Understanding the Phenomenon of Occultism and Magic - Essay Example

Understanding the Phenomenon of Occultism and Magic Magic has been part of mankind’s history since a time not recorded. It has been in our lives since forever yet we continue to hold it in great suspicion. Nowadays, magic is regarded with the media’s perspective; that magic is occultism and vice versa. When I say magic, the word incantations, spells and wands jump to the listener’s mind. We fear it, consider it dangerous and enjoy it only in the forms of Harry Potter or Merlin. But is that all that magic really is? Is that all that occultism really is? Why have we resorted something so complex and mysterious to something so simply redundant. Why do we continue to mistrust them, despite the studies that have been done on occultism as a discipline? This paper intends to elucidate on occultism and explain magic as part of occultism. Now, occult is a word that many people use on a regular basis, but little do they understand it. “Occult is supernatural, mystical; the magical beliefs, practices or phenomenon. It is beyond the range of ordinary, knowledge or experience; it is mysterious.” [ CITATION Oxf09 \l 2057 ]. The literal translation of the word occult is ‘hidden’. The former definition had been incorporated into the Oxford Dictionary as the literal definition not too long ago. That is because occult or occultism is no longer simply something that is hidden. It is so much more than that. It has almost become a culture. And ergo, the definition had to be revised with the dawn of it as a discipline/discourse/culture. The British occultist, Dion Fortune has explained this phenomenon in her book. “Occult science is the branch of knowledge which is hidden from many and reserved for few” [ CITATION For01 \l 2057 ]. The author explains that there are times when certain people are able to transcend the states of consciousness that are considered normal. In this state, these people are able to experience “those forms of existence with whom normally no contact can be made” [ CITATION For01 \l 2057 ]. We understand from this that occultism is not merely knowledge of the unknown, or of the hidden. It is the opening to the world of supernatural/paranormal, to the world of mystery for us. And this can only be done when a person defies the norms; when one goes beyond the reality that we have come to understand as our only true reality. Only then, are they able to enter a world that had been anonymous to them before. Now, many believe this is through magic; that when people learn to control this mystical power, they are able to control the Nature around them, to manipulate the powers of Nature to suit their own purposes. Occultists however, speak of this as a science, where one enters the supernatural world by attaining an exalted level of spirituality. It is not done to control Mother Nature, or by gaining control of some mystical powers; it is done when one lets go of their worldly ambitions and desires that one enters this world that had hitherto been unknown to them. According to Owen, occultists conceive the ‘hidden reality’. He elucidates on how “The world that we live in, the reality we know to be true, is merely one fraction. The complete reality entails a part that is hidden from us. It is entering the unknown spiritual world; it is an illumination, it is knowledge.” [ CITATION Owe04 \l 2057 ]. The interesting word used here by Owen to describe the phenomenon of occultism is illumination. It is not merely entering the spiritual world. No. It is gaining that knowledge that illuminates the heart and mind. That is magic. Not when one flicks a wand to make something appear or disappear, but when you attain knowledge that illuminates you to your very core; that helps you understand the reality that had hitherto been hidden from you. You comprehend the complete reality, finally. Magic is an integral part of occultism. “Occultism is usually limited to witchcraft and magic, but the spectrum of the occult is broad enough to cover aspects of what might otherwise be termed religion” [ CITATION Adu10 \l 2057 ]. The crucial mistake that is generally committed is associating magic with witchcraft, and making that a branch of occultism. While magic and occultism do go hand in hand, they are not witchcraft. That is merely a Western interpretation that came into formation due to lack of understanding of the science of occultism. It creates confusion and misunderstanding, debasing magic as part of occultism. Africa has been the epitome for magic and occultism. It has been part of their culture and still is. It is both feared and respected by them. “Occultism in Africa has been re-named by the Western nations as ‘Witchcraft’, which has generated a fear of African magic. Africa is the dark heartland of magic and witchcraft” [ CITATION Pel98 \l 2057 ]. During the period of old Imperialism, Africa