Occult science
Encyclopedia
Occult science is the systematic research into or formulation of occult
concepts in a manner that follows - in its method or presentation - the way natural science
researches or describes phenomena of the physical world.
The idea of Occult Science appears in 19th century occultism, especially Theosophy
, including:
Kabbalah and Tarot have also been described as Occult sciences; Papus (Gerard Encausse)'s book originally published in French in 1889 as Le Tarot des Bohémiens: Le plus ancien Livre du monde, was translated into English in 1910 as The Tarot of the Bohemians: The Absolute Key to Occult Science.
Some authors have sought to show that various aspects of what have traditionally been considered "occultism" are in fact scientific in precisely the same manner that chemistry or physics is scientific. Scientific disciplines generally contain two highly synergistic and interactive elements: theories and practices. The theories are the ideas to explain the subject matter and provide operational concepts for conceiving and executing the practices. The practices in turn are the arsenal of methods and procedures that provide for the systematic study of a given area, and the results of the practices usually feedback upon the theories leading to the modification and refinement of the theories. When a branch of knowledge has this overall form, it can be considered "scientific" and that is the claim made for certain aspects of occultism. The aim is to synthesize or integrate scientific and occult concepts and fuse them into something that may be greater than either alone.
Occult
The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus , referring to "knowledge of the hidden". In the medical sense it is used to refer to a structure or process that is hidden, e.g...
concepts in a manner that follows - in its method or presentation - the way natural science
Natural science
The natural sciences are branches of science that seek to elucidate the rules that govern the natural world by using empirical and scientific methods...
researches or describes phenomena of the physical world.
The idea of Occult Science appears in 19th century occultism, especially Theosophy
Theosophy
Theosophy, in its modern presentation, is a spiritual philosophy developed since the late 19th century. Its major themes were originally described mainly by Helena Blavatsky , co-founder of the Theosophical Society...
, including:
- Blavatsky (who distinguished it from the "true Occultism" of Theosophy);
- Rudolf SteinerRudolf SteinerRudolf Joseph Lorenz Steiner was an Austrian philosopher, social reformer, architect, and esotericist. He gained initial recognition as a literary critic and cultural philosopher...
, 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 knowledgeClairvoyanceThe term clairvoyance is used to refer to the ability to gain information about an object, person, location or physical event through means other than the known human senses, a form of extra-sensory perception...
; - Alice BaileyAlice BaileyAlice Ann Bailey , known as Alice A. Bailey or AAB to her followers, was an influential writer and theosophist in what she termed "Ageless Wisdom". This included occult teachings, "esoteric" psychology and healing, astrological and other philosophic and religious themes...
, who brought the idea of occult science into association with esoteric astrologyAstrologyAstrology consists of a number of belief systems which hold that there is a relationship between astronomical phenomena and events in the human world...
; and in - The 20th century New AgeNew AgeThe New Age movement is a Western spiritual movement that developed in the second half of the 20th century. Its central precepts have been described as "drawing on both Eastern and Western spiritual and metaphysical traditions and then infusing them with influences from self-help and motivational...
movement. - Harold W. PercivalHarold W. PercivalHarold Waldwin Percival was a Theosophist and writer who founded The Word Foundation, famous for his magnum opus Thinking and Destiny....
joined the Theosophical SocietyTheosophical SocietyThe Theosophical Society is an organization formed in 1875 to advance the spiritual principles and search for Truth known as Theosophy. The original organization, after splits and realignments has several successors...
in 1892. After the death of William Q. Judge in 1896, he organized the Theosophical Society Independent and then wrote Thinking and Destiny which covers in plain terms the purpose of the universe and occult meanings.
Kabbalah and Tarot have also been described as Occult sciences; Papus (Gerard Encausse)'s book originally published in French in 1889 as Le Tarot des Bohémiens: Le plus ancien Livre du monde, was translated into English in 1910 as The Tarot of the Bohemians: The Absolute Key to Occult Science.
Some authors have sought to show that various aspects of what have traditionally been considered "occultism" are in fact scientific in precisely the same manner that chemistry or physics is scientific. Scientific disciplines generally contain two highly synergistic and interactive elements: theories and practices. The theories are the ideas to explain the subject matter and provide operational concepts for conceiving and executing the practices. The practices in turn are the arsenal of methods and procedures that provide for the systematic study of a given area, and the results of the practices usually feedback upon the theories leading to the modification and refinement of the theories. When a branch of knowledge has this overall form, it can be considered "scientific" and that is the claim made for certain aspects of occultism. The aim is to synthesize or integrate scientific and occult concepts and fuse them into something that may be greater than either alone.
Further reading
- H.P. Blavatsky, "Occult or Exact Science?" The TheosophistThe TheosophistThe Theosophist is a theosophical journal. It was founded in 1879 by Helena Blavatsky, who was also its editor, and is still being published. The journal features articles about philosophy, art, literature and occultism.- External links :...
, April-May 1886 - ---"Occultism versus the Occult Arts", LuciferLucifer (magazine)Lucifer was a journal published by Helena Blavatsky. The first edition was issued in September 1887 in London.-History:The journal was first published by Blavatsky. From 1889 until Blavatsky's death in May 1891 Annie Besant was a co-editor. Besant then published the journal until September 1895,...
, May 1888 - Rudolf Steiner, Occult Science,
External links
- Occult Science at Rudolf Steiner archive. Accessed 2009-01-06.
- eLibrary of ancient books on occultism, spiritism, spiritualism, séances, philosophy and wisdom. Accessed 2009-01-06.