Secrets of the Occult

Course Overview

Course No. 30310

Learn the secret knock and access the hidden mysteries of the occult—a world full of magic and mysteries that is much bigger than you may expect.

From spirituality to politics and science, the occult has had an astonishing influence on the human experience across the centuries. Taught by Professor Richard B. Spence, this 24-lecture course reveals how:

• Everyday activities like horoscopes and church rituals connect to occult traditions
• Hidden forces have shaped history from ancient times to modern politics
• Science and the occult intersect in surprising ways
• Popular culture continues to be influenced by occult symbolism

Video Lectures

01: What Is the Occult? (31 min)

Explore the true breadth of occult philosophy beyond common stereotypes of magic tricks and superstition.

02: Fauns, Fairies, and Djinn (29 min)

Examine supernatural beings across cultures and their psychological significance.

03: The Christmas Tree and Other Rituals (29 min)

Uncover occult roots in religious ceremonies from Santa Claus to Native American Ghost Dances.

04: Practical Magic: Love, Money, and Health (26 min)

Discover how occult techniques have been used for centuries to influence wealth, relationships, and wellbeing.

05: Alchemy, Astrology, and Divination (27 min)

Study the three pillars of occultism through practices like Tarot and I-Ching.

06: Talking with the Dead (26 min)

Trace spirit communication from Stone Age shamans to modern Ouija boards.

07: The Occult Ancient World (27 min)

Explore early occult practices including human sacrifice, Druid rituals, and the Knights Templar.

08: Vampires, Werewolves, and Zombies (29 min)

Investigate the ancient origins of modern monster myths.

09: Religious Faith and the Occult (29 min)

Reveal the thin line between mainstream religion and occult practices.

10: Mysterious Places (30 min)

Visit supernatural hotspots including Stonehenge and the Winchester Mystery House.

11: Crime and the Occult (29 min)

Examine the dark intersection of occult symbolism and criminal activity through history.

12: UFOs and the Occult (32 min)

Discover surprising connections between modern UFO phenomena and ancient occult concepts.

13: The Occult Russian Revolution (32 min)

Learn how occult figures like Rasputin influenced 20th century political transformations.

14: Hitler, Nazism, and the Occult (33 min)

Uncover the disturbing reality behind Nazi occultism and its consequences.

15: The Occult Soviet Union (32 min)

Analyze how Bolshevik leaders created new occult-inspired systems to replace traditional faith.

16: Satanism and the Occult (30 min)

Trace Satanic concepts from ancient Mesopotamia to modern “Satanic panic.”

17: The Occult Renaissance and Reformation (29 min)

Explore how occult traditions persisted through the scientific revolution.

18: Witchcraft and the Occult (29 min)

Separate fact from fiction about witchcraft and its place in occult traditions.

19: The Occult Enlightenment (29 min)

Discover how the Age of Reason paradoxically revived interest in mysticism.

20: American Occultism (30 min)

Tour uniquely American occult phenomena from Salem to modern magical practices.

21: The Occult’s 19th-Century Revival (32 min)

Examine how spiritualism captured public imagination in the Victorian era.

22: Aleister Crowley’s Occult Life (30 min)

Profile the controversial “Great Beast” and his intelligence connections.

23: Popular Occulture (29 min)

Track occult influences in art, literature and film from Mozart to Alice in Wonderland.

24: The Techno-Occult (30 min)

Consider modern occult connections to lucid dreaming, quantum physics, and reality itself.