As mentioned in my first post, the field of occult studies is as varied as each individual, the whole idea is to tailor a path that fits your own needs, beliefs and ethics.
Having said this, it is VERY helpful to base your belief system on one of the well established Archetypes, particularly in the early stages then build and expand upon this with your own ideas and studies as time goes on.
As one begins to delve into the world of the Occult, one very quickly realizes that there are Occult Practices dating back to the dawn of time itself as well as those "New Age" ones being born or Re-Born as I like to think of it, every day. For nothing in the Occult is entirely new. The Universal Tenets that underpin ALL legitimate Occult thought are the same, they are The Universal Truths, the essential core which pervades every belief system, even the most dogmatic, if one looks hard enough!
When first setting out on the path of Occult Study, I believe it is wisest to browse through as many different avenues of study as possible. Yes, the worship of the first known Idol ever to have been made by human hands: The Venus of Willendorf may appeal to some due to its roots as being the very first known avenue Humankind took towards Spiritual Enlightenment, however since there is so little known about those who worshipped her or how they worshipped her, one is likely to come to many dead ends in attempting to use Her as the Central Pillar of your Occult Study.
It is my advice that one looks to the period of time from Humankind's "Great Civilizations" onwards for ones path. This is a VERY open field now.
Search the world over, from the Mystery Schools of the Classical Greeks & Romans, the undeniable wisdom of the Ancient Egyptians, the Mayans and their civilization that remained untouched until the Spanish conquests, the Ancient Norse & Teutonic Gods & Goddesses of the Vikings, the Druidic & Celtic gods of the British Isles and Gaul, Voodoo; The mixing of African Spirit Worship and Christian belief melded together by slaves taken to the new world by the white man, Buddhism, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism and even Christianity are ALL valid paths to spiritual enlightenment.
Within all of these paths of study though are a plethora of "Sub-Areas" of study, ones that over the ages have been hidden from the majority of Humankind, areas of these which have been refined, studied time and again, creating a "Well trodden path" for the Occult Student setting out on their own journey.
One very popular example of this would be Wicca. Wicca is based on the Equal Worship of both a Mother Goddess and Father God (often leaning towards the Mother Goddess in an attempt to swing the pendulum of patriarchal society beck in a feminine direction) both of which usually take the form of Ancient Celtic Gods & Goddesses. The Wiccan path is an Agrarian Based Spirituality which celebrates eight seasonal festivals throughout the year which coincide with the sowing, growing, ripening, harvesting etc times of the year as well as acknowledging their Goddesses and thus their connection with the Moon by celebrating Sabbats at each Full Moon.
In the same way that the Wiccan's have taken the Ideals of the ancient Celt's and Gaul's and brought them into a modern context, so others have done so with many of the Ancient Mystery Traditions like the Greeks, Egyptians and the Romans. Utilizing the well known Archetypes of their Gods & Goddesses along with surviving Occult Tradition and Wisdom passed down through the ages, thus forming a coherent system of spiritual study.
One of the areas of Occult Study that has remained most intact over a very long period of time is what is known as The Western Mystery Tradition. Though essentially based on the little known and even less fully understood (especially by modern Jews!) Judaic system of Universal Interpretation known as The Kabbalah.
Virtually ALL other Western and many Eastern Systems of Occult Study can be better understood if viewed through the lenses of the Kabbalah.
In the next instalment of this blog I'll go into both how The Kabbalah helps us to better understand other Occult Paths as well as more detail regarding other Occult Paths themselves.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Dispelling The Occult Myth.
To many the Occult or even the mention of the word conjours images of Satanic Mass', Witches around a bubbling Cauldron, The "Evil Eye" and all manner of other unsavory and "Demonic" practices.
The word Occult is derived from the latin word meaning: To hide or keep secret. So it is little wonder that since the religious repression of the Dark & Middle Ages that the term Occult has come to symbolize all that is wicked, wrong and evil, for as we know, if there is one single thing that humankind fears most it is the unknown, especially that which they feel is being deliberately kept from them.
So now we understand the meaning of the WORD Occult, we can now explore what the Occult truly encompasses and why it has been a "Secret" for so long.
