ESOTERICISM & OCCULTISM: A QUICK INTRO

“Esoteric” comes from a root word meaning “internal”, whereas “Occult” implies “hidden”. Whereas Esotericism corresponds with a more patient, disciplined approach toward mystical matters, Occultism has an association with taking the shortcut…at a cost. “Occultism” basically refers to a subset of “Esotericism”. Both can have mystery schools, initiation bodies, secret societies. Both espouse a worldview of hidden paths to empowerment or perception, enlightenment or salvation. Both believe in a universal but secret dimension of reality purported to exist objectively. Historically perceived as heretical, irrational, and obscurantist, these traditions nevertheless strongly shape Western notions of magic, including D&D.

Scholar Antoine Faivre defined Four Primary Principles of “Western Esotericism”:

1. “Correspondences”: impacts reverberate between macrocosm and microcosm.

2. “Living Nature”: a singular or plural lifeforce or will imbues the universe.

3. “Imagination & Meditations”: progression through imagination and meditation, with rituals, symbols, and spirits as tools to access modes of being and levels of reality.

4. “Experience of Transmutation”: personal spiritual transformation, such as through “Gnosis”.

Additionally, Two Secondary Principles:

1. “Practice of Concordance”: world spiritualities share a common unifying principle or root.

2. “Transmission”: gurus transmit teachings and secrets to disciples via progressive initiation.

In contrast, scholar Kocku von Stuckrad described Western Esotericism more broadly as “the claim of higher knowledge”. Superior wisdom to the common sense. A “master key” to the hardest questions. These definitions both have value.

Magic Versus Magick

The famous 20th century Occultist and Ceremonial Magician Aleister Crowley contrasted “Stage Magic“, such as the magician’s trick of pulling a rabbit from a hat, from “Witchcraft“, or “magick” with a “-k” at the end. He defined the latter as causing “Change in conformity with Will”. Esotericists and Occultists claim practicality as their measure of validity, not mere performance. So throughout this work I use the proper term “magick”, to distinguish these traditions from those of the magician. Because respect.

Runes, Glyphs, and Sigils, Oh My!

I need to introduce a couple more details. “Runes” refer to writing from the Old Germanic or Anglo-Saxon alphabet, whereas “Glyphs” mean more pictographic symbols. Do either inherently imply a “magickal” nature? No. But “Sigils” do, they specify symbols used in magick. Imagine a pictorial signature of a demon or other entity (as in Goetia), or a symbolic representation of a mage’s desired outcome (as in Chaos Magick). Often in D&D, wizard spell art includes “Sigils”, or arcane geometry. You often see it when Wizards of the Coast wants to make something look especially epic. And it works. For a reason.

Occult Magick & D&D Cosmology

Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa’s 16th century Three Books of Occult Philosophy divides the Occult broadly into three strands: “Natural“, “Celestial“, and “Ceremonial“. “Ceremonial Magic” includes “Goetia” and refers to conjuration, while “Theurgy” refers more to divination. “Natural Magic” referred to tendencies like the yet-undivided astrology and astronomy, alchemy and chemistry, wortcunning and pharmacology. Agrippa also mentions “Enchantment”. These typologies, and the traditions chronicling them, influence the Eight Schools of Magic in D&D. Agrippa’s “Elementary World” inspires D&D’s Four Elemental Planes, and the “Celestial World” inspires the Outer Planes, where outsiders and deities dwell. D&D’s Ethereal Plane and Astral Plane also have clear origins in the Esoteric and Occult, as we will see.

Why deal in secrecy?

There exists a complex relationship between these traditions’ persecution by dominant institutions, the ability for would-be gurus to gain power in fringe groups through Illuminism and Obscurantism, and the legitimate belief that hidden paths more accurately describe the nature of reality. This tension certainly proves ripe for storytelling, worldbuilding, and gameplay. Let’s take a look.

Forward, into the Æther!