Occultism
<p >The <b>occult</b> (from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin" title="Latin" >Latin</a> word <i>occultus</i> "clandestine, hidden, secret") is "knowledge of the hidden".<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occult#cite_note-1" >[1]</a></sup> In common <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language" title="English language" >English</a> usage, <i>occult</i> refers to "knowledge of the<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paranormal" title="Paranormal" >paranormal</a>", as opposed to "knowledge of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Measurable" title="Measurable" class="mw-redirect" >measurable</a>",<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occult#cite_note-2" >[2]</a></sup> usually referred to as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science" title="Science" >science</a>. The term is sometimes taken to mean knowledge that "is meant only for certain people" or that "must be kept hidden", but for most practicing occultists it is simply the study of a deeper spiritual reality that extends beyond <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speculative_reason" title="Speculative reason" >pure reason</a> and the physical sciences.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occult#cite_note-3" >[3]</a></sup> The terms <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esotericism" title="Esotericism" >esoteric</a></i> and <i>arcane</i> have very similar meanings, and in most contexts the three terms are interchangeable.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occult#cite_note-4" >[4]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occult#cite_note-5" >[5]</a></sup>
It also describes a number of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magical_organization" title="Magical organization" >magical organizations</a> or orders, the teachings and practices taught by them, and to a large body of current and historical literature and spiritual philosophy related to this subject.</p>
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