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An '''occult''' thing is something that is clandestine, hidden, or secret. The word comes from the Latin ''occultus'', meaning "knowledge of the hidden". ''Webster's'' defines the verb ''occult'' thus: "To shut off from view or exposure."<ref>http://m-w.com/dictionary/occult</ref>
An '''occult''' thing is something that is clandestine, hidden, or secret. The word comes from the Latin ''occultus'', meaning "knowledge of the hidden". ''Webster's'' defines the verb ''occult'' thus: "To shut off from view or exposure."<ref>http://m-w.com/dictionary/occult</ref>
In modern usage, "occult" refers to any one of a number of [[supernatural]] practices. These may include [[tarot card]]s, [[ouija board]]s, [[clover|four-leaf clovers]], [[psychic]] powers, [[witchcraft]], [[charm]]s and [[spell]]s of various forms, [[voodoo]], some [[pagan]] rituals, [[demonology]] and [[divining]] for resources. (This list is not exhaustive.)
In modern usage, "occult" refers to any one of a number of [[supernatural]] practices. These may include [[tarot card]]s, [[ouija board]]s, [[psychic]] powers, [[witchcraft]], [[charm]]s and [[spell]]s of various forms, [[voodoo]], some [[pagan]] rituals, [[demonology]] and [[divining]] for resources. (This list is not exhaustive.)
Many of these practices are widely regarded as [[superstition]] with no functional basis, and thus ineffective - the [[divination]] rituals will provide no insight into the future, the spells have no influence and the demons will not appear. However, the occult does have fervent believers. In 2006 the Anglican Bishop of Bolton implored retailers not to stock traditional Halloween merchandise, saying that 'occult practices should not be condoned, even if they are only being presented in a caricatured, light-hearted form.'<ref>[http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/pr9106.html Church of England]</ref>
Many of these practices are widely regarded as [[superstition]] with no functional basis, and thus ineffective - the [[divination]] rituals will provide no insight into the future, the spells have no influence and the demons will not appear. However, the occult does have fervent believers. In 2006 the Anglican Bishop of Bolton implored retailers not to stock traditional Halloween merchandise, saying that 'occult practices should not be condoned, even if they are only being presented in a caricatured, light-hearted form.'<ref>[http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/pr9106.html Church of England]</ref>