What does "Occult" mean to YOU?

[Guitar's Cry]

If I understood him wrong then I am sorry, I just woke up about an hour ago.

Coffee does wonders when it comes to clearing up occult understanding.

 

[Azakel]

Coffee does wonders when it comes to clearing up occult understanding.

Well with the pills that I'm taking I have to try and stay away from other sources of caffeine.
But other then that I agree, though I'm more of an energy drink kind of Occultist.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

Well with the pills that I'm taking I have to try and stay away from other sources of caffeine.
But other then that I agree, though I'm more of an energy drink kind of Occultist.

"Occult: The New Energy Drink Soon To Replace Monster!"

 

[LuisDantas]

Agreed, but I think he was meaning it a different way especially when he made mention that we are like those extreme Christians and Muslims. If I understood him wrong then I am sorry, I just woke up about an hour ago.

Don't worry, no harm done.

Doppelganger's understanding is interesting, but not what I meant either.

I don't know how exactly you took my statement, but you're probably closer to the mark than Doppel. I have met Christians who claim to believe that literally anything that happens is caused by the supernatural will of either God or its enemy. I assume (perhaps unfairly) that much the same happens within Islam.

To my eyes, that is not really too different than the perspective of some occultists, who to the best of my understanding try a little too hard to find answers, meanings and causes for any event or feeling. The only, and very minor, difference is that Abrahamists have more specific explanations, while Occultists have a wider selection.

Quite frankly, in both cases the explanations have very little actual meaning once one leaves the strictly personal perspective. Then again, I don't think they were ever meant otherwise.

 

[Azakel]

Don't worry, no harm done.

Doppelganger's understanding is interesting, but not what I meant either.

I don't know how exactly you took my statement, but you're probably closer to the mark than Doppel. I have met Christians who claim to believe that literally anything that happens is caused by the supernatural will of either God or its enemy. I assume (perhaps unfairly) that much the same happens within Islam.

To my eyes, that is not really too different than the perspective of some occultists, who to the best of my understanding try a little too hard to find answers, meanings and causes for happenings.

Ok I understand. No harm ^_^ Though maybe it's me but one of the first things I learned when jumping into Occultism to to keep a some what skeptical mind, don't brush everything of as fake, yet don't think that everything that happens is automatically supernatural. Though I have met Occultist that do think the way you mentioned.

 

[gnomon]

I when I hear occult I think secret.

Then I think how the term is misapplied to all the new age nonsense that was either created in the last century or already existed widely among even traditional religions.

That and Westerners will call something occult because it is foreign and after a bit of a pop twist, like Kabbalah and Madonna, it becomes mystical.

 

[YmirGF]

*When you see/hear the word "Occult"...

My first thought is misunderstanding.

*When someone says they are an "Occultist",

what does this mean to YOU?

To me, it means the person is probably fairly naive but possibly has a sense of adventure.

*Beyond that, what are your further considerations of "Occultism" in general?

Beyond this? Actually, I don't take the subject seriously - in the slightest.

 

[blackout]

I want to apologize for my absence here.

I've just been too tired, with too little time.

I have enjoyed the answers thus far though,
and PROMISE to reply as soon as I possibly can.
:rainbow1:

 

[blackout]

May I start here?.....
If just for a minute.


Main Entry: 1oc·cult Pronunciation: \ə-ˈkəlt, ä-\ Function: transitive verb Etymology: Latin occultare, frequentative of occulere
Date: 1500 : to shut off from view or exposure : cover, eclipse



Main Entry: 2oc·cult Pronunciation: \&#601;-&#712;k&#601;lt, ä-; &#712;ä-&#716;k&#601;lt\ Function: adjective Etymology: Latin occultus, from past participle of occulere to cover up, from ob- in the way + -culere (akin to celare to conceal) &#8212; more at ob-, hell Date: 1533 1: not revealed : secret2: not easily apprehended or understood : abstruse, mysterious3: hidden from view : concealed4: of or relating to the occult5: not manifest or detectable by clinical methods alone <occult carcinoma> ; also : not present in macroscopic amounts <occult blood in a stool>


Main Entry: 3occult Pronunciation: \same as 2\ Function: noun Date: 1923 : matters regarded as involving the action or influence of supernatural or supernormal powers or some secret knowledge of them &#8212;used with the

 

[blackout]

When I look at these definitions I firstly find the dates interesting.

Definitions 1 & 2 (transitive verb & adjective)... 1500...1533.

Definition 3 (noun, as in The Occult).... 1923!

It would be interesting to know how that last one got added in there.
Maybe someone here knows?

 

[Willamena]

As someone who considers herSelf both Occultic Visionary & Practitioner,
I'm very curious to know what notions this brings to mind for each/all of you.

*When you see/hear the word "Occult"...
*When someone says they are an "Occultist",
what does this mean to YOU?
*What are the very first ideas that pop into your mind?
*Beyond that, what are your further considerations of "Occultism" in general?

I will begin to share my own personal thoughts, understanding, and insights,
a little bit later, after some of you have answered.

"Occult" is the mask that is the presumption of knowing.

Any mask:

 

[blackout]

Spell casting is the way "words" are presented/spelled/spun so as to form "certain" ideas,
in people's MINDS.

"There's a Sign on the Wall... but she wants to be sure...
'cause you know, sometimes Words have Two Meanings..."

Any good "Occultist" ('hidden' meaning seeker/creator) knows this.
Some hidden meanings are found intrinsic to life itself.
Some hidden meanings are found because men (people) have put ('hidden') them there.
(often right in plain sight... where conditioned minds are sure to miss, or dismiss, them )
Or in music lyric-- poetry where one is "expected"/intended to dig.. to reach for deeper hidden meaning....

Every honest Occultist, realizes there are just as many dishonest Occultists out there,
running around amuck in the world, creating illusory realities in the minds of the individual "masses".
Some in lower "stations", some much higher.
They use Word and Image to steal, and shape the world to their own form-you-la.
We could easily start with Madison Ave.

I'll stop here for now.
This is challanging for me.

 

[Willamena]

There's a Sign on the Wall... but she wants to be sure...

No better description of the "mask" have I heard.

 

[blackout]

"Occult" is the mask that is the presumption of knowing.

Any mask:

That for me would define a "bad" Occultist.
(double meaning intended)

 

[Willamena]

That for me would define a "bad" Occultist.
(double meaning intended)

Maybe I missed it... explain the difference between "bad" Occultist and "good"?

 

[blackout]

A good Occultist simply 'covers' and un-covers.
digging around where no one else wants, thinks, dares, or respects to.

This also, must often be done under 'cover'.
(if one wants to avoid having dirt kicked in one's face)

 

[Willamena]

A good Occultist simply 'covers' and un-covers.
digging around where no one else wants or thinks or respects to.

This also, must often be done under 'cover'.

As in... wearing a mask?

 

[blackout]

As in... wearing a mask?

Well... mask ... kind of infers "phoney", or fake.

I do change my cloaks around though,
to "suit" a given situation,
but they are all garments that make me a comfortable, honest version of "I".

I may cover my *hand/s* underneath my cloak,
but my face is truly my own.

*think cards....

 

[Willamena]

Well... mask ... kind of infers "phoney", or fake.

It doesn't have to.

 

[blackout]

It doesn't have to.

That's is true honey. Some masks are downright alluring.
(and "YOU" can always peek out.)

I'm not the "actress" type, so I'm generally not comfortable "playing" a mask.
Cloaks however fit my magickal/witchy/halloween asthetic.
I will wear an alluring mask though.
*pines for a costume ball in a huge old mansion*