arcanum
Hidden esoteric knowledge
Arcanum refers to a secret or mystery, especially one known only to initiates or specialists.
The word carries an air of esoteric knowledge—hidden truths, occult practices, or closely guarded professional secrets: the arcana of high finance, alchemical arcana.
The plural is typically arcana rather than arcanums.
Made invisible deliberately
- veiledConcealed or obscured
- secretConcealed information
- shroudedCovered and hidden
- obscuredMade hard to perceive
cloaked · buried · latent · enigmatic · cryptic · inscrutable · impenetrable · unfathomable
Privileging inner revelation
- kabbalahJewish mystical tradition
- hermeticismAirtight, impervious condition
- theosophyMystical divine knowledge system
- mysticismPursuit of divine union
initiation · adept · neophyte · secret doctrine · inner circle · esoterica · occultism · sacred knowledge
Complete change of form
- philosopher's stoneLegendary substance enabling transmutation
- elixirMythical healing draught
- quintessencePurest embodiment of something
- magnum opusCreator's supreme achievement
hermeticism · alembic · crucible · calcination · dissolution · coagulation · sublimation · tincture
Knowledge deemed too dangerous
- ancient wisdomLong-held profound understanding
- mysteriesUnexplained phenomena or events
- gnosisExperiential sacred understanding
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
enlightenment · initiation · doctrine · teachings · secrets · hidden truth · sacred text · cipher
Ceremonial set of actions
- grimoireTextbook of sorcery
- sorceryPractice of dark magic
- necromancyCommunicating with the deceased
- divinationForetelling through mystical means
witchcraft · incantation · conjuring · tarot · scrying · sigil · talisman · amulet
Great age, ancient era
- mysteriesUnexplained phenomena or events
- papyrusAncient plant-derived writing material
- hieroglyphsAncient Egyptian picture-writing
- Hermes TrismegistusLegendary Greco-Egyptian wisdom figure
Egyptian · Sumerian · Babylonian · oracle · Delphi · sphinx · sacred rites · temple
concealed
Made invisible deliberately
obscured · cloaked · buried · latent · enigmatic · cryptic · inscrutable · impenetrable · unfathomable · mysterious
gnosticism
Privileging inner revelation
- kabbalahJewish mystical tradition
- hermeticismAirtight, impervious condition
- theosophyMystical divine knowledge system
mysticism · initiation · adept · neophyte · secret doctrine · inner circle · esoterica · occultism · sacred knowledge · revelation
transmutation
Complete change of form
- philosopher's stoneLegendary substance enabling transmutation
- elixirMythical healing draught
- quintessencePurest embodiment of something
magnum opus · hermeticism · alembic · crucible · calcination · dissolution · coagulation · sublimation · tincture · albedo
forbidden lore
Knowledge deemed too dangerous
- ancient wisdomLong-held profound understanding
- mysteriesUnexplained phenomena or events
- gnosisExperiential sacred understanding
revelation · enlightenment · initiation · doctrine · teachings · secrets · hidden truth · sacred text · cipher · code
ritual
Ceremonial set of actions
- grimoireTextbook of sorcery
- sorceryPractice of dark magic
- necromancyCommunicating with the deceased
divination · witchcraft · incantation · conjuring · tarot · scrying · sigil · talisman · amulet · pentacle
antiquity
Great age, ancient era
- mysteriesUnexplained phenomena or events
- papyrusAncient plant-derived writing material
- hieroglyphsAncient Egyptian picture-writing
Hermes Trismegistus · Egyptian · Sumerian · Babylonian · oracle · Delphi · sphinx · sacred rites · temple · priesthood
- alchemyalchemy, alchemist, philosopher's stone, transmutation, elixir
- arcanagrimoire, spellbook, incantation, enchantment, grimoires
- secret societiesFreemasons, Illuminati, secret society, secret societies, Masons
- old chemistryphlogiston, alchemy, caloric, aqua regia, muriatic acid
- arcane knowledgeObscure, specialized understanding
- arcane ritualsSecret ceremonial practices
- arcane magicMysterious supernatural knowledge and power
- arcane symbolsMysterious signs with hidden meaning
- major arcanaTarot's twenty-two trump cards
- arcane energySupernatural force from secret knowledge