This is a question I've been pondering a lot this month. I know postmodernism has seeped in quite a bit, but I'm not a believer in "if I say I'm X then I am X." The example I always give is if me, as a long time member of the LHP, claimed to be Christian without changing my views, I would simply be faking, not a real Christian. This is extra important for those who seek the mystery of things in themselves, how things really are rather than how they appear to be.
To me, I think there are many consistent characteristics that can describe occultism through the millennia. The most fundamental I have found is a respect for and acknowledgement of inner will. Rather than relying on state or god, the occultist relies on themselves. We see this all the way back to early Egypt, such as the pyramid texts of Unas. In fact, this is one of the main reasons that occultism has been suppressed by both church and state for so long, and reserved for the elite.
Another consistent one is the belief in and practice of magic in some form, mainly as a method for inner and outer change.
Another is an acceptance of factual and scientific information and knowledge. Whether the occultist hold to the order of nature or not, they still understand that there is a certain, shared reality of matter, even in cases where that matter may be an illusion. For example, an occultist does not believe the world is flat, peddle snake oil, believe young earth creationism, etc. This is not to say we must all be modern, psychological, entirely symbolic occultists, but simply that the occultists understanding of reality does not contradict what is known within that reality.
I would also say we need to differentiate between things like new ageism and occultism. Things like the new world order, pop psychology, laws of attraction, ancient aliens, etc and so on can certainly overlap with occultism, but I don't think they are themselves necessarily occult.
What do you guys think? Do you agree or disagree with these, or have anything to add?
Xeper and Remanifest
To me, I think there are many consistent characteristics that can describe occultism through the millennia. The most fundamental I have found is a respect for and acknowledgement of inner will. Rather than relying on state or god, the occultist relies on themselves. We see this all the way back to early Egypt, such as the pyramid texts of Unas. In fact, this is one of the main reasons that occultism has been suppressed by both church and state for so long, and reserved for the elite.
Another consistent one is the belief in and practice of magic in some form, mainly as a method for inner and outer change.
Another is an acceptance of factual and scientific information and knowledge. Whether the occultist hold to the order of nature or not, they still understand that there is a certain, shared reality of matter, even in cases where that matter may be an illusion. For example, an occultist does not believe the world is flat, peddle snake oil, believe young earth creationism, etc. This is not to say we must all be modern, psychological, entirely symbolic occultists, but simply that the occultists understanding of reality does not contradict what is known within that reality.
I would also say we need to differentiate between things like new ageism and occultism. Things like the new world order, pop psychology, laws of attraction, ancient aliens, etc and so on can certainly overlap with occultism, but I don't think they are themselves necessarily occult.
What do you guys think? Do you agree or disagree with these, or have anything to add?
Xeper and Remanifest