was introduced to the world as an exotic country, with dark magic and witchcraft being an integral part of it. We see Africa just like we saw it then, wild, untamed, and dangerous. Maybe it is the wilderness that surrounds the land that makes us trepidatious. But occultism in Africa has always been seen as a great danger, and as a reason behind the under development of Africa. In 2007, the president and Vice president of Nigeria had a disagreement of which occultism formed the basis, [ CITATION BBC07 \l 2057 ]. Mr. Obasanjo, the President of Nigeria then, had publicly accused his VP of the charges of wishing him dead and consulting Islamic holy men for the date of his death. To this, Mr. Abubakar, the VP, replied that Mr. Obasanjo’s “head was full of cobwebs of juju or occult”. What we see here is the perfect example of the misconceptions that surround occultism and magic. By mixing up religion, occult, magic and superstition, the essence of the word occult is lost. It is used in derogatory terms and is considered an enemy of religion. It is seen as an evil of which magic is the medium. In modern times, occultism is increasingly seen as a sinful practice that is against everything religions hold to be true and precious. However, this is yet another misconception. As specified earlier, occultism is knowledge of the hidden reality; it is a supernatural and mysterious phenomenon. It is much more than mere practices. Moreover, a science, discipline or discourse cannot be evil. Knowledge itself cannot be evil or wrong. It is the use that individuals make of it that is wrong. ‘Evil is in the hearts of men’, a phrase that has been used in numerous places. “Maka, or the African people, did not see witchcraft as only an evil thing. For them it also meant thrill, excitement, and a possibility granting access to unknown powers” [ CITATION Ges97 \l 2057 ]. Here, what the author means to say is that the magical element of “witchcraft” was not what Maka considered evil, but the power it generated and the responsibility that came with it. Maka recognized that not everyone could do “witchcraft”. One had to be excessively wise to have that power and not give in to the temptation to misuse it. The same message is taught in books, movies and by parents. With power comes responsibility. All the main religions of the world teach us to resist power and the temptation that comes with it, unless we know it is within our capabilities to resist temptation while having power. Philosophy too teaches the same thing in different words. In Philosophy, one studies that knowledge is useless and stagnant if not spread. Occultism is a kind of a knowledge, which becomes redundant if not appreciated and more importantly, understood; because knowledge cannot spread and grow if it is not comprehended completely first. “Westerners believe that belief in witchcraft is something traditional and will automatically disappear when one becomes modernized. [ CITATION Ges97 \l 2057 ]. The belief of the western part of the world that they are more cultured, sophisticated and modern then the eastern part of the world is old: it has long been debated to be conceited, elitist and inherently a wrong view. Believing in occultism does not make one ‘traditionalist’. Occultism may be a great part of Africa’s past and present, but it is also a growing discipline in both, the United Kingdom and in the United States of America. If we go by their definition of ‘modern’ and ‘traditional’, then almost the entire world is still ‘traditional’. And if the world indeed is ‘traditional’, is that so very bad? Mysticism, Sufism, these sciences can be said to form part of the occultism. They are the highest levels a religious person can attain in spirituality. When this level is attained, the person has the understanding and knowledge of the true reality, that nothing is important but God. This level of spirituality is revered by all religious people. Magic is simply an element of occultism, albeit an important one. Occultism, or magic for that matter, is nothing to be afraid of. It is the misuse of such powers that one should to be trepidatious about. And the misuse arises only from already corrupt hearts. Knowledge of any type, may it be supernatural or something else entirely, is not evil or wrong. Just the way an average person understands that emotions are intangible and incalculable, an occultist understand that magic is intangible, powerful and deserving of respect and care. It is an epistemology that enlightens one. References CITATION Oxf09 \l 2057 : , (Oxford Dictionary, 2009), CITATION For01 \l 2057 : , (Fortune, 2001), CITATION For01 \l 2057 : , (Fortune, 2001), CITATION Owe04 \l 2057 : , (Owen, 2004), CITATION Adu10 \l 2057 : , (Adu-Amankwah, 2010), CITATION Pel98 \l 2057 : , (Pels, 1998), CITATION BBC07 \l 2057 : , (BBC, 2007), CITATION Ges97 \l 2057 : , (Geschiere, 1997), Read More