As mentioned, Occult is that which is "Secret or Hidden" from the every day world. Even this very mundane dictionary explanation of the word actually requires deeper examination to understand it entire meaning. That is to say Occult does not just refer to those facts or knowledge that is secret from the majority of humankind but more importantly, the secret or hidden world of "Spirit" or the "Astral Plane" which coexists similtaniously in the same time and space as our own world that more often than not remains totally unnoticed by those who do not consciously seek it out. Some exceptions of to this Astral World remaining generally hidden and unseen by humanity in general have existed since time immemorial in the form of so called "Paranormal Activity", the manifestation of specters of the dead to physical form as in ghosts or poltergeist, looking to the period around the Dark & Middle Ages the
folk legends of Europe abound with examples of Nymphs, Faries and other ghostly apparitions and if one looks even further to the past, beyond the Dark & Middle Ages, before the advent of Monotheism and it's dogmatic scripture, to a time when Humankind truly believed that their Pantheistic Gods & Goddesses both walked amongst them as well as controlled many if not all aspects of their daily lives, we see FAR more evidence of this coexistent Astral Plane manifesting in the daily lives of humans.
However, even in this bygone era where the veil between our mundane world and that of the Astral would seem to be at it's thinnest, there was still The Occult.
The Occult in our modern vernacular has come to refer to the teachings and knowledge taught, learned and utilized as a method to both communicate with as well as influence the Astral Plane. The knowledge of this practice goes back to the beginning of Humankind, to the very point when Humans gained an awareness of themselves as beings seperate from the rest of the world around them. This is no coincidence. You see the Occult Arts core when stripped back of all it's fancy rituals, mythology, Arcane Wisdom and such is the Art of reconnecting our long forgotten, almost severed channel of communication to the rest of The Universe and reclaiming our foolishly given up right to influence that Universe by virtue of the fact that we are a part of it.
Allow me to explain this last section on our connection to The Universe and thus our ability to Influence it: When Humans (almost simultaneously) evolved Language, Ego and The sense of "Self", we unknowingly but foolishly forfeited our ability to be at one with the World around us, that is to say the WHOLE world around us, including and most importantly The Astral Plane. We began a path that would ultimately lead us to where we are today: So far removed from both the Natural AND the Astral Worlds that we have become isolated, like boats sailing in a seemingly endless sea without hope of finding a dock and land where we could place our feet on the soil of our long passed forefathers to reconnect with them, our fellow Humans and most importantly The Universe as a whole. Here I would like to mention that in my opinion the one exception to this endless isolation for most is Love and a Caring Relationship, in this although our boats still sail those open seas, we no longer sail alone, we sail together with the incomparable connection to another Human, no longer alone yet still not connected to The Universe as a whole.
The Occult Arts so called "Big Secret" ultimately is just various methods of trying to reconnect with The Universe from which we came.
The true "Art" part of the term "Occult Arts" is once the reconnection to The Universe has been made, recognizing that as a part of The Universe, we have the ability to influence EVERY other part of it as well. Just as a slight cut on your toe can cause Septicemia and poison your whole body (a negative example I know, a powerful one also however), so do we all have, as a part of The Greater Universe have the ability to effect and influence change in every other part of it.
This is a phenomenal concept and one that both may or may not ring true to you and also one that may take your subconscious some time to fully digest. It is one thing to intellectually understand a concept (especially one as profound as this) and another to fully comprehend and integrate the idea. It is for this very reason that The Occult Arts exist!! They give our conscious mind a method and a metaphor to understand, utilize and integrate this fundamental idea of reconnection and influencing to and of The Universe.
You see it has been so long since Humankind set sail on our seemingly endless voyage from the soils of our archetypal forefathers that to even attempt to plot a course back "Home" without a map would be entirely fruitless. The study and understanding of The Occult Arts gives us the tools to draw a map, plot a course, find north on the compass and eventually sail "Home".
Occult teachings vary as widely as any other area of study and to fully understand require as much if not more time and dedication as any other field of study as well, however if one is able to set ones metaphorical ship on the right heading, it very quickly becomes clear that this field of study opens doors to far greater things than a good job, it offers rewards far richer than any amount of money. It offers the deepest possible sense of fulfillment, the most incredible feeling of oneness with The Universe, Empowerment and Power as well as the Wisdom beyond every word ever written with which to know when and when not to utilize that power.
