Occult

\n The word occult comes from Latin occultus (hidden), referring to the 'knowledge of the secret' or 'knowledge of the hidden', meaning 'knowledge of the supernatural'. As opposed to 'knowledge of the visible' or 'knowledge of the measurable', usually refered to as science. The modern terms meaning is often imprecisely translated and used as a term for 'secret knowledge' or 'hidden knowledge', in the sense of meaning 'knowledge meant only for certain people'or 'knowledge that must be kept hidden'. Therefore in the context of this terms contemporary meaning in western societies anything refered to with the term occult is often regarded as supersticious. The ancient greek term for occult is esotheric. Direct insight into or perception of the occult does not consist of access to physically measurable facts, but is said to be arrived through the mind, the humans 'higher sensual organs' other non-physical elements of the human (soul, etherical body, astral body, soul powers, etc.). Often being taken by mental, psycological and/or spiritual training. An often quoted concept of gaining insight into the occult is the use of a focus. The use of a physical evident thing (dead or living object) or trace of human spritiual action through which a focussing can be triggered. By, for instance, texts, images, plants, dead objects of significance ('crystal glass ball', 'holy relict', etc.) or rituals performance. See occultism. Many (especially orthodox Christians) use it to refer many practices which they disapprove of but which those who participate in it may not consider occult (Dungeons & Dragons, heavy metal music, even sometimes Catholicism). The beliefs and practices of those who consider their activities "occult" or part of "the occult" in the more ususal western interpretation 'hidden knowledge' (e.g. secret ceremonial magicianss, Satanists, etc.) are generally far from being secret or hidden, being found very easily (in books or on the Internet). This ready availability is historically recent and corresponds to a reduced interest in traditional religion and a growing perception of the occult as a broad term for 'alternate confession'. See also:\n* Esotericism\n* Gnosticism\n* Hermeticism\n* Isaac Newton's occult studies

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To Occult is also an astronomy term describing an event where one celestial body passes in front of another, thereby obscuring it from view (i.e. The Moon occults Venus on May 21, 2004). This is different from an eclipse in that the object being occulted is so small (from the perspective of an earthly viewer) that it is completely blocked from view by the closer, larger object.