The Many Branches of the Occult

In my previous article I talked about the dangers of the occult. The word occult means secret or hidden. It refers to tapping into the spiritual realm outside of the one true living God. The occult has a variety of branches and is far-reaching in influence. Scripture strictly forbids any contact with the occult, and such contact opens the door to evil spirits.

The Bible has warnings about engaging in occult activity, as well as examples of occult practices. Below are just a few examples:

In Exodus 7:8-13 Moses and Aaron confront Pharaoh, telling him to let God’s people go. Aaron throws his rod to the ground and it is turned into a snake. But the sorcerers of Egypt are also able to perform this same supernatural act, using their “enchantments.” In the end, Aaron’s rod-turned-snake swallows up the Egyptian’s.

Deuteronomy  18:9-12 gives a stern warning against occult activities, and lists several specific examples.

In Acts 8:9-12, Philip the evangelist goes into Samaria and preaches the gospel. A sorcerer named Simon was there who had previously led many astray through his magic arts.

In Acts 16:16-18 Paul comes into contact with a woman who is telling fortunes through the power of an evil spirit. Paul casts the spirit out of her and she loses this psychic power.

Examples of Occult Activities

Involvement in the occult can vary from dabbling out of curiosity, to reading occult materials, to full- blown involvement in occult groups/activities. Any level of involvement in the occult is always dangerous, and should be renounced totally.

The following list of occult activities is by no means comprehensive. I organized it in broad categories of the main branches of the occult, and then listed some practices that are similar or related. Note also that there is often overlap with the various categories listed:

Witchcraft: wicca, satanism, voodoo, paganism, shamanism, curses, pacts, covens.  

Divination: psychic, palm reading, tarot cards, fortune telling, horoscopes, Ouija board, tea leaf reading, mind reading. 

Spiritism: contacting the dead/spirits, medium, séance, astral projection, channeling, automatic writing.

Sorcery: spells, magic, drugs, potions, levitation, charms, white magic.  

New Age: eastern/transcendental meditation, reiki healing, spirit guide, crystal healing, hypnotism, guided
imagery. 

Secret Societies/Cults: Free Masons, Eastern Star, Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witness, Christian Science. 

Some other activities with occult/new age roots: yoga, certain martial arts, acupuncture, certain other alternative medical practices.

If you have been involved in occult practices, it is important to make a clean break and get free from all occult influence. Repent of your involvement, turning completely to God and receiving His forgiveness. Completely renounce all occult activity and get rid of any occult materials you have (In Acts 19:19 they burned there occult books). Resist the devil, commanding any evil spirits associated with the occult to leave you for good.

The power of the blood of Jesus will wash over you and set you free!