A Theosophical definition of Occultism :

Occultism

This word meant originally only the science of things hid; even in the Middle Ages of Europe those philosophers who were the forerunners of the modern scientists, those who then studied physical nature, called their science occultism, and their studies occult, meaning the things that were hid or not known to the common run of mankind. Such a medieval philosopher was Albertus Magnus, a German; and so also was Roger Bacon, an Englishman  - both of the thirteenth century of the Christian era.

Occultism as theosophists use the term, and as it should be used, means the study of the hid things of Being, the science of life or universal nature. In one sense this word can be used to mean the study of unusual "phenomena," which meaning it usually has today among people who do not think of the vastly larger field of causes which occultism, properly speaking, investigates. Doubtless mere physical phenomena have their place in study, but they are on the frontier, on the outskirts  - the superficialities  - of occultism. The study of true occultism means penetrating deep into the causal mysteries of Being.

Occultism is a generalizing term for the entire body of the occult sciences  - the sciences of the secrets of universal nature; as H. P. Blavatsky phrases it, "physical and psychic, mental and spiritual; called Hermetic and Esoteric Sciences." Occultism may be considered also to be a word virtually interchangeable with the phrase esoteric philosophy, with, however, somewhat more emphasis laid on the occult or secret or hid portions of the esoteric philosophy. Genuine occultism embraces not merely the physical, physiological, psychological, and spiritual portions of man's being, but has an equal and indeed a perhaps wider range in the studies dealing with the structure and operations as well as the origin and destiny of the kosmos.

See also: Occultism, Mysticism, Body Mind and Soul)

A Theosophical definition of Theosophy :

Theosophy

A compound Greek word: theos, a "divine being," a "god"; sophia, "wisdom"; hence divine wisdom. Theosophy is the majestic wisdom-religion of the archaic ages and is as old as thinking man. It was delivered to the first human protoplasts, the first thinking human beings on this earth, by highly intelligent spiritual entities from superior spheres. This ancient doctrine, this esoteric system, has been passed down from guardians to guardians to guardians through innumerable generations until our own time. Furthermore, portions of this original and majestic system have been given out at various periods of time to various races in various parts of the world by those guardians when humanity stood in need of such extension and elaboration of spiritual and intellectual thought.

Theosophy is not a syncretistic philosophy-religion-science, a system of thought or belief which has been put together piecemeal and consisting of parts or portions taken by some great mind from other various religions or philosophies. This idea is false. On the contrary, theosophy is that single system or systematic formulation of the facts of visible and invisible nature which, as expressed through the illuminated human mind, takes the apparently separate forms of science and of philosophy and of religion. We may likewise describe theosophy to be the formulation in human language of the nature, structure, origin, destiny, and operations of the kosmical universe and of the multitudes of beings which infill it.

It might be added that theosophy, in the language of H. P. Blavatsky (Theosophical Glossary, p. 328), is "the sub-stratum and basis of all the world-religions and philosophies, taught and practiced by a few elect ever since man became a thinking being. In its practical bearing, Theosophy is purely divine ethics; the definitions in dictionaries are pure nonsense, based on religious prejudice and ignorance." (See also Universal Brotherhood)

See also: Theosophy, Mysticism, Body Mind and Soul)

Occultism [from Latin occultus hid]

The science of things behind the veils of nature both visible and invisible, things hidden from the multitudes. In theosophy frequently synonymous with the esoteric philosophy or secret doctrine. The study of genuine occultism signifies penetrating deep into the causal mysteries of universal being; the occult arts, by contrast, include psychism, black magic, hypnotism, psychologization, and similar uninstructed or malevolent uses of astral and mental forces.

The term occult has noble, but largely forgotten origins. It properly defines anything which is undisclosed, concealed, or not easily perceived. Early theologians, for example, spoke of "the occult judgment of God," while "occult philosopher" was a designation for the pre-Renaissance scientist who sought the unseen causes regulating nature's phenomena. In astronomy, the term is still used when one stellar body "occults" another by passing in front of it, temporarily hiding it from view. Writing a century ago, when the word had not acquired today's mixed connotations, H.P. Blavatsky defined occultism as "altruism pure and simple" -- the divine wisdom or hidden theosophy within all religions.

As the study or science of things which are hid and secret, occultism is a generalizing term because what is hid or secret in one age may readily be in a succeeding age more or less commonly known and open to public investigation. Many things that in medieval Europe were distinctly secret and therefore occult, are today the field of scientific investigation; and what is now considered to be occult, if science continues in its progress and research, may in the succeeding age in its turn become open and matter of common knowledge. Occultism then will simply have shifted its field of investigation and study to matters still more secret, still more recondite, still more deeply hid in fields of nature which are now scarcely suspected.

