What is occult science?

Dear NightFall Astrology readers,

Since the middle of the 20th century until today, the terms “occult” or “occultism” have been thrown randomly as buzzwords for “New-Age” spiritual practitioners, counsellors, and teachers in order to add to the mystery and mysticism of their practice.

From what I’ve been seeing all over the internet, I’ve noticed that 90% of these people have no idea what they’re talking about or intentionally omit info from their public/followers.

“Occult” or “Occultism” means “hidden from profaners”… Occultism studies the perennial philosophy – Hermeticism – through the 4 occult sciences: Astrology, Alchemy, Kabbalah, and MagicK/Theurgy. European Secret Societies & Orders from the Renaissance until the 19th century have done incredible work in restoring this sacred knowledge.

There are many illustrious occultists from that period, and one of them is: Dr Gérard Encausse “Papus” (July 13, 1865 – 25 October 1916), a French physician, occultist, astrologer, founder of the modern Martinist Order & member of the Kabbalistic Order of the Rose-Croix and Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.

Up until today, only a few of his works have been translated into English (such as “The Tarot of the Bohemians”). Still, most of his enormous encyclopedic work remains accessible only in French (with a few Russian exceptions).

Dr Gérard Encausse (Papus) provides in his monumental “Treatise on Occult Science” (published in 1891) an extremely clear & concise definition of what Occult Science is. I’ve translated an entire excerpt for my Artemis Members. So here it is:

“The Occult Science:
In sum, Occult Science can be considered from two distinct points of view:

Firstly, as a traditional doctrine, it provides the philosopher and the historian with entirely new elements for study. It allows us to consider antiquity at its true value and affirm the existence of general discoveries affecting our applied sciences at a very early point in time.

The esoteric teachings on the constitution of the Universe and of Man, on invisible beings and their existence, allow us to understand a host of facts considered miraculous in a more scientific light.

Finally, the struggles of Gnosticism and Clericalism in the West, and the increasingly complete triumphs of the former over the latter, enable the historian to see clearly the actions of the secret societies that have been in operation since the destruction of the Order of the Temple (The Templars).

Secondly, as a method, Occult Science provides all contemporary researchers with a new working tool. There is no need to delve into the philosophical theories of esotericism to understand this method of analogy which provides empiricists with multiple elements of research.

By associating the theoretical data supplied by analogy with the proofs supplied by the empirical method, we can remake an entirely new plan for most of our treatises on Physics, Chemistry, Natural History and even Philosophy and Psychology. There is here a source of work, some of which has already been undertaken but the greater part of which remains at the disposal of whoever wishes to seize it.

Morality/Ethics:
In the ancient East, there was neither reward nor punishment after death; Man was rewarded in this world, either on his own person or on his descendants and always in material possessions.

Egyptian theology granted two souls to Man, the intelligent and thinking soul, on leaving the body, joined the supreme intelligence from which it emanated; the other, the sensitive soul, returned through the gate of the Gods or Capricorn, into Amenthes, the watery sky where it always dwelt with pleasure, until, descending through the gate of men or Cancer, it came to animate a new body.

This excerpt summarises many of the arguments put forward by esotericism in favour of rational faith as the source of morality.

Science claimed to kill off forever any possibility of faith, thanks to the rigour of its demonstrations. This same rigour has come to expand the domain of faith, abandoning the hollow assertions of theology to be enlightened by the ever more astonishing discoveries of experimentalism.

Truth can no longer be exclusive to a cult or a sect. The principles of esotericism are identical in the depths of Buddhism as they are in the depths of Christianity; there can be only one Science and one Morality, just as there is only one Truth; neither of these terms can be the opposite of the other two.”

A few more words about Dr Gérard Encausse Papus:
Gérard Anaclet Vincent Encausse (July 13, 1865 – 25 October 1916), whose esoteric pseudonyms were Papus and Tau Vincent, was a French physician, hypnotist, and populariser of occultism who founded the modern Martinist Order.

In 1888, he co-founded his own group, the Kabbalistic Order of the Rose-Croix. That same year, he and his friend Lucien Chamuel founded the Librarie du Merveilleux and its monthly revue L’Initiation, which remained in publication until 1914.

Encausse was also a member of the Hermetic Brotherhood of Light and the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn temple in Paris, as well as Memphis-Misraim and probably other esoteric or paramasonic organisations, as well as being an author of several occult books. Outside of his paramasonic and Martinist activities, he was also a spiritual student of the French spiritualist healer, Anthelme Nizier Philippe, “Maître Philippe de Lyon”.

Despite his heavy involvement in occultism and occultist groups, Encausse managed to find time to pursue more conventional academic studies at the University of Paris. He received his Doctor of Medicine degree in 1894 upon submitting a dissertation on Philosophical Anatomy. He opened a clinic in the rue Rodin which was quite successful. Papus is known as the “Balzac of Occultism”.

Thank you for reading.

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