A syncretic system whose name is short-hand for the philosophical and temple teachings of Hellenistic Egypt. The central figure is that of Hermes Trismegitus - who is considered an incarnation of the gods Thoth (Tahuti) and Hermes - and the core teachings are his writings "The Emerald Tablet" and "Corpus Hermeticum".
The goal of Hermetic practice is enlightment through spiritual alchemy and theurgical ritual. There are also elements of practical magick and astrology involving the use of planetary talismans and horary charts. Hermetic magickal practices are the foundations for Renaissance European magick (via Agrippa) which went on to influence the Golden Dawn and ceremonial magick as a whole.
Strictly Hermetic groups tend to be occult groups of a ceremonial bent or esoteric orders.
Combining elements of Hermetics, Rosicrucianism, Freemasonry, and Renaissance European magick, the Golden Dawn system is the foundation for most of what constitutes Western Occultism and "high magick". The Golden Dawn used a grade system similar to a fraternal lodge where the initiate progresses after demonstrating knowledge, ability, and the willingness to undertake various oaths of secrecy.
The Golden Dawn teachings involve an intensive study of the Qabalah, tarot, and an extensive set of ornate rituals involving Christian, Jewish, Hellenistic, and Egyptian myth and symbolism. The goal of this path is spirtual perfection and the attainment of life goals.
There are a plethora of orders and groups still operating under the Golden Dawn name. Unfortunately, most of them also seem to be in constant conflict, if not outright war, such as the Shadows Conflict two years ago, with each other either over existing working occult artifacts, or over lineage and rights to the name and future of the system.
The tradition founded by Aleister Crowley. Crowley, an intiate of the Golden Dawn, believed himself the Prophet of the New Aeon as fortold in Liber AL vel Legis or "Book of the Law". Crowley claimed this book was dictated to him by praeternatrual intelligence named "Aiwass". The book describes a procession of "Aeons" that mark different periods in human history and fortells the coming Aeon of Horus. Thelema is intened to be the new religion for the Aeon of Horus or The Crowned and Conquering Child.
The Book is the source the infamous axiom "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law." This has been erroneously translated to "do whatever you want". In fact, the "wilt" here refers to the True Will, or highest purpose, inherent in every individual. The term can also be found in the commonly quoted definition of magick: "The art and science of causing change in conformity with Will".
Thelemic cosmology has multiple god-forms, but the three most important are Nuit (Our Lady of the Stars), Hadit (The Solar God/Horus), and Ra-Hoor-Khuit (The Crowned and Conquering Child). Other gods mentioned in Thelemic rituals and works are Pan, Choronzon, Harpocrates, and Babalon, the Sacred Whore and her beastly mount Therion.
As Crowley was a GD intiate, Thelemic practices retain a lot similarities to that of the GD. Both involve intensive study of Qabalah, tarot, and various elaborate rituals for the intiate to master. Crowley was antagonistic to the church, so he removed a lot of Judeo-Christian language and symbolism from the rituals and replaced them with references to Thelemic cosmology. He also developed his own tarot deck, the "Thoth" deck, and wrote a companion book - The Book of Thoth - which is considered a classic text on the tarot. Thelema also places utilizes Eastern methods of mysticism and self-mastery like yoga, tantra, buddhist meditation, and sexual alchemy.
The goal of Thelema is knowing and being in alignment with your True Will. This is done through many methods, but the most commonly acknowledged is the Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel. The Holy Guardian Angel, or higher self, is seen as the initiate's guide to knowing their True Will.
The two main organizations currently active in Thelema are the Ordo Templi Orientis and the A.'. A.'..
Chaos Magick is a system of magickal thought developed in the late 70's and into the early 80's by Peter J. Carroll and Ray Sherwin. CM borrows heavily from the DIY and anti-authoritarian ethos of punk rock, Discordianism and Robert Anton Wilson, quantum physics, chaos theroy, and the work of artist and occultist Austin Osman Spare.
Chaos Magick is practical, results-oriented magick. The Chaos Magick axiom "Nothing is true, everything is permitted" means that the Chaote should feel free to use any and all means to achieve results so long as it works. Ideas of spiritual perfection and enlightenment, overall, are not important to most Chaotes as they are with traditional high magicians. The principals behind CM are "belief-shifting", "belief as a tool", gnosis.
Belief-shifting is the idea of utilizing all methods of magick regardless of the contradictions they may hold against each other for examples. These contradicitons are mitigated by the philosophy of "belief as a tool" or that the emotional and psychological investment in the ritual is more important than the words or actions performed. Gnosis is an altered state of consciousness likened to the Buddhist concept of "samadhi" in which the meditator achieves union with the Buddha-mind via complete mental vacuity. It is believed that the gnostic state of mind is where magick "happens". There are two kinds of gnostic trance: inhibitory and exciatory. The former is associated with sleeplessness, meditation, fasting, and hypnotic states. The later is associated with more active modes of trance like drumming, dance, sexual arousal, and flagellation.
Carroll and Sherwin opened a fraternal order called the Illuminates of Thanateros which is one of the few magickal orders still heavily active today. The order has five degrees with initiate advancement based on demonstration of knowledge and ability. However, it can be reasonably stated that the majority portion of the CM community works alone or in self-formed groups.
Mostly associated with Wicca, Neo-Paganism also includes Heathenry, Druidism, Neo-Shamanism, and various forms of contemporary Goddess theology. Neo-Pagans often stress that their path's are a religion first and a method of magick second. Neo-Paganism could also include traditions outside of the West such as Chinese folk religion or the various syncretic religions of Japan.
Neo-Pagans are the most visible and active members of the occult community. Most Unitarian Universalist churches have an "Earth-Based Spirituality" meeting group and there are dozens of large-scale festivals and celebrations that take place only a few hours away from even the remotest small town. There is also a cottage industry of publishers, record labels, and magazines devotes to Neo-Pagan topics and issues. Arguably, one could even say there is a whole city dedicated to it: Salem, Massachusetts.
Outside of Druidism and Heathenry, most take an eclectic approach to magickal practices and freely borrow ideas from other spiritual traditions. It's not uncommon for some Wiccans to be involved in with practices outside of their tradition such as Reiki, yoga, or even Thelema. Druidism and Heathenry, however, are "reconstructionist" traditions that attempt to rebuild the old religious practices of a particular culture. In the case of Heathenry, it's the religion of the pagan Norse. In Druidism, that of the Iron Age Celtic priesthood.
Most Wiccan groups tend to be private covens, but Druidism and Heathenry both have rather robust organizations in America or abroad. The most active orders in Druidism are Ár nDraíocht Féin, Reformed Druids of North America, and The Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids in the U.K.. For Heathenry, there is The Ring of Troth and the Asatru Alliance both of which are based in the United States.
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