We’re going to take a moment out of continuing to talk about our L-Curve Oligarchy series, and our slow-drip ongoing pro-democracy essay series, which I know you love by the way, they're so exciting, yet very important, to highlight a few specific definitions that may seem totally different or irrelevant, but are actually areas that our work focuses on and very much interweave with all larger societal issues, especially related to mental health, yet most people have no idea they do or even know what they are. So even though they are the closest thing to real Jedi stuff, very few people will listen to this, or care. The first one is what's called esotericism.
People think esoteric only means obscure, weird, or little known. Which to some extent it does. Esotericism primarily refers to a set of esoteric practices and knowledge that are typically intended for a select and initiated few rather than the general public. The term "esoteric" is derived from the Greek word "esōterikos," meaning "inner" or "hidden." But what it also means is inside. So what it fully means is what is inside in you, especially your mind, heart, both literal and archetypal, and what we could extend into conversation regarding higher states of being and both spirit or soul.
This is contrasted with Exoteric. Which means both comprehensible to or suited to the public; popular. Of or relating to the outside; external. So basically, what is popularly known or discussed is related to "the world out there". Just like how a smaller lesser known indie bands music will be superior to pop culture mainstream fluff music, which is inferior in quality, yet more widely known, in a dart board the esoteric can be thought of as the red center of the bullseye, which everything else radiates out from, while the exoteric is the rest of the board or more shallow outer area. To again go to a popular culture reference, esoteric knowledge is basically what the small number of Jedi know and practice, while exoteric knowledge is what the majority of the population, the non-Jedi know. It's accurate to say there is deeper substance and value in the esoteric over the exoteric and a more evolved human will become interested in the esoteric.
Those who become interested in the esoteric, which are few, usually follow it in an academic, intellectual, or historical context. Most never go any further than that. Yet those that do go further, some of whom, like the monks (or Jedi), choose to devote their whole life to such, can enter into study via praxis - meaning practical experience finding spiritual meaning and personal transformation through esoteric practices. With more advanced esoteric knowledge considered private or reserved for those who have undergone specific spiritual or intellectual training. Esotericism can be found in various cultural, religious, and philosophical traditions throughout history. Examples include very very old things such as, indigenous and pagan practices such as shamanism, alchemy, or newer systems such as certain aspects of Gnosticism, Kabbalah, or Sufism.
Since people's non-belief or belief of their faith systems drive all their other psychology, the juxtaposition between esoteric and exoteric are of foundational importance. After speaking briefly about the esoteric's collaborator, the occult, we'll highlight more about why these two things are of larger importance.