I have to say, it's funny you say that because I'm a trained scientist myself and very much do adore science. *laughs* I will admit that presentations of occult philosophy that are transparent rather than using mystical jargon are easier for me to follow. I think this is more the fault of occult writers not clearly explaining their jargon, however. It's not dissimilar to what happens to me if I read a paper too far outside of my area of scientific expertise: they use different jargon and if you don't know the jargon, what they write makes a lot less sense.
I spent ages writing a response and then accidentally refreshed the page
I did overgeneralize a tad in my post and I take your point(s) though homeopathy et al still irritate me. I also don't mind occult organisations and even shops selling supplies. By charlatans I was referring more to the "instant spell kits" and such that some people peddle.
Now jargon is an interesting area since many (most?) occultists seem to lie in a sort of grey area between psychology and the "supernatural" in the first place. As such the jargon used is often drawn from both areas but does not always entirely suit the purpose it's intended for. Many of the concepts dealt with by occultists are phenomenally difficult to express and so it's little wonder communication often breaks down.
It's easier for more seasoned practitioners since they have experienced themselves much of what another practitioner might be trying to convey. In such instances the language used by each practitioner is quickly understood. When speaking with an outsider these concepts are not easily conveyed which can be frustrating for both parties.
Now this intrigued me:
So it's just cosplay, then? LARPing? A game?
One way to look at it would be LARPing with a purpose. Since the magician is looking to alter their perception about something the robes, candles etc essentially become props. Physical cues like this help with the suspension of disbelief and thus make it more likely that you will successfully use the placebo effect on yourself. If you were so inclined you could replace the occult paraphernalia with a hospital "role-play" and a sugar pill for much the same effect.
The difficulty stems from learning to control your own mind and shape your perception of yourself and those around you in such a way that it benefits you. My favourite example is of a spell to increase sex appeal. If the magician successfully suspends disbelief they will be more confident and thus more attractive. Because they're more attractive they'll have more success in love. There you have a simple example of an entirely psychological ritual having a real world effect. We call it magic for the same reason an actor doesn't tell the audience they're watching a work of fiction. It disrupts the immersion, the suspension of disbelief.
That's one of the most basic premises. Many occultists (myself included) believe there is also what could be considered a supernatural element. However, this is a lot more complicated to explain and not really much use to
most people of an empirical mindset.
