What of the occult interests you?

Answer 1

The lives of famous occultists like these:

Henry Cornielius Agrippa von Nettesheim wrote "Three Books of Occult Philiosohy" which was the basis for other works like "The Magus" by Barrett and Regardie's "The Golden Dawn". He claimed he had all sorts of knowledge about sunnoning the spirits. Despite all this occult knowledge, he died in poverty at age 41 in 1532.

John Dee discovered Enochian Magick and tried unsuccessfully to get the spirits to bring him money. He spent the final years of his life stripped of his honors and income and was forced to live incommunicado. He died in extreme poverty at 81. Edward Kelly was an assistant to eventually abandoned Dee's magical practices. He was killed trying to escape prison after being imprisoned for his old hobby, counterfeiting.

Paracelsus This man was said to be arrogant and concieted. He died broke at the age of 48.

Aleister Crowley started out a wealthy heir to Crowley Ale. Despite all his voluminous writings blathering about developing willpower, he squandered his fortune away on drugs and prostitutes. After Musolini kicked him out, he went to France, had a nervous breakdown in spent 4 months in an insane asylum after trying to conjure a demon in a Paris hotel. His illegitimate son MacAlister died during this same attempt, apparently from fright. Aleister spent the remainder of his years sponging off former students. In 1947 he died impoverished in a flophouse, forgotten by his family, a drug addict and alcoholic. "Success is your proof " - -Liber Al Vel Legis 3:46, Aleister Crowley

Anton LaVey Family and friends revealed after his death that LaVey never had an affair with Jayne Mansfield or Marilyn Monroe as he had claimed. LaVey's claims of being a millionaire, an oboist, a police photographer,etc,were all lies,and also that LaVey forced female followers into prostitution as part of his bogus "Satanic sex therapy", took all their earnings and beat them when they didn't bring in enough. In other words, he was a common pimp! Despite LaVey's claims that Satanists don't believe in charity of any kind, LaVey and his family had to live on handouts from friends and relatives, welfare and food stamps during the 80's. He filed for bankruptcy in 1992, and was forced to sell his house to a real estate developer who allowed him to stay until he died. He died in poverty of a heart attack in 1997.


Christian Rosenkrutz This occultist changed lead into gold, lived for hundreds of years, had amazing powers...and never actually existed!!! The whole Rosicrucian thing was started as a joke to make fun of occultists by a Lutheran minister named Valentin Andrea. Anyone who follows Rosicrucianism proves Andreas’ joke right...that occultists will believe anything!

Pamela Coleman Smith painted the illustrations for Authur Edward Waite's tarot deck. She was a member of the Golden Dawn herself. The Rider-Waite deck became the most popular of all time. She died penniless and alone in a London flat.

Helena Petrovna Blavastky Supposedly, the Tibetan masters she was in telepathic contact with lived for centuries. Why then was she in poor health during her final years, and only lived to br 61? Sure, she founded the Theosophical Society. She wrote many books of useless occult knowledge. She got to travel around te world. But her strange and bizarre doctrines about the "Aryan race" fueled the Nazi regime after her death. Ironically, her doctrines played a part in the deaths of 50 million people, including millions of her fellow Russians!

Paschal Beverly Randolph wrote many books about sex magic, and how it could enlighten people. His works inspired people like Aleister Crowley, the members of the O.:T.:O.:., and Henri Gamache. His books are still in print. Apparently His sex magic didn't bring happiness, because he committed suicide at age 44, leaving his wife and son to live in poverty.

Well, live and learn.

Answer 2

All of it.

I've been a chaos mage for nearly seven years, and as a result have studied the occult extensively, as well as numerous major and not-so-major religious systems.

Personal favorites include Waite's work (the old black grimoires, etc), Mathers' work (lots of translations, including the Lesser Key of Solomon, one of my favorites), and Spare's magical techniques. My best friend and fellow practitioner has been on a big Crowley/Thelema /Qabalah kick lately, which has gotten me more interested in that than I previously was. At the moment I'm reading Cavendish, who aside from being a well-informed historian is a total trip to read--his random insane examples scattered around are incredibly fun. I'm also reading a lot more of the 19th-20th century magicians lately--Levi, Yeats, Blatatovsky, etc. In more modern stuff, obviously I read Carroll, but Phil Hine's gotta be my favorite.

As for actual practices, I generally work in ritual magic with low magic correspondences as aids; I usually use rituals along with more typical chaos magic practices (sigilization, death posture, etc).

Answer 3

The occult? Probably the main streams misconceptions of it. Its not that bad, I grew up in a family of Catholics and Wiccans, not a nice mix. But yea, people only believe what 14th Century Monks and Hollywood have to say about it. People dont actually know anything about it, and thats what I like. I can bring up my families history and they automatically assume devil worship. Its great fun to indulge your dark side, and then actually teach people something.

Answer 4

Historic Goddess Worship.

Answer 5

If you look up 'occult' in the dictionary you will find something like 'beyond the scope of ordinary knowledge'.
I would consider it derogatory if someone labeled me 'ordinary'.
To be afraid of something like this is small minded

Answer 6

Occult, (n) hidden or obscured knowledge.

All of it, I love a good mystery.

Answer 7

everything,

occult actually means hidden or secret knowledge. and i am a scholar of sorts.

Answer 8

It is all very interesting, especially the history of it. But I am interested in everything people do, especially irrational things, those things are especially puzzling.

Answer 9

Pretty much all of it, but mainly from the standpoint of mythology and folklore.

Answer 10

Any and all. Can't expand Your mind if you aren't willing to learn new things.

Answer 11

the idea that we can affect change in our lives and maybe the universe.