Theosophy or the wisdom-religion is the study of the ancient wisdom of the gods, and comprises in any one period that particular portion of knowledge which has been delivered to those who study it; whereas occultism in any age is that portion of the ancient wisdom dealing with matters which at such time are secret, hid, and unknown to the multitude.

Thus occultism is that portion of theosophy which has not yet been openly and publicly promulgated. Occultism is founded on the principle that Divinity is concealed -- transcendent yet immanent -- within every living being. As a spiritual discipline occultism is the renunciation of selfishness; it is the "still small path" which leads to wisdom, to the right discrimination between good and evil, and the practice of altruism.

(See also: Occultism, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Mysticism, from the Greek μυω (muo, "to conceal"), is the pursuit of achieving communion with or conscious awareness of ultimate reality, the divine, spiritual truth, or God through direct, personal experience (intuition or insight) rather than rational thought; the belief in the existence of realities beyond perceptual or intellectual apprehension that are central to being and directly accessible through personal experience; or the belief that such experience is a genuine and important source of knowledge. In the Hellenistic world, ...

Including:

• Mysticism - Types of mystical experience
• Mysticism - Mysticism and epistemology
• Mysticism - Subjectivity and mysticism
• Mysticism - Self-transcending self-discovery
• Mysticism - Mysticism and syncretism
• Mysticism - On the difficulty of defining mysticism
• Mysticism - Theosophy and Occultism
• Mysticism - Examples in major traditions
• Mysticism - Hindu mystics
• Mysticism - Chinese mystics
• Mysticism - Christian mystics
• Mysticism - Islamic mystics
• Mysticism - Jewish mystics
• Mysticism - Other mystics

Read more here: » Mysticism: Encyclopedia - Mysticism

The word occult comes from Latin occultus (hidden), referring to the 'knowledge of the secret' or 'knowledge of the hidden' and often 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 o ...

Including:

• Occult - Occultism
• Occult - History
• Occult - The Occult and Christianity

Read more here: » Occult: Encyclopedia - Occult

Theosophy is a body of ideas which holds that all religions are attempts by man to ascertain "the Divine," and as such each religion has a portion of the truth. Theosophy, as a coherent system of thought, developed from the writings of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky (also Hélène). Together with Henry Steel Olcott, William Quan Judge, and others she founded the Theosophical Society in 1875. A more formal definition from the Concise Oxford Dictionary describes Theosophy as "any of various philosophies professing to achieve a ...

Including:

• Theosophy - Basic Theosophical beliefs
• Theosophy - Consciousness is universal and individual
• Theosophy - Man is provisionally immortal
• Theosophy - Reincarnation is universal
• Theosophy - Karma
• Theosophy - Universal brotherhood
• Theosophy - Evolution
• Theosophy - The Septenary
• Theosophy - A brief history of Theosophy
• Theosophy - Music
• Theosophy - Early 20th-century literary references to Theosophy
• Theosophy - Notes

Read more here: » Theosophy: Encyclopedia - Theosophy

Mystic may refer to: Mystic BBS, a bulletin board software with integrated telnet capabilities. Mysticism, the belief in realities beyond perceptual and/or intellectual understanding. Christian mysticism Mystic (rapper), a rapper. Mystic (Mustang), a uniquely colored 1996 Ford Cobra. Mystic, Connecticut, a historic seaport and tourist center. Other related archivesChristian mysticism, Mystic (Mustang), Mystic (rapper), Mystic BB

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A Theosophical definition of Mysticism :

Mysticism

A word originally derived from the Greek and having a wide range of meaning in modern Occidental religious and philosophical literature. A mystic may be said to be one who has intuitions or intimations of the existence of inner and superior worlds, and who attempts to ally himself or to come into self-conscious communion with them and the beings inhabiting these inner and invisible worlds.

The word mysticism, of course, has various shades of significance, and a large number of definitions could easily be written following the views of different mystical writers on this theme. From the theosophical or occult point of view, however, a mystic is one who has inner convictions often based on inner vision and knowledge of the existence of spiritual and ethereal universes of which our outer physical universe is but the shell; and who has some inner knowledge that these universes or worlds or planes or spheres, with their hosts of inhabitants, are intimately connected with the origin, destiny, and even present nature of the world which surrounds us.

Genuine mysticism is an ennobling study. The average mystic, however, is one who lacks the direct guidance derived from personal teaching received from a master or spiritual superior.

