Ep 4. New Age

In season 2 episode 4 of the show 30 Days titled "New Age," viewers get a glimpse at how the New Age movement can impact one's way of life. The episode follows Frank, a 41-year-old conservative Christian father from a rural Texas town, as he spends 30 days living with a New Age family in Los Angeles.

At the start of the episode, Frank admits to being skeptical of the New Age movement, describing it as "hippie nonsense." He believes in traditional Christian values and is not open to the idea of mixing New Age practices with his faith. However, he is willing to keep an open mind as he embarks on this 30-day journey.

Upon arriving in Los Angeles, Frank meets the family he will be staying with: Tamra, her husband T.J., and their 11-year-old daughter Lashya. Tamra is a Reiki healer and intuitive counselor, while T.J. is a life coach and musician. The couple has a very relaxed and holistic lifestyle, which initially makes Frank uncomfortable.

Throughout the episode, Frank is exposed to various New Age practices, such as meditation, crystal healing, and energy work. He also tags along with Tamra to a "goddess circle" and a "soulful dance" event. Initially, Frank feels out of place and uncomfortable with these practices. He believes they are not consistent with his religious beliefs and feels like an outsider in this community. However, over time, Frank starts to appreciate the sense of community and acceptance that he feels among this group.

One particularly powerful moment in the episode is when Tamra takes Frank to a sound healing session. At first, Frank is skeptical and doesn't believe that lying down and listening to a gong will have any effect on him. However, as the session goes on, he starts to feel a sense of calm and peace that he hasn't experienced before. Afterward, he describes the experience as "pretty awesome."

As the episode progresses, Frank begins to question his own beliefs and starts to see some overlap between his faith and the New Age practices he is learning about. He admits to feeling conflicted because he has always believed that there is only one right way to worship and connect with a higher power. However, he starts to realize that there may be multiple paths to the same destination.

The episode ends with Frank reflecting on his experience in Los Angeles and how it has changed him. He admits that he will probably never fully embrace the New Age movement, but he has gained a newfound respect for those who do. He has also learned to be more accepting and tolerant of others' beliefs, which he believes is an important lesson that he can take back to his conservative Christian community in Texas.

Overall, "New Age" is an eye-opening episode that explores the often-misunderstood New Age movement and the impact it can have on one's worldview. Through Frank's journey, viewers are reminded of the importance of keeping an open mind, accepting others' beliefs, and finding common ground across different faiths and practices.