Occultism

Occultism is a system of knowledge and belief that studies supernatural and hidden forces inaccessible to ordinary people through direct observation or perception. It is derived from the Latin word occulo, meaning “to conceal.” Occultism encompasses various esoteric teachings aimed at understanding and controlling the mysteries of the universe. It is also referred to as hidden sciences, esoteric doctrine, or secret knowledge.

Occultism reflects humanity’s effort to comprehend the unknown. Throughout history it has appeared in diverse forms across many cultures, covering a broad spectrum from magic and alchemy to astrology and spiritualism. Modern occultism represents a balance between scientific and mystical approaches.

Scope: Occultism includes diverse disciplines such as magic, alchemy, numerology, astrology, demonology (demons and spirits), Gnosticism, shamanism, theosophy, and spiritualism.

Goal: To explore the unknown aspects of the universe, attain access to supernatural powers, and use these powers to influence human life.

Metaphysical Approach: These fields rely on intuition, ritual, and mystical methods rather than scientific methodologies.

Occultism is an effort by humans to confront the unknown. This effort emerged from ancient attempts to decipher nature’s mysteries. Occultism synthesized beliefs and traditions from various cultures, particularly taking root in Islamic, Jewish, and Christian mysticism. In Turk-Islamic culture, practices such as ebced and vefk like represent local manifestations of such beliefs. There are books on occultism in old Turkish literature.

Occultism has incorporated numerous fields as a result of humanity’s attempts to understand the supernatural. Major disciplines include magic, alchemy, numerology, astrology, demonology, and spiritualism.

Practices involving rituals and prayers to control or manipulate supernatural forces.

In Turkish culture: Seen in traditions such as huddamlık (seeking aid from jinn) and muska preparation.

In the West: Expressed through rituals, grimoires, and talismans.

Aims to transform base metals into gold and discover the elixir of immortality.

In the Islamic world: Figures such as Ibn Sina and Jabir ibn Hayyan grounded alchemical studies in scientific principles.

In the West: Alchemists such as Nicolas Flamel gained prominence in medieval Europe.

A discipline that examines the mystical meanings of numbers and uses them to interpret human destiny.

In Islam: Ebced Calculation: Calculations based on assigning numerical values to Arabic letters.

In Jewish Mysticism: Gematria: The search for hidden meanings in sacred texts by assigning numerical values to Hebrew letters.

The study of the influence of planets and stars on human life.

Babylon and Mesopotamia: Recognized as the earliest origins of astrology.

In Islamic culture: Astrological influences are discussed in texts known as yıldızname.

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Encompasses beliefs concerning jinn, devils, and spirits.

In Turkish folk culture: Examples include beliefs in malevolent entities such as Albastı and Kara Koncolos.

In the West: Spiritual entities such as incubus and succubus are central to this field.

Includes rituals such as communicating with the dead, mediumship, and spirit summoning.

The roots of occultism lie in Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, and China. In these periods, natural phenomena were attributed to divine powers, and practices such as alchemy and astrology emerged.

Islamic World: Islamic philosophers sought to ground occult practices in scientific foundations. For instance, Ibn Sina described alchemy as both a physical and metaphysical process in his works.

Europe: Under the influence of the Church, occultism was generally regarded as heresy, yet secret societies and orders (e.g., the Order of the Rose Cross) preserved these traditions.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, occultism experienced a revival in the West, with organizations such as the Theosophical Society intensifying efforts to reconcile science and spiritualism.

Ebced and Vefk (magical squares) are linked to numerological systems derived from the Arabic alphabet.

Shamanism and Turkish beliefs: In Turkish culture, entities such as Albastı are associated with the difficulties women face during childbirth.

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Kabbalah: Jewish mysticism has influenced areas such as numerology and demonology.

Christianity: Extensive debates occurred throughout the Middle Ages regarding witchcraft and demonology.

The scientific validity of occultism has been a subject of debate. Major criticisms include:

Scientific Criticisms: Occult practices generally lack testable and reproducible scientific evidence.

Religious Criticisms: Monotheistic religions have typically regarded occultism as heretical or dangerous.

Modern Perspective: Today, occultism is studied as a subfield within disciplines such as psychology and mythology. Thinkers such as Jung have explored the role of occult symbols in the human unconscious.