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

[art-vark2323]

I was listening to an episode of the Glitch Bottle podcast recently and they had a guest (I believe he called himself Agrippa) on who runs a school over in Germany and has an online selection of courses for those interested in studying Western Esotericism-- it's called IMBOLC. One of the things that really stood out to me about it was the type of education he purports to give. Some of his classes and courses of study focus on astronomy and physics, which I found interesting. Are there any topics you guys think someone should study if they are, say, getting into Western Ceremonial Magick or any other types of magic you can think of? Right now, I'm trying to get more familiar with the Hebrew alphabet because I'm interested in Qabalah and that's a fairly obvious pick for a study topic, I know. I also keep up with the academic side of studying witchcraft in Western Europe and try to read books and papers written by scholars studying the topic, but I am interested in hearing your opinions on what subjects you think maybe go understudied by occultists.

 

[Morell]

Cool topic!
For something completely universal I would say that you should master proper hand writing and some basic calligraphy if possible. Having well readable journal is a plus, having artistically written (and drawn) material is gold.

Beyond that it seems to depend on what you practice and intent to practice.

 

[Aldebaran]

Astrology.

Astrology is the foundation and structure to all understanding imo. It is the symbolic and structural language that helps make up magics framework. It is foundational to almost all magic systems and lost to those without it.

I say arrogantly over my tea.

 

[Swampdweller900]

Herbology. Plants have accompanied humans and aided our perceptions since forever.

 

[AbammonTheGreat]

Liberal Arts are probably a good outline. Personally though I think... History, Philosophy, Psychology, and General Sciences are essential. Historical magus were generalists in those fields. A wizard should be able to navigate historical material, understand ontology, epistemology, and the reason behind the metaphysics of magic, psychology as it was birthed out of our discipline and is a vital tool, and some type of scientific training to help ground the magus teaching them what is measurable and quantifiable.

 

[taschr]

Interesting to see the diverse set of thoughts on this. I am certainly biased as its the path I discovered magic through, but I would say meditation is the foundation from which the actual practice of magic is possible. Well developed visualization skills and connection to subtle energies are essential and the technique of shifting ones awareness in shape and focus becomes like muscle memory with practice which allows for easier induction of trance states. One can go far with meditation alone.

 

[diego123]

A good topic would be oracles, like tarot, runes, I Ching... since sooner or later you'll find yourself wondering if it was all in your head or something occult, and besides revealing certain things, oracles can be great guides.

 

[AlfrunGrima]

I was listening to an episode of the Glitch Bottle podcast recently and they had a guest (I believe he called himself Agrippa) on who runs a school over in Germany and has an online selection of courses for those interested in studying Western Esotericism-- it's called IMBOLC. One of the things that really stood out to me about it was the type of education he purports to give. Some of his classes and courses of study focus on astronomy and physics, which I found interesting. Are there any topics you guys think someone should study if they are, say, getting into Western Ceremonial Magick or any other types of magic you can think of? Right now, I'm trying to get more familiar with the Hebrew alphabet because I'm interested in Qabalah and that's a fairly obvious pick for a study topic, I know. I also keep up with the academic side of studying witchcraft in Western Europe and try to read books and papers written by scholars studying the topic, but I am interested in hearing your opinions on what subjects you think maybe go understudied by occultists.

Psychology/ how the mind works and how you can work with your mind instead of against it. Brain development in children so that you understand how learning new things works in the brains/human mind......and singing/music.

 

[Rowena]

Meditation.
If you don't learn to control your own mind, whatever magic you practice is going to break it.

 

[glaive]

Cool topic!
For something completely universal I would say that you should master proper hand writing and some basic calligraphy if possible. Having well readable journal is a plus, having artistically written (and drawn) material is gold.

Beyond that it seems to depend on what you practice and intent to practice.

Yes!! Additionally, notetaking and organization skills. It can make it easier to go back through your records and find similarities.

A basic understanding of nature in your area: native and invasive plant species, animal migration patterns, common biomes types of trees and soil. Basic awareness of what is in the night sky when you look up, where fixed stars will be during different seasons, etc. The history of where you are, civilizationally and geologically. Small scale local knowledge, the history of your town, neighborhood, the building you live in, what graveyards are open at night...

