Occultism around me Occultism, the study and practice of hidden knowledge and mysterious forces, has always fascinated me. I have always been intrigued by the idea that there is more to our world than what meets the eye. And while some may dismiss it as mere superstition or fantasy, there are instances in my life that have made me question the rationality of such skepticism. One such instance was when I was visiting an old bookstore in the heart of the city. As I wandered through the aisles, I came across a section dedicated to occult books. The titles on the shelves were filled with promises of secret spells, ancient rituals, and forbidden knowledge.
“We had to do it by ourselves,” he says. “We didn’t have a federation that took [the] cause for you or anything like that. We had to dig deep but it’s also what makes being here more admirable and exciting because I know where I came from, and it’s just a lot of hard work and dedication every day.”
We had to dig deep but it s also what makes being here more admirable and exciting because I know where I came from, and it s just a lot of hard work and dedication every day. After nearly two months of the European clay season, Rune has emerged as one of the most successful players, alongside his fellow 20-year-old Carlos Alcaraz.
The titles on the shelves were filled with promises of secret spells, ancient rituals, and forbidden knowledge. Curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to pick up a book that caught my eye. As I delved into its pages, I found myself drawn into a world of symbols, sigils, and incantations.
Holger Rune: ‘I think if everybody was the same, it would be a bit boring’
D uring the quarter-finals of the Italian Open last week in Rome, Holger Rune was deep in battle with Novak Djokovic on one of the most meaningful courts of the then No 1’s career. It is a measure of his talent that not only was he winning the encounter, but that it was not a surprise.
As Djokovic forced himself back into the match, however, Rune’s growing tension was palpable. It eventually exploded. When the umpire, Mohamed Lahyani, came down from his chair to rule one of Djokovic’s shots had touched the line, Rune was incensed. He called Lahyani an “absolute joke” and demanded to know whether umpires are penalised for their mistakes. As his team tried to calm him down, Rune slumped in his chair and sighed. “It’s always the umpire who makes me look like the bad guy,” he said.
Boris Becker: ‘Tennis is a different sport when you become the hunted’ Read moreAfter nearly two months of the European clay season, Rune has emerged as one of the most successful players, alongside his fellow 20-year-old Carlos Alcaraz. He has shown at the same time that he is one of the sport’s most unpredictable figures.
“It’s a fine balance,” says Rune of ensuring that his on-court intensity helps him. “Because people see it in different ways, which is fine, I respect it. But everybody’s different on the court, everybody plays differently and I think this is part of the game. I think if everybody was the same, it would be a bit boring. So, I like variety.”
Rune’s path towards the top of the game has been unusual. It is not just that Denmark tends not to produce top players, but there are barely any professional Danish tennis players at all. Rune is the only Dane inside the top 400 of the ATP rankings and only four others are inside the top 1000. Before Rune, Caroline Wozniacki was a similar Danish anomaly. Rune notes that no national federation helped guide him at the beginning of his career.
“We had to do it by ourselves,” he says. “We didn’t have a federation that took [the] cause for you or anything like that. We had to dig deep but it’s also what makes being here more admirable and exciting because I know where I came from, and it’s just a lot of hard work and dedication every day.”
While he has arrived in the top 10 quickly, Rune’s trajectory has been consistent. He was a junior No 1, winning the French Open boys title in 2019. As a professional, Rune’s career truly began after the 2020 Covid hiatus when old ATP ranking points were frozen, meaning it was much more difficult to scale the rankings. Still, Rune won five ATP Challenger events between 2021 and 2022 and he eventually overcame a significant cramping issue to nestle himself inside the top 100.
Holger Rune (left) after defeating Novak Djokovic in Rome. The Serb said of Rune: ‘He kind of reminds me a little bit [of me], the way he plays.’ Photograph: Insidefoto/Shutterstock
The most striking part of Rune’s game is how well-rounded it is. He is a tremendous athlete with great defence, solid and potent off both forehand and backhand wings, making it difficult for opponents to target any specific weakness. His serve has improved significantly but he is an excellent returner. “He kind of reminds me a little bit [of me], the way he plays,” said Djokovic in Rome.
Rune pairs his solid foundations with feel and instinctiveness, peppering opponents with drop shots and freely approaching the net, a style he describes as more risky but worthwhile. “I feel like these days every player is super powerful from the baseline and they stay there a lot. And I feel like mixing up the game is still really effective,” says Rune.
