Occultism
Occult. A word heavy with mystery, rooted in the Latin occultus—meaning "hidden" or "secret." It whispers of things unseen, truths tucked just beyond the edge of knowing.
What are the hidden secrets of life?
The word "occultism" might summon thoughts of demons, rituals, or suspicious initiations. But what about the uncertainties that aren’t so paranormal? What about the search for cancer’s cure, the hunt for extraterrestrial life, or the untapped potential of humanity? These are occult questions—not mystic, but grounded in the physical, the unknown corners of existence.
In medicine, "occult" blood tests hunt for particles too tiny for the naked eye, needing a microscope to reveal them. What else in life demands a microscope or a telescope to be seen? What lies beyond our current awareness, waiting to be perceived?
Occultism, at its heart, isn’t about religion or its absence. It’s a neutral stance, a quiet admission: we don’t know everything. It’s the realization that our bodies, our senses, cap our understanding, leaving us riddled with ignorance. To wonder is to wander, and occultism is the map for that journey. Agnosticism lives in our bones, a built-in limit to personal awareness. Non-mystic occultism sharpens our focus on these everyday unknowns—curiosities like what lies beyond today’s intelligence, no gods required.
To integrate non-mystic occultism into life is to pause and say, "I don’t know it all." It’s not about stupidity or chasing blinding revelations. The prize of occultism is curiosity itself.
Curiosity
What is curiosity?
It’s the playful grin behind occultism’s spooky mask. Curiosity is the itch to uncover useful truths, the reward of resolving a nagging unknown. It’s the bridge from ignorance to insight, the walk from agnosticism to gnosis. It’s a revolving door of questions, where each answer spins you toward a new puzzle, growing a curious philosophy in the hunt for wisdom.
Occultism gets a bad rap, tied to cults, gangs, or malice. But for rationalists, for physicalist magickians, non-mystic occultism is an anchor for adventure. Science can feel pre-packaged, its mysteries already solved. What gets lost is the thrill of experimental discovery, the risk of failure, the embrace of uncertainty. Occultism reclaims that spark.
Bring occultism into your daily grind, no matter how ordinary. What’s occult about your work? Do you know every molecule in the soap you scrub with? Is there a problem in your job no one’s cracked yet? Are there questions—big or small—burning in your mind, unanswered?
Mysticism vs. Occultism
Mysticism, often tangled with occultism, chases divine or supernatural connection; ex. think medieval Christian rites or Kabbalistic secrets. It shares occultism’s love for the hidden but leans hard into the supernatural. Occultism casts a wider net, embracing physical unknowns like scientific mysteries. This non-mystic angle turns occultism into a tool for everyday inquiry, swapping divine quests for earthly curiosity that fuels discovery.
Practice
Here’s a challenge to spark your curiosity and uncover the hidden in your own life.
The Occult Notebook Challenge
- Grab a notebook or digital doc. Title it "My Occult Inquiries."
- List three unknowns. Think about your daily life: work, hobbies, or routines. What’s something you don’t fully understand? Examples: What’s in the cleaning product you use? Why does a process at work fail sometimes? What’s a big question (like "Are we alone in the universe?") that nags at you?
- Pick one unknown. Research it for 10 minutes. Google, ask a colleague, or just think deeply. Write down what you find, even if it’s just a new question.
- Reflect. In a sentence or two, note how this tiny act of curiosity felt. Did it spark excitement, frustration, or a new idea?
- Repeat daily for a week. By the end, you’ll have a collection of occult inquiries and a habit of chasing the unknown.
Share your findings! If you’re feeling bold, post one of your discoveries or questions on a platform like X with your occult notebook. What did you find?