What areas of study do you consider key for an occultist?

[Pixi]

Jungian shadow - as the axion suggests "know thyself". Understanding your triggers and the basic framework of your internal self is a great asset to aiding any occult work.

 

[ragingmagus]

meditation, planetary associations, focused attention, ritual work and part of that protection, and understanding of history and occult/religious practices throughout i feel is helpful... from there really whatever floats your boat

 

[Kepler]

Archaeoastronomy is good one to get up to speed with and adapt.

Visualization(sensoriation), astral travel, dream suggestion, lucid dreaming, out of body experiences, spiritual experiences.