crystals, suburban yoga studios, dubious medical cures and positive affirmations &ndash; though there&rsquo;s plenty of all of that to be found on YouTube. &nbsp;
The concept of changing your mindset, accessing a higher spiritual power or vibration &ndash; and ushering in a utopia is a powerful and enduring promise that emerges again and again in America.&nbsp;
And the American New Age movement has deep ties to Washington State and the West.
Journalist Leah Sottile examined the history of several spiritualists and new age leaders &ndash; some may say cult leaders &ndash; in &nbsp;a new book published earlier this year.
It&rsquo;s called Blazing Eye Sees All: Love Has Won, False Prophets, and the Fever Dream of the American New Age.&nbsp;
GUEST: <a href="https://www.leahsottile.com/">Leah Sottile</a>
RELATED LINKS: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/02/books/review/25-books-review-instability-of-truth-blazing-eye-sees-all-rebecca-lemov-leah-sottile.html">Book Review: &lsquo;The Instability of Truth,&rsquo; by Rebecca Lemov; &lsquo;Blazing Eye Sees All,&rsquo; by Leah Sottile</a>&nbsp;
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

The new book ‘Blazing Eye Sees All’ tracks the growth and spread of the American New Age movement, and author Leah Sottile joins Soundside to talk about Washington State's place in that history. 

Advertisement