Ask almost any Gen Zer you know and don’t be surprised if they tell you they’ve got a budding crystal collection in the making or a deck of tarot cards stashed on their shelves.

As TikTok has become this generation’s oracle for anything and everything from their identity crisis to their consumption choices and personal struggles, spiritual content has carved its niche on social media.

#SpiritualTikTok has accumulated over 19 billion views as a result of this Gen Z vibe shift.

Dissatisfied with your 9-5 paycheck? Try manifesting wealth with chocolate calcite. Need to lose weight fast but can’t afford Ozempic? Maybe reiki healing can help.

People have always been intrigued by things of a mystical and spiritual nature, and the early pandemic years fuelled Zers' enthusiasm for the supernatural.

Whether it’s ‘shifting’ realities or dabbling in witchcraft, for solution-seeking Gen Zers #SpiritualTok has become a way for them to find fast-acting shortcuts to help them achieve their ideal state of being.

But why is this shift happening? And why now?

Well, disillusioned by the failed promises of post-pandemic normalcy, young people have never been more aware of the myth of ‘working hard’ in a system that’s stacked against them.

For instance, if working a conventional job and relying on savings aren’t enough to secure homeownership for Gen Z, then perhaps ‘claiming’ that desired reality through spiritual manifestations may work.

Simply put, Zers are using spirituality to regain a sense of agency and control in the face of prolonged crises.

And now that generative AI has entered the picture, new spirituality norms and expectations will likely accelerate for Gen Z.

Platforms like Sibyl and Prophetic AI offer a glimpse at what’s next after #SpiritualTikTok, where people can get 24/7 access to the astral plane in a more personalised and visceral way.

And not to miss out on the spiritual action, big brands are getting in on the act.

Starbucks’ astrology-focused campaign shows how spirituality can build a common language when trying to capture the attention of Gen Z, and in China Huawei’s smartphone altar is providing the country’s youth with an accessible means to self-soothe.

Gen Z is leveraging #SpiritualTok as a digital sanctuary, sharing spiritual insights and practices as well as using it to find solace, meaning and guidance during the complexities of their lived experiences.