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The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus (clandestine, hidden, secret), referring to "knowledge of the hidden".Crabb, G. (1927). English synonyms explained, in alphabetical order, with copious illustrations and examples drawn from the best writers. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Co. In the medical sense it is used to refer to a structure or process that is hidden, e.g. an "occult bleed"Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide. Harvard Medical School 2005. 1272 pages ISBN 0684863731 may be one detected indirectly by the presence of otherwise unexplained anaemia. [Site] Occult, The The word has many uses in the English language, popularly meaning "knowledge of the paranormal", as opposed to "knowledge of the measurable",Underhill, E. (1974). Mysticism, Meridian, New York,.http://www.icrcanada.org/kundandpara.html usually referred to as science. The term is sometimes popularly taken to mean "knowledge meant only for certain people" or "knowledge that must be kept hidden", but for most practicing occultists it is simply the study of a deeper spiritual reality that extends beyond pure reason and the physical sciences.Blavatsky, H. P. (1897). Occultism of the secret doctrine. Mont.: Kessinger Pub., LLC. The terms esoteric and arcane can have a very similar meaning, and the three terms are often interchangeable.Houghton Mifflin Company. (2004). The American Heritage College Thesaurus. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. Page 530.Wright, C. F. (1895). An outline of the principles of modern theosophy. Boston: New England Theosophical Corp. [News] Raising the Dunedin dead The term occult is also used as a label given to a number of magical organizations or orders, and the teachings and practices as taught by them. The name also extends to a large body of literature and spiritual philosophy. [Image]
OccultismOccultism is the study of occult or hidden wisdom. To the occultist it is the study of "Truth", a deeper truth that exists beneath the surface: 'The truth is always hidden in plain sight'. It can involve such subjects as magic (alternatively spelled and defined as magick or Magyk), extra-sensory perception, astrology, spiritualism, numerology and lucid dreaming. There is often a strong religious element to these studies and beliefs, and many occultists profess adherence to religions such as Gnosticism, Hermeticism, Luciferianism, Thelema, and Neopaganism. While Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam are generally not considered as occult, some of their modern interpretations can be, as the interpretation of Hinduism within Theosophy or the various occult interpretations of the Jewish Kabbalah. Orthodox members of such religions are likely to consider such interpretations as false; For example, the Kabbalah Centre has been criticised by Jewish scholars.ABC News: What's Behind Hollywood's Fascination with Kabbalah?[Video] Hey You, Pink Floyd,1980,QE, are You getting lonely and Old The word "occult" is somewhat generic, in that almost everything that isn't claimed by any of the major religions can be considered the occult. Even religious scientists have difficulties in defining occultism. A broad definition is offered by Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke: [Auction] 925 silver core occult PANDORA glass Bead Free P&P #329 "OCCULTISM has its basis in a religious way of thinking, the roots of which stretch back into antiquity and which may be described as the Western esoteric tradition. Its principal ingredients have been identified as Gnosticism, the Hermetic treatises on alchemy and magic, Neo-Platonism, and the Kabbalah, all originating in the eastern Mediterranean area during the first few centuries AD."Goodrick-Clarke, The Occult Roots of Nazism (1985), p.17 [Post] Dollhouse From the 15th to 17th century, theseFree Masons kinds of ideas had a brief revival, that was halted by the triumph of empirical sciences in the seventeenth-century. "By the eighteenth century these unorthodox religious and philosophical concerns were well defined as 'occult', inasmuch as they lay on the outermost fringe of accepted forms of knowledge and discurse,"Goodrick-Clarke (1985): 18 and were only preserved by a few antiquarians and mystics. However, from about 1770 onwards, a renewed desire for mystery, an interest in the Middle Ages and a romantic temper encouraged a revival of occultism in Europe, "a reaction to the rationalist Enlightenment." In this concept, occultism largely overlaps with the scope of Western esotericism, as already indicated in the quote. [Book] Three Books of Occult Philosophy (Llewellyn's Sourcebook) Llewellyn Publications Based on his research into the the modern German occult revival 1890-1910, Goodrick-Clarke puts forward a thesis on the driving force behind occultism. Behind its many varied forms apparently lies a uniform function, "a strong desire to reconcile the findings of modern natural science with a religious view that could restore man to a position of centrality and dignity in the universe.Goodrick-Clarke (1985): 29 [Site] Occultopedia That the Kabbalah has been considered an occult study is also perhaps because of its popularity among magi (the biblical wise men who visited the Infant Jesus are said to have been magi of Zoroastrianism) and Thelemites. Kabbalah 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 emphasized a syncretic approach by drawing parallels between different disciplines.IAO131. Thelema & Buddhism in Journal of Thelemic Studies, Vol. 1, No. 1, Autumn 2007, pp. 18-32 [News] Science of the Occult 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; these are just a few examples of the vast and numerous avenues that can be explored. [Image]
