~ The Occult ~       The word occult is derived from the Latin word occultus which means "hidden". Occult blood is a medical term which refers to blood which cannot be seen, except perhaps under a microscope. The Occult has been defined as any activity which is esoteric (employs knowledge that is not known to the general public, but which is only revealed gradually to a selected few in training), and depends upon those talents which lie beyond the five senses, and engages with the supernatural.     Unfortunately, such a definition has serious flaws:  The beliefs, rituals, and practices of many activities which have traditionally been considered to be occultic have now been thoroughly documented and published. One can go to a bookstore and purchase written material on just about any "occultic: activity. Little remains secret.         Consider a person who joins an adult religion class at their local church and is taught special techniques of effective prayer -- methods that are unique to that church and not generally available to outsiders. This activity would meet all of the three criteria for the Occult: it has to be taught; it can be a silent prayer - a means of communicating without spoken words; it is directed at God.       Consider a ceremonial magician performing a healing spell. She/he might believe that the spell taps into perfectly natural forces - parts of the universe that science has not yet been able to explain. They might feel that they are not part of the Occult, since they are not dealing with the supernatural.       During mass, a Roman Catholic priest will perform a ritual which involves certain words and actions. The end result is that the wafer and wine is believed to literally become the body and blood of Jesus Christ. This act of magic would meet these three criteria, and thus be occultic.       Most lists of occultic activity includes Wicca (often referred to by the public as "White" Witchcraft), and various methods of foretelling the future (e.g. astrology, casting runes, reading Tarot Cards, 5 I Ching, etc.). But literally hundreds of books have been published on these topics. Anyone can learn as much as they wish by simply buying or borrowing books. Since knowledge is not hidden, these beliefs and activities do not meet the first criteria above.      The Wiccan faith is a reconstructed religion of the ancient Celts. Wiccans develop an intimate connection with their Goddess and God, perform religious rituals, and observe seasonal days of celebration. In doing so, they differ little from followers of other religions. Although many Wiccans also engage in divination and/or healing spells, some do not. Among those who do not, their faith is devoid of occultic components.     We would offer the following rather simple definition:     OCCULT: A set of mostly unrelated divination and/or spiritual practices or activities which appear to tap into forces that have not been explained by science, and which are not conventional practices seen in traditional religions.       Note that this definition does not attach any value judgment to occultic practices. Thus, Tarot card readings might still be considered: a dangerous example of the Occult, as seen by an Evangelical or Fundamentalist Christian, an integral component of their religion, as seen by some Wiccans, a harmless hobby or pastime as seen by a Unitarian Universalist.      This is how the term is used in practice; people in different faith groups have very different meanings for "the Occult". No consensus on its meaning exists.  Religions & Spiritual Movements  Ceremonial Magick.  This activity includes the use of rituals, spells, chants to change the material world.  Christian Science, an established Christian denomination centered in Boston MA.  Eckankar, a religious and spiritual path, sometimes called the Religion of the Light and Sound of God.  Gothic Satanism This is a non-existent, anti-Christian faith whose members were believed to engage in cannibalism, human sacrifice, etc. It is an imaginary faith created during the latter Middle Ages. It  justified the extensive Witch burnings of the 15th to 18th centuries.  Hinduism - one of the world's great religions. Hindu sects of various types, such as Hare Krishna.  Macumba This is a syncretistic religion combining elements of Roman Catholicism and African native religions. It is similar to Vodun.  New Age This is a system of thought including belief in monism, pantheism, reincarnation, personal transformation, spirit guides, etc. Includes practices such as channeling, use of crystals, meditation, etc.  Rosicrucianism - an ancient syncretistic religion dating back to the 17th century.  Santeria a Caribbean religion which combines Roman Catholicism and African native beliefs.  Satanism (modern religion based on a pre-Christian concept of Satan, who is recognized either as a principle or as a supernatural being)  Church of Scientology, a religious movement based on the writings of L R Hubbard.  Spiritualism - communication via a medium with the spirit world.  Theosophy - a religious group whose beliefs are largely based on the writings of Helena Blavatsky.  UFO cults - groups who believe that extra-terrestrial beings are attempting to communicate with us and lead humans to a higher plane of understanding.  