The Dark Arts: The Language of Occult Rituals

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Occult words refer to the vocabulary and terminology used in occult practices, traditions, and beliefs. The word "occult" itself generally refers to hidden or secret knowledge. These words are often used in various mystical, esoteric, and spiritual practices that involve the exploration of supernatural or divine realms beyond the physical world. The occult encompasses a wide range of practices and belief systems, including astrology, divination, magic, witchcraft, alchemy, and spiritualism, among others. Each of these different areas has its own set of words and phrases that hold symbolic or metaphysical meanings. Some common occult words include: 1.



Glossary of Terms

Not sure what a word means? Need the general idea of a topic? Just curious about what terms relate to the occult? This is the page you need.

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Occult – Translating roughly to “that which is hidden”, the exact definition of the occult and what constitutes occult practices can vary. The term only began to be applied in more recent centuries and has been retroactively applied to various practices and belief systems. In modern popular usage, the term “occult” generally applies to topics such as Satanism, dark magic, witchcraft and demonic summoning. In an academic sense, it applies more often to the topics of astrology, alchemy, kabbalah, divination, scrying, contacting or summoning angels and demons, ritual magic, certain historical secret societies or mystery cults, hermeticism, magic runes, talismans, some forms of mysticism, and esoteric religious practices. Obviously that covers quite a large subject matter.

A good way to characterize the occult is to return to its basic translation. Genuine occult topics that have been traditionally kept secret or available only to a select few. This is done through coded language and metaphor (see Alchemy), initiation (such as into a secret society), secret alphabets, special tutelage by a master practitioner, or keeping only an oral tradition that must be passed down through such a student-teacher dynamic (as Kabbalah was said to have been in its early iterations). The idea of keeping knowledge secret was done with the pretense that it was too dangerous and powerful in the hands of the uninitiated or unworthy. Much like requiring a license before being allowed to operate a vehicle, a person must be properly trained in order to safely practice the occult arts.

In modern times, most people aren’t concerned with accidentally summoning a demon. The propensity to keep information secret nowadays is relegated to tradition or wanting to seem “mysterious” or “dark”. While there are of course still people who believe in and sincerely practice the art, there is also a modern trend of commercialization an occult or mystical aesthetic that has more to do with looks than beliefs. There are also people who fall somewhere in between; they may not consider themselves a magus but they also charge crystals and meditate with genuine purpose. None of these positions are necessarily bad but proper education on the topic is part of the purpose of this site.

So what is the definition of “occult”? The answer depends on the context. The short answer, and how I would define the topic in regards to the content here, is that the occult are a disparate set of beliefs and practices from across all cultures and time periods in human existence that are characterized by their esoteric and spiritual nature as well as their propensity to be kept secret from the general population for fear of persecution, misuse, misunderstanding, or to retain power through secret knowledge. All the topics on this site I consider under the umbrella term of “occult” based on this definition. While information on many are now widely available through modern technology and culture, this was not always the case. Most knowledge was restricted to a select few. If a topic was considered magical, mystical, or obscure but not necessarily restricted or hidden, it is less likely to be considered “occult”. However, since the term has been retroactively applied to a number of ideas and disciplines from the past, there are no hard and fast rules to define what constitutes occult knowledge.

The following definitions of related topics will explain some of the subtleties between the occult and related areas of study. Specifically…

Esoteric/Esotericism – Not widely known.

Esoteric topics are usually, but not always, religious or spiritual in nature. If a topic is only studied or understood by a few people it is generally considered esoteric. Many occult topics are esoteric but not all and some esoteric traditions are occult in nature but certainly not all of them. “Esoteric” is generally discussed along with “mysticism”.

Mysticism – A religious practice where the goal is a direct experience with God, a god, or gods.

Important figures in mysticism include Emmanuel Swedenborg and William Blake who both developed their own mystical systems in relation to Christianity. A number of Catholic saints and authors were also noted mystics such as Hildegard of Bingen and Saint Francis of Assisi (among many others).

A person may be considered a mystic or practitioner of mysticism if they have had a direct experience with God or a god, actively try to have such an experience, or write theology or philosophy that discusses how and why to do so. Mysticism is often associated with the Abrahamic Faiths (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) but is not exclusive to these religions.

