occultist

This term describes an individual dedicated to the exploration of the hidden or supernatural. It carries a connotation of secrecy and exclusivity, suggesting that the knowledge possessed is not available to the general public and requires specific initiation or study to uncover. While often associated with mysticism or magic, the word can range from describing a scholarly historian of esoteric traditions to a practitioner of ritual magic. It is distinct from a general spiritualist in that it emphasizes the study of hidden laws or secret arts rather than just communication with the dead.