2. Theory of Occultism
Occultism is derived from a Latin word “occultus”. Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance states that “the word occult is derived from the Latin word
“Occultus” which means “hidden”.” religioustolerance.org, April 12, 2013. However, the definition above is not enough to describe what occultism really
is. Another specific concept is given by Scott. According to Scott, occultism consists of two parts. They are theoretical and practical occultism 1950:8. Similar to Scott,
Helena Petrovna Blavatsky also states that occultism consists of two parts. However, Blavatsky uses different terms for those parts. She uses theosophy instead of
theoretical occultism and occult science instead of practical occultism gen.lib.rus.ec, July 6, 2014.
In order to understand the concept of occultism as stated above, the writer begins with the theosophy first. Theosophy is derived from Greek words. John Algeo
1969:8 states that those Greek words are “theos” which means divine and “sophia” which means wisdom. Therefore John Algeo calls theosophy as “Divine Wisdom”.
The term of theosophy was first used in English in 1650. At this time, theosophy was used for some teachings of ancient sages, and it was then applied to the thought of
Ammonius Saccas and Plotinus. Ammonius Saccas and Plotinus were the founders of Alexandrian School of Neoplatonism in Egypt in the early third century AD. For
them Theosophy was divine knowledge which explains about Greek mysticism. Since then, the term was also used by a Protestant mystic, Jakob Bohme, and also 17
th
and
18
th
writers on spiritual subjects. Besides, theosophy also has been applied to such school of thought such as Gnosticism and Alchemy.
However since 1875, as the emergence of Theosophy Society, the use of the term of theosophy has been expanded. It is not only limited to Greek mysticism and
spiritual subject in the 17
th
and 18
th
century. This expansion is brought by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky. Blavatsky was a Russian woman who then became a naturalized
American citizen. When she was young, Blavatsky decided to leave Russia and travel around the world in seeking of explanation of mystery of life and wisdom. Since then,
according to David Pratt, Blavatsky had contact with religious and mystical traditions in many parts of the world. Blavatsky also had an instruction from her teacher in
Tibet to spread the theosophy in America. However, the teacher declared a new goal of theosophy which was only limited to mysticism before. Hence, theosophy has
become modern theosophy which is brought by Blavatsky as one of the founder of Theosophy Society davidpratt.info, July 6, 2014.
Modern theosophy has three main objectives. David Pratt gives explanation on the three objectives. The first objective is called universal brotherhood of
humanity. It is a principle that there is no distinction of race, creed, sex, caste, and race among human beings. It teaches that human beings must try to be loving and
forgiving, calm and patient, kind and altruistic, treating others as how human beings wants to be treated, concentrating on correcting our own faults rather than criticizing
others, and above all, we should live to benefit others davidpratt.info , July 6,2014. Related to this objective, the law of karma can take a place within. John Algeo
1969:56 says that karma is a law of cause and effect. Karma originally comes from a Sanskrit word which literally means “action” and it implies the totality of action
action and reaction. The term karma itself now becomes an ordinary English word. The concept of karma can be found in all great religions, and philosophies. According
to law of karma, universe is a place where nothing happens by chance. Thus, every action of human beings affects their relationships with their family, friends, business
associates and even the strangers they meet. Therefore in order to have good karma, one must thread others as how one to be threaded.
The second objective of theosophy, as stated in David Pratt’s article, is study of the world’s religions davidpratt.info, July 6,2014. John Algeo says that religion
comes from a Latin term which means “to link back” 1969:10. Therefore, each religion links its believers back to the Divine based on its own way. Although each
religion has its own way, according to David Prat, theosophy finds that the world’s religions have more similarities than differences. World’s religions advocate the
golden rule of universal love. Theosophy also speaks of enlightened teachers such as Krishna, Buddha and Christ. Therefore John Algeo also provides a statement of the
second international president of Theosophy Society, Annie Besant, about Theosophy and religion. She states that theosophy does not ask a man to leave his religion.
Whatever his religion, a man should live it 1969:10. The third
objective of occultism, as stated by John Algeo 1969:47, is the study of the mystery of nature such as the explanation on the growth of an organism
from a seed or an egg, and the psychic powers latent in a man such as an out-of-body
experience. Besides, related to this objective, theosophy has certain belief and fundamental doctrines. For example: theosophy believes that a soul is for a body, not
a body for a soul. According to this view point, theosophy argues that thinking a physical body for a soul is mistaking a house for the man who lives inside it. It should
be a man for his own house. This view point is related to a doctrine of reincarnation. Reincarnation is derived from the words “re” which means again, “in” which means
into, and “carn” which means flesh. Therefore reincarnation means a soul repeatedly entering into a fleshly body.
Through the three objectives above, theosophy offers a way of looking at one’s self and the world. By offering a different way of looking at one’s self and the
world, theosophy stimulates a self-transformation. As John Algeo states that theosophy is dedicated to preserve and realize the ageless wisdom which embodies a
world view and a vision of human self-transformation 1969:14. Furthermore Fay Van Ierlant quotes statements of Shirley Nicholson. Shirley Nicholson states how
theosophy can lead into self-transformation as below We may also see more and more ways in which these ideas relate to our daily
lives. They may begin to reflect in our emotions too, as new levels of love and compassion and the desire to serve. Thus we ground these principles in
experience and in our inner life so that they affect us at every level. As this process deepens, we may find that our attitude toward life is changing.
