Occultism: Origins, Practices and Spiritual Conflicts
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Often reduced to caricatures, occultism is rooted in a complex history, blending initiatory rituals, divination and alchemy. This is neither a promotion nor a rejection, but an attempt to shed light on what has, since Antiquity, woven a web of symbols, practices and controversies. For not everything hidden seeks to deceive — and not every secret is obscure by nature.
This exploration is intended for those who wish to understand what this term truly encompasses — often used to refer to what religions do not control, what science does not validate, or what institutions struggle to name.
From the Latin occultus (hidden, secret), occultism refers to a body of practices aimed at revealing the hidden laws of the universe. Alchemy, astrology, ritual magic, divination, traditional medicine — these are all paths, sometimes converging, to grasp the invisible. One finds constellations drawn in grimoires, herbs arranged in circles, symbols traced in chalk. The universe is seen as woven with correspondences, where the microcosm mirrors the macrocosm, and where every ritual act can resonate with deeper forces.
Far from being fixed, occultism borrows from religion, flirts with science, and draws on oral traditions and coded writings. It is not a unified block, but a shifting nebula, shaped by times and cultures, sometimes marginalized, sometimes rehabilitated.
The origins of occultism
Occultism is founded on one principle: the visible world is inhabited by the invisible. Certain natural laws and spiritual powers are hidden from the uninitiated, yet accessible to those who can read the signs — or undergo the rite. This quest for hidden meaning involves symbols, initiations, and correspondences between man and cosmos, between plants and planets, between matter and spirit.
The word “occultism” only became established in the 19th century, notably through writers such as Éliphas Lévi and Papus, major figures of the French esoteric revival. But the practices it refers to are much older, ranging from Chaldean magic to the Eleusinian mysteries, from Greco-Egyptian talismans to medieval grimoires. Some of these ancient traditions are now being rediscovered through the study of esoteric currents such as Gnosticism, which blends secret cosmology with an inner quest for liberation.
Emergence, ruptures and repressions
Antiquity: an animated vision of the world
In ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia and Greece, natural phenomena were seen as infused with spiritual forces. The mage was a priest, an astrologer, a healer. They observed the stars, invoked spirits, and manipulated symbols and elements to maintain balance between the visible world and hidden powers. In ancient times, religion, science and magic were not sharply separated.
Middle Ages: resistance under surveillance
In medieval Western Europe, the “occult” properties of plants and minerals were still studied by scholars, but the Christian institution tightened its grip. Unrecognized rituals became suspicious. The Inquisition hunted heresy — and anything perceived as drawing believers away from the sanctioned channels between heaven and earth.
Renaissance: the golden age of correspondences
With Marsilio Ficino, Paracelsus and Agrippa, the Renaissance celebrated the return of ancient texts and the analogical link between celestial and earthly spheres. The universe was seen as a sacred clock, where humans, as a reflection of the cosmos, could act upon the world through ritual gestures and formulas. Alchemy flourished anew, astrology was taught in universities, and talismans circulated among noble courts.
18th–19th century: marginalization and revival
The rise of rationalism and the Enlightenment gradually pushed occult practices to the margins. Alchemy gave way to chemistry, astrology to astronomy. Yet secret societies multiplied: Rosicrucians, Freemasons, Hermetic circles. In the 19th century, a powerful revival took place: figures like Papus and Éliphas Lévi laid the groundwork for modern occultism, combining symbolism, Kabbalistic tradition and operative magic.
The main categories of practices
Alchemy
Often mocked as a quest to turn lead into gold, alchemy is above all a worldview. It posits the possibility of transforming matter — and the soul. Each operation (calcination, distillation, coagulation) is both physical and spiritual. The athanor becomes an inner mirror, and the search for the philosopher's stone a metaphor for self-realization.
Astrology
Astrology sees planets and constellations as messengers of deeper rhythms. Through natal charts and planetary cycles, it seeks to interpret an individual's tendencies or the energy of a given moment. Whether Western, Arab, Chinese or Vedic, it rests on a symbolic reading of time.
Divination
The art of reading signs — in cards, palms, stars, dreams or random patterns. Divination doesn’t aim to predict in a mechanical way, but to illuminate the present moment, give meaning to the invisible, open paths. It uses many tools: tarot, Norse runes, geomancy, I Ching, pendulums, bird flight or sand drawings. Some forms, like molybdomancy, interpret solidified molten lead to reveal messages.
Magic and rituals
Magic, in its traditional sense, is the performance of symbolic acts meant to alter the balance of the world. It can be ceremonial, folk, protective, aggressive, or theurgical. Talismans, incantations, ritual circles aim to harness invisible forces, with or without divine reference. Some bodily rituals, such as henna tattoo magic, blend sacred aesthetics, protection and symbolic transmission.
Occult healing
Before modern separations between pharmacology and spirituality, many healing methods relied on "signed" plants, prayers and ritual gestures. These traditional medicines are now reassessed through the lens of ethnobotany and the history of healing. They often intersect with energy-based systems (chakras, meridians) and body symbolism.
Occult sciences and modern science
Occultism and science long walked side by side. Alchemy paved the way for chemistry; astrology for celestial mathematics; ritual herbals for pharmacology. But from the 18th century onward, the scientific method imposed new criteria: reproducibility, objectivity, quantification. Intuition, symbolism and subjective experience were cast aside.
Even today, occultism continues to intrigue researchers in anthropology, history of science and belief psychology — as it also reveals how humans grapple with the unknown and give meaning to the inexplicable.
In relation to dominant religions
In polytheistic empires, cults often overlapped: Greek and Roman gods merged, local deities were integrated. But with the rise of monotheism, unauthorized practices became suspect. Occultism was reframed through the lens of heresy, even demonic influence. Certain texts, like the Book of Enoch, were excluded from canonical scripture, yet continued to inspire occult traditions through tales of fallen angels and forbidden celestial knowledge.
Nevertheless, even under the most repressive regimes, ancient practices persisted — disguised, folklorized, or merged into official rites. Rural healers, like fire-cutters, used prayers and gestures not always recognized by authorities, but deeply embedded in local cultures.
Initiation, symbolic language and the power of secrecy
In the world of occultism, secrecy is not merely a refuge — it’s an essential part of knowledge itself. Transmission happens through initiatory rites, marked by trials, oaths and symbols. Among these transformative tools, coded languages such as the language of the birds, seals and glyphs open inner paths. Symbols don’t explain — they suggest, question and unlock: linking what is hidden to what can be grasped.
Between fascination and discernment
Whether one consults a practitioner, explores techniques solo, or joins a study group, approaching occultism often touches on sensitive areas: personal vulnerabilities, spiritual quests, fascination with the unseen. To avoid potential pitfalls — psychological, social, or financial — a few principles can help maintain clarity:
- Clarity on the framework of practices: stated intentions, structure of rituals, relationship between practitioner and client
- Doubt is welcome — no guilt or pressure to believe or conform
- Staying connected to reality: no imposed break from loved ones, social life or medical care
- No absolute promises: no guarantees of success, no claim to ultimate truth
Mini-lexicon of occult symbols
- Pentagram: five-pointed star, symbol of protection and human balance
- Hexagram / Seal of Solomon: union of heaven and earth, masculine and feminine
- Talisman vs Amulet: one is "charged" for a specific purpose, the other works by nature
- Arcana: hidden card or key to knowledge (especially in tarot)
- Athanor: alchemical furnace used for slow spiritual transmutation