The occult can be a powerful path for self-discovery and transformation. At the same time, many people involved in the occult find themselves stuck in unhealthy patterns. Some of the most prominent figures in the occult, like Aleister Crowley, struggled with substance abuse and other issues.
Many people wonder why this happens. They may say that it’s because the occult is “evil” and thus causing occultists to form mental health issues. However, this is not the case at all. Let me discuss why this often happens so we can get to the root of the issue.
The real reason why people who are interested in the occult often get stuck in these cycles is because they may be using occult practices to bypass the deeper emotions, memories, and wounded parts of themselves that need attention. Because these rituals can be very powerful, they trigger deep traumas within the nervous system, which oftentimes people are not equipped to process.
For many of us drawn to the darker aspects of the occult, our interest often stems from a history of severe trauma or abuse.We may turn to practices involving the Qlippoth or demonic entities as a way to reclaim power and protect ourselves from future harm. While deep down at our core, we may be trying to heal, we may not be consciously aware of that.Sometimes consciously we are trying to become powerful and protect ourselves from ever being hurt again. While this is understandable, it’s a misunderstanding of what the occult is truly about.
The occult isn’t about dominating others or becoming powerful enough to never be hurt again. Rather, it’s about surrendering, creating safety within ourselves, and building a deep connection with our central Self so that we may live the lives we were meant to live. It invites us to confront and integrate our deepest vulnerabilities and wounds, rather than suppress or escape them.
Rituals and occult practices can help with this process because they stimulate the unconscious mind, bringing up deep-seated fears, wounds, and traumas, similar to how psychedelics work. For those who are unprepared to face their past traumas, this can be overwhelming and lead to a defensive response. This is similar to bad trip on psychedelics. Many people may not have the proper education about how to handle this and may lack support. To cope with the feelings that are triggered deep within them, they turn to unhealthy patterns of behavior and belief systems. This is where what I like to call the “Cycle of Doom” begins.
The cycle starts when a vulnerable part of ourselves is triggered, in this case by a ritualistic practice.
To understand this better, we have to discuss what Parts Work is. Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, otherwise known as“Parts Work”, is a form of psychotherapy originally developed by Dr. Richard C.Schwartz. It is based on the idea that each person has multiple “parts” or sub-personalities, each with its own perspective, feelings, and role. On an extreme end, when someone becomes overtaken by these sub-personalities, we may refer to the issue as Dissociative Identity Disorder, which was previously known as Multiple Personalities Disorder.
However, each person on earth has multiple parts, according to this form of therapy, which has helped countless people globally, including myself. According to IFS, everyone has a core “Self” that is compassionate, curious, and capable of healing and leading these internal parts, similar to a parent in a family system, hence the name Internal FamilySystems.
According to this theory, aside from the core Self, we all have parts that tend to fill the following roles: the vulnerable Exiles, the Managers, and the Firefighters. Many of these parts are wounded inner children, who feel and act like younger versions of ourselves. These parts were formed due to trauma and are “frozen in time” until we begin to connect with them. When we do this, we can initiate deep healing within ourselves by integrating these parts into our core Self. Rather than feeling neglected and repressed, they feel seen and heard.
Exiles hold our pain, our deepest vulnerabilities. These are the parts that feel deep trauma or shame. They are often hidden or suppressed so that a person can avoid emotional pain.
Managers work to prevent Exiles from feeling pain. They are controlling, prone to perfectionism and overthinking. They wish to protect the Exiles, but oftentimes they end up causing people to get stuck in unhealthy cycles.
Firefighters react to distract or soothe when an Exile’s pain is triggered, often through impulsive behaviors, addictions, or emotional outbursts. Oftentimes when this happens, the Managers will come in and shame or punish the Exile for their behavior, furthering the cycle of shame.
The goal of IFS is to help the core Self become the leader of the internal system, providing guidance and healing to the different parts.
How does this relate to the “Cycle of Doom”that some occultists get into, where they are stuck in their own darkness?
In many cases, if the practitioner is engaging in occult rituals from a space of wanting to be powerful and control others, that practitioner is not operating from a healthy, integrated place. In IFS terms, that practitioner’s core Self is not leading the parts. Rather, oftentimes these practitioners are being run by their Manager parts, who are trying to protect the Exiles from feeling pain - in this case, by feeling powerful. In many cases, as mentioned previously these practitioners may have suffered deep pain in childhood from abuse or neglect.
The problem gets bigger when these practitioners engage in ritualistic practices. Ritualistic practices are quite powerful and can trigger deep pain within the unconscious. For example, a meditation or ceremony may evoke deep grief or fear that an Exile is holding. Alternatively, symbols or actions in a ritual may remind the parts of past traumas, triggering deep emotional pain.
When this happens and the practitioner is not operating from an integrated core Self space, the Firefighters will come in.This is where the practitioner will often resort to unhealthy coping mechanisms like substance abuse or binge eating. In some cases, the practitioner will even develop mental psychosis because they literally cannot deal with the pain they are experiencing and have a psychotic break, completely dissociating with their core Self.
To break the cycle, the practitioner must first reassess his or her intention when it comes to working with the occult.If the practitioner has been engaging in occult practices to become powerful and protect his or her vulnerabilities, then that practitioner must understand the purpose of the occult: it’s to unearth these vulnerabilities and integrate ourselves so that we may live fulfilling lives that are aligned with who we truly are at our core. When we do this, we naturally become powerful, but tha tis not why we do it in the first place. We do it to heal so that we may live the lives we were meant to live.
Once the practitioner has come to this realization, then that practitioner should begin to connect with the parts of him or herself so that the healing process can be initiated. The goal is to reparent the inner system, treating all the parts with compassion and understanding. In this process, the practitioner may seek guidance from a counselor or mentor who understands Parts Work.
Once the practitioner has worked to integrate these parts and reassess his or her intention when it comes to working with the occult, then ritualistic practices can be used as an aide - not a replacement -to deep inner healing. And when they are performed, the practitioner will have the tools necessary to process any deep emotional pain that may arise, and will no longer need to run to substance abuse or other unhealthy coping mechanisms to numb the pain.
Ultimately, the path of the occult - whether dark or light - is integration. While we shouldn’t bypass pain with love and light, we also shouldn’t feel that we must stay trapped in a perpetual cycle of darkness. Eventually through the deep inner work, we should be led to living healthier, more fulfilling lives. We are not afraid of darkness, but we also don’t feel the need to remain in it all the time. We can also connect with the more positive aspects of spirituality, while accepting and integrating the darkness within.
For more on this subject, see this video on the subject.
If you would like support on your integration journey and are interested in working with Jer, please book a call or mentorship here.
