Explore the Paranormal

Occultism

Occultism encompasses a wide range of theories and practices involving a belief in and knowledge or use of supernatural forces or beings. Such beliefs and practices--principally magical or divinatory--have occurred in all human societies throughout recorded history, with considerable variations both in their nature and in the attitude of societies toward them. In the West the term occultism has acquired intellectually and morally pejorative overtones that do not obtain in other societies where the practices and beliefs concerned do not run counter to the prevailing worldview.

Occult practices center on the presumed ability of the practitioner to manipulate natural laws for his own or his client's benefit; such practices tend to be regarded as evil only when they also involve the breaking of moral laws. Some anthropologists have argued that it is not possible to make a clear-cut distinction between magic--a principal component of occultism--and religion, and this may well be true of the religious systems of some non-literate societies. The argument does not hold, however, for any of the major religions, which regard both natural and moral law as immutable.

Those aspects of occultism that appear to be common to all human societies--divination, magic, witchcraft, and alchemy--are treated in depth below. Features that are unique to Western cultures, and the history of their development, are treated only briefly.

Abominable Snowman

Tibetan YETI, mythical monster supposed to inhabit the Himalayas at about the level of the snow line. Though reports of actual sightings of such a creature are rare, certain mysterious markings in the snow have traditionally been attributed to it. Those not caused by lumps of snow or stones falling from higher regions and bouncing across the lower slopes have probably been produced by bears. At certain gaits bears place the hindfoot partly over the imprint of the forefoot, thus making a very large imprint that looks deceptively like an enormous human footprint positioned in the opposite direction.

Sasquatch

Sasquatch is variably described as a primate ranging from 6 to 15 feet (2 to 4.5 m) tall, standing erect on two feet, often giving off a foul smell, and either moving silently or emitting a high-pitched cry. Footprints have measured up to 24 inches (60 cm) in length and 8 inches (20 cm) in width. A Soviet scientist, Boris Porshnev, suggested that Sasquatch and his Siberian counterpart, the Almas, could be a remnant of Neanderthal man, but most scientists do not recognize the creature's existence.

Wicca

Wicca is a Neo-Pagan religion with many traditions that date to pre-Christian (and prehistoric) Earth religions. It is based on a deep respect for nature and the certain knowledge that we do not have the right to exploit it for our own gain. Wiccans are deeply concerned with conservation and ecology, and as in all Neo-Pagan religions, Wiccans believe that both animate and inanimate objects possess a spirit which forms part of the Whole. Note that we do not use the term "spirit" in the Judeo-Christian sense of a "ghost," but rather that essence which every object possesses that links it to nature and makes it an inalienable part of the universe. Wicca is a celebration of the life forces of nature as personified by the Goddess and her consort, the God. Wicca may includes the practice of magic which is defined as the process of causing change through the focusing of our natural powers. It is important to note that magic is natural. There is nothing supernatural about it. We use certain tools such as spells, visualization, chants, candles, amulets and meditation to help us focus our power, but the power comes from within -- it is not in the tools. Our ancestors knew how to use it effectively, but it is a largely forgotten art in modern times.

Voodoo (Vodun)

Vodun, also commonly called voodoo or, more derisively, hoodoo, originated and is primarily practiced in the Caribbean country of Haiti. The foundations for vodun are the West African Yoruba religions, carried to Haiti by African slaves brought from West Africa. The word "vodun" derives from vodu, meaning "spirit" or "deity" in the Fon language of Dahomey.

In Haiti, the African Yoruban beliefs mingled with the Catholic beliefs of the French settlers to form the syncretic religion, vodun. In reality, vodun is a product of the slave trade. Whites forbade slaves to practice their native religions on pains of torture and death, and they baptized slaves as Catholics. Catholicism became superimposed on native rites and beliefs, which were still practiced in secret. Tribal deities, or loa, took on the forms of Catholic saints. Worshipers saw the addition of the saints as an enhancement of their faith, and incorporated Catholic statues, candles and holy relics into their rituals.

Cousin religions of vodun are practiced throughout the Caribbean region, including in Jamaica and Trinidad. In Cuba, a syncretic religion called Santera evolved from Yoruba foundations mixed with Spanish Catholic beliefs. All of these Caribbean religions are related in belief structure and similar pantheons, but vodun has many characteristics that make it unique among the Caribbean belief structures. A highly malleable religion, vodun beliefs and practices can vary hugely from community to community in Haiti itself. Still widely practiced in Haiti, vodun has migrated with Haitians to many other parts of the world, with particularly strong communities in New Orleans, Miami and New York City. Each of these communities has spawned new evolutions of vodun. Worldwide, vodun has fifty million followers.

Vodun is marked primarily by a belief in the loa, the gods that form the vodun pantheon. Devotees of vodun believe that all things serve the loa and so by definition are expressions and extensions of deity. The loa are very active in the world and often literally "possess" devotees during ritual. Rituals are practiced primarily to make offerings to, or "feed," the loa and to entreat the loa for aid or fortune.

Practitioners of vodun come together in a community, called a The societé centers around a hounfort, where rituals are performed, and a primary priest or priestess, called the houngan and mambo, respectively. Vodun societés are very close-knit and provide a central organizing structure to small communities in Haiti.

Unlike many other Caribbean, Yoruba-based religions, vodun has a large, highly developed system of belief relating to the "dark" side of the loa and of human beings. Black magic is practiced by priests called bokors and by secret societies that splinter off from the main vodun communities. The existing beliefs in black magic--though not practiced regularly, by any means--are the sources of many misconceptions about vodun. Popular works of fiction and nonfiction and many movies have strengthened these misconceptions, which center mainly around false notions about cannibalism and zombification. It is my intention that these information pages will put some of these misconceptions popularly held about vodun to rest and will educate about the highly developed, complicated structure of beliefs that make up the religion of vodun.

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