The occult is a category of supernatural beliefs and practices, encompassing such phenomena as those involving mysticism, spirituality, and magic in terms of any otherworldly agency. It can also refer to other non-religious supernatural ideas like extra-sensory perception and parapsychology.
The occult (from the Latin word occultus "clandestine, hidden, secret") is "knowledge of the hidden".Crabb, G. (1927). English synonyms explained, in alphabetical order, copious illustrations and examples drawn from the best writers. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Co. In common usage, occult refers to "knowledge of the paranormal", as opposed to "knowledge of the measurable",Underhill, E. (1911). Mysticism, Meridian, New York. usually referred to as science. The term is sometimes taken to mean knowledge that "is meant only for certain people" or that "must be kept hidden", but for most practicing occultists it is simply the study of a deeper spiritual reality that extends beyond pure reason and the physical sciences.Blavatsky, H. P. (1888). The Secret Doctrine. Whitefish, MT: Kessinger Publishing. The terms esoteric and arcane can also be used to describe the occult,Houghton Mifflin Company. (2004). The American Heritage College Thesaurus. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. Page 530.Wright, C. F. (1895). An outline of the principles of modern theosophy. Boston: New England Theosophical Corp. in addition to their meanings unrelated to the supernatural. The term occult sciences was used in the 16th century to refer to astrology, alchemy, and natural magic, which today are considered pseudosciences.
The term occultism emerged in 19th-century France, where it came to be associated with various French esoteric groups connected to Éliphas Lévi and Papus, and in 1875 was introduced into the English language by the esotericist Helena Blavatsky. Throughout the 20th century, the term was used idiosyncratically by a range of different authors, but by the 21st century was commonly employed – including by academic scholars of esotericism – to refer to a range of esoteric currents that developed in the mid-19th century and their descendants. Occultism is thus often used to categorise such esoteric traditions as Spiritualism, Theosophy, Anthroposophy, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, and New Age.
It also describes a number of magical organizations or orders, the teachings and practices taught by them, and to a large body of current and historical literature and spiritual philosophy related to this subject.
A Abacomancy Abracadabra, an ancient word in an unknown language popularly carved onto amulets in antiquity Abramelin oil Acultomancy, divination by the use of needles Adept Aeon (Thelema) Aeromancy Air (classical element), one of the four classical elements that play a role in alchemy Agalmatomancy Agartha, a land at the center of the Earth AGLA Aichmomancy Ailuromancy, divination by the movements of cats Akasha, thought to be the fifth element in many forms of Neopaganism Akashic records Alchemical elements Alchemical symbols Alchemy Alectryomancy Alembic Alkahest Alomancy Alphabet of Desire Alphitomancy Alveromancy Aludel Ambix Ambulomancy Amniomancy Amulet, see also New Testament amulet Anachitis, a form of divination stone Anemomancy Angel number, repeating numbers believed to have special meaning by numerologists. Anthomancy, divination using flowers Anthracomancy Anthropomancy Anthroposcopy Anthroposophy Apantomancy Apotropaic magic Apotropaic mark Apparitions - See Ghost Aqua fortis - Old alchemical term for nitric acid. Aqua ragia - Old alchemical term for turpentine. Aqua regia - Mixture of aqua fortis and spirit of salt. Aquarius, an astrological sign Aqua vitae - Old alchemical term for ethanol. Arachnomancy Arcandam Archaeomancy, divination through the use of special relics Archdemon, a powerful demon in some spiritual writings Argenteum Astrum Aries, an astrological sign Ariolation, soothsaying or prophecy Ariosophy Arithmancy Armanen runes, runes created by the Austrian occultist Guido von List, which he claimed to represent a series of alleged Aryan mythical kings Armomancy, divination through a person's arm or shoulders Ascendant (astrology) Ascended master Aspidomancy Astragalomancy Astragyromancy, divination by dice or characters marked for special purposes Astrapomancy, divination by lighting Astral projection, see also Soul flight Astral religion Astrological age Astrological aspect Astrological progression Astrological symbols Astrological transit Astrology Athame Athanor Atlantis Augury Aura Auramancy, divination using the aura Austromancy, divination using the wind Automatic writing Avimancy, divination by birds Axinomancy Axiom of Maria
B Banishing Baphomet Bibliomancy Black magic Black Mass Black Sun Body of light Boline Book of shadows
