Evil may seem to be a vague and highly misunderstood topic, but one of extreme importance to the practicing Occultist. If you are wondering if you are a "practicing occultist" you are if you practice any form of spirituality other than Christianity or Roman Catholicism. Ironically, however, there are many similarities and parallels between the two.

The purpose of this posting is to present at least one perspective on what we commonly call "evil" as it exists perpetually and eternally. Anyone interested in the esoteric, metaphysical or alternative spirituality would benefit from a clear understanding of it.

Firstly, evil is not be given a name, a face or an identity as has been done by the Churches of Christianity and Catholicism in depicting "the devil" "satan" or "the prince of darkness" , for to do so is to manifest it within our common reality. However, it is far too late for this to be of concern at this time in history.

An Occultist has many choices when working with light or darkness and may choose a path to follow, however, a journey to the underworld must not be taken without guidance and knowledge of where one is going and what lies ahead.

The Occultist understands the trinity of evil and it is classified into three categories according to the method in which they exist or by the route it manifests into common reality.

1. Primary Evil
2. Secondary Evil
3. Accidental Evil

The duality theory of good versus evil is expressed, in some form or another, by many cultures. Those who believe in the duality theory of evil believe that evil cannot exist without good, nor good without evil, as they are both objective states and opposite ends of the same scale.

Evil which dwells in the place known as the Underworld, does not concern itself with theories or concepts for it simply is, without questioning why or how or what. The Underworld may perhaps be a physical place, perhaps a figurative place or both and niether, such as Heaven and Hell of the Christian belief, but once again it's definition is irrelevant as the more one contemplates evil the closer it approaches, for intellectualism is but another mask to hide the insidious fear which is the food of evil.

Within the Underworld exists Primary Evil, it cannot by it's own accord make contact with the common reality in which humanity exists.
The term reality, in its widest sense, includes everything that is, whether it is observable,accessible or understandable by science,philosophy, or any other system of analysis. Reality in this sense may include both being and nothingness, whereas existence is often restricted to being.

Primary Evil is also known as the "Dark Satellite" by many Occultists and can be better understood as the source of all evil whose sole purpose is to consume and exist. Since it cannot make contact with our world of common reality it must feed by any means possible and this is most often by deception. Primary Evil is named "the "Dark Satellite" as many perceive it as a continuous, eternal body, mass or entity of darkness or the absence of light which orbits our common reality perpetually attempting to gain access to our world through the only doorway possible, the human soul.

Understanding this concept brings us to the next form of evil ; Secondary Evil or evil that has passed through the doorway of the human soul and has manifested itself within our common reality.

Secondary Evil is probably the most dangerous as it has been consciously willed into being by the human doorway or host. Many amateur Occultists or those dabbling with Occult tools such as Ouija boards, spellcraft or mediumship have fallen victim to Secondary Evil by inviting it into our reality through poorly constructed ritual, lack of understanding of the Occult or failure to invoke the protection from the light and benevolent forces and entities available to us.

This is not to say that the Occult arts are themselves evil, they are simply tools such as a hammer which sits quietly in a toolbox doing nothing but when wielded by the hand can be a constructive tool to build a warm and comforting home or a destructive tool to smash, destroy and kill. So are the Ouija board, the spells of the craft and all forms of spiritual practice which includes the tools of Christianity and Catholicism.

The results of manifesting Secondary Evil are devastating and the deception used by Primary Evil is that of infinate power. Like a carrot which dangles before a horse in a bridle the novice or arrogant practitioner follows the path of Primary Evil and the promise of power to his own demise and often takes many others with him to the grave, through murder, torture and suicide.

A prime example of the manifestation of Primary Evil into Secondary evil is that of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party which had its origins in the esoteric Thule Society and Germanorden or "The Order of the Teutons" themselves not necessarily evil but resulted in powerful Occult forces which opened the doorway through Adolf Hitler.

It is a commonly known fact that Hitler utilized the knowledge and tools of the Occult extensively in his reign of terror; including the perversion of the sunwheel or swastika which one represented the law of Buddha or good fortune but now is seen as a symbol of evil and terror (Buckland 2003). History reveals the horror of this evil which consumed millions of lives and eventually claimed that of Adolf Hitler himself by suicide.

Lastly and possibly the easiest to manage (if such can be said about evil) is Accidental Evil whose manifestation has entered through a doorway of the soul without conscious intent on the part of the host, uninvited and unsolicited.

Considering that Primary Evil perpetually and unrelentingly searches for a mode of manifestation it will detect even the slightest shadow within the soul and focus upon it until it succeeds in changing a minute shadow into a doorway of darkness, darker than night.

Shadows may come in the form of hatred, rage, fear, envy, lust or violence and obsession with the material or physical. Again do not misunderstand, these are not evil in themselves for truly they are all within the normal range of human emotion and existece. It is when these states of being become all encompassing, uncontrollable and the negative and destructive forces of evil begin to enter through the host, subtely and quietly.

Shadows of evil are not, by the Occultists definition, true evil but merely the potential to become so if left unchecked or ignored.

This is why we often  hear such statements as; "It does not matter if you do not believe in evil, for evil believes in you"  or "When you look into the abyss, the abyss is also looking into you."

It is truly a fool upon a dangerous path who denies the existence of evil, for it is the shadow of their fear which causes them to deny the existence of evil which feeds it and "accidentally" manifests it into common reality.

The seed of evil is fear, and I will repeat that as it is important, the seed of evil is fear, or in by the definition of Primary Evil as an entity which consumes and exists; the food of evil is fear.

Sources
Buckland, Raymond. (2003) Signs, Symbols and Omens.
Llewellyn Publications, St. Paul, MN

that made great reading.. at the same time.. so many questions arise in my mind! y is occult always associated with evil?? or aleast i assume thats the general conclusion? is it becoz it is different from the church?

It depends on what persepctive you are veiwing the Occult from, the term Occult simply means "hidden" ,in this reference the process of gaining knowledge of that which is hidden or unseen.

  If one is a Christian or non-pagan the Occcult is associated with evil (quite mistakenly) if you are an Occultist or pagan then good and evil are viewed as phenomenon exclusive of a spiritual discipline, beleif system or organized religion.

  If is permitted to manifest when one has seperated themselves from the nourishing life force, divinity or the fabric of creation that connects us all, which is a rampant disease in our society. The Occult and paganism are neutral , it is the individual who chooses the alliances with forces of light or forces of darkness or may be seduced, tricked or accidently align themselves with evil and its legion of guises.

I found this presentation fascinating. Thank you.
Vasiliki

Do you have any sources for this besides Buckland?  I'd like to study this concept a little more, since it's not one I've come across in my years of witchcraft.  Is it based out of high magick?  Theosophy and Spiritualist philosophy?  Where do these views on evil originate?