The New Encyclopedia of the Occult
The Kingdom of the Occult
Occult America
Masonic and Occult Symbols Illustrated
Cults and the Occult
Hidden Symbolism of Alchemy and the Occult Arts
The Occult in Nineteenth-Century America
Vampires: The Occult Truth
The Occult
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A Divining Rod.
What is the Occult?
What is the occult? Does the occult involve Satanism? Does the occult involve black magic? And why is blood so important in occult groups? These are a few of the questions people have about the occult.
The Definition of "Occult"
The word “occult” comes from the 16th century Latin word “occulere,” which means “to hide or conceal.” Simple definitions of it's present-day English derivatives are as follows:
- "occult" - to hide from sight
- "occultism" - belief in hidden or mysterious powers and the possibility of subjecting them to human control
- "occultist" - a practitioner of occultism
The word "occult" isn't limited to certain metaphysical beliefs. It is also commonly found in the context of medical testing, referring to something that isn't visible with the naked eye. An "occult bleed," for instance, requires the use of a microscope or chemical testing to confirm.
In regards to paranormal activity, "the occult" is a general terms that refers to paranormal practices that attempt to tap into hidden knowledge about the universe and spirituality. Those who seek and apply such hidden knowledge believe their beliefs and behaviors will bring about results such as healing and knowledge of the future.
Occult Chart
The following chart is an attempt to introduce the reader to various occult practices. It is not intended to be an assessment of people's beliefs or behaviors, but merely brief descriptions of them.
Occult Practice |
Brief Description |
Association |
| alchemy | the attempt to convert base metals into gold and silver | ancient cultures such as Egypt and Greece |
| alomancy | divination by means of salt | spilling salt is bad luck, throwing salt over the shoulder |
| amniomancy | divination of the membrane which sometimes envelopes a child at birth | |
| amulet | an object worn as a charm against evil or injury | |
| anthropomancy | divination by the entrails of men or women | Menelaus, Heliogabalus, Julian the Apostate |
| axinomancy | divination by means of a hatchet | |
| belomancy | divination by means of arrows | Chaldeans |
| catoptromancy | divination by use of a mirror | Thessaly |
| ceroscopy | divination by wax | |
| clairaudience | hearing voices; meaning, "clear hearing" | |
| clairvoyance | seeing things; meaning, "clear vision" | |
| crystalomancy | divination by means of a crystal globe, a pool of water, or a mirror | |
| dactylomancy | divination by means of rings | mood rings |
| daphnomancy | divination by means of throwing a branch into a fire to see if it crackles | |
| demonomancy | divination by means of demons | |
| divination | the method of obtaining knowledge of the unknown or the future by means of omens | |
| divining rod, aka "dowsing" | a two-pronged tree branch that signals an underground source such as water by means of spastic movements | ancient Egypt |
| eromanty | one of six kinds of divination utilizing air | Persians |
| extispicy | inspection of entrails | Erturians |
| gastromancy | divination by means of listening to sounds from the stomach | |
| gyromancy | walking in a circle, which was marked with letters, and forming words out of those upon which one stumbled | |
| hydromancy | divination by water | Nereus |
| lithomancy | divination by stones | |
| lyeanthropy | the transformation of a human being into an animal | |
| margaritomancy | divination by pearls | |
| myomancy | divination by rats or mice | |
| necromancy | divination by means of spirits of dead people | |
| onomancy | divination by a donkey | The Gothic King, Theodotus |
| onychmancy | divination by the finger-nails | |
| ooscopy | divination by eggs | |
| palmistry | divination by means of the lines on the palm of a hand | |
| phyllorhodomancy | divination by rose-leaves | |
| poltergeist | supernatural causes of noises and other disturbances; "polter geist" means "rattling ghost" | |
| psychomancy | divination by spirits | |
| pyromancy | divination by fire | Temple of Minerva at Athens |
| rhapsodomancy | divination by means of reading a line of poetry at random | |
| seance | a sitting held for the purpose of communicating with the dead | |
| sorcery | the use of supernatual powers to summon evil spirits | |
| sortilege | divination by lots | |
| spells | spoken or written formulas capable of magical effects | |
| stoicheomancy | divination by means of reading a line of Homer or Virgil at random | |
| stolisomancy | divination by means of how one dresses | |
| tarot cards | playing cards used for the purpose of divination | |
| tephramancy | divination by means of reading ashes from a fire | |
| xylomancy | divination by wood | Slovenia |
| zlazza | a black and white stone, causes horrifying visions |
See also
Sources
Lewis Spence. The Encyclopedia of the Occult. Bracken Books. London, England. 1988