There are MANY "Schools" of Occult thought and it is wise to not jump on the first bandwagon that comes along, even though some of their teachings may ring true to you, that doesn't necessarily
mean that's the one for you. ALL legitimate paths to enlightenment share many core principles, they are the Universal Truths which underpin ALL Occult Wisdom and even Contemporary Religious Theology but if the basic framework of the field of study you are looking at doesn't "Feel" right to you then keep looking. Their is really only a couple of rules as to figuring out whether or not a particular spiritual path is for you or not: Firstly, if it costs to learn, it's not on!!! Spirituality is free and those who are truly enlightened will never charge for their time to teach or pass on their knowledge to a new seeker, Neophyte or Initiate, they will be happy to pass on their knowledge free to a worthy seeker as they know that in doing so, they are perpetuating the growth of Humans who's boats are sailing home and docking at long last and this is of hreat benefit to every other person connected to or seeking to reconnect to The Universe. Also if the area of Spuritual learning you are looking at requires you to do things you are not ethically or morally comfortable with, this is also a BIG sign to turn away. Virtually no legitimate Spiritual Teaching will advocate someone crossing personal ethical lines, rather most will help you create a new set of firmer, wiser and more "Universe Friendly" set of ethics. Probably the last rule would be to look deep inside at your reasons for wanting to persue a Spiritual Path. If when you do you end up withthe answer: "I want to learn Witchcraft/Wicca to put a Love spell on a pretty girl" or "I want to Invoke the Goetic Demon Asmodeous to get rich quick" then you should probably re think the whole thing!!!
From Wicca to Hermetics, Buddhism to Zoroastrianism or the the Ancient Mystery Schools of Greek and Egyptian Antiquity the field of Spiritual Study is wide open and now your ultimate goal is clear. If your intention is pure and you're in it for the long haul then I can assure you, this will be not only the journey of this lifetime but one that will mark the beginning of an era for every life you lead after this. (that is if reincarnation is your thing!).
May the sun always be on your cheek and the wind forever at your back.
Blessed be
Frater Argentium.
The word Occult is derived from the latin word meaning: To hide or keep secret. So it is little wonder that since the religious repression of the Dark & Middle Ages that the term Occult has come to symbolize all that is wicked, wrong and evil, for as we know, if there is one single thing that humankind fears most it is the unknown, especially that which they feel is being deliberately kept from them.
So now we understand the meaning of the WORD Occult, we can now explore what the Occult truly encompasses and why it has been a "Secret" for so long.
As mentioned, Occult is that which is "Secret or Hidden" from the every day world. Even this very mundane dictionary explanation of the word actually requires deeper examination to understand it entire meaning. That is to say Occult does not just refer to those facts or knowledge that is secret from the majority of humankind but more importantly, the secret or hidden world of "Spirit" or the "Astral Plane" which coexists similtaniously in the same time and space as our own world that more often than not remains totally unnoticed by those who do not consciously seek it out. Some exceptions of to this Astral World remaining generally hidden and unseen by humanity in general have existed since time immemorial in the form of so called "Paranormal Activity", the manifestation of specters of the dead to physical form as in ghosts or poltergeist, looking to the period around the Dark & Middle Ages the
folk legends of Europe abound with examples of Nymphs, Faries and other ghostly apparitions and if one looks even further to the past, beyond the Dark & Middle Ages, before the advent of Monotheism and it's dogmatic scripture, to a time when Humankind truly believed that their Pantheistic Gods & Goddesses both walked amongst them as well as controlled many if not all aspects of their daily lives, we see FAR more evidence of this coexistent Astral Plane manifesting in the daily lives of humans.
However, even in this bygone era where the veil between our mundane world and that of the Astral would seem to be at it's thinnest, there was still The Occult.
The Occult in our modern vernacular has come to refer to the teachings and knowledge taught, learned and utilized as a method to both communicate with as well as influence the Astral Plane. The knowledge of this practice goes back to the beginning of Humankind, to the very point when Humans gained an awareness of themselves as beings seperate from the rest of the world around them. This is no coincidence. You see the Occult Arts core when stripped back of all it's fancy rituals, mythology, Arcane Wisdom and such is the Art of reconnecting our long forgotten, almost severed channel of communication to the rest of The Universe and reclaiming our foolishly given up right to influence that Universe by virtue of the fact that we are a part of it.
