Heresy | her· e· sy | ˈher-ə-sē
belief or opinion contrary to orthodox religious (especially Christian) doctrine.
Heresy sounds like a scary word—especially if you're like me, having grown up in a conservative, religious, monotheistic household. Words like blasphemy, sin, heresy, and witchcraft were major no-nos. And here we are at our first heresy of this article...asking the question why? WHY are blasphemy, sin, heresy, and witchcraft such taboo topics? Where did their evil rep come from?
The Satanic Panic, a cultural phenomenon that gripped the United States during the 1980s and early 1990s, serves as a profound reminder of how fear and misunderstanding can spiral into widespread hysteria. Originating from a blend of societal anxieties, media influence, government-driven mind control operatives, and religious fervor, this panic was fueled by allegations of widespread satanic ritual abuse, many of which were later discredited or proven false. The roots of this phenomenon can be traced back to the deep-seated fear of evil ingrained in monotheistic traditions.
Monotheism, with its belief in a singular omnipotent deity, often emphasizes a dualistic view of the world: good versus evil. This dichotomy is deeply embedded in the narratives of major monotheistic religions, where evil is frequently personified by figures like Satan. This conceptualization of evil has historically been used to explain suffering and misfortune, creating a framework that can sometimes lead to scapegoating and moral panic.
During the Satanic Panic, this binary perception of good and evil was manipulated and amplified by sensationalist media reports and pseudo-scientific claims. The fear that satanic cults were operating under the radar, corrupting the innocence of children and undermining societal values, resonated deeply with those who viewed the world through this lens. As stories of ritual abuse captured headlines, they tapped into a primal fear of malevolent forces lurking within society.
However, it is essential to recognize that this fear-driven response was not rooted in reality but rather in misunderstandings and exaggerations. The concept of "evil" as an external force can often obscure more nuanced perspectives on human behavior and societal issues. By attributing negative actions solely to an abstract embodiment of evil, we risk oversimplifying complex problems that require thoughtful analysis and compassionate solutions.
Throughout history, monotheistic religions have been powerful forces shaping societies and cultures. From their inception, these religions have wielded significant influence over followers. One of the most potent tools they have used to maintain this influence is the deliberate use of fear tactics, particularly through branding individuals as "heretics."
The concept of heresy is rooted in the idea that deviation from established doctrine is not only wrong but dangerous. This label has been used to instill fear among believers, discouraging dissent and encouraging conformity. In many cases, being branded a heretic has led to severe punishments or ostracism. This fear of social or even physical repercussions keeps many adherents in line, perpetuating the control that religious authorities hold over individuals.
However, it's essential to recognize that questioning and critical thinking are not inherently negative. They are vital components of personal growth and societal progress. Labeling dissenters as heretics stifles innovation and understanding, keeping communities stuck in dogma rather than evolving.
So, with that being said, I present to you my latest book, The Book of Heresy. One that opposes monotheistic religion—which is not evil to oppose. At all.
The book highlights the realms of the spiritual, emotional, and physical, and features prose from the perspective of the rulers of each plane of existence.
This poetry book brings to life heretical thoughts that defy monotheistic doctrine in alignment with ancient esoteric wisdom.
For millennia, the warnings of heretics and their heresies have echoed in the halls of church buildings and dogmatic writings. Beware the heretic! Birthed out of philosophy, heretics ask, “Where is the wisdom?” and, “Where is the love?”
The silence is an answer.
The rage-filled accusation of evildoing is an answer.
The curiosity with no follow-through is an answer.
But so is listening to truly hear the questions at hand and respond with, “Wait. Where is the wisdom? Where is the love? And if it’s not here, then why am I?”
People can cling to whatever they choose—but without wisdom, what’s the point of divine connection? And without love, what’s the point of life? Such thought is deemed heretical to those who have built their empires on heartless campaigns to suppress Lady Wisdom and all her glory.
Join me on a journey of heresy—and other things that aren’t actually evil.
The occult, in the broadest sense, is a category of esoteric beliefs and practices that generally fall outside the scope of organized religion or science, encompassing phenomena involving otherworldly experiences and wisdom, such as that obtained through mysticism. The word "occult" means "hidden" and it's worth noting that it has nothing to do with the word "cult" but rather is studying that which has been hidden, and in our case at the Sacred Wisdom Society, specifically what we refer to as:
Another important note we often like to make is that occultism and religion vary in methods of teaching and expectation. Students of occultism, the mysteries, or esoteric wisdom are not asked to blindly have faith in anything but rather to research, ask questions, study, and explore the topics that pique their interest. While you may be asked to learn and think about certain teachings, the goal is never to force you to unquestioningly believe anything, and anyone who does place those expectations on you are worth turning-tail and running from.
"For more than five thousand years, since its origin in the temples of ancient Egypt, occultism—the science of the Unseen—has existed in the western world. Like everything else, it has had its golden ages and its time of obscurity, its successes and its failures; there have been times when its practitioners were welcome in the courts of kings, and other times when they were derided, persecuted, or burnt at the stake. Rationalists have condemned occultism as superstition and religious authorities have denounced it as devil worship; by and large, neither group has known much of anything about what it was they condemned, but blind hostility toward the unknown is a tolerably common bad habit among human beings.
In reality, occultism is neither superstition nor devil worship. It is a set of teachings about those things in our world that we don't experience through the five material senses. It is not opposed to science—occultists recognize that scientific research is the best toolkit our species has yet found for figuring out how matter and energy work, and only wish that scientists would notice that there is more to the world than matter and energy. It is not opposed to religion—many occultis are themselves people of faith, and pursue their occult studies and practices while still following the tenants of their religion. It is a third thing distinct from these two. You turn to science to learn about matter and energy; you turn to religion to learn about faith and morals; you turn to occultism to learn about consciousness and the unseen worlds that lie between the realm of Deity and matter."
The Way of the Golden Section: A Manual of Occult Training, John Michael Greer
Our personal journeys as students of esoteric wisdom and occultism began around 2011—we don't remember the exact day because when we were first introduced to these types of teachings, we had no idea what we were in for. We didn't know that it would become everything we would pursue and care about for the next decade (and it took us a very long time to get to the point we're at today because we're stubborn and human, and that's okay). We had no idea that it would change our entire life and save us from the monotony and void we had felt prior. Occultism gave us purpose—but with that being said—we also recognize that it isn't everyone's cup of tea, and that's perfectly fine. We don't bring up occult beliefs with people who we feel would be uncomfortable with the topic, for no reason other than respecting the point that they're at on their own path.
For us, occultism began with an opportunity to seek out answers to unanswered (or poorly answered) questions from science and religion growing up. We knew we had experienced things that science could not (yet) explain and we found discrepancies in the teachings of the churches we grew up in as well as tremendous overlap amongst different belief systems worldwide. All of these things collided at a moment when we were introduced to a new way of exploring and it was through the lens of questioning everything, learning to ask why, and not accepting because I said so as a valid answer.
Do we believe everything all other occultists believe? Of course not. Have we studied every single thing that every other occultist has studied? I sure hope not, because then what would we continue to explore for the rest of our lives? Do we have the exact same worldview or moral standards as every other occultist? I doubt it. After all, everyone's path is different. They're at different points on their journey, and potentially on different trajectories than we are, and that's okay. Our focus is, and as far as we know, always will be esoteric wisdom and the mysteries of the universe, and as you'll discover in our courses, this is the heart of everything made available for people to in turn study for themselves.
If forever exploring the unseen, seeking after the mysteries of the universe, and dedicating your life to becoming an initiate of esoteric wisdom still sounds appealing to you—then welcome to being a fellow student of occultism.