Mysticism and the Occult

## Adelaide Mystics Meetup — Mysticism & the Occult

Join us as we explore a subtle and important question within the contemplative traditions.
Mysticism centres on direct experience of ultimate reality — God, the Absolute, the One, the Ground of Being, the Divine. It is experiential, transformative, and often nondual.

The occult, by contrast, focuses on knowledge (or use of) hidden forces — symbolic, magical, esoteric, or cosmological, to inform outcomes in the 'real world'. It is technical, symbolic, and operational, encompassing practices such as divination, alchemy, and astrology.

Mystics throughout history have often frowned upon these practices, suggesting that the occult “misses the mark”. Not because it is wrong or harmful, but because it tends to teach — even unintentionally — that fulfillment comes from gaining greater control over circumstances rather than awakening to the nature of the one who seeks control.

Some mystics take a more moderate view, proposing that occult practices serve as stepping stones on the spiritual path by sharpening intuition, revealing symbolic patterns, and attuning us to the unseen. And yet, mystics across traditions do make use of ritual, sacred texts, astrology and other so‑called occult practices to support their contemplative aims. This raises an intriguing question: If mystics are critical of occult practices, why do they use them?

Rather than taking a position, we’ll explore how these perspectives meet. We’ll consider how occult practices can be honoured without being mistaken for the final aim, and how they may naturally evoke an orientation toward the Absolute.
We’ll also look at how mystics engage with divination as a contemplative mirror rather than a method for predicting the future — and how these two aims may be more deeply connected than they first appear.

If this inquiry resonates with your own experience — through curiosity, practice, or the sense of something quietly unfolding — we’d love to have you with us.
All welcome.
There is no pressure to share — quiet participation is equally welcome.
After the meeting, all are invited to come for lunch at the Excelsior Hotel, walking distance from the location of the Meetup.

*Due to ongoing cost of Meetup Administration and the Centre, a $5.00 donation would be most welcome. Tea and coffee provided.*

You are welcome to join us on Facebook or at Meetup:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1129442172370220
https://www.meetup.com/adelaide-mystics/