Occultism is an exploration and analysis of "occult" phenomena where the occult is an interaction with uncertainty or unknowingness to which various prediction methods are consulted for future guidance.
*This article was created with the help of OpenAI ChatGPT
Occultism is the exploration and study of hidden knowledge and phenomena beyond the realm of ordinary human experience or understanding. Occultism may be established by a religion, but it's also possible to be a secular occultist.
An occultist is any person who has a special interest in occultism or predictive methods to manage uncertainty. Prediction methods may be faith-based such as praying to God(s) for guidance, reading tarot cards or doing what your gut instincts tell you to do.
There are also medical occult terms that have nothing to do with spells or rituals but refer to phenomena that are invisible to the naked eye (such as occult particles in blood or feces) and the medical methods of observing them. Occult particles that are beyond human senses are unable to be detected with eyes alone, so science can be used as a tool to innovate occult analysis and intervention.
There are philosophical takes on occultism where it is adopted as a lifestyle of knowledge-seeking curiosity. Secular occultism is largely understudied and underdiscussed. For individuals interested in it, this article should be a helpful starting guide to make sense of secular occultism in principle.
Secular
Secular occultism consults the powers of natural, physical and scientific laws rather than religious or faith-based forces.
Hidden or obscure knowledge can be gained by study and exploration of the natural world through the empirical senses rather than divine or dogmatic means.
Explorative
Exploration of the occult includes various theories and ideas, reading books and articles, attending lectures and participating in discussions and experiential activities.
Occult exploration means pushing the boundaries of what is known. There is always more to learn and discover. Adventure is a fundamental principle that encourages individuals to seek out new and exciting experiences, explore the unknown and challenge themselves to grow and learn.
Independent
People have rights to privacy and autonomy. Individuals should be free to explore life without interference from any organized religion, government or spiritual group.
Independence is about self-discipline and personal responsibility. Individuals are unique and have their own experiences, perspectives and goals, and they should be free to express and pursue these in their own way while not intruding upon the rights of others.
Evidence-Based
Secular occultists are committed to an empirical and scientific analysis of existence. This means they rely on empirical (sensory) evidence and logical deduction to determine the effectiveness of practices rather than faith or intuition.
Evidence-based occultism emphasizes the importance of testing and verifying claims made about the effectiveness of a particular practice or tool rather than following it blindly.
Philosophical
Philosophy studies fundamental questions about reality, existence, knowledge, values, reason and thoughts. It includes metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, logic, the philosophy of science, art, religion, and other fields.
Philosophy focuses on abstract or fundamental concepts and uses logic to explore and evaluate them. It studies the nature of reality, limits of human knowledge, natural morality and the structure/principles of reasoning and logic.
Philosophers seek to clarify and articulate ideas that develop and evaluate theories and arguments, explore the implications and understand our place in the world. Many modern philosophers use the work of previous philosophers to explore their ideas.
Predictive
By embracing the principle of prediction, individuals can gain insight into potential future events and trends and can use this knowledge to make informed and empowered decisions. Prediction is the ability to forecast future events or trends through the use of various techniques and methods.
In secular occultism, secular prediction is a fundamental principle that encourages individuals to seek out knowledge and understanding of the future through observation, analysis and experimentation as well as develop the skills and abilities necessary to make accurate predictions based on empirical evidence.
Secular prediction is the ability to forecast future events or trends through the use of scientific and rational methods without relying on religious or spiritual beliefs.