occult

The occult refers to knowledge and practices that claim access to hidden or esoteric aspects of reality beyond ordinary perception. The word derives from the Latin occultus, meaning hidden or concealed. In contemporary usage, it encompasses traditions, systems, and activities that aim to illuminate unseen forces, correspondences, and laws believed to govern the invisible world, including magic, alchemy, astrology, divination, mysticism, and the study of hidden powers or structures.

Historically, occult ideas have roots in ancient and medieval thought, with traditions such as Hermeticism, Neoplatonism, and Jewish Kabbalah exploring hidden correspondences in nature and the cosmos. During the Renaissance these currents interacted with science and philosophy. The modern sense of occultism emerged in the 18th and 19th centuries amid an “occult revival,” secret societies, and renewed interest in esoteric symbolism. Notable influences include Paracelsus, Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa, Helena Blavatsky, and Aleister Crowley, who helped shape contemporary occult movements, organizations, and rites. The umbrella term covers a wide range of practices, from ritual and ceremonial magic to alchemy, astrology, tarot, spiritualism, and initiatory paths within esoteric societies.

Practices commonly associated with the occult involve ritual work to influence unseen forces, the pursuit of personal transformation, the interpretation of symbols, and the examination of correspondences between microcosm and macrocosm. The occult has substantially influenced literature, art, and popular culture, while remaining controversial within mainstream science and religion, where it is often viewed as speculative or superstitious.