OCCULT
Introduction
The word "occult" comes from the Latin word, occultus which means hidden or secret. In common English usage, occult refers to "knowledge of the paranormal" as opposed to knowledge of the measurable, 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. The term esoteric and arcane can also be used to describe the occult, in addition to their meaning unrelated to the supernatural. It also describes a number of magical organizational 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.
Occultism is the study of occult practices, includes magic, alchemy, extrasensory perception, astrology, spiritualism, religion and divination. Interpretation of occultism and its concepts can be found in the belief structures of philosophies and religions such as Gnosticism, Hermeticism, Kabbalah, Tarot, Theosophy, Thelema and modern paganism. Goodrick-Clarke suggested that the varied forms of occultism share "a strong desire to reconcile the findings of the modern natural science with a religious view that could restore man to a position of of centrality and dignity in the universe. From the 15th to 17th century, these ideas are alternatively described as Western esotericism, which had a revival from about 1770 onwards, due to a renewed desire for mystery, an interest in the Middle Ages and a romantic" reaction to the rationalist Enlightment". Alchemy was common among important 17th century scientist, such as Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz. Newton was even accused of introducing occult agencies into natural sciences when he postulated gravity as a force capable of acting over vast distances. "By the 178th century these unorthodox religious and philosophical concerns were well-defined as 'occult", in as much as they lay on the outermost fringe of accepted forms of knowledge and discourse. They were, however, preserved by antiquarians and mystics.
OCCULT SCIENCE
Occult science is the systematic research into or formulation of occult concepts in a manner that resembles the way natural science researches or describes phenomena.
The idea of Occult Science appears in late -19th and early 20th century occultism, especially Theosophy, including:
- Helena Blavatsky (who describes it as "The science of the secrets of nature- physical and psychic, mental and spiritual)
- Rudolf Steiner, whose Occult Science, a sequel to his earlier work Theosophy, deals with the evolution of the human being and the cosmos, as well as referring to the attainment of supersensible knowledge;
- Alice Bailey, who brought the idea of occult science into association with esoteric astrology.
OCCULT QUALITIES
Occult qualities are properties that have no known rational explanation; in the Middle Ages, for example, magnetism was considered an occult quality. Aether (classical element) is another such element. Newton's contemporaries severely criticized his theory that gravity was effected through "action at a distance", as occult.
Source
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occult