See also: Mysticism, Mysticism, Body Mind and Soul)

Occultism is the study of supposed 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), numerology, lucid dreams, or even religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism. ...

See also:

Occult, Occult - Occultism, Occult - History, Occult - The Occult and Christianity

Read more here: » Occult: Encyclopedia II - Occult - Occultism

The field of UFOs does not always necessarily overlap the paranormal, although in practice it often does. Some researchers, such as John Keel and Jacques Vallee, argue that there is a direct relationship between UFOs and paranormal phenomena. Also, some religious sects have made UFOs a part of their core beliefs. See Paranormal and Occult Hypotheses About UFOs. Many ancient religious paintings contain images that have been interpreted as UFOs and alien beings. Some also believe that over long periods of history, nonhuman intelligen ...

See also:

Unidentified flying object, Unidentified flying object - History, Unidentified flying object - Etymology, Unidentified flying object - Foreign versions of term, Unidentified flying object - Pronunciation, Unidentified flying object - UFOs and popular culture, Unidentified flying object - Typical reported characteristics of UFOs, Unidentified flying object - Scientific UFO field studies, Unidentified flying object - Norway, Unidentified flying object - United States, Unidentified flying object - Official governmental studies, Unidentified flying object - Canada, Unidentified flying object - United States, Unidentified flying object - Civilian UFO investigation groups, Unidentified flying object - United States, Unidentified flying object - Other UFO organizations, Unidentified flying object - Science and UFOs, Unidentified flying object - Physical evidence, Unidentified flying object - Identified flying objects IFOs, Unidentified flying object - Popular ideas for explaining UFOs, Unidentified flying object - Evidence and explanations, Unidentified flying object - Evidence and suppression, Unidentified flying object - Hoaxes or Reality, Unidentified flying object - Psychology, Unidentified flying object - Paranormal, mystical and occult crossover, Unidentified flying object - Politics, Unidentified flying object - Conspiracies, Unidentified flying object - Notable UFO-related sightings and events, Unidentified flying object - Prominent UFO researchers, Unidentified flying object - Theories, Unidentified flying object - Film and television, Unidentified flying object - Sources

Read more here: » Unidentified flying object: Encyclopedia II - Unidentified flying object - Paranormal, mystical and occult crossover

The field of UFOs does not always necessarily overlap the paranormal, although in practice it often does. Some researchers, such as John Keel and Jacques Vallee, argue that there is a direct relationship between UFOs and paranormal phenomena. Also, some religious sects have made UFOs a part of their core beliefs. See Paranormal and Occult Hypotheses About UFOs. Many ancient religious paintings contain images that have been interpreted as UFOs and alien beings. Some also believe that over long periods of history, nonhum ...

See also:

Unidentified flying object, Unidentified flying object - History, Unidentified flying object - Etymology, Unidentified flying object - Foreign versions of term, Unidentified flying object - Pronunciation, Unidentified flying object - UFOs and popular culture, Unidentified flying object - Typical reported characteristics of UFOs, Unidentified flying object - Scientific UFO field studies, Unidentified flying object - Norway, Unidentified flying object - United States, Unidentified flying object - Official governmental studies, Unidentified flying object - Australia, Unidentified flying object - Canada, Unidentified flying object - France, Unidentified flying object - United States, Unidentified flying object - Civilian UFO investigation groups, Unidentified flying object - United States, Unidentified flying object - Other UFO organizations, Unidentified flying object - Science and UFOs, Unidentified flying object - Physical evidence, Unidentified flying object - Identified flying objects IFOs, Unidentified flying object - Popular ideas for explaining UFOs, Unidentified flying object - Evidence and explanations, Unidentified flying object - Evidence and suppression, Unidentified flying object - Hoaxes or reality, Unidentified flying object - Psychology, Unidentified flying object - Paranormal mystical and occult crossover, Unidentified flying object - Politics, Unidentified flying object - Conspiracy theories, Unidentified flying object - Notable UFO-related sightings and events, Unidentified flying object - Prominent UFO researchers, Unidentified flying object - United States, Unidentified flying object - Non-U.S., Unidentified flying object - Theories, Unidentified flying object - Film and television, Unidentified flying object - Sources

Read more here: » Unidentified flying object: Encyclopedia II - Unidentified flying object - Paranormal mystical and occult crossover

The field of UFOs does not always necessarily overlap the paranormal, although in practice it often does. Some researchers, such as John Keel and Jacques Vallee, argue that there is a direct relationship between UFOs and paranormal phenomena. Also, some religious sects have made UFOs a part of their core beliefs. See Paranormal and Occult Hypotheses About UFOs. Many ancient religious paintings contain images that have been interpreted as UFOs and alien beings. Some also believe that over long periods of history, nonhum ...

