Esotericism facts for kids

Esotericism is about special, often secret, knowledge. This knowledge is usually learned by a small group of people. It also looks at mystical (spiritual and mysterious) or occult (hidden) ideas.

People who study esotericism often try to find hidden meanings and symbols in old books. These can be religious books, philosophy books, or history books. They use these books as their main texts.

Esotericism explores many different topics. These include Gnosticism, Yoga, Alchemy, Magic, Spiritualism, Hypnosis, Astrology, Meditation, Mysticism, and Occultism. Some religious groups, like Christians and Muslims, have sometimes seen these ideas as 'black magic' or something bad.

Esoteric groups

Many groups throughout history have studied or practiced esoteric ideas. Here are a few examples:

• Alawites
• Anthroposophy
• Rosicrucians
• Kabbalah
• Freemasons
• Knights Templar
• Theosophy

Images for kids

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  The tree of life as represented in the Kabbalah, showing the Sephiroth.

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  A colored version of the 1888 Flammarion engraving.

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  The Magician, a tarot card. It shows the idea of "as above, so below," meaning what happens in one place can affect another.

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  A drawing of Hermes Trismegistus, an important figure in some esoteric traditions.

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  A sculpture of the Horned God of Wicca. It is found in the Museum of Witchcraft in Boscastle, Cornwall.

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  London's Warburg Institute. It was one of the first places to seriously study Western esotericism.

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  Wouter Hanegraaff, a well-known expert who studies esotericism.

See also

In Spanish: Esoterismo occidental para niños