Other Definitions
esotericism (dict)
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EsotericismEsoteric is knowledge suitable only for the advanced, privileged, or initated, as opposed to exoteric knowledge, which is public. Although much esoteric knowledge was once held in secret, it is now commonly taught openly. It is generally distinct from organized religion, which teaches more openly. While esotericism tends to focus on personal enlightenment and internal spiritual practice, organized religion or exotericism tends to focus on outer spiritual practice and ritual and on laws that govern the society. Many groups or schools of thought embrace an esoteric tradition or philosophy: These are for the most part (although there are exceptions; e.g. Shamanism, Vajrayana and Yoga) predominantly Western, Middle Eastern, and/or central Asiatic. In this (more limited) context, "Esotericism" represents the "Wisdom tradition" of the West. Esotericism and Esotericist are also a term which individuals may use or identify with if they don't like certain negative connotations associated with the words "occultism" (cliches about devil-worship) and "New Age" (commercialism and/or naivity). A similar term might be "Theosophy" ("Wisdom about God") as defined by Jacob Boehme and following him Gershom Scholem. Esotericism is from the Greek esoterikos, from esotero, the comparative form of eso, "within". It is a word meaning anything that is occult, a latinate word meaning "hidden" (from which we get the term occlusion). The opposite of this is exotericism, from the Greek exoterikos, from exotero, the comparative form of exo, "outside". Esotericism gives reference to anything private, specifically such things which are or were forced to be kept private due to fears of persecution. As such, esoteric societies are oftentimes religious and "heretical," or somehow proscribed. Examples of this include the composite of science, philosophy, religion, history, and fancy called Alchemy (which in turn was called 'The Esoteric Brotherhood', mainly by its adherents). The word itself CONNOTES the religious, but in fact only DENOTES the private. See also
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