Occultism, Occult Arts, and Psychism

Theosophical Topics in Depth

The term "occult" has noble, but largely forgotten origins. Derived from the Latin occultus meaning 'hidden,' it properly defines anything which is undisclosed, concealed, or not easily perceived. . . .

Writing a century ago, when the word had not acquired today's mixed connotations, H. P. Blavatsky defined occultism as "altruism pure and simple" -- the divine wisdom or hidden theosophy within all religions. Occultism is founded on the principle that Divinity is concealed -- transcendent yet immanent -- within every living being. As a spiritual discipline occultism is the renunciation of selfishness; it is the "still small path" which leads to wisdom, to the right discrimination between good and evil, and the practice of altruism.

Articles

• "Occultism" by H. P. Blavatsky
• "Occultism: Awakener of the Inner Man" by G. de Purucker
• "Psychic vs. Spiritual Development" by James A. Long
• "The Key to Spiritual Powers" by Leoline L. Wright
• "What Is Occultism?" by T. Subba Row
• "Astral Intoxication" by William Q. Judge
• "Occultism vs Psychic Powers" by John P. Van Mater
• "Spiritual Illumination vs. Psychic Illusions" by G. de Purucker
• "Awakenment and Phenomena" by Sarah B. Van Mater
• "Spiritual Illumination versus Psychic Illusions" by Gerhard Fischer
• "Psychic Laws, Forces, and Phenomena" by William Q. Judge
• "Psychic Phenomena and Spiritualism" by William Q. Judge
• "New Age Awareness -- A Timely Warning" by Elmer and Alyce Green
• "Psychic Phenomena" by A. Trevor Barker
• "Second Sight" by Nancy Coker
• "Ancient and Modern Spiritualism Contrasted" by G. de Purucker
• "Occultism and Psychic Phenomena" by G. de Purucker
• "The Occult Path" by Sarah Belle Dougherty
• "Lost Souls and the Left-hand Path" by G. de Purucker
• "The True Face of Occultism" by Kirby Van Mater
• "The Higher Occultism" by Gerhard Fischer
• "Hypnotism: A Psychic Malpractice" from The United Lodge of Theosophists
• "The Power of Imagination" by Katherine Tingley

Books

• The Voice of the Silence by H. P. Blavatsky
• The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett ed by A. Trevor Barker
• The Esoteric Tradition by G. de Purucker
• The Ocean of Theosophy by William Q. Judge

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