Is the Occult Evil?

[narfellus]

old question i'm sure.  The Bible would say Yes without question. Hermetic magicians would probably say No. I know that Good and Evil is pretty much a human concept, and when you get to the higher realms of Godhead this forced perspective fades.  One of course needs the other to exist.

But how much are we MEANT to know of the spiritual world while on the earthly plane?

I believe that we as humans are made in God's image, we ARE gods and have forgotten that. Is it not our birthright then to have God's knowledge of the universe? Knowledge is power, and perhaps the mysteries were wisely kept a secret from the masses who would abuse the knowledge if they had it.

But are not occult rituals abused now by secret societies in control of the world and seeking world domination? Did they GET to that level of domination because of the occult, or were their evil persona's and drive for power the cause?  Or are there spiritual forces at work behind that scenes that want the whole planet for themselves?

I'm more of the opinion that occult magic is a tool, and how one uses that tool defines if it is good or bad. To know one's enemy, you must know the weapons with which he fights.  I feel that dumping everything "occult" into a bag and saying "That's Evil, don't do it, don't look at, it's demonic" is just closing your eyes to knowledge.

On the other hand, does delving into the occult world eventually lead to corruption no matter what?  The Illuminati and the gods they worship would certainly seem to indicate that.

narfellus

[Lionheart]

 Magick is focused will and intent to achieve a said purpose. Magick is also neutral. It's the intent of the practitioner that is either "good or evil"!  

[narfellus]

Magick is focused will and intent to achieve a said purpose. Magick is also neutral. It's the intent of the practitioner that is either "good or evil"!  

That's what i'm inclined to think too.

[Volgerle]

Q: When I asked my teacher if he had heard your playing he said that he doesn't condone your negative message. I responded that in my ten years of listening to your music I have yet to find anything negative and asked him if it was because of your occult fascination. He said it was and that all occult is evil/"satanic". This bothers me because this is a man who has been studying rhythm his whole life and can't come to appreciate what you play because of some conviction. What would you say?

A: Unfortunately, I have found that there is not much you can say to people like your teacher. For some, knowledge is a scary thing that could tear down the walls of their little fortress they have spent many years building and reinforcing around themselves, so its much easier to label something as "evil" rather than have their security jeopardized, and leave themselves vulnerable to infinite chaos. I have found that courage is always rewarded when trying to find truth and beauty for what it is, rather than what someone has told you it is. I say always trust in your own divinity and your explorations will not go unfulfilled, and by the way, the word occult simply means hidden.

- Danny Carey (Drummer of Tool)

Source: http://www.dannycarey.com/home.html (click through entry pages and then on the skull)

[galeb]

That's what i'm inclined to think too.

First lets look at the meaning of Occult. Occult means hidden, nothing more. So that can not be either good or evil, only hidden.
The only evil in any magick is the intent of the person using it. If they are using it for the "good of the all" then it is not evil. If on the other hand they are using it to harm another then that might be considered evil by some.
Is it more evil that hitting someone that you are mad at, or doing something physical to them or their property, probably not. And most people do not consider things like that evil, unless you kidnap them and torture them, then they might consider it evil.
So what people consider evil has little to do with the results, only the method. For those that believe in Satan, the involving of him is considered evil. I will let it go at that.

[Humilitas]

Belief and knowledge are two sides of the same coin. you need to differentiate which side you wish to follow  - your beliefs, or the knowledge you have thus far gained and wish to follow the path to enlightenment.