Occult
Occult is a label given to a number of organizations or orders, and the teachings and practices as taught by them. The name also extends to a large body of literature, and spritual philosophy.
The word occult comes from the
Latin occultus (clandestine, hidden, secret), referring to the 'knowledge of the secret' or 'knowledge of the hidden' and often popularly meaning 'knowledge of the
supernatural', as opposed to 'knowledge of the visible' or 'knowledge of the measurable', usually referred to as
science. The modern term's meaning is often imprecisely translated and used as a term for 'secret knowledge' or 'hidden knowledge', in the sense of meaning 'knowledge meant only for certain people' or 'knowledge that must be kept hidden'. For most practicing occultists, however, it is simply the study of a deeper spiritual "reality" that cannot be understood using pure reason or physical sciences.
Occultism is the study of occult or hidden wisdom. To the Occultist it is the study of Truth, or rather the deeper truth that exists beyond the surface: 'The Truth Is Always Hidden In Plain Sight'. It may be considered by some to be a 'grey' area, perhaps larger than any other in the realm of
religion. It can deal with subjects ranging from
talismans,
magic (alternatively spelled and defined as
magick), sorcery, and
voodoo, to ESP (
Extra-sensory perception),
astrology,
numerology,
lucid dreams, or even religions such as
Hinduism and
Buddhism.
The word "occult" is somewhat generic, in that most everything that isn't claimed by any of the major religions (and many things that are) is considered to be occult. Even
Kabbalah has been considered an occult study, perhaps because of its popularity among
magi and
Thelemites. The biblical
three wise men who visited the
Infant Jesus are said to have been magi of
Zoroastrianism. It was later adopted by the
Golden Dawn and brought out into the open by
Aleister Crowley and his protégé
Israel Regardie. Since that time many authors have added insight to the study of the Occult by drawing parallels between different disciplines.
Direct insight into or perception of the occult does not consist of access to physically measurable facts, but is arrived at through the mind or the
spirit. The term can refer to
mental,
psychological or
spiritual training. It is important to note, however, that many occultists will also study science (perceiving science as a branch of Alchemy) to add validity to occult knowledge in a day and age where the mystical can easily be undermined as flights-of-fancy. An oft-cited means of gaining insight into the occult is the use of a
focus. A focus may be a physical object, a
ritualistic action (for example,
meditation or
chanting), or a medium in which one becomes wholly
immersed. The previous examples are just a few examples of the vast and numerous avenues that can be explored.
Occultism is the study of the inner nature of things, as opposed to the outer characteristics that are studied by science. The innability of science and mathematics to penetrate beyond the relationship between one thing and another in order to explain the 'inner nature' of the thing itself, independent of any external causal relationships with other 'things' is dealt with in some detail by the German philosopher Arthur Shopenhauer in his treatise entitled 'The World as Will and Representation' in which he designates this 'inner nature' with the term 'Will'.
In his essay entitled 'What is a "number"? or a "symbol", published as part of 777 and other qabalistic writings, the infamous occultist
Aleister Crowley describes the appraoch of conventional science as the process of measuring ten yards with a stick about which we really know nothing but that it is one tenth of the ten yards in question. The impossibility of gaining a full description of the universe through this conventional scientific approach is demonstrated geometrically as follows. If A is defined as BC, where B is DE, C is FG and so onwards we must ultimately arrive at a point where the definition of Z involves the term A; there can therefore be no ultimate definition of any of the terms, but only a self-referrential cirlce.
Shopenhauer also point towards this inherently relativistic nature of mathematics and conventional science in his formulation of the 'World as Will'. By defining a thing solely in terms of its external relationships or effects we only find its external, or explicit nature. Occultism, on the other hand, is concerned with the inner nature of the 'thing-in-itself'. (ref:
Kant) This is often accomplished through direct perceptual awareness, known as mysticism.
Many occultists, particular those who follow the system of 'chaos magic' believe that modern
quantum physics is confirming the occult position. In relation to the definition of occultism two things are noted: firslty the dependence of experimental results on the set up of the experiment itself (re: the dependence of the answer on the original terms of the question demonstrating the self-referrential cycle). Secondly the fact that at a fundamental, sub-atomic level there are no 'things' but only relationships - a paradox given that relationships are dependent on things to be related - is said to demostrate the inherent limitations of the scientific method. In the language of quantum physics, taken from the work of David Bohm, occultism concerns intelf not with the
explicate order, but with the
implicate order.
Some religious denominations view the occult as being anything supernatural which is not done by the power of their faith, but by the power of an opposing and therefore malevolent entity. The religions that dictate a malevolent entity exists often view that rituals outside their standard worship may be potentially harmful or blasphemous, although much depends on the outlook of the faith.
For example, in Judaism, special spiritual studies such as
Kabbalah were allowed for certain individuals (such as rabbis and their chosen students). These studies do not conform to mainstream Jewish ritual; charms and protections were often crafted as wards against evil, but it is questionable if
talismans are still crafted in any branch of Judaism. Also, some forms of Islam allow spirits to be commanded in the name of
Allah to do righteous works and assist steadfast Muslims. Furthermore, there are mystical branches of Christianity that practice divination, blessings, or appealing to angels for certain intervention, which they view as perfectly righteous, often supportable by gospel (for instance, claiming that the old commandment against diviniation was superseded by Christ's birth, and noting that the
Magi used
astrology to locate Bethlehem).
Rosicrucianism, one of the most celebrated of Christianity's mystical offshoots, has lent aspects of its philosophy to most Christian-based occultism since the 17th century.
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Magical organizations
