While many people see beauty and wonder in these things, some are tempted to attribute their origin and power to vague cosmic energies or impersonal universes.
For Catholics, these marvels are not sources of power in and of themselves. They are signposts - indicators of something far greater: the intelligent design of Almighty God.
Let’s set aside the incense burners and astrology charts for a moment. Instead, let’s look at the very same elements that enthral New Age followers - crystals, planets, patterns in nature - and marvel not at the creation, but at the Creator.
As St Paul wrote, *“Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made”* (Romans 1:20, RSV-CE).
Mathematical Beauty in Nature
Let us begin with mathematics, that most precise and logical of disciplines. While maths may seem dry to some, it holds the key to unlocking awe-inspiring wonders in the natural world.
A striking example is the **Fibonacci sequence**, a series of numbers where each number is the sum of the two preceding ones (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, and so on). This sequence appears all throughout nature. You’ll find it in the arrangement of sunflower seeds, pinecones, pineapples, and even the spiral shells of nautiluses.
But it goes deeper. The ratio of successive Fibonacci numbers approximates the **golden ratio** - about 1.618 - which is considered aesthetically pleasing and appears in architecture, art, and music. Many plants grow leaves or petals in spirals based on the golden ratio to maximise exposure to sunlight and rainfall. This isn’t accidental - it is a form of engineering. And not just any engineering, but divine engineering.
Crystals, too, are built on mathematical principles. Each crystal structure is formed through repeating patterns at the molecular level. Whether it’s a six-pointed snowflake or a perfectly cubic salt crystal, symmetry and order abound. Even their healing "powers", which some attribute to mysticism, can simply be understood as the natural ways in which they interact with electromagnetic fields - a sign of the intricate interconnectedness God has placed in His creation, not a mysterious force to be harnessed outside of His will.
This mathematical harmony is not a random outcome. It is evidence of order, precision, and intention. As the Book of Wisdom reminds us: *“But you have arranged all things by measure and number and weight”* (Wisdom 11:20, RSV-CE).
The Planets and the Heavens
The cosmos is perhaps the grandest canvas of God’s design. Consider the alignment and distances of the planets in our solar system. If Jupiter were not the size and position it is, its gravitational field would not shield Earth from many catastrophic asteroids and comets. Scientists refer to Jupiter as Earth’s "cosmic vacuum cleaner", diverting or absorbing objects that might otherwise devastate our planet.
Then there’s Earth itself. Our planet is in what scientists call the “Goldilocks Zone” - not too hot, not too cold. It is positioned at just the right distance from the Sun to sustain life. If Earth were even a few million kilometres closer or further away, liquid water - a key ingredient for life - wouldn’t exist. Our atmosphere is balanced in just the right way to trap heat, filter radiation, and sustain life. Oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide - all perfectly proportioned.
What about the Moon? It’s not just a pretty light in the night sky. The Moon stabilises Earth’s tilt, which governs the seasons. Without it, our planet would wobble chaotically, making stable climates - and thus agriculture and civilisation - impossible. The Moon also controls ocean tides, which in turn regulate marine ecosystems.
And here’s something astonishing: the Moon is **400 times smaller than the Sun**, yet it is also **400 times closer to Earth** than the Sun. This precise ratio means that during a total solar eclipse, the Moon appears to be exactly the same size as the Sun, allowing for a perfect eclipse. This stunning celestial phenomenon serves no survival purpose - it simply showcases beauty and precision, pointing again to a Creator who embeds wonder into His works.
“The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork” (Psalm 19:1, RSV-CE).
DNA: The Language of Life
Let’s delve inside the human body. The DNA in every single one of our cells is a code - an actual language - that instructs our body how to grow, function, and repair itself. It is made up of four chemicals (A, T, C, and G), and yet their sequence determines everything from eye colour to immune response.
If someone found a book with millions of letters perfectly arranged to form instructions and information, we would never assume it was created by chance. So why do some assume that DNA - a living blueprint - emerged without a designer?
Psalm 139:13–14 proclaims: *“For thou didst form my inward parts, thou didst knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”* The Psalmist knew what we now glimpse through microscopes: that human life is no accident.
Beauty Has a Purpose
Some might argue, “But isn’t beauty subjective? What’s the purpose of something being beautiful?” The Catholic faith teaches that **truth, beauty, and goodness** are attributes of God. Beauty is not superficial; it is revelatory. It draws us upwards toward the divine.
Consider flowers. Many of them are colourful and fragrant - not merely to attract pollinators, but to lift the human heart. Their symmetry and hue reflect the artistry of God. Or consider the song of a nightingale or the shimmer of light on ocean waves. There is no evolutionary necessity for such things. They are generous gifts from the Creator to His creatures.
Even St Thomas Aquinas saw in the order of creation a reflection of the Creator Himself. In his *Summa Theologiae*, he argues from design, pointing out that non-intelligent objects (like stars or plants) act towards an end, a purpose. Therefore, they must be directed by an intelligence - namely God.
Dangers of the New Age
All of this beauty and design should rightly point us to worship God. But modern spirituality often stops short - or worse, diverts worship to the creation itself. Crystals are admired for their symmetry and energy, but some seek to use them for healing or divination, stepping into occult practices condemned by Scripture.
Astrology, which assigns human traits and destinies based on star patterns and planetary positions, is another misuse. While the Magi followed a star to find Christ, their act was not rooted in astrology but in divine guidance. We are not to assign our fate to impersonal stars, but to trust in the will of our loving Father.
Scripture is clear: *“Let no one be found among you who...practises divination, or is a soothsayer, or an augur, or a sorcerer”* (Deuteronomy 18:10, RSV-CE). The Catechism of the Catholic Church (2116) also warns that all forms of divination are to be rejected.
Rightly Ordered Wonder
There is nothing wrong with marvelling at crystals, stars, or planetary order. The danger lies in misplacing our awe. Instead of attributing power to created things, we must give glory to the One who made them. When we do so, we align ourselves with the saints, mystics, and scientists throughout Catholic history - those who saw no contradiction between faith and reason, wonder and worship.
St Augustine once said, “Question the beauty of the earth...question the order of the stars...question all these realities. All respond: ‘See, we are beautiful.’ Their beauty is a confession. Who made them, if not the Beautiful One who is not subject to change?”
When we look at the order in the universe, the design in living things, and the sheer beauty of the world, the answer is clear: this is not the result of random chance. It is the work of an intelligent, loving, and omnipotent God.
As Catholics, we are called not to be seduced by modern myths or spiritual counterfeits, but to proclaim the truth - that all things were made through Christ and for Christ (cf. Colossians 1:16).
So the next time you admire a crystal, a sunset, or a perfect flower, remember: you are not looking at a mystical object of power, but at a masterpiece that points to the Creator.
Let us return our gaze to God, the Author of mathematics, beauty, harmony, and life itself.
*“O Lord, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them all; the earth is full of thy creatures”* (Psalm 104:24, RSV-CE).