Occultism

Occultism is the study or practice of beliefs and methods concerning hidden forces, concealed knowledge, and realities beyond ordinary perception.

Esotericism: Traditions that reserve teachings or practices for an initiated or specially prepared audience. Occultism often overlaps with esoteric traditions that frame knowledge as concealed or restricted.
Hermes Trismegistus: A legendary sage formed by combining the Greek god Hermes with the Egyptian god Thoth. Writings attributed to him supplied foundational authority for Renaissance occult philosophy.
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa: A Renaissance scholar whose writings systematized magic, astrology, and occult philosophy. His synthesis became one of the most influential accounts of learned Western magic.
Alchemy: A historical body of practices seeking material transformation and, in some traditions, spiritual perfection. Occultists interpreted alchemy as both a hidden science of matter and a path of inner change.
Mysticism: Religious or spiritual practice centered on direct experience of ultimate reality or divine presence. Mysticism may share occultism’s interest in hidden realities but need not involve secret techniques or powers.
Magic: Practices intended to influence events through supernatural forces, ritual actions, or symbolic means. Many occult systems treat magic as a practical method for engaging hidden forces.
Corpus Hermeticum: A collection of Greek religious-philosophical dialogues attributed to Hermes Trismegistus. Its rediscovery in Renaissance Europe helped renew interest in occult knowledge and cosmic correspondences.
John Dee: An English mathematician, astrologer, and court adviser who pursued angelic communication and natural philosophy. His experiments joined scholarly inquiry with the search for hidden spiritual knowledge.
Astrology: A system that interprets relationships between celestial positions and events or human affairs. Occult astrology uses the heavens as a map of concealed influences and correspondences.
Spiritualism: A nineteenth-century religious movement asserting communication between the living and spirits of the dead. Spiritualism overlaps with occultism but centers specifically on spirit communication and mediumship.

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