An occult obsessed friend of mine..

[Tris3021]

Hey all.. So I have a friend that id also into the occult, gnosticism, and all this stuff like me but for him it has gotten to the point where he lives, eats, breathes, and sleeps the occult and spirituality. All he does when he gets home now is watch stuff solely on the occult and it's all he now talks about! I don't know what I should do here ._.

[Rin]

This happens sometimes. Does he actually practice, or is it purely research/entertainment? Is he mentally ill in any way, or has he undergone any major life changes?

And how, for the lack of the a better word, "serious" is the material he's reading? Are we talking textbooks and scripture by serious authors, or youtube videos and crazy conspiracy theory level content?

[Cybernetic_Jazz]

Tell him that life itself is an initiatory experience - as above, so below, as within so without. If he goes to occultism to get tools to better his life he's really reinforcing the value of the environmental initiation that life itself gives. If he dives so deep in the data that he abandons the world - he's really dodging half the equation of spiritual development.

The good news about life - it seems like going to see the local football/baseball/basketball team play and hitting the bar or the clubs afterward *can* be an initiatory experience for the person with 'eyes to see'. We all have our times where we cocoon up with the books, heck I've been there for the last three years and I'd be hypocritical to say its wrong, but I think it's wise for him to remember that God and Goddess will chase him down and find him just as quickly at the mall or at the bar as in his room reading, they probably have more initiatory options for him out in public, and even if he gets more of his kicks and recharge in his alone time (ie. authentic introvert) he'd still want to keep some kind of exoteric hobby or two to keep him grounded.

That said though if he's a Manichean/Cathar type Gnostic the above appeals might not apply but on the other hand if he's Hermetic I think he'll get the import of that rather quickly.

[Desecrated]

Isn't that what happens when you find a new interest?

I'm pretty much the same when I find something new.

[Ramscha]

Isn't that his business?

[Sypheara]

I'm in agreement with the other posters. Just sounds like he has found something he is 'into'.

I get like this sometimes, it is a phase that has its waxing and waning stages.

I say as long as he is happy, leave him be!

[Desecrated]

Isn't that his business?

Technically yes. But A friend should care and are allowed to be concerned.