Allow me to explain this last section on our connection to The Universe and thus our ability to Influence it: When Humans (almost simultaneously) evolved Language, Ego and The sense of "Self", we unknowingly but foolishly forfeited our ability to be at one with the World around us, that is to say the WHOLE world around us, including and most importantly The Astral Plane. We began a path that would ultimately lead us to where we are today: So far removed from both the Natural AND the Astral Worlds that we have become isolated, like boats sailing in a seemingly endless sea without hope of finding a dock and land where we could place our feet on the soil of our long passed forefathers to reconnect with them, our fellow Humans and most importantly The Universe as a whole. Here I would like to mention that in my opinion the one exception to this endless isolation for most is Love and a Caring Relationship, in this although our boats still sail those open seas, we no longer sail alone, we sail together with the incomparable connection to another Human, no longer alone yet still not connected to The Universe as a whole.
The Occult Arts so called "Big Secret" ultimately is just various methods of trying to reconnect with The Universe from which we came.
The true "Art" part of the term "Occult Arts" is once the reconnection to The Universe has been made, recognizing that as a part of The Universe, we have the ability to influence EVERY other part of it as well. Just as a slight cut on your toe can cause Septicemia and poison your whole body (a negative example I know, a powerful one also however), so do we all have, as a part of The Greater Universe have the ability to effect and influence change in every other part of it.
This is a phenomenal concept and one that both may or may not ring true to you and also one that may take your subconscious some time to fully digest. It is one thing to intellectually understand a concept (especially one as profound as this) and another to fully comprehend and integrate the idea. It is for this very reason that The Occult Arts exist!! They give our conscious mind a method and a metaphor to understand, utilize and integrate this fundamental idea of reconnection and influencing to and of The Universe.
You see it has been so long since Humankind set sail on our seemingly endless voyage from the soils of our archetypal forefathers that to even attempt to plot a course back "Home" without a map would be entirely fruitless. The study and understanding of The Occult Arts gives us the tools to draw a map, plot a course, find north on the compass and eventually sail "Home".
Occult teachings vary as widely as any other area of study and to fully understand require as much if not more time and dedication as any other field of study as well, however if one is able to set ones metaphorical ship on the right heading, it very quickly becomes clear that this field of study opens doors to far greater things than a good job, it offers rewards far richer than any amount of money. It offers the deepest possible sense of fulfillment, the most incredible feeling of oneness with The Universe, Empowerment and Power as well as the Wisdom beyond every word ever written with which to know when and when not to utilize that power.
There are MANY "Schools" of Occult thought and it is wise to not jump on the first bandwagon that comes along, even though some of their teachings may ring true to you, that doesn't necessarily
mean that's the one for you. ALL legitimate paths to enlightenment share many core principles, they are the Universal Truths which underpin ALL Occult Wisdom and even Contemporary Religious Theology but if the basic framework of the field of study you are looking at doesn't "Feel" right to you then keep looking. Their is really only a couple of rules as to figuring out whether or not a particular spiritual path is for you or not: Firstly, if it costs to learn, it's not on!!! Spirituality is free and those who are truly enlightened will never charge for their time to teach or pass on their knowledge to a new seeker, Neophyte or Initiate, they will be happy to pass on their knowledge free to a worthy seeker as they know that in doing so, they are perpetuating the growth of Humans who's boats are sailing home and docking at long last and this is of hreat benefit to every other person connected to or seeking to reconnect to The Universe. Also if the area of Spuritual learning you are looking at requires you to do things you are not ethically or morally comfortable with, this is also a BIG sign to turn away. Virtually no legitimate Spiritual Teaching will advocate someone crossing personal ethical lines, rather most will help you create a new set of firmer, wiser and more "Universe Friendly" set of ethics. Probably the last rule would be to look deep inside at your reasons for wanting to persue a Spiritual Path. If when you do you end up withthe answer: "I want to learn Witchcraft/Wicca to put a Love spell on a pretty girl" or "I want to Invoke the Goetic Demon Asmodeous to get rich quick" then you should probably re think the whole thing!!!
From Wicca to Hermetics, Buddhism to Zoroastrianism or the the Ancient Mystery Schools of Greek and Egyptian Antiquity the field of Spiritual Study is wide open and now your ultimate goal is clear. If your intention is pure and you're in it for the long haul then I can assure you, this will be not only the journey of this lifetime but one that will mark the beginning of an era for every life you lead after this. (that is if reincarnation is your thing!).
May the sun always be on your cheek and the wind forever at your back.
Blessed be
Frater Argentium.
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