See also:

Unidentified flying object, Unidentified flying object - History, Unidentified flying object - Etymology, Unidentified flying object - Foreign versions of term, Unidentified flying object - Pronunciation, Unidentified flying object - UFOs and popular culture, Unidentified flying object - Typical reported characteristics of UFOs, Unidentified flying object - Scientific UFO field studies, Unidentified flying object - Norway, Unidentified flying object - United States, Unidentified flying object - Official governmental studies, Unidentified flying object - Canada, Unidentified flying object - United States, Unidentified flying object - Civilian UFO investigation groups, Unidentified flying object - United States, Unidentified flying object - Other UFO organizations, Unidentified flying object - Science and UFOs, Unidentified flying object - Physical evidence, Unidentified flying object - Identified flying objects IFOs, Unidentified flying object - Popular ideas for explaining UFOs, Unidentified flying object - Evidence and explanations, Unidentified flying object - Evidence and suppression, Unidentified flying object - Hoaxes or reality, Unidentified flying object - Psychology, Unidentified flying object - Paranormal mystical and occult crossover, Unidentified flying object - Politics, Unidentified flying object - Conspiracy theories, Unidentified flying object - Notable UFO-related sightings and events, Unidentified flying object - Prominent UFO researchers, Unidentified flying object - Theories, Unidentified flying object - Film and television, Unidentified flying object - Sources

Read more here: » Unidentified flying object: Encyclopedia II - Unidentified flying object - Paranormal mystical and occult crossover

Theosophists trace the origin of Theosophy to the universal striving for divinity that existed in all ancient cultures. It is found in an unbroken chain in India but existed in ancient Greece and also in the writings of Plato (427-347 BCE), Plotinus (204-270) and other neo-Platonists, as well as Jakob Boehme (1575-1624). Some relevant quotes: ...we are imprisoned in the body, like an oyster in his shell. — The Socrates of Plato, Phaedrus To the philosopher, the body is "a disturbin ...

See also:

Theosophy, Theosophy - Basic Theosophical beliefs, Theosophy - Consciousness is universal and individual, Theosophy - Man is provisionally immortal, Theosophy - Reincarnation is universal, Theosophy - Karma, Theosophy - Universal brotherhood, Theosophy - Evolution, Theosophy - The Septenary, Theosophy - A brief history of Theosophy, Theosophy - Music, Theosophy - Early 20th-century literary references to Theosophy, Theosophy - Notes

Read more here: » Theosophy: Encyclopedia II - Theosophy - A brief history of Theosophy

Theosophists trace the origin of Theosophy to the universal striving for divinity that existed in all ancient cultures. It is found in an unbroken chain in India but existed in ancient Greece and also in the writings of Plato (427-347 BCE), Plotinus (204-270) and other neo-Platonists, as well as Jakob Boehme (1575-1624). Some relevant quotes: ...we are imprisoned in the body, like an oyster in his shell. — The Socrates of Plato, Phaedrus To the philosopher, the body is "a disturbin ...

See also:

Theosophy, Theosophy - The three objects, Theosophy - Basic Theosophical beliefs, Theosophy - Consciousness is universal and individual, Theosophy - Man is provisionally immortal, Theosophy - Reincarnation is universal, Theosophy - Karma, Theosophy - Universal brotherhood, Theosophy - Evolution, Theosophy - The Septenary, Theosophy - A brief history of Theosophy, Theosophy - Music, Theosophy - Early 20th-century literary references to Theosophy, Theosophy - Notes

Read more here: » Theosophy: Encyclopedia II - Theosophy - A brief history of Theosophy

OCCULT

The occult today is in ruins because it has been prematurely made public. It is a body of knowledge that is too fragile for those without wisdom. Because of power being placed in the hands of the ignorant, the word "occult" has, largely through the bullying of the Christians, falsely become a synonym for "evil." It is for that very reason that the term was originally chosen. The occult has always been a secret study that should never be made public. It deals with sacred truth and the public, being composed mostly of fools, can only pervert it.

At this point, however, we have no choice but to move forward with it, to try to undo the harm by providing more light on the subject.

In general, occultism has three basic tenets: 1) man is in the process of evolving to higher spiritual states of being; 2) the cosmos is energy; 3) there are hierarchies of intelligence above and below human intelligence, which control or influence the cosmos for good and evil, as human intelligence, of course, in its own right also does.

