Featured article

The Urim and Thummim are elements of the hoshen, the breastplate worn by the High Priest attached to the ephod. They are connected with cleromancy (divination by casting lots). Most scholars suspect that the phrase refers to a set of two objects used by the high priest to answer a question or reveal the will of God.

The Urim and the Thummim first appear in the Biblical verse Exodus 28:30, where they are named for inclusion on the breastplate to be worn by Aaron in the holy place. Other books, especially 1 Samuel, describe their uses. The chronologically earliest passage in the Bible mentioning the Urim and Thummim, according to textual scholars, is in the Book of Hosea, where it is implied, by reference to the Ephod, that the Urim and Thummim were fundamental elements in Judaism, in the mid 8th century BC.

(Full Article...)

Did you know...

Hapy Canopic Jar

• ... that Hapy protected the lungs of deceased Egyptians?
• ... that Saturday was named by the Romans in honor of Saturn?
• ... that there are nine different types of Pyromancy?
• ... that the Goetic demon Stolas protects criminals?
• ... that Samael may be considered either an angel or Satan?
• ... that Kabbalistic angel Achaiah signifies patience?
• ... that the Key of Solomon was hand-copied into nearly a dozen languages?

This month in history Occultist Damien Echols December - The Rider-Waite Tarot is published for the first time. (1909) 1 December - Czech occultist and author Franz Bardon is born. (1909) 1 December - Occultist and author Aleister Crowley dies of chronic bronchitis. (1947) 5 December - Pope Innocent VIII issues the Summis desiderantes affectibus, a papal bull that deputizes Heinrich Kramer and Jacob Sprenger as inquisitors to root out alleged witchcraft in Germany. (1484) 6 December - Transit of Venus, second and last of the 19th century. (1882) 6 December - Birth of Dion Fortune, a Welsh occultist, psychologist, and author. (1890) 9 December - The Virgin of Guadalupe first appears to Juan Diego at Tepeyac, Mexico City. (1531) 9 December - Birth of Hélène Smith, a French psychic and occultist. (1861) 11 December - Author and occultist Damien Echols is born. (1974) 13 December - Occultist Johannes Trithemius is born. (1516) 17 December - The first Saturnalia festival was celebrated in ancient Rome. (497 BC) 17 December - The tomb of Marie Laveau in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is vandalized by an unknown person. (2013) 19 December - Edward Kelley performs his first alchemical transmutation. (1586) 21 December - A great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn occurs, with the two planets separated in the sky by 0.1 degrees. This is the closest conjunction between the two planets since 1623. (2020) 21/22 December - Winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. 25 December - A temple to Sol Invictus is dedicated in Rome by Emperor Aurelian. (274) 30 December - Russian mystic Grigori Rasputin is murdered by a group of nobles led by Prince Felix Yusupov. (1916) 31 December - Birth of Simon Forman, an English occultist and astrologer. (1552)

Featured image An individual Lilith, along with Bagdana "king of the lilits", is one of the demons to feature prominently in protective spells in the eighty surviving Jewish occult incantation bowls from Sassanid Empire Babylon (4th–6th century AD) with influence from Iranian culture. These bowls were buried upside down below the structure of the house or on the land of the house, in order to trap the demon. Almost every house was found to have such protective bowls against demons. Photo credit: The Metropolitan Museum (More Images)

Featured Quote "Alas! that my body, clean and whole, never been corrupted, today must be consumed and burnt to ashes!" - Joan of Arc

More info

• About the Occult Encyclopedia
• General disclaimer
• Copyright issues