Occultism

Occultism is an umbrella term for a broad range of beliefs, rituals, and spiritual practices rooted in the idea that hidden forces—spirits, subtle energies, and unseen intelligences—exist alongside the material world and can be contacted, interpreted, or influenced. Rather than forming a single religion or doctrine, occultism describes an entire spectrum of traditions that explore the “occult” (from Latin occultus, meaning hidden), seeking knowledge that lies beyond ordinary perception.

In its most familiar forms, occultism includes magical practice and witchcraft, where intention, symbolism, ritual tools, and altered states of consciousness are used to create change in the self or the environment. It also includes alchemy, historically understood as both an experimental art and a mystical philosophy—famous for legends of transmuting base metals into gold and for the search for longevity or immortality, but also deeply concerned with inner transformation and spiritual refinement. Another major branch is divination, the art of receiving guidance through symbolic systems such as tarot, astrology, scrying, runes, pendulums, or omen reading. Many occult frameworks also involve interaction with spiritual beings, including ancestors, angels, planetary intelligences, nature spirits, and—in certain traditions—demons, often approached through structured rites of invocation, evocation, and protective ceremonial protocols.

Within modern culture, occultism functions both as a living spiritual current and as a historical category: a vast hidden library of esoteric philosophies, secret societies, grimoires, mystery traditions, and practical arts devoted to exploring the invisible mechanisms believed to shape reality.

SEE ALSO:

• Demons and the Devil
• Divination, Magic and Spells
• Witchcraft

SOURCE:

The Greenhaven Encyclopedia of Paranormal Phenomena – written by Patricia D. Netzley © 2006 Gale, a part of Cengage Learning