Kabbalah is often referred to as “Jewish Mysticism” but this is not technically correct as it has other goals and functions beyond experience with the divine.

Theology – The philosophical study of religion, typically by believers.

Academic study of religion is generally referred to as “Religious Studies” and focuses on the history, culture, and impact of religion as opposed to theology which aims to understand and explain it from the viewpoint of a practitioner. It is also commonly referenced as a field of study required for seminary students.

Theology can also be conflated with “philosophy of religion” and while these terms are sometimes used interchangeably, theology most often refers to systematic writings on the nature of the divine, God, gods, cosmogony, souls (their function and purpose), the afterlife, and related topics as if the writer has a vested interest in the answers.

The following are specific topics that are generally accepted to fall under the umbrella of “the occult”:

Alchemy – In many ways a precursor to modern chemistry, alchemy was generally considered to be the science of turning one thing into another thing through physical and chemical processes (in its literal interpretation) or refining something (like the soul) into a better or more perfect version (in its metaphorical usage).

The most widely recognized aspects of alchemy are its goal to transform lead into gold (or other common metals into precious metals), an item known as The Philosopher’s Stone, and its ability to extend life or grant immortality.

Theurgy – Working with spirits and/or gods in a ritual fashion to elicit spiritual or material effects.

Theurgy is often accomplished through ritual sacrifice, sacred words, phrases, or chants, special (often secret) names, spells, specially constructed and consecrated items, sigils, seals, purification of mind, body, or soul, or most often rituals that incorporate any or all of the aforementioned aspects. These rituals can be simple or complicated and take anywhere from a few seconds to several months or years in extreme cases. Theurgy is not by its nature either good or evil. It often depends on the spirit the person is attempting to summon, contact, or bind and what exactly they ask of it. It is also not specific to any particular culture or religion. While a practice, such as the Eucharist, may fit the technical definition of theurgy, it is generally referred to as a “rite” or “sacrament” instead. Theurgy is more often used in reference to Hermetic practices specifically and generally to esoteric and not mainstream religious practices.

Astrology – The study of stars and planets with the belief that their position and movement affect human lives and personalities. Astrologers can also use the stars as a divination tool to predict the future in general or that of a specific person or place (like a city/state).

Most cultures dating back to ancient times have looked to the heavens and attempted to derive meaning from their shape and movement. The astrological systems that have persisted to modern times are those derived from ancient Chinese, Middle and Near Eastern, Vedic (from cultures around the Indian subcontinent) and Greek (generally referred to as “western” astrology). The latter three likely influenced each other at various points in history due to cultural contact.

Hermeticism – Any of the beliefs, philosophies, practices, or tenets related or attributed to the fictional figure of Hermes Trismegistus. Core texts include the “Hermetic Corpus”, the “Emerald Tablet”, and “The Kybalion”. The first two are either lost, reconstructed, or fabricated and the latter was published under a pseudonym in the early 20th century.

While Hermeticism contains many aspects and interpretations, it is generally concerned with the idea that there is one true religion involving a singular, transcendent god or force that permeates all life and being. This religion was explained to man aeons ago and the information retained in ancient knowledge.

Kabbalah/Cabala/Qabalah – An esoteric tradition based on Judaic “merkabah” mysticism and other Jewish cultural and religious ideas. The origins are purported to be thousands of years old having been transmitted orally for most of that time. Textually evidence of core kabbalistic beliefs, i.e. its defining characteristics, date to the late 12th century in the south of France.

Sigil – A specially designed picture that is a representation of a purpose, intent, information, or summons and imbued with power. Sigils can either be static and learned from a person or book/manuscript or created by an individual for a specific purpose. They can be simple or complex but generally must be created by someone with specific knowledge or skill.

Grimoire – A special book filled with spells and rituals. Generally considered to apply only to “dark” types of magic.

Abraxas – A mysterious Gnostic word or name found on amulets called “Abraxas Stones”. Variously understood as the name of a god, demon, or “ Archon In Gnosticism, a demonic entity usually associated with one of the seven planets. ”, the origin of the word and its meaning are widely debated.

