tktt: The Difference Between Theosophy And Occultism

“Enq:  You speak of Theosophy and Occultism; are they identical?

 
Theo:  By no means. A man may be a very good Theosophist indeed, whether in or outside of the Society, without being in any way an Occultist. But no one can be a true Occultist without being a real Theosophist; otherwise he is simply a black magician, whether conscious or unconscious.

 
Enq:  What do you mean?

 
Theo:  I have said already that a true Theosophist must put in practice the loftiest moral ideal, must strive to realize his unity with the whole of humanity, and work ceaselessly for others.

 
Now, if an Occultist does not do all this, he must act selfishly for his own personal benefit; and if he has acquired more practical power than other ordinary men, he becomes forthwith a far more dangerous enemy to the world and those around him than the average mortal. This is clear.

 
Enq:  Then is an Occultist simply a man who possesses more power than other people?

 
Theo:  Far more – if he is a practical and really learned Occultist, and not one only in name. Occult sciences are not, as described in Encyclopedias, “those imaginary sciences of the Middle Ages which related to the supposed action or influence of Occult qualities or supernatural powers, as alchemy, a magic, necromancy, and astrology”, for they are real, actual, and very dangerous sciences.

 
They teach the secret potency of things in Nature, developing and cultivating the hidden powers “latent in man”, thus giving him tremendous advantages over more ignorant mortals.

 
Hypnotism, now become so common and a subject of serious scientific inquiry, is a good instance in point. Hypnotic power has been discovered almost by accident, the way to it having been prepared by mesmerism; and now an able hypnotizer can do almost anything with it, from forcing a man, unconsciously to himself, to play the fool, to making him commit a crime – often by proxy for the hypnotizer, and for the benefit of the latter.

 
Is not this a terrible power if left in the hands of unscrupulous persons? And please to remember that this is only one of the minor branches of Occultism.”

 
H. P. Blavatsky