Last year, Rune offered a glimpse of his talent and potential, with both of his breakthrough tournaments occurring in the same city. First he reached his first major quarter-final at the French Open, picking off Denis Shapovalov and Stefanos Tsitsipas en route. Five months later, he pulled off an even more outlandish achievement.
At the Paris Masters, Rune became the first ATP player to defeat five top-10 players in a single conventional tournament. After upsetting Hubert Hurkacz, Andrey Rublev, Alcaraz (who retired in the second set tie-break due to injury) and Félix Auger-Aliassime, he produced the performance of his life to defeat Djokovic 7-5 in the third set of the final.
“It takes a lot,” says Rune on what he learned from the experience. “It’s not easy, I tell you. It’s a lot of hard work. If you stop doing the hard work, you’re finished, boom. And you have to be able to maintain your high level every time you step on the court.
“Today, for example, I practised with Rublev. I kept my level good in the first set, but then I stepped a little bit down and – boom – he killed me. You have to be able to stay there and even raise it if necessary.”
The Dane, currently ranked world No. 4, is set to return to competition this week at the China Open, hoping to snap a seven match losing streak dating back to a quarterfinal loss at the All England Club to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz. Rune's slump in form can be traced back to physical struggles, having told Danish TV at Davis Cup earlier this month that he had a pinched nerve in the fifth lumbar vertebra in his spine since the clay-court season.
The book spoke of the power of intention and the ability to manifest one's desires through focused thought. It discussed the existence of unseen energies that could be harnessed for both good and ill purposes. While reading, I couldn't help but feel a certain resonance with the ideas presented. It was as if something deep within me recognized the truth in the words on the page. I found myself experimenting with some of the techniques described, and to my surprise, I experienced tangible results. It seemed as if the universe was responding to my thoughts and intentions. This encounter with occultism opened my eyes to the possibility of a hidden world that exists parallel to our own. It made me realize that there is more to life than what we can see and comprehend. It made me question the limitations of our perception and the extent of our true potential. Since then, I have delved deeper into the world of occultism. I have studied various esoteric traditions, from astrology and tarot to energy healing and meditation. Each one has offered me a different perspective on the mysteries of life and the power that lies within us. While occultism may be shrouded in mystery and often misunderstood, it is an integral part of our world. Its teachings and practices offer a different way of viewing and interacting with reality. By exploring this realm, we have the opportunity to tap into our own potential and transform our lives. In the end, I believe that occultism is not something that exists outside of ourselves but rather within our own consciousness. It is a reminder that we are more than just physical beings, and that we have the power to shape our own reality. By embracing the occult, we open ourselves up to a world of infinite possibilities and unlock the true nature of our existence..
Reviews for "Seeking the Divine: My Quest for Spiritual Enlightenment through the Occult"
1. Sarah - 2 stars
I was really excited to read "Occultism around me" as I have always been interested in the occult. However, I found this book to be incredibly disappointing. The writing was dull and lacked depth, making it difficult to engage with the story. Additionally, the characters were one-dimensional and uninspiring. Overall, "Occultism around me" was a letdown and I would not recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating occult-themed book.
2. Mark - 1 star
"Occultism around me" was a total waste of time for me. The plot was predictable and lacked originality. It felt like the author had simply thrown together some generic occult elements without putting much thought into creating a compelling story. The pacing was slow, and I found myself losing interest within the first few chapters. Overall, I found this book to be unimpressive and would not recommend it to anyone seeking a thrilling occult read.
3. Emily - 2 stars
I had high hopes for "Occultism around me," but unfortunately, it fell flat. The writing style was amateurish and lacked sophistication. The characters were poorly developed, and I found it difficult to connect with them on any level. Additionally, the plot felt disjointed and lacked cohesiveness, making it hard to follow. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others who are fans of occult-themed literature.
4. John - 2 stars
I was drawn to "Occultism around me" by its intriguing premise, but the execution was lackluster at best. The story lacked depth and failed to explore the occult themes in a meaningful way. The dialogue was awkward and unrealistic, making it difficult to immerse myself in the story. Additionally, the character development was weak, leaving me uninvested in their fates. Overall, I found "Occultism around me" to be a forgettable read and would not recommend it to fellow occult enthusiasts.