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 An '''occultist''' is a person who believes in or practices [[occult]] arts, such as [[ritual magic]], [[astrology]], [[alchemy]], seances, or other activities claiming the use of secret knowledge or supernatural powers or agencies.
-Simply believing in magical systems does not generally qualify one to be considered an occultist. Most occultists are also authors, either of magical [[grimoire]]s or other esoteric or [[metaphysics|metaphysical]] texts. Some occultists focus on one type of occult art, [[Tarot]] cards, for example.
+Some occultists focus on one type of occult art, [[Tarot]] cards, for example.
-==List of occultists==
+==Definition==
-This alphabetical list comprises and encompasses people, both contemporary and historical, who are or were professionally or otherwise notably involved in occult practices.
+The designation of "occultist" is usually self-assigned by the individual.
+Simply believing in magical systems does not generally qualify one to be considered an occultist. Most occultists are also authors, either of magical [[grimoire]]s or other esoteric or [[metaphysics|metaphysical]] texts.
+==Activities==
+It is very rare to find occultists who are solely researchers or authors and do not also practice some form of the occult arts, even if they do not actually believe in the magical power of such acts.
+Much of their time is spent finding and reading old texts, especially books of magic known as [[grimoire]]s. The occultist will utilize this information to write books on [[occult]] topics and/or perform the magical rites described in the text. Research grimoires often requires occultists to learn (or otherwise translate) a variety of languages in order to read and understand their contents. The most common of these are:
+* Latin
+* Greek
+* Hebrew
+* French
+* German
+==Famous occultists==
+This list comprises and encompasses people, both contemporary and historical, who are or were professionally or otherwise notably involved in occult practices.
+===Historical===
+* [[Johannes Trithemius]] (1462 - 1516) German Benedictine abbot and founder of cryptography.
+* [[Johann Weyer]] (1515 - 1588) Dutch physician, demonologist, and follower of [[Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa]].
+* [[John Dee]] (1527 - 1609) English mathematician, and court astronomer to Queen Elizabeth I.
+* [[John Heydon]] (1629 – 1667) English Neoplatonist occult philosopher, [[Rosicrucian]], astrologer and attorney.
+* [[Francis Barrett]] (1770/1780 - 1802) English occultist and author.
+===Early modern===
+* [[Jacques Collin de Plancy]] (1793 - 1881) French occultist, demonologist and writer.
+* [[Eliphas Lévi]] (1810 - 1875) French author and ceremonial magician.
+* [[Samuel L. MacGregor Mathers]] (1854 - 1918) founder of the [[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn]].
+* [[A.E. Waite]] (1857 - 1942) author, member of [[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn]], creator of the [[Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot]].
+* [[Papus]] (1865 - 1916) pseudonym for Gérard Encausse, occult author.
+* [[Aleister Crowley]] (1875 - 1947) English occultist and ceremonial [[magician]], founder of the [[Thelema]] religion.
+* [[Pamela Colman Smith]] (1878 - 1951) British [[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn|Golden Dawn]] member, artist who designed the [[Rider-Waite Tarot|Waite-Smith tarot deck]].
+* [[Dion Fortune]] (1890 - 1946) considered one of Great Britain's most famous occultists.
+===Contemporary===
+* [[Frederick Santee]] (1906 - 1980) American child prodigy, medical doctor, and founder of the [[Coven of the Catta]].
+* [[Israel Regardie]] (1907 - 1985) author, [[magician]], and pupil of Aleister Crowley.
+* [[Franz Bardon]] (1909 - 1958) Czech author, stage magician, and occultist.
+* [[Sybil Leek]] (1917 - 1982) British [[witch]], astrologer, and author.
+* [[Anton LaVey]] (1930 - 1997) American author and founder of the [[LaVeyan Satanism|Church of Satan]].
+* [[Damien Echols]] (b.1974) American author and ceremonial magician.
+* [[Travis McHenry]] (b.1980) American author, [[Tarot]] creator, and [[ritual magic]] practitioner.
-* [[Pamela Colman Smith]], [[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn|Golden Dawn]] member, artist who designed the [[Rider-Waite Tarot|Waite-Smith tarot deck]].
-* [[Jacques Collin de Plancy]], French occultist, demonologist and writer.
-* [[Aleister Crowley]], English occultist and ceremonial [[magician]], founder of the [[Thelema]] religion.
-* [[Damien Echols]], American author and ceremonial magician.
-* [[Dion Fortune]], considered one of Great Britain's most famous occultists.
-* [[Anton LaVey]], occult author, founder of the [[LaVeyan Satanism|Church of Satan]].
-* [[Sybil Leek]], [[witch]], astrologer, and occult author.
-* [[Eliphas Lévi]], French occult author and ceremonial magician.
-* [[Travis McHenry]], author, [[Tarot]] creator, and [[ritual magic]] practitioner.
-* [[Samuel L. MacGregor Mathers]], founder of the [[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn]].
-* [[Papus]], pseudonym for Gérard Encausse, occult author.
-* [[Israel Regardie]], occult author, [[magician]], pupil of Aleister Crowley.
-* [[A.E. Waite]], occult author and member of [[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn]].
 [[Category:Esoteric Vocations]]
 [[Category:Occultism]]
-[[Category:Poor Articles]]