[i](aside: throughout human history, many schools of thought sought refuge in esoterica and clothed their outward appearance in misdirecting, e.g. occult, symbolism both to (a) filter membership (as in spot the bozo) and (b) to permit a pseudo-public discourse that resisted penetration by the uninitiated.)[/i] The premise for this assertion is a bit baseless unless we alter 'throughout human history' to 'for the last two-hundred years or so'. Esoterica was primarily esoteric as a means of sustaining one's life rather than filtering membership and permitting a secret discourse (I disagree with the idea of 'pseudo-public', as it was as public as any highly educated discourse; a great deal of the finest esoteric thought was printed and in public circulation). When one uses the term 'occult symbolism' in this psychologized New Age era, one usually does so without the rather granular nature of the usage and 'purpose' of symbols in esoterica. For example, Giordano Bruno's 'occult symbols' were prime examples of his mastery of the Ars Memoria. They served as mnemonic devices to focus his mind and encapsulate his thoughts in a time when paper was not so readily available. In this case, his symbols were for himself and no other. Furthermore, those seals of the oft-reviled Lemegeton Clavicula Salomonis were earnestly not intended at its inception to be used as a secret decoder ring, but to quite honestly communicate with daemons for purposes of divine enlightenment (not of a Christian or of a necessarily benign nature). With the Occult Revival of the 1800s, the Spiritualist movement, Theosophy, Freemasonry, Rosicrucianism, etc. all established the elitist, politically charged clubs often injected into conspiracy theories with secret handshakes and ostentatious symbolism (in both rites and writing). That said, esoterica (properly a product of the Medieval and Renaissance era) promotes refuge in much the same manner as any focused higher level of education. For more information, I suggest a visit to http://www.esotericarchives.com. Joseph Peterson has provided authoritative translations of texts that have received ill treatment and inept scholarship in the hands of the above-mentioned clubs. I strongly suggest you take a look.