(See also: OCCULT, Magick, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul, )

THEOSOPHY

Society founded in 1875 by H.P. Blavatsky and Col. H.S. Olcott. Immediate divine illumination. Spiritual insight is superior to empirical knowledge. Specifically, Theosophy is the revelation of HPB that incorporates Gnosticism, Zoroastrianism, Platonism, Hinduism and Buddhism. Theosophy proposes "four bodies": the physical, the astral, the esthetic and the Self.

(See also: THEOSOPHY, Magick, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul, )

Stars may also be occulted by planets. In 1959, Venus occulted Regulus. Uranus' rings were first discovered when that planet occulted a star in 1977. On the evening of July 2-3, 1989, Saturn passed in front of the 5th magnitude star 28 Sagitarii. It is also possible for one planet to occult another planet. However, these mutual occultations of planets are extremely rare. The last such event occurred on January 3, 1818 and will next occur on November 22, 2065, in both cases involving the same two planets -- Venus and Jupiter. Technical ...

See also:

Occultation, Occultation - Occultations by the Moon, Occultation - Occultation by planets, Occultation - BOSS, Occultation - Occultations of bright stars <4 mag and planets by planets between 1800 and 2100, Occultation - Mutual planetary transits and occultations, Occultation - External references

Read more here: » Occultation: Encyclopedia II - Occultation - Occultation by planets

The term occultation is most frequently used to describe those relatively frequent occasions when the Moon passes in front of a star during the course of its orbital motion around the Earth. Since the Moon has no atmosphere and stars have no appreciable angular size, a star that is occulted by the moon will disappear or reappear very nearly instantaneously on the moon's edge, or limb. Events that take place on the Moon's dark limb are of particular interest to observers, because the lack of glare allows ...

See also:

Occultation, Occultation - Occultations by the Moon, Occultation - Occultation by planets, Occultation - BOSS, Occultation - Occultations of bright stars <4 mag and planets by planets between 1800 and 2100, Occultation - Mutual planetary transits and occultations, Occultation - External references

Read more here: » Occultation: Encyclopedia II - Occultation - Occultations by the Moon

Stars may also be occulted by planets. In 1959, Venus occulted Regulus. Uranus' rings were first discovered when that planet occulted a star in 1977. On the evening of July 2-July 3, 1989, Saturn passed in front of the 5th magnitude star 28 Sagitarii. It is also possible for one planet to occult another planet. However, these mutual occultations of planets are extremely rare. The last such event occurred on January 3, 1818 and will next occur on November 22, 2065, in both cases involving the same two planets -- Venus and Jupiter. Tech ...

See also:

Occultation, Occultation - Occultations by the Moon, Occultation - Occultation by planets, Occultation - BOSS, Occultation - Occultations of bright stars <4 mag and planets by planets between 1800 and 2100, Occultation - Mutual planetary transits and occultations, Occultation - External references

Read more here: » Occultation: Encyclopedia II - Occultation - Occultation by planets

Nazi occult-hunters have been featured in the Indiana Jones films. Occult-obsessed Nazis have long been a staple of superhero comic books: In the 1980s, DC Comics writer Roy Thomas invented a retcon to explain why Superman, the Spectre, and the Justice Society of America had been unable to defeat the Nazis: Hitler possessed the Spear of Destiny (Spear of Longinus) which gave him magical control over any superheroes who ventured into his territory. The Hellboy comic books and movie also portray the Nazis and the T ...

See also:

Nazi mysticism, Nazi mysticism - Overview, Nazi mysticism - Central beliefs, Nazi mysticism - Early influences, Nazi mysticism - Theozoology, Nazi mysticism - Ariosophy, Nazi mysticism - Armanism, Nazi mysticism - The Thule Society, Nazi mysticism - The Vril Society, Nazi mysticism - General Karl Haushofer, Nazi mysticism - Hitler's WWI Experience, Nazi mysticism - Hitler's Odinist Poem, Nazi mysticism - Esoteric Hitlerism, Nazi mysticism - Origin, Nazi mysticism - Prayer to Hitler, Nazi mysticism - Julius Evola, Nazi mysticism - Savitri Devi, Nazi mysticism - Miguel Serrano, Nazi mysticism - Ahnenerbe, Nazi mysticism - Research and expeditions, Nazi mysticism - Nazi German Moon Base, Nazi mysticism - Suppression of secret societies, Nazi mysticism - Artur Dinter, Nazi mysticism - Mysticism in modern Neo-Nazism, Nazi mysticism - Nazi mysticism and modern pseudoscience, Nazi mysticism - In fiction, Nazi mysticism - Quotes, Nazi mysticism - References, Nazi mysticism - External links

Read more here: » Nazi mysticism: Encyclopedia II - Nazi mysticism - In fiction