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The Occult Portal

Occult is a short-hand label for the entirety of European, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern thought that emphasises developing a spiritual center within oneself or opening up to the one of which everyone is part. To redefine further: the philosophical foundations of the occult tradition are most often within the bounds of Abrahamic, Hellenistic, Chaldean and Celtic inspired cultural groups; thus the word occult sums up the esoteric teachings of all the Indoeuropean peoples. The ways to achieve a deeper understanding of both the inner and outer world are varied; but most schools choose meditation and ritual as their primary teachings.

The modern meaning of the word occult is: "to be associated with magic, ritual and esoteric sub-culture". This portal will therefore concentrate on occult authors, practitioners, philosophy, rituals, and the related field of magic(k). Most often this is referred to either as the Western Esoteric Tradition, Western mystery tradition, the Western Mystery Schools, or Western Thought.

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Selected article

Neoplatonism (also Neo-Platonism) is the modern term for a school of religious and mystical philosophy that took shape in the 3rd century AD, based on the teachings of Plato and earlier Platonists. Neoplatonists considered themselves simply "Platonists", and the modern distinction is due to the perception that their philosophy contained enough unique interpretations of Plato to make it substantively different from what Plato wrote and believed.

Neoplatonism took definitive shape with the philosopher Plotinus, who claimed to have received his teachings from Ammonius Saccas, a dock worker and philosopher in Alexandria. Plotinus was also influenced by Alexander of Aphrodisias and Numenius. Plotinus's student Porphyry assembled his teachings into the six Enneads.

Subsequent Neoplatonic philosophers included Hypatia of Alexandria, Iamblichus, Proclus, Hierocles of Alexandria, Simplicius of Cilicia, and Damascius, who wrote On First Principles. Born in Damascus, he was the last teacher of Neoplatonism at Athens. Neoplatonism strongly influenced Christian thinkers (such as Augustine, Boethius, Pseudo-Dionysius, John Scotus Eriugena, and Bonaventura). Neoplatonism was also present in medieval Islamic and Jewish thinkers such as al-Farabi and Maimonides, and experienced a revival in the Renaissance with the acquisition and translation of Greek and Arabic Neoplatonic texts.

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Selected picture

A painting of yggdrasil by Oluf Olufsen

The World Tree is a motif present in several religions, particularly Indo-European religions. The world tree is represented as a colossal tree which supports the heavens, thereby connecting the heavens, the earth, and, through its roots, the underground.

Specific World Trees include Yggdrasil (or Irminsul) in Norse mythology, the Oak in Slavic and Finnish mythology, and in Hinduism, a banyan tree.

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Selected biography

Robert Anton Wilson or RAW (January 18, 1932 – January 11, 2007) was a prolific American novelist, essayist, philosopher, psychologist, futurologist, anarchist, and conspiracy theory researcher.

His writing, which often shows a sense of humor and optimism, is described by him as an "attempt to break down conditioned associations--to look at the world in a new way, with many models recognized as models (maps) and no one model elevated to the Truth."[1] And: "My goal is to try to get people into a state of generalized agnosticism, not agnosticism about God alone, but agnosticism about everything."[2]

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Magick

The chaos star (called a 'chaosphere' by some practitioners) is the most popular symbol of chaos magic. Many variants exist.

Chaos magic is a form of ritual magic with which practitioners claim they can shape reality.

Although there are a few techniques unique to chaos magic (such as some forms of sigil magic), practices can be highly individualistic, borrowing liberally from other belief systems; in this light, chaos magic acts as a metabelief. Some common sources of inspiration and techniques include ceremonial magic, chaos theory, science fiction, OBEs, and divination.

Chaos magic is not necessarily syncretic; that is to say, practitioners do not always try to fit together these different ideas so that they make sense. Rather, they temporarily assume the truth of parts of particular systems in order to accomplish their goals. Although chaos magicians differ widely, they often sympathize with the psychonaut counterculture (Terence McKenna and Robert Anton Wilson are particularly influential) and chaotic aspects of particular religions (including Taoism and Discordianism), and a number of chaos magic techniques rely on humor and the absurd.

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Did you know...

...that the O.T.O. was described by Crowley as the "first of the great Old Æon orders to accept The Book of the Law"..

...That all the knowledge of the universe is containted within one apple? Try it out; cut an apple horizontally in half and the seeds will form a pentagram...

...that the word occult comes from the Latin word occultus (clandestine, hidden, secret), referring to "knowledge of the hidden"...

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Quotes

“ The joy of life consists in the exercise of one's energies, continual growth, constant change, the enjoyment of every new experience. To stop means simply to die. The eternal mistake of mankind is to set up an attainable ideal. -- Aleister Crowley”

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Occult topics

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Articles

Occult Organisations

Rosae Crucis Ancient Mystical Order of the Rose Cross, Ancient Order of the Rosicrucians, Builders of the Adytum, Fellowship of the Rosy Cross, FUDOFSI, FUDOSI, Fraternitas Rosae Crucis, Mystical Order of the Temple of the Rosy Cross, Order of the Temple of the Rosy Cross, Rosicrucian, Rosicrucian Fellowship, Rosicrucian Order Crotona Fellowship. Societas Rosicruciana

Golden Dawn Alpha et Omega, Fraternity of the Inner Light, Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn

Thelemic and O.T.O. Abbey of Thelema, Argenteum Astrum, Brotherhood of Saturn, Ordo Templi Orientis, Ordo Templi Orientis (Typhonian)

Satanic and Left-hand Path Church of Satan, Dragon Rouge, Temple of Set

Chaos Magick Illuminates of Thanateros, Thee Temple ov Psychick Youth

Miscellaneous Church of the Universal Bond, Servants of the Light, Theosophical Society

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Related portals

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Musick

Therion is a Swedish symphonic metal band. It takes its name from the Greek word therion (θηρίον), which means beast, in reference to the "beast" of the Christian Book of Revelation. However, the band's name itself originates from the Celtic Frost album To Mega Therion. Therion was founded by Christofer Johnsson in 1987. Beginning as a death metal band, they later turned to combining orchestral elements with their metal music, employing heavy use of choirs and classical musicians, not only as additions to but also as integral parts of the composition.

Therion's music takes its themes from different mythologies and is based on concepts ranging from occultism, magic and ancient traditions and writings. The majority of their lyrics are written by Thomas Karlsson, head and founder of the magical order Dragon Rouge, of which Johnsson is a member. The band has seen many changes in line-up and style throughout its history.

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