Unification Church, an established Christian denomination originating in Korea.  Vodun - a syncretistic Caribbean religion which combines Roman Catholicism and African native beliefs.  Voodoo (non-existent religion from the Caribbean invented for Hollywood horror movies).  Wicca (White Witchcraft, a Neo-Pagan earth-based religion similar to Native American spirituality).          Religious liberals and occultists regard the Occult to be simply a list of mostly unrelated practices and activities. It does not exist as an organization. Occult Crime does not exist, any more than Christian, Muslim or Jewish Crime exists. The exact makeup of the Occult depends upon your own religious beliefs. There is no general consensus. Some lists divide the Occult into three branches: ~ Various Occult methods of Divination ~:   Astrology: The concept that one's future is dependent upon the precise location of the sun, moon and planets at the time of birth.  I Ching: an ancient Chinese oracle book which some believe can be used to foretell the future, answer questions, etc. The practitioner generates a number from 1 to 64 by selecting sticks, or casting dice or coins. The oracle book assigns different meanings to each of the possible numbers.  Numerology: the practice of assigning a digit to each letter in a person's name, and deriving a series of numbers which have special significance to the person.  Palm reading: foretelling a person's future by the creases in their palm and shape of their fingers.  Runes: a group of from 16 to 31 (typically 26) letters of an ancient Northern European alphabet. The letters are inscribed on small rocks or pieces of paper or plastic. A group is cast, and the future foretold from the runes that land inverted and not inverted, as well as from their position.  Scrying: a technique of producing visions of the future by gazing into a crystal ball, black mirror, bowl of water, hot coals from a fire, etc.  Tarot cards: fortune telling through the use of a pack of 78 Tarot cards which can be divided into four suites (wands, cups, pentacles and swords). 5 Each suite has number cards (ace to 10), a king, queen, knight and knave. In addition, there are 22 additional cards which form the greater arcana; they include the Chariot, High Priestess, Juggler, Lovers, Moon, Sun, Strength, Death, Devil, etc. The cards are shuffled; a few are dealt and laid in a specific formation (circle, cross, square, etc.). The cards are interpreted according to their inherent meaning, as modified by the significance of their location.  Teacup reading: foretelling the future by the shapes formed by tea leaves after a cup of tea has been consumed  Other methods: Future events have been predicted through the use of dice, dominos, dream interpretation, pendulum movements, playing cards, etc.  Common conservative Christian belief about the Occult   Belief by others about the Occult  All occultic activities are controlled by demonic forces, and are inspired by Satan  With the exception of Satanists, no occult groups recognize the existence of Satan.  Engaging in any occultic practice will lead to personal demon possession.  Mental health professionals essentially all agree that demons do not exist. Possession is impossible.  All occultic activities are controlled by a single, secret, international organization that is seeking total political power.  All occultic groups work quite independently of others, with the exception of cooperation during psychic fairs.     ccultists hate Christianity  Some Satanists ridicule Christianity. Some Wiccans are annoyed by prejudice and physical attacks on them by Christians. But, most of the remaining occultists are Christians.  Once you start in the Occult you are prevented from leaving.  Anyone is free to leave any Occultic group or practice at any time.  All occultic practices are recruiting programs for Satanism.  There is no connection between Satanic and other occultic groups.  Occult crime" is a separate class of criminal activity inspired by the Occult.  With the exception of some young dabblers in Satanism who are into painting graffiti, (and rarely animal sacrifice) occultists do not engage in criminal acts that are associated with their practices.  Occult groups commit 50 to 60 thousands of human sacrifices per year.  The only known documented human sacrifice in North America was by the Solar Temple leadership; they are a Christian-New Age group.    All elements of the Occult recruit extensively, and concentrate heavily on youth  Satanists and Neopagans to not recruit members of any age. Most Wiccan covens refuse to initiate or educate an individual under the age of 18. Other occultic practitioners are typically approached by an interested person rather than vice versa.  Witchcraft, Wicca and Satanism are essentially identical.  Wicca and Satanism are totally different religions. Their behavior codes are totally contradictory. They recognize different deities. Their beliefs, rituals etc are quite different.    Copyright © 1995 to 2001 incl. by  Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance Originally published: 1995-JUN-8 Last update: 2001-DEC-15 Author: B.A. Robinson