Occult

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.

Occultism
Occultism is the study of occult. It can involve such subjects as magic (alternatively spelled and defined as magick), 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, Satanism, Thelema, and Neopaganism. While Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam are generally not considered as occult, some of their modern interpretations can be, such as the interpretation of Hinduism within Theosophy or the various occult interpretations of the Jewish Kabbalah.

Science and the occultism
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. Newton was accused of introducing occult agencies into natural science when he proposed that gravity was a force capable of acting over vast distances.Edelglass et al., Matter and Mind, . p. 54

Related pages
 Esotericism
 Haunted house
 Spiritual séance

Notes

 Other websites 

 Journal of Thelemic Studies  - the first non-partisan, academic journal investigating the occult tradition of Thelema, founded by the infamous Aleister Crowley
 The Occult Lodge  For all things Occult
 University of Amsterdam Center for Study of Western Esotericism
 University of Exeter Centre for the Study of Esotericism (EXESESO)
 ESSWE European Society for the Study of Western Esotericism, with many links to associated organizations, libraries, scholars etc.
 Joseph H. Peterson, Twilit Grotto: Archives of Western Esoterica (Esoteric Archives: Occult Literature)
Athenaeum  (Collection of occult works in PDF Format)
 Inner Quest  All things occult

Category:Occult