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 ...

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Occultism:

Esoteric systems of belief and practice that assume the existence of mysterious forces and entities.

(See also: Occultism, Psychic, Psychic Dictionary, Parapsychology, Parapsychology Dictionary)

The Occult: A History is a 1971 book by English writer, Colin Wilson. Topics covered include Aleister Crowley, G. I. Gurdjieff, Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Kabbalah, primitive magic, Franz Anton Mesmer, Gregor Rasputin, Daniel Dunglas Home, Paracelsus, P. D. Ouspensky, William Blake, Giovanni Jacopo Casanova, Cornelius Agrippa, and various others. The book is divided into the following sections: Part One: A Survey of the Subject Magic-The Science of the Future The ...

Read more here: » The Occult: A History: Encyclopedia - The Occult: A History

Occultism

Belief in supernational forces and beings.

(See also: Occultism, New Age, Body mind and Soul)

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)

occult

Hidden, secret

(See also: Occult, Body Mind and Soul)

occult: Hidden, or kept secret; revealed only after initiation.

See: mysticism, occultism.

(See also: Occult, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Occult:

That which is hidden or known only to a few.

Occultism:

The study and or practice of that which is occult, especially (in this century) in reference to the powers of the mind.

(See also: Occult, Pagan, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

Occult: Study and science of things esoteric, secret, paranormal, and supernatural.

(See also: Occult, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

OCCULTISM - science of secret knowledge. (NAD)

(See also: OCCULTISM, Wiccan Pagan, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

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)

Occult

Study and science of things esoteric, secret, unseen and supernatural. From the Latin word, hidden.

(See also: Occult, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

OCCULT - n. or adj. hidden, secret. (NAD)

(See also: OCCULT, Wiccan Pagan, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

Occult

Study and science of things esoteric, secret, unseen and supernatural. From the Latin word, hidden.

(See also: Occult, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

OCCULT: to conceal and hide away knowledge from the uninitiated. Latin: occulere; The secret knowledge of the ancients is considered hidden from the profane.  You are very very very close now.

(See also: OCCULT, Witchcraft, Wicca, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

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, )

OCCULT: Literal meaning is "hidden" and is broadly applied to a wide range of metaphysical topics which lie outside the accepted realm of mainstream theologies.

(See also: OCCULT, Paganism, Pagan, Pagan Dictionary)

OCCULT ("hidden, concealed"): Secret, esoteric; term used for magick and other esoteric arts and sciences, such as astrology or alchemy.

(See also: OCCULT, Magickal Traditions, Magickal Paths, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

A Christian theological definition of Occult according to CARM - The Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry:

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Occult

See also: Occult, Christianity, Body Mind and Soul)

For more dictionary entries, see » Occultism Dictionary