Why Are We Obsessed with the Occult?
Details
Note to Attendees: Please consider making a $5 donation to contribute to the running costs of this Meetup.
From ancient grimoires to modern horror films, from tarot cards to secret societies, the occult has never really disappeared. It lingers at the edges of culture, resurfacing again and again — not just as superstition, but as something strangely compelling. As Aleister Crowley once suggested, where there is mystery, there is always room for the occult.
Despite living in an age of science and reason, interest in the occult seems stronger than ever. Practices once dismissed as irrational are now repackaged as self-discovery, spirituality, or empowerment. Symbols once hidden are now aesthetic.
What was once feared is now, in many cases, fashionable.
So why are we drawn to it? Is the occult simply misunderstood, or does it tap into something deeper — a desire for mystery, control, or transcendence? And what happens when curiosity turns into belief?
At our next Brisbane meetup, we’ll explore the enduring fascination with the occult — why it persists, what it offers, and whether it carries risks we no longer take seriously.
The questions we will address are:
- Why does the occult continue to attract people in a scientific age?
- Is interest in the occult harmless curiosity or something more serious?
- Does the occult offer meaning, or does it distort it?
- Are we trivialising something that was once feared for a reason?
This event will be held at The Osbourne Hotel in Fortitude Valley.
After the discussion, we’ll stay on for a meal and a drink together — a chance to continue the conversation in a more relaxed setting and support the venue.
PLEASE NOTE:
Please support the venue by purchasing a drink or meal during the event.
This is intended to be a good-natured but robust discussion. Please be respectful and prepared to have your ideas challenged. If you are easily offended, this event may not be for you.