Demiurge – A creative power from Platonic, Neoplatonic, and Gnostic cosmologies. Sometimes benevolent, sometimes actively malevolent, the demiurge is usually placed as a “second cause” below the “One” or ultimate God. It is usually given the role of having created, molded, or of managing the material world. Oftentimes it isn’t necessarily aware of creation but simply acts as the catalyst. Depending on the exact school of thought, its role and characterization can vary significantly.

Common words and phrases that appear when studying the occult which also apply to many other areas of knowledge:

Manuscript – A handwritten book, document, or other type of text on paper, parchment, vellum, papyrus, or similar material. It can be bound in a book or codex format or be loose leafed. A manuscript can consist of one or many pages. Libraries often label their manuscript collections with “MS” followed by a number for reference and cataloguing purposes.

Source Text/Primary Source – Does what it says on the tin: the book, manuscript, scroll, bible, person etc. on which other writings, sayings, or beliefs are based on. For example, the Torah is a primary source on which the Judaic tradition of “midrash” or interpretation is based. The writings produced through this midrash, the secondary source, do not replace the primary source but instead comment on it or discuss it. These terms are relative since if you were writing on a particular midrash, the midrash would become the primary text and your writing would be the secondary text. Primary sources are valued because in a historical context they offer the closest viewpoint to an event (such as a firsthand account of a war by a soldier) versus an interpretation or a summary of that event (such as a historian writing a history of the war they were never in). In a literary context, it is better to examine the primary source (e.g. a novel) and form your own interpretations instead of parroting back what other people have written about the topic without having experienced it for yourself.

Specifically on the topic of occult studies, something like “The Picatrix” is considered a primary source from which other grimoires and manuscripts derived their information and content. Whether there was another text that preceded The Picatrix or whether it was written in toto by one author remains unknown (unless an older manuscript is found that predates The Picatrix and which contains the same information). Tracing back occult traditions to their origin is difficult for several reasons: many are so old that the physical manuscripts haven’t survived, many were passed down orally and thus leave no written record, persecution of esoteric and occult practices resulted in their intentional destruction by mainstream religious and government leaders, and the nature of keeping occult knowledge secret means it is easily lost or forgotten.

Ontology – The philosophy of what it means “to be”. A subject of metaphysics.

Generally, ontology looks at a thing, any thing, and attempts to answer “why”, “how”, and “what” in the most philosophically complete way possible. Notable points of discussion include the nature of human beings, their origin, and what it means to be human. Many people answer these questions via theological models or religious doctrine.

Metaphysics – The philosophy on the nature of things we can’t see, experience, or prove such as the nature of reality, existence, or how and why anything exists at all.

Theology and religion generally have metaphysical answers to questions of how and why we as humans and everything else in the universe exists. Metaphysics doesn’t necessarily have to be religious, however. Hermeticism and Neoplatonism have metaphysical theories that aren’t based around a particular religion. They can be interpreted to fit with religious belief (such as Christianity) or a more secular philosophy.

Semiotics – The study of signs and symbols, how we derive meaning from them, our relation to them, their function in language and communication, and how they relate to other signs and symbols to create meaning.

Hermeneutics – The process of interpreting a text, usually refers to biblical interpretation but sometimes applied to literature and philosophy. Certain schools of Kabbalah apply their ideas hermeneutically.

Cult – Generally considered to be a religious, spiritual, or philosophically fringe belief system developed, perpetuated, espoused, and or enforced by a singular, charismatic leader. The public perception is that people who join cults are “brainwashed” or otherwise forced to stay with the group after being lured in by false promises or the idyllic facade of the group. While this has been true for some cults, it is just as likely that a group considered to be a cult is a small coalition of people with the same uncommon philosophy that choose to live, work, and/or worship together as they have not found acceptance or satisfaction within mainstream religion or society. The exact definition of what constitutes a “cult” is debated in so small part to the word’s negative connotation.

Terms relating to Kabbalah:

Ein-Sof – The “Infinite”; God before form in kabbalistic belief.

Sefirot – The ten components of the kabbalistic “Tree of Life” that emanate from “Ein-Sof”.

Occult related systems of belief and practice:

Wicca – A relatively modern practice based loosely on historic witchcraft, folk traditions, and neo-paganism. It tends to emphasize female empowerment through mother figures and deities (specifically the goddesses Hecate and Gaia) as well as a connection and/or return to nature.

