Occult Conceptualism or Understanding?

Occult

Occult according to The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, (Fourth Edition Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company) means:

1. Of, relating to, or dealing with supernatural influences, agencies, or phenomena.
2. Beyond the realm of human comprehension; inscrutable.
3. Available only to the initiate; secret: occult lore. See Synonyms at mysterious.
4. Hidden from view; concealed.
5. \Oc*cult"\, a. [L. occultus, p. p. of occulere to cover up, hide; ob (see Ob-) + a root prob.akin to E. hell: cf. F. occulte.] Hidden from the eye or the understanding; inviable; secret; concealed; unknown.
6. Occult qualities, those qualities whose effects only were observed, but the nature and relations of whose productive agencies were undetermined; -- so called by the schoolmen.
7. Occult sciences, those sciences of the Middle Ages which related to the supposed action or influence of occult qualities, or supernatural powers, as alchemy, magic, necromancy, and astrology.

Beliefs: Beliefs about the Occult by Occultists and others: Religious liberals and occultists regard the Occult to be simply a list of mostly unrelated practices and activities. "Occultist" is a very rarely used term that refers to a person active in an occultic activity. It does not exist as an organization. Occult Crime does not exist, any more than Christian, Muslim or Jewish Crime exists. No ritual abuse is committed by occultists. Some Wiccans and other Neopagans do engage in divination. Some individuals who engage in divination use many different techniques. Otherwise, there is little connection among the various occultic activities.

There are many definitions of the Occult; no general consensus exists. Some groups divide the Occult into three branches:

• Divination: Various harmless methods of foretelling the future:
  • Includes: I Ching, Astrology, Numerology, Physiognomy, Runes, Scrying, Tarot, Dice, Dominos, Dream interpretation, Pendulum movements, Playing cards, etc.
• Religious and Spiritual Pursuits: These are normally a group of unrelated minority religions:
  • Includes: Eastern religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Satanism, Wicca, Neopaganism, other native or shamanic cultures.
• Magick:
  • This is a list that includes ceremonial magick and many other schools of practice involving rituals and spells. They are used to change the environment, in order to reach the magician's goals.