What Does Being an Occultist Mean?

From the Oxford English Dictionary

occult
/okult, okkult/
• noun (the occult) supernatural beliefs, practices, or phenomena.
• adjective 1 relating to the occult. 2 beyond ordinary knowledge or experience; esoteric.
• verb /okult/ 1 cut off from view by interposing something. 2 Astronomy (of a celestial body) conceal (another body) from view.
— ORIGIN from Latin occulere ‘conceal’.


In other blog entries I have talked about the nature of occultism at it means to me. Recently I have had experiences with some so-called occultists which have really made me think about the nature and environment of the modern occultist. As I have stated in the past, the true meaning of the word occult is HIDDEN and I have no problem with practitioners who are less than open to people in their life about their occult practices. Even within the ritualism of the occult, secrecy is sancrosanct, like how a spell should not be discussed until it manifests. After the acceptance of Christianity in the West by the Romans, pagan practices began to be referred to as the occult and worship of the old elemental deities went underground. As a result, not since antiquity has "the occult" and occultists had any organizational figurehead - from practices of Wicca to Voodou. The base impulse of humanity however is to organize, assimilate, cluster together and in that clustering identify outsiders. The community of modern pagans has done this through the creation of various associations, groups, etc. I view this as different from covens. Within covens there is great brotherhood/sisterhood and empowerment which results from the creation of covens (I support covens very much). However, I disdain the assertions certain occultists have in their superior status relating to their association to what group or anther. This attitude strikes me as truly sacreligious. To be an Occultist means that we can worship solitary, wherever the sun shines and rises, wherever the wind blows, wherever nature is abound. The occultist is in their temple and among their brothers and sisters of mysticism and spirituality wherever the allow themselves to stop and smell the flowers. To be an Occultist means to not have to be subject to the restrictions and rules of organization. This is not the Roman Catholic church! Organization and association, does not an occultist make, rather true belief and sincere practice. And even further, in the study of world religions, there is paganism wrapped up in the practice of so many organized religions that the righteousness of anyone upon your beliefs is simply wrong, ignorant, and uninformed.

To my pagans practicing solitary and purely worldwide, many blessings to you!