Satanism – Refers to either “The Church of Satan”, a self described “anti-religion” started by Anton LaVey in the 1960s whose members are devout atheists (and thereby don’t actually believe in Satan) OR the practice of worshipping the Christian figure of the Devil or Satan in some fashion.

Site Map

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Occult Words

Below is a massive list of occult words - that is, words related to occult. The top 4 are: esoteric, supernatural, mystical and mystic. You can get the definition(s) of a word in the list below by tapping the question-mark icon next to it. The words at the top of the list are the ones most associated with occult, and as you go down the relatedness becomes more slight. By default, the words are sorted by relevance/relatedness, but you can also get the most common occult terms by using the menu below, and there's also the option to sort the words alphabetically so you can get occult words starting with a particular letter. You can also filter the word list so it only shows words that are also related to another word of your choosing. So for example, you could enter "esoteric" and click "filter", and it'd give you words that are related to occult and esoteric.

You can highlight the terms by the frequency with which they occur in the written English language using the menu below. The frequency data is extracted from the English Wikipedia corpus, and updated regularly. If you just care about the words' direct semantic similarity to occult, then there's probably no need for this.

There are already a bunch of websites on the net that help you find synonyms for various words, but only a handful that help you find related, or even loosely associated words. So although you might see some synonyms of occult in the list below, many of the words below will have other relationships with occult - you could see a word with the exact opposite meaning in the word list, for example. So it's the sort of list that would be useful for helping you build a occult vocabulary list, or just a general occult word list for whatever purpose, but it's not necessarily going to be useful if you're looking for words that mean the same thing as occult (though it still might be handy for that).

If you're looking for names related to occult (e.g. business names, or pet names), this page might help you come up with ideas. The results below obviously aren't all going to be applicable for the actual name of your pet/blog/startup/etc., but hopefully they get your mind working and help you see the links between various concepts. If your pet/blog/etc. has something to do with occult, then it's obviously a good idea to use concepts or words to do with occult.

If you don't find what you're looking for in the list below, or if there's some sort of bug and it's not displaying occult related words, please send me feedback using this page. Thanks for using the site - I hope it is useful to you! 🐃

Related Words

This tool helps you find words that are related to a specific word or phrase. Also check out ReverseDictionary.org and DescribingWords.io. Here are some words that are associated with occult : . You can get the definitions of these occult related words by clicking on them. Also check out describing words for occult and find more words related to occult using ReverseDictionary.org

Click words for definitions

Our algorithm is scanning multiple databases for related words. Please be patient! :)

Words Related to occult

Below is a list of words related to occult . You can click words for definitions. Sorry if there's a few unusual suggestions! The algorithm isn't perfect, but it does a pretty good job for common-ish words. Here's the list of words that are related to occult :

  • alchemy
  • secret
  • mystical
  • supernatural
  • mysterious
  • mystic
  • esoteric
  • paranormal
  • astrology
  • gnosticism
  • eclipse
  • hermeticism
  • conceal
  • english language
  • orphic
  • magic
  • invisible
  • clandestine
  • spiritualism
  • overshadow
  • covert
  • divination
  • religion
  • extra-sensory perception
  • science
  • theosophy
  • satanic
  • alchemical
  • shamanic
  • cultic
  • morbid
  • vampiric
  • metaphysical
  • psychic
  • ritualistic
  • cabalistic
  • shamanistic
  • mythological
  • tantric
  • satanism
  • mysticism
  • thelema
  • magnetism
  • wicca
  • knowledge
  • latin
  • gravity
  • thought
  • measurable
  • practice
  • pattern
  • cause
  • destiny
  • change
  • fate
  • esotericism
  • experience
  • age of enlightenment
  • modern paganism
  • concealment
  • hide
  • hider
  • rawhide
  • research
  • latent
  • hideout
  • crypto
  • furtive
  • hele
  • dern
  • isaac newton
  • theurgy
  • unseeable
  • disguise
  • veil
  • occult arts
  • philosophy
  • surreptitious
  • stash
  • hiddenness
  • hiddle
  • shroud
  • obscure
  • cults
  • middle ages
  • magick
  • cloak
  • palliate
  • secrete
  • abstruse
  • witchcraft
  • mask
  • sorcery
  • recondite
  • hideling
  • arcane
  • muffle
  • heredity
  • hideaway
  • poisons

Some common occult words include: 1. Esoteric: This term refers to knowledge or practices that are known or understood only by a select few who are initiated into a specific spiritual or mystical tradition. 2.