Science and the occultOccultism is conceived of as the study of the inner nature of things, as opposed to the outer characteristics that are studied by science. The German Kantian philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer designates this 'inner nature' with the term 'Will', and suggests that science and mathematics are unable 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'.Schopenhauer, Arthur. The World as Will and Representation Schopenhauer also points 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 nature of the 'thing-in-itself'. This is often accomplished through direct perceptual awareness, known as mysticism.[Video] RUSSIAN MISSILES DEPLOYED IN SYRIA !!! Alchemy, is considered an occult practice. Alchemy used to be common among scientists, such as Isaac Newton. Newton's Dark Secrets. During the Age of Enlightenment alchemy and science went their separate ways. [Auction] THE WITCH'S COVEN Form a COVEN Wicca WICCAN OCCULT Aura
Religion and the occultSome religious denominations view the occult as being anything supernatural or paranormal which is not achieved by or through God, and is therefore the work of an opposing and malevolent entity. The word has negative connotations for many people, and while certain practices considered by some to be "occult" are also found within mainstream religions, in this context the term "occult" is rarely used and is sometimes substituted with "esoteric".[Post] Prop 2 in Florida In Judaism, special spiritual studies such as Kabbalah have been allowed for certain individuals (such as rabbis and their chosen students). These studies do not conform to mainstream Jewish ritual. 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 branches of Esoteric 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 divination 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. Tantra, originating in India, includes amongst its various branches a variety of ritualistic practices ranging from visualisation exercises and the chanting of mantras to elaborate rituals involving sex or animal sacrifice, sometimes performed in forbidden places such as cremation grounds. Tantric texts were at one stage unavailable for mass public consumption due to the social stigma attached to the practices. In general, tantra was predominantly associated with black magic and the tantriks were held in gre [Site] occult: Definition, Synonyms from Answers.com [News] Making the most out of Halloween [Image] [Video] Light Pierces the Occult [Auction] Psychic Tarot Card Reading Waite Deck Wicca Occult Orb [Post] Shepherding the Sheeple in the Luciferian World Order [Book] The New Encyclopedia of the Occult Llewellyn Publications [Site] THE OCCULT [News] Murder takes a macabre turn in Mo Hayder's 'Ritual' [Image] [Video] Cthulhu Drum 2 [Auction] NEW The Fourth Book of Occult Philosophy - Agrippa V... [Post] Pop Psychotronics [Book] Fourth Book of Occult Philosophy Ibis Press [Site] The Occult &, Witchcraft [News] Digital Porfolio [Image] [Video] 444 - America - the new roman empire [Auction] Spiritual Metaphysical Occult Books on 2 CDs (1.5 GB) [Post] A Giant UFO Over Salt Lake City [Book] The Occult Philosophy in the Elizabethan Age (Routledge Classics) Routledge [Site] Dark Side of the Net: The Occult [News] Graham: Chuck's brain marvels over head cases & crystal skulls [Image] [Video] Kurt Cobain's Own Private Idaho [Auction] Psychic Tarot Card Reading Waite Deck Wicca Occult Orb [Post] Minnesota’s very own Loch Ness Sea Monster [Book] Masonic & Occult Symbols Illustrated Sharing [Site] Occult in the Yahoo! Directory [News] SAIL student faces expulsion after arrest [Image] [Video] Pictures ACDC Adam/Chu dance crew jabbawockeez miley mandy W [Auction] Wicca Occult Witch Witchcraft Pegan Must Have Books [Post] Hitler & the Occult: Experiment 17 [Book] The Occult Roots of Nazism: Secret Aryan Cults and Their Influence on Nazi Ideology NYU Press [Site] The Occult [News] Hold on to your brains, folks; zombies to invade Lubbock! [Image] [Video] ダリ - イタミワケ PV [Auction] 925 silver core occult PANDORA glass Bead Free P&P #329 [Post] Occult Fallopian Tube Cancer in a Patient with BRCA1 Breast Cancer [Book] Beyond the Occult: Twenty Years' Research into the Paranormal Watkins [News] National Museum of the American Indian Presents Major Retrospective of Fritz Scholder's Art [Image] [Video] Secrets of the occult pt 2 [Auction] 925 silver core occult PANDORA glass Bead Free P&P #901 [Post] Magick - Occult elements in roleplaying games [Book] Occult Theocrasy Christian Bookclub of America [News] Bookshops in the south-west [Image] [Video] Halloween - Celebrating The Works Of Satan [Auction] SUPERNATURAL PARANORMAL POWERS Occult PSYCHIC TRAINING [Post] Occult Detectives | |