 

[Graycrow]

Indeed, the pursuit of occult knowledge often leads seekers to ancient texts and forgotten lore, yet the most profound grimoire lies within oneself. To neglect the study of the self is akin to navigating a labyrinth without a map, for it is in the depths of our own being that we discover the keys to unlock the universe's secrets.
Many occultists fixate on external rituals and esoteric practices, while the true crucible of transformation resides within. By delving into the recesses of our consciousness, confronting our shadows, and embracing our contradictions, we forge a connection to the divine that transcends dogma and tradition.
Therefore, I concur that the self is woefully understudied in occult circles. Only through introspection and self-awareness can we hope to comprehend the mysteries that lie both within and without.

 

[AlfrunGrima]

Yes!! Additionally, notetaking and organization skills. It can make it easier to go back through your records and find similarities.

A basic understanding of nature in your area: native and invasive plant species, animal migration patterns, common biomes types of trees and soil. Basic awareness of what is in the night sky when you look up, where fixed stars will be during different seasons, etc. The history of where you are, civilizationally and geologically. Small scale local knowledge, the history of your town, neighborhood, the building you live in, what graveyards are open at night...

Oh yes indeed! I was terrible in notekeeping and organizing my information. So from information of years ago I still have go through an big pile of notebooks and so to find things back... I really should reorganize things.

 

[Nerone]

Great suggestions guys!

I think that history and mythology stands as the core essentials first and foremost. History, because it aids us in tracing the development of a tradition, which is rarely - if ever - stagnant, and identifying the significant thinkers who acted as the "invisible hand" in shaping the ways of conceiving the world. "The Cabal of Cartographers" I'd like to call them.
Every religion, philosophy, movement and counter-movement has them. There is hardly anyone in the 21st century who has not been influenced by Descartes' mind-body dualism. But it's not something adapted consciously, it's something we're born into, something that we inherit and have absorbed unwillingly and unknowingly by osmosis. Given that a significant part of magic is taking on a new "thinking hat" and changing our paradigm of perception, history can hardly be neglected.
I put mythology together with history, because often times history is exactly that. But mythology is above all else a symbolic language, featured pre-eminently in spells and prayers, the very bread and butter of magic, and this "right-brain" type of emotional immersion into fantasy lore is, in my humble opinion, essential.

Second, moving away from fantasy towards reason, there is an important element in quantifying the world by means of a "left-brain" type of logic. In the Western Esoteric Tradition, this has been strongly influenced by the Neoplatonists, whether we like it or not. The Golden Chain of Being, where the world unfolds from the Unmanifest One to the Manifest One, to the World of Archetypes, to the World of Soul and to the World of Matter informs why superiors rule inferiors in spirit work, why stones, plants and animals carry the imprint of the stars, why the wandering stars govern the affairs in the sublunar realm, why directionality, timing and correspondences are effective and important to implement in praxis.

I think that element of knowing why one is doing something, why it works and why it doesn't, what to keep, what to trash and what to tweak, adds that ever sweet touch of confidence to ones praxis and keeps the morale high

 

[art-vark2323]

I love all of these ideas so far! Thanks for responding everyone, definitely food for thought. One of my favorite things about practicing magic has been how interesting its made subjects I used to dislike when I was a kid.

 

[FireBorn]

Your question asks what someone SHOULD study. I say someone should study whatever they think is best.

Zero study is required for magick, full stop. The systems of magick, yes, they often require study. Some systems require a ton of study. This distinction gets lost so fast in the occult. Magick robes/Academic robes I forget which are the right ones these days in order to have the most clout lol.

I get it that dude has a school to teach magick or whatever system, cool. Remember this, it is a for profit enterprise. Dude has bills to pay, so naturally you need to study everything at that school for a fee. Keep this in mind regarding all the bajillion books on the occult, and all the altar shit you need to be legitimate for sale. It is a market. Career occultists have bills, and you need to pay them. Caveat emptor.

Study doesn't equal magick. Knowledge doesn't equal experience. Complexity doesn't equal depth.

All that said, I do think as an occultist you should be learning all the time. Your tastes should change as you grow. So many fields of study will touch the path you are on. Dip your toes into each of them as you desire. Learn and grow. None of this is required for magick itself, but they do serve to make you more well rounded in your practice, and in the mundane world. There has never been a time in human history where this amount of information has been so readily available to anyone with an internet connection.

 

[Rudolfus]

The Qaballah is essential for a western occultist to have some degree of understanding with, if they intend to perform ceremonial magick.

 

[P.Finder]

I think that meditation, focus, concentration, and visualization skills are helpful in any practice.
Beyond that, any tools or disciplines that resonate internally and align with one’s chosen Path can be a good fit.

For me, studying the Runes was very helpful for mapping the Path — specifically as a way to understand different stages of the journey, not as a tool for manifestation (I didn’t approach that aspect at all).
For someone else, that kind of system might be Tarot or something entirely different.

