Esoteric and Occult

Esoteric and occult are broad terms with similar meanings.

Introduction

Alchemy - The science by aid of which the chemical philosophers of mediaeval times attempted to transmute the baser metals into gold and silver.

Animism - The doctrine of spiritual beings, or the concept that a great part, if not the whole, of inanimate nature, as well as of animate beings, are endowed with reason and volition identical with that of man.

Egyptian Mysteries - Learn about the history and sacred practices of this ancient civilization.

Freemasonry - A worldwide fraternal organization. Its members are reportedly joined together by shared ideals of both a moral and metaphysical nature, and, in most of its branches, by a constitutional declaration of belief in a Supreme Being. Freemasonry is an esoteric society, in that certain aspects of its internal work are not generally disclosed to the public.

Gnostic - Under the designation " Gnostics," several widely-differing sects were included, the term, derived from the Greek, meaning, " to know" in opposition to mere theory. Their doctrines were an admixture of Indian, Egyptian, Babylonian, and Christian creeds, astrology and magic, with much of the Jewish Kabbala also.

Hermeticism - Hermetism is a religion based upon the Corpus Hermeticum and the literature inspired by the corpus; separated from Hermeticism, which encompasses other works centered upon Hermes Trismegistus.

Kabbala - A Hebrew and Jewish system of theosophy. The word signifies "doctrines received from tradition." In ancient Hebrew literature the name was used to denote the entire body of religious writings, the Pentateuch excepted. It is only in the early middle ages that the system of theosophy known as Kabalism was designated by that name.

Knights Templar - The Knights Templars of the Temple of Solomon were a military order, founded by a Burgundian, Hugues de Payns, and Godeffroi de St. Omer, a French Knight, in 1119, for the purpose of protecting pilgrims journeying into the Holy Land. They were soon joined by other knights, and a religious chivalry speedily gathered around this nucleus. Baldwin I., King of Jerusalem, gave them as headquarters a portion of his palace, contiguous to a mosque which tradition asserted was part of the Temple of Solomon, and from this building they took their designation.

Magick - The influence of events and physical phenomenon through supernatural, mystical, or paranormal means. The famous occultist Aleister Crowley chose the spelling magick to distinguish "the true science of the Magi from all its "counterfeits," such as stage magic.

Michael Teachings - The teachings of the Causal plane teacher, Michael. Provides a set of tools that helps you chart your spiritual progress as you journey from first incarnation to last. Highly recommended study.

Mysticism - The attempt of man to attain to the ultimate reality of things and enjoy communion with the Highest. Mysticism maintains the possibility of communication with God, not by means of revelation, or the ordinary religious channels, but by dint of introspection, culminating in the feeling that tho individual partakes of the divine nature. Mysticism has been identified with pantheism by some authorities; but it differs from pantheism in that its motive is religious.

Mysteries - The Mysteries were cults in and around ancient Greece where all religious functions were closed to the non-inducted and for which the inner-working of the cult were kept secret from the general public. Mystery cults were also characterized by their lack of an orthodoxy and scripture.

Rosicrucians - The name Rosicrucian is utilized by mystics to some extent as the equivalent of magus, but in its more specific application it was the title of a member of a suppositions society which arose in the late sixteenth century.

Satanism - Although fear-based and negative, this category is included here to explore the history of devil worship, since it played a role in the development of occult practices.

Seven Planes of Existence (or Creation) - The planes of creation: Physical, Astral, Causal, Akashic, Mental, Messianic, and Buddhaic. Just as there are seven colors in the rainbow and seven tones in a musical scale, each with a different vibratory rate, there are seven levels of being on the spectrum of creation. The slowest speed of vibration occurs on the physical plane; the highest, on the buddhaic plane. From the buddhaic plane, energy returns to its source, the Tao, or All That Is.

Shamanism - The animistic religion of certain people in which mediation between the visible and spirit worlds is effected by shamans.

Theosophy - Founded in 1875 by famous psychic, Madame H. P. Blavatsky. The movement was a combination of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Kabbalistic practices. The aim of Theosophy was threefold: To form a universal brotherhood of man. To study and make known the ancient religions, philosophies and sciences. To investigate the laws of nature and develop the divine powers latent in man.

Wicca - is the name of a contemporary Neo-Pagan religion, largely promulgated and popularized by the efforts of a retired British civil servant named Gerald Gardner. In the last few decades, Wicca has spread in part due to its popularity among feminists and others seeking a more woman-positive, earth-based religion. A good general rule is that most Wiccans are Neo-Pagans but not all Pagans are Wiccans.