Occult Science
OCCULT SCIENCE - WHAT REALLY IS IT?
WHAT Is ITS RELATION TO WESTERN SCIENCE?
To use the term Occult Science is virtually a guarantee to call forth a reaction of contemptuous disdain plus a likely charge of derangement. This article explains the precise meaning of this most misunderstood of terms. We justify our reasons for insisting upon using it, and show the wisdom it bequeaths to the sincere seeker after Truth. Related, but not equivalent terms are Theosophy, metaphysics and mysticism.
Keywords: Occult Science, Theosophy, Truth, hidden secrets, essential nature, magic, Cosmos, Man, Nature, Western science, esoteric, exoteric
Scalpels and microscopes may solve the mystery of the material parts of the shell of man: they can never cut a window into his soul to open the smallest vista on any of the wider horizons of his being.
Helena Petrovna Blavatsky
INTRODUCTION
Few words occasion more mindless hysteria from people in both the scientific and religious orthodoxy than the word 'occult'. One invariably feels rather hesitant about using a word that has unpleasant and wrongful associations in the minds of average educated persons, let alone 'ignorant vulgars', 1 as standing for dark practices. So what does this word really mean, and why do we insist upon using it in its rightful context? Why is an understanding of Occult Science, however sketchy or general, so important to our appreciation of its role in solving the mysteries oflife, in both Cosmos and Man, that Western science has spectacularly failed to achieve, despite its triumphs The origins of words reveal their inner meaning. What then is the etymology of the word occult?
ETYMOLOGY
All the meaningless and asinine associations with black magic and witchcraft notwithstanding, the word occult simply means 'secret', 'hidden', or 'concealed,.2 It derives from the Latin occultus, past participle of occulere, 'hide' or 'cover over', a compound verb formed from the prefix ob- and an umecorded *celere, a relative of celare 'hide' (which forms the second syllable of the English conceal) . So anything that is occult is, etymologically speaking, hidden or concealed from the physical eyes and senses.
What then is Occult Science? It is a generic term referring to the Hermetic or Esoteric Sciences, which explore the essential, or hidden secrets ofNature--physical and psychic, mental and spiritual-rather than, but not excluding, Her outward appearance and mechanical behaviour which Western science studies to vuiual perfection. Occult Science is the science of the secrets of Universal Nature; so Western science which studies nature on the physical plane may therefore be regarded as a far-removed subset of all-inclusive Occult Science.
1 This was Sir Isaac Newton's way of referring to the unregenerate masses, whom these days we refer to as Jo Bloggs or Jo Public. Newton frequently used the term occult with the precise meanings as defined hereunder.
2 In a similar fashion the noble term Aryan has become repugnant to many because of the Nazis' distorted usage. The word is derived from Alya, meaning 'noble' or 'the holy ones'.
Occultism is therefore a generalizing term for the entire body of Occult Sciences.
Occultists are those who practice occultism as just defmed. Mankind has never ceased asking profound questions about the universe, how it came to be, and his own place in it.
Since time immemorial, he has pursued his quest along the traditional lines of philosophy, religion, science and art. But occultism refers not to the subject, but rather to the standpoint and attitude brought to bear on whatever is being examined. We can study philosophy, religion, science, or anything else from the conventional or orthodox standpoint of intellectual speculations based on physical appearances, or, as Occultists, can concentrate on unearthing the irmer, core meaning buried in the myriad forms in which such subjects present themselves.
The term occultism is used when dealing with occult matters of a general or philosophical nature; the term occult science will be reserved for matters of a more technical nature dealing with the hidden laws, mechanisms and processes in Nature.
OCCULT AND PSEUDO OCCULT
There is a world of difference between the occult and the pseudo occult or so-called occult. It is the misuse of Occult Science by the selfish and unethical that leads to the traditional charge of occultism dealings with black arts. But any power and force in Nature can be so abused. It is crucial to distinguish the practice from the practitioner. For example, was nuclear physics responsible for the horrors of atomic bombs over Japan; do we denounce biochemistry because of the thalidomide disaster oflimbless babies; and shall we berate the force of gravity for hurting us if we fall from a height? Shall we then condemn the science, or some of its deluded practitioners? So why condemn Occult Science because of the malpractices of some unscrupulous practitioners? This brings to the distinction between black magic and white magic.
BLACK MAGIC AND WHITE MAGIC - WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
Dark practices such as witchcraft and voodoo are not based on superstition as many sceptical and naive people assume without bothering to study and investigate these matters.
Despite the great deal of charlatanism, fraud and superstition associated with such pseudooccult phenomena, there is still a solid basis of truth that underlies them. This basis is none other than the misuse of nature's secret powers-occult powers-for selfish ends. Any such misuse of powers for personal gain is known in general as Black Magic. We have absolutely no truck with this. Conversely White Magic is a general term referring to a totally altruistic, philanthropic and utterly impersonal application of occult powers used and directed solely and entirely for the physical, but especially moral and spiritual upliftment of humanity. There are in truth no miracles and magic in nature. Everything operates under law, but when we cannot recognize the secret mechanisms ofnature we resort to words like magic to come to terms with what appears on the surface to be in explicable.