 

[SerpentBakery]

The Qaballah is essential for a western occultist to have some degree of understanding with, if they intend to perform ceremonial magick.

While the Qabalah can certainly enrich one’s framework, I would advise against treating it as a universal prerequisite. Western ceremonial traditions draw from a wide variety of lineages. Some Qabalistic, some Hermetic, some purely folk-based (and this itself varies in pre-requisites depending on the land), and many accomplished practitioners operate outside that specific schema entirely.

In short: useful? Yes.
Essential? Only if one’s chosen system genuinely requires it.

To give my reply to OP's question... I believe metaphysics is most critical, and mathematics is very important as an extension of it. In terms of metaphysics specifics, Neo-Platonic are my personal "greatest ones" combined with what can be parsed from Ancient Egyptian texts, but other people may have other preferences. Too many practitioners read "how to summon X and Y" without even knowing the objective mechanics behind how summoning X and Y happens, why it even works, how it relates to their constitution, how it relates to and affects reality beyond their own internal system, and so on. Mathematics is basically just building relational structures and finding solutions/structures/hidden relations based on rational inference. Metaphysics, simplified and made easier for the mind to solve.... but it's metaphysics for giga-nerds.

 

[Lucien6493]

Meditation.
If you don't learn to control your own mind, whatever magic you practice is going to break it.

Liberal Arts are probably a good outline. Personally though I think... History, Philosophy, Psychology, and General Sciences are essential. Historical magus were generalists in those fields. A wizard should be able to navigate historical material, understand ontology, epistemology, and the reason behind the metaphysics of magic, psychology as it was birthed out of our discipline and is a vital tool, and some type of scientific training to help ground the magus teaching them what is measurable and quantifiable.

I would only add mythology, poetry, music, alchemy and the great spiritual classics of world literature to that list, along with basket-weaving, which might come in handy once the stars and the wind and sea start singing to you in the green tongue; but we are talking about theurgy as a way of life here, are we not? with magick as a worldview and for the most part as an extremely potent background concentration, as opposed to how we actually live our lives in the "not-here-never-now". And this really becomes a question of our most deeply held convictions and values and about how we stand in relation to ourselves, to the world, and to the Unseen-lived, and only secondarily to magickal practices/disciplines per se, which hopefully are informed by our moral compass anyway, even if we compartmentalize. In a practical sense though, I think the only things that will help you magically are such arcane spiritual gifts as you might have come to earth with...like common sense, humility, perspective, native intelligence, resilience, adaptability, fortitude, self-discipline, a bullshit detector with GPS in good working order, a grounding in reality, and a sense of humor. Barring that, magick tends to bring out in you such qualities as are latent, for better or for worse, and they will set the curriculum, so yeah – meditation, yoga, contemplative prayer, all are absolutely fundamental.

Post automatically merged: 8 minutes ago

Your question asks what someone SHOULD study. I say someone should study whatever they think is best.

Zero study is required for magick, full stop. The systems of magick, yes, they often require study. Some systems require a ton of study. This distinction gets lost so fast in the occult. Magick robes/Academic robes I forget which are the right ones these days in order to have the most clout lol.

I get it that dude has a school to teach magick or whatever system, cool. Remember this, it is a for profit enterprise. Dude has bills to pay, so naturally you need to study everything at that school for a fee. Keep this in mind regarding all the bajillion books on the occult, and all the altar shit you need to be legitimate for sale. It is a market. Career occultists have bills, and you need to pay them. Caveat emptor.

Study doesn't equal magick. Knowledge doesn't equal experience. Complexity doesn't equal depth.

All that said, I do think as an occultist you should be learning all the time. Your tastes should change as you grow. So many fields of study will touch the path you are on. Dip your toes into each of them as you desire. Learn and grow. None of this is required for magick itself, but they do serve to make you more well rounded in your practice, and in the mundane world. There has never been a time in human history where this amount of information has been so readily available to anyone with an internet connection.

Do you see magick as existing above the veil of paroketh then? If you would, FireBorn...in terms of Hermetic QBL...because I know what you are saying about study, knowledge and complexity, but I was called on it once, at a Masonic corn-roast, and could not answer. You speak of it in (magick) in terms at once mythical/primal as though it were apart from us, but at the same time in terms very much implying that it is something we can actually do. And I want to study that, because the mind is dark and full of sorrows! It has never been clear to me how the conscious mind which is deeply asleep communicates with the subconscious mind, which is very much awake, except it be through the lunar sphere. Conceivably, one could practice magick without believing in it.