We may become more able to remove ourselves from the limitations of our immediate situation and see its meaning from a broader perspective, from a
more long-range view, as we look to larger goals. Thus this process of turning ideas into experience engages our whole being. What starts as intellectual
comprehension grows into intuitive insight and become grounded in practicality. Our faculties at all levels become focused on the quest, and we
become involved in an unending process of growth, continually creative and fresh, that will go on year after year. We discover for ourselves that a true
encounter of the self with the esoteric vision has the power to transform us teosofia.com, July 6, 2014
According to the statements by Shirley Nicholson, the writer concludes that theosophy does lead a man into self-transformation. Self-transformation, according to
Shirley Nicholson, is a process in which the principles within the theosophy turn into experience which engages the human’s whole being. One can have this process
through three steps. The first step is realizing the principles of theosophy are related to daily life. Then the second step is that the attitude toward life starts to change
because of the realization. The third step is discovering a true encounter of one’s self self-discovery through occultism has the power to transform one.
Fay Van Ierlant, a member of Theosophy of Dutch Section, also states that self-transformation is a process in which a man can discover wisdom which lies in his
own life and it cannot come from without teosofia.com, July 6, 2014. Similar to that statement, Theosophical Society in England states that wisdom cannot be enclosed
within words. Wisdom must be discovered and experienced by a man for himself theosophicalsociety.org.uk, July 6 2014. Therefore in this sense, the concept of
wisdom is really personal. The second part of occultism is practical occultism. Melton states several
practices of occultism. They are exploring one’s past lives, divinatory, witchcraft, psychokinesis, and magic 2001:1135. Psychokinesis is an ability to move objects at
a distance by mental power 2001:1217. Divinatory can be varied depends on the medium used to divine. It can be astrology or divining one’s fate or future according
to the juxtaposition of sun, moon, and planets when one births 2001:108. Others method can be done by using 22 symbolical picture cards or tarot cards 2001:1532,
by analyzing line and mark on one’s hand or it is called palmistry 2001:1174, and also by calculate the numerical values to the letters of one’s name andor birth place
2001:1127. Witchcraft is the practice of magic which is done by the practitioners who are usually women who have psychic powers 2001:1678.
The last practical occultism is magic. J.P. Chaplin defines magic as ‘a paranormal power or influence’ 1976:95. In order to understand what magic is, it is
important to know the explanation about magic. Mouni Sadhu 1973:199 divides magic into black and white magic. According to Sadhu, those two kinds of magic are
determined by its aim. Black magic is driven by egoistic and selfish intentions. On the other hand if someone uses magic unselfishly or without any profit for himself
that could harm others then it is define as white magic. Sir James George Frazer divides magic into negative and positive magic. It is
called positive magic or it is called sorcery since it suggests the believers to do certain things in order to get certain desirable effect. Otherwise, negative magic or it
is called taboo warns the believers not to do certain things in order to prevent undesirable effect ebooks.adelaide.edu.au
,
June 15,2013. The idea of blackwhite magic and positivenegative magic may be
understood well if it is described through the principles of magic. Frazer explains there are two principles in magic. The first principle is law of similarity. This law
works when a magician can produce any effect he desires merely by imitating it. The act of magic based on this law is called homoeopathic or imitative magic. This law
can be applied for either good or bad purposes. The bad purposes black magic based on this law can be done in order to injure or destroy other. For example, according to
Frazer, when an Ojebway Indian wants to harm his enemy then he can make a little wooden puppet of his enemy and prick a needle in some parts of that wooden image
such as head and heart. By doing so, it is believed that the enemy will get the same effect as the puppet get. Besides if an Ojebway Indian wants to kill the enemy
outright, he can burn or bury the puppet while he utters some magic words ebooks.adelaide.edu.au, June 15,2013
.
On the other hand this principle of magic can also be done for good purposes. Frazer mentions several Imitative magic which are done by some tribes for good
purposes. For example, in the island of Nias, if a wild pig enters the pit prepared for it, then the wild pig will be taken out and its back will be rubbed with nine fallen
leaves. It is believed that by doing so then nine more wild pigs will fall into the pit just as the nine leaves fall from the tree. This kind of imitative magic is also
considered as positive magic sorcery. On the other hand there is a negative magic taboo in imitative magic. For example: in Madagascar the soldiers are forbidden to
eat the knee of ox since it will make the soldiers’ knee become weak ebooks.adelaide.edu.au, June 15,2013.
The second principle in magic, as stated by Frazer, is Law of Contact or Contagion. The act based on this law is called Contagious Magic. Different from law
of similarity, this law is not produced by imitating some objects in order to get certain effect. According to this law, a magician can produce certain magical effect resulted
only from the parts of human’s body. Those parts can be various. They can be someone’s teeth, navel-string or afterbirth, blood and even footprint. For example : In
Germany many people believe that if a child’s milk-tooth falls out then it is better to insert it in mouse’s hole. By doing so it is believed that it will prevent the child from
having toothache and the child’s teeth will be as strong as mouse’s. Not only the part of physical body but also the sign left by the body can also be used in order to
produce magical effect. For example: the natives of south-eastern Australia believe that by injuring the footprints of their enemy they can injure their enemy’s foot. They
can put sharp pieces of glass or bones in their footprints ebooks.adelaide.edu.au, June 15,2013. Lady Sabrina also mentions others things which can be used in
produce contagious magic such as a person’s picture, clothing and handwriting. Those things are called magical link 2001:155.
C. Theoretical Framework
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