Studies in Occultism

The present book contains series of articles written by the author on occultism and its different aspects and its relations with Occult Arts, Hypnotism and Astral Bodies warning against the misuse of this knowledge lest the psychic outrun the spiritual.

Blavatsky’s clear insight into the forces affecting the human psyche and related subjects is, if anything, more needed now than when the material assembled in Studies was first published. She clarifies the “true relation in which the Occult Sciences stand to Occultism, and the difference between the two,” and adds that “Occultism differs from Magic and other secret Sciences as the glorious Sun does from a rush light, as the immutable and immortal Spirit of Man differs from the mortal clay—the human body.”

It also includes three chapters on “The Esoteric Character of the Gospels” which cast fresh light on the mystery of Jesus—as man and as Christ.

DR. H.P. BLAVATSKY, one of the founder of the modern Theosophical Movement, is author of a number of books. On Theosophy and Occult. She also edited a number of volumes and contributed several articles on Theosophy.

Studies in Occultism

H.P. Blavatsky defined Occultism as “altruism pure and simple” – the divine wisdom or hidden theosophy at the heart of all religions. Occultism is founded on the principle that Divinity is concealed, transcendent yet immanent, within every living being. As a spiritual discipline occultism is the renunciation of selfishness: it is the “still small path” which leads to wisdom, to the right discrimination, between good and evil, and the practice of altruism.

Occultism is not magic; thought magic is one of its tools. Occultism is not the acquirement of powers, whether psychic or intellectual, through both are its servants. Neither is occultism the pursuit of happiness, as men understand the word; for the first step is sacrifice, the second, renunciation.

Occultism is the science of life, the art of living.