What is Occultism

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Why is it called Occultism? Things need a name so that we can talk about them. Our foes slipped this one in slyly. It seems unsuitable, but it is no good crying over spilt milk. The label has stuck and we are in the same position as "Quakers" who much prefer to be known as The Society of Friends.

Could you invent a new name? It would be foolish to coin a new name at this late date, but silly men exist, and so do silly women. Between them, they go on to have silly children, most of whom end up in Occultism. As Ben Jonson said: it is a mad, mad world, my masters.

Apart from thick sportsmen who marry thin pop-singers and sell videos of the wedding (we used to call that 'prostitution of talent') few people are as daft as phoney Occultists. The silliest of all are authors who try to pass off magical claptrap as fact. The rubbish sells because the public is hungry, but false guides are marked as Cain was marked. When the time is ripe, dogs of madness will rive and rend them.

Is Occultism an ancient path? Yes, it is, but there is no need to make a song and dance about it. Jumped up or recently invented orders and societies try to drape themselves in prestige by claiming antique origins. Rather than face facts that they began in a pub in Soho, or they got together to fight the Counter-Reformation they try to trace themselves back to ancient Egypt, King Solomon, or Tibet. Genuine Occultists are practicing a religion and do not mount PR campaigns designed to win acceptance and approval. What would that achieve anyway? This world's trappings of success are not such an ornament in the other world. Occultism teaches the truth or else it does not; that is the issue you should address.

Where does Occultism come from? The truth stretches back to the origins of man and while we embrace advances in human knowledge, we nurture the light first seen in that early dawn. We have no need for crystal balls or degrees in archaeology because the truth was passed by word of mouth, an oral tradition older than writing. Our ancestors' understanding of this truth guided them towards the discovery of fire and the invention of the wheel. The first pages of this hidden book turned slowly. The gods reveal the truth little by little so that each generation knows things that were unknown to their parents. As wisdom swells, the spirit rises, and hope takes wing.

Where does knowledge come from? The seeds are born in us as part of our heritage. They can be coaxed into flower by proper care, just as Nature intended. An Occultist seeks to reveal the knowledge that lies hidden within. Our parents, our society and our world lost sight of this priceless truth and do nothing to foster it. Nevertheless, many uneasy people sense the aching void and yearn for personal fulfilment. A Master is a guide, not just a weird guardian of abstruse knowledge. He is a friend or mystic midwife.

What are the eventual aims? To know again the ancient truths that were lost. To become aware of God-matter within. To change hate and anger which are selfish into love that is selfless. To co-operate with the Great Plan and to work for the next stage of evolution. To transform ourselves into perfected or fulfilled beings and to be One with the Infinite.

Occultism sounds airy-fairy. Children love poetry, but by the time we are adult, many of us have lost it. Noble is not the same as airy-fairy or flimsy. People may like what I say, yet feel a need to scoff. Those who fail ought to admire those who succeed, but more often than not chagrin and bitterness impels them to carp and catcall. A nonentity sneers at fame and film stars. A nobody tries to become notorious by assassinating a somebody. Alas, like animals, many of us are motivated by envy.

Instead of knocking the winners, or mocking the strivers, we would do better to begin the process of change. We could decide here and now to aim for realistic goals rather than fantasy ones. This step could change your life. Occult goals lie within our reach. This is the big difference-we know we can make it.

Is the Path open to everybody? Yes. Who could forbid anyone? It is our path because we follow it, but not ours in the sense that we own it. That said, pilgrims like to travel in groups of their own choosing-congenial company to enliven one's journey through life. So while you are free to join the path, you would have to seek permission to join a particular band of pilgrims. You are free to assemble your own, of course, but if you want to join an existing group, you will have to accept their rules of membership.

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