C Cartomancy (divination using playing cards) Centiloquium Ceremonial magic (or magick) (sometimes seen as "high magic", and set in contrast to "sorcery" or "low magic") Chaos magic Charmstone Chinese astrology Chromotherapy Clairaudience (ability to hear voices & sounds super-normally- spirited voices alleging to be those of dead people giving advice or warnings) Clairsentience (supernormal sense perception) Clairvoyance (ability to see objects or events spontaneously or supernormally above their normal range of vision- second sight) Classical elements (astrology) - The classical Greek elements as used in astrology. Other occult uses of the classical elements include their uses in alchemy. Cleromancy Coco (folklore) Color therapy see Chromotherapy Cone of power Conjuration (summoning up a spirit by incantation) Coven (a community of witches) Crossroads (folklore) Crystal gazing, see also Scrying Cult Cunning folk traditions and the Latter Day Saint movement Curse
D Deal with the Devil Demonology Devil, see also Satan Divination Dowsing Dream interpretation Dybbuk (Hebrew)
E Earth mysteries Esbat Ectoplasm (unknown substance from body of a medium) Egyptian gods Elemental Enchantment Energy (esotericism) English Qaballa Enochian E.S.P. (extra sensory perception) Esoteric cosmology Esotericism Evil eye Evocation Exorcism
F Fama Fraternitatis Familiar spirit Feng shui (Chinese) Feri Tradition Florida Water Flying ointment Folk belief Folk religion Four-leaf clover Fortune-telling
G Galdr (Old Norse) Gematria, see also Numerology Geomancy Geomantic figures Ghouls (Arabian) Ghost hunting Gnome Gnosis (chaos magic) Goetia Golem (Hebrew) Gradobranitelj Graphology Gray magic Great Work (alchemy) Great Work (Hermeticism) Greater and lesser magic Grimoire
H Hadit Hamingja (Norse) Hamsa Hand of Glory Haruspex Haunted Hedgewitch Hermeticism Hexagram Hex Holy anointing oil, see also Anointing Homunculus Hoodoo Huaychivo, (Mayan) Huna
I I Ching Ifa Imp Incantation Incubus, see also Succubus Initiation
J Jinx Jumbee (Colombian, Venezuela, Caribbean) Juju
K Kabbalah Karzełek (Slavic) Kia (magic) Kirlian photography
L Lamen (magic) Lampadomancy Law of contagion Left-hand path and right-hand path Ley line Lesser banishing ritual of the pentagram Literomancy Lithomancy Lemures (Roman) Lucifer Luciferianism Lycanthrope
M Magic (supernatural) Magic circle Magic spell Magic square Magic word Magical formula Magical thinking Major Arcana Mathers table Mediumship Mephistopheles Mesmerism Metoposcopy; see also Phrenology, Physiognomy Mojo (African-American culture), see also Sachet Molybdomancy
N Nagual Native American traditions Necromancy Necronomicon Neopaganism Neotantra, see also tantra Noa-name (Polynesian) Nuit Numen (Latin) Numerology, see also Gematria
O Obeah and wanga Obsession (Spiritism), see also Spirit possession Omen Oneiromancy Oneironautics Onychomancy Osculum infame Ouija Ouroboros
P Palmistry Paranormal Parapsychology Pentacle Pharaoh Philosopher's stone Phrenology, see also Metoposcopy Physiognomy, see also Metoposcopy Planetary hours Planchette Poltergeist Poppet Potion Power animal Pow-wow (folk magic) Precognition, see also Retrocognition Psionics Psychic Psychic surgery Psychic vampire Psychopomp Psychonautics Psychometry Pyramid power
Q Qabalah Qareen Qlippoth
R Radiesthesia Radionics Reiki Renaissance magic Retrocognition, see also Precognition Rhabdomancy Rose Cross Rosicrucianism Rougarou, see also Werewolf Runecasting Runestone Runic magic Rusalka (Slavic)
S Salamander, see Cultural depictions of salamanders Satan, see also Devil Satanic panic Satanism Scrying, see also Crystal gazing Séance Secret Chiefs Seer stone (Latter Day Saints) Seeress (Germanic) Seidr (Old Norse) Selkie (Celtic & Norse) Sefirot Seven rays Sex magic Shachihoko (Japanese) Shadow person Shamanic practices Shem HaMephorash (Hebrew) Sidereal and tropical astrology Sigil Sigil of Baphomet Sigillum Dei Simiyya (Islamic) Simurgh (Persian) Skin-walker Soul flight, see also Astral projection Spell Spirit possession, see also Obsession (Spiritism) Stregheria Subtle body Succubus, see also Incubus Supernatural Sylph Sympathetic magic Synchromysticism
T Table of correspondences Talisman Tantric religion Taoism and death Tau robe Tarot divination Tattva vision Thaumaturgy Theurgy Tools, see Magical tools in Wicca Tree of Life
U Underworld Undine Unicursal hexagram Ukehi (Jap.)
V Valkyrie (Norse) Vampire Vastu shastra, East Indian version of Feng Shui (geomancy) Vision (spirituality) Vitalism Vlach (Balkan) Voodoo death Voodoo doll Vril
W Wand White magic Wicca Witchcraft Witches' Sabbath Witch ball Witchcraft and divination in the Hebrew Bible Will-o'-the-wisp Werewolf, see also Rougarou Wendigo
Y Ya sang Yowie (Aust. abor.)
Z Zener cards Zodiac Zombie (Hatian) Zos Kia Cultus
See also Astrology and alchemy Astrology and numerology List of alchemists List of astrologers List of channelers List of lucky symbols List of occultists List of occult symbols List of psychic abilities List of theological demons Methods of divination Outline of alchemy
References