Popular Searches

Words Related to occult

As you've probably noticed, words related to " occult " are listed above. Hopefully the generated list of term related words above suit your needs.

P.S. There are some problems that I'm aware of, but can't currently fix (because they are out of the scope of this project). The main one is that individual words can have many different senses (meanings), so when you search for a word like mean, the engine doesn't know which definition you're referring to ("bullies are mean" vs. "what do you mean?", etc.), so consider that your search query for words like term may be a bit ambiguous to the engine in that sense, and the related terms that are returned may reflect this. You might also be wondering: What type of word is ~term~ ?

Also check out occult words on relatedwords.io for another source of associations.

Occult words

Ritual: A ritual is a set of specific actions, gestures, or ceremonies that are performed according to established and often symbolic patterns. Rituals are frequently used in occult practices to connect with spiritual forces or energies. 3. Tarot: The Tarot is a deck of cards that are used in divination practices to gain insight and guidance into various aspects of life, including love, career, and spirituality. 4. Coven: A coven is a group of witches or practitioners who come together to perform rituals and share knowledge. 5. Sigil: A sigil is a symbol or drawing that is used in magic and occult practices to represent a specific desire, intention, or entity. 6. Astral Projection: Astral projection is a practice in which an individual's consciousness leaves their physical body and travels to different realms or dimensions. 7. Occultism: Occultism refers to the study and practice of hidden or secret knowledge, often involving the supernatural or spiritual world. 8. Kabbalah: Kabbalah is a mystical and esoteric system of Judaism that explores the hidden meanings of the Torah and seeks to understand the nature of God and the universe. 9. Grimoire: A grimoire is a book of magic spells and rituals that is used by practitioners of magic and witchcraft. 10. Divination: Divination is the practice of seeking knowledge of the future or hidden truths through supernatural means, such as tarot cards, crystal balls, or astrology. These are just a few examples of the vast array of occult words and terminology that exist within different esoteric traditions and practices. The use of these words not only serves as a means of communication within occult communities but also conveys a sense of mystery and intrigue associated with the exploration of the unknown and the supernatural..

Reviews for "The Magick of Words: Harnessing the Power of Occult Language"

1. John - ★★☆☆☆
I found "Occult words" to be quite boring and unoriginal. The plot was predictable, and the characters lacked depth. Additionally, I didn't appreciate the excessive use of clichés throughout the story. Overall, it failed to capture my interest and left me disappointed.
2. Sarah - ★☆☆☆☆
I couldn't get past the first few chapters of "Occult words". The writing style was overly convoluted, making it difficult to follow the plot and understand the characters' motivations. The pacing was also incredibly slow, and there was a lack of tension or suspense, which left me feeling unengaged. I ended up giving up on this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.
3. Mike - ★★☆☆☆
"Occult words" had an intriguing premise, but it fell flat in execution. The prose felt overly pretentious, obscuring the story rather than enhancing it. Furthermore, the characters felt one-dimensional and lacked development, making it hard to connect with them. I had high hopes for this novel, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations.
4. Emily - ★★☆☆☆
While I appreciate the effort put into crafting the world of "Occult words", I couldn't fully immerse myself in the story. The pacing was inconsistent, with long stretches of inaction punctuated by brief moments of excitement. This made it difficult to maintain my interest throughout the book. Additionally, the dialogue felt stilted and unnatural, further hindering my enjoyment of the novel.
5. David - ★☆☆☆☆
I found "Occult words" to be an overhyped novel that failed to deliver on its promises. The storytelling was disjointed, with abrupt shifts in perspective and confusing narrative choices. The lack of a cohesive plot left me feeling unfulfilled, and I struggled to connect with any of the characters. Ultimately, this book left me feeling unsatisfied and regretful of the time I spent reading it.

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