Occult facts for kids
The word occult describes ideas or knowledge that are hidden or secret. It often refers to things that are outside what we normally experience or what science can easily explain. Sometimes, it means knowledge that is only for certain people or that must be kept secret. For many who study the occult, it's about exploring a deeper spiritual reality.
The term "occult" can also describe groups or organizations that study magic and their teachings. It also covers many books and ideas about spiritual philosophy.
What is Occultism?
Occultism is the study of the occult. It includes topics like:
- Magic
- Extra-sensory perception (ESP), which is like having senses beyond the usual five
- Astrology, the study of how stars and planets might affect people's lives
- Spiritualism, which involves communicating with spirits
- Numerology, the study of the hidden meaning of numbers
- Lucid dreaming, where you know you are dreaming and can control your dreams
These studies often have a strong connection to spiritual beliefs. Some people who study the occult also follow specific spiritual paths, like Neopaganism. While major religions like Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam are not usually seen as occult, some modern ways of understanding them can include occult ideas. For example, some interpretations of the Jewish Kabbalah are considered occult.
Occultism and Science
Long ago, some practices now called occult were part of science. For example, Alchemy was a practice that tried to turn ordinary metals into gold or find a way to live forever. Many early scientists, like Isaac Newton, studied alchemy.
However, during a time called the Age of Enlightenment, science and alchemy started to become separate. Isaac Newton, famous for discovering gravity, was even accused of using "occult" ideas when he suggested that gravity could act over long distances without anything touching. This shows how ideas about what is "scientific" have changed over time.
Related topics
- Esotericism
- Spiritual séance
Images for kids
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The French writer Éliphas Lévi helped make the word "occultism" popular in the 1850s.
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In the 1990s, scholar Wouter Hanegraaff offered a new way to define occultism for academic study.
See also
In Spanish: Ocultismo para niños
