occultists
Seekers of secrets
Occultists are practitioners or students of the occult—hidden knowledge, supernatural phenomena, and esoteric traditions outside mainstream religion and science.
The term covers a wide range: astrologers, alchemists, ceremonial magicians, tarot readers, and followers of movements like Theosophy or Hermeticism.
Victorian occultists held séances in London parlors.
The word can be neutral or dismissive depending on the speaker.
Foretelling through mystical means
- astrologyDivination by celestial positions
- numerologyMystical significance of digits
- tarotDivination card set
- scryingVisionary surface-gazing
séance · evocation · invocation · spellcasting · ritual · alchemy · necromancy · summoning
Divination card set
- sigilsSymbols with mystical power
- runesOld Germanic script
- talismansObjects imbued with power
- amuletsObjects worn for protection
pentagram · altar · wand · chalice · grimoire · candles · incense · cauldron
Performer of illusions
- sorcererWielder of arcane power
- witchPractitioner of dark arts
- warlockMale practitioner of dark magic
- necromancerSummoner of the deceased
alchemist · seer · diviner · shaman · medium · clairvoyant · psychic · druid
Accessible to few
- arcaneUnderstood by few
- initiationFormal admission ceremony
- enlightenmentProfound spiritual awakening
- correspondenceExchanged written communication
vibration · etheric · gnosis · hermeticism · transmutation · synchronicity
Airtight, impervious condition
- kabbalahJewish mystical tradition
- gnosticismPrivileging inner revelation
- theosophyMystical divine knowledge system
- druidryPractices of Celtic priests
paganism · tantra · voodoo · hoodoo · neoplatonism · spiritualism · shamanism · satanism
divination
Foretelling through mystical means
- astrologyDivination by celestial positions
- numerologyMystical significance of digits
- tarotDivination card set
scrying · séance · evocation · invocation · spellcasting · ritual · alchemy · necromancy · summoning · conjuring
tarot
Divination card set
amulets · pentagram · altar · wand · chalice · grimoire · candles · incense · cauldron · robes
magician
Performer of illusions
necromancer · alchemist · seer · diviner · shaman · medium · clairvoyant · psychic · druid · priestess
esoteric
Accessible to few
- arcaneUnderstood by few
- initiationFormal admission ceremony
- enlightenmentProfound spiritual awakening
correspondence · vibration · etheric · gnosis · hermeticism · transmutation · synchronicity
hermeticism
Airtight, impervious condition
- kabbalahJewish mystical tradition
- gnosticismPrivileging inner revelation
- theosophyMystical divine knowledge system
druidry · paganism · tantra · voodoo · hoodoo · neoplatonism · spiritualism · shamanism · satanism
Agrippa
Roman general and statesman
- RasputinSiberian mystic, imperial influence
- occultistswitches, wizards, sorcerers, sorceresses, warlocks
- expertsexperts, expert, specialist, masters, specialists
- paganspagans, neo-pagans, heathens, druids, polytheists
- psychicspsychic, psychics, fortune teller, clairvoyant, clairvoyants
- fringe believerstruthers, conspiracy theorists, flat earthers, QAnon, moon landing deniers
occultistsskeptics
Those who doubt claims
rationalists · materialists · empiricists · atheists · debunkers
occultiststheologians
Scholars of religious belief
fundamentalists · priests · ministers · rabbis · imams