Esoteric - The term refers to a series of historically related teachings including Gnosticism, Hermetism, magic, astrology, alchemy, Rosicrucianism, the Christian Theosophy of Jacob Bohme and his followers, Illuminism, Mesmerism, Spiritualism, the theosophical currents of Madame Blavatsky (a known witch) and her followers. These are considered as hidden knowledge. The word "occult" means hidden. You can pretty much assume that whatever has to do with these topics, they will have to do with the occult.
"Egypt is the fountainhead of all esoteric teaching."
Whenever you hear the phrase "esoteric symbolism," it symbolizes something occult related. Such as these symbols:
Exoteric - It is knowledge that is public as opposed to secretive. There is nothing hidden and it can be reproduced. It relates to "external reality" as opposed to one's thoughts or feelings.
"Egypt is the fountainhead of all esoteric teaching."
-William Schnoebelen, Former Mason, Beyond the Light
Whenever you hear the phrase "esoteric symbolism," it symbolizes something occult related. Such as these symbols:
“The initiates accepted the pyramid form as the ideal symbol of both the secret doctrine and
those institutions established for its dissemination”
-Manly P. Hall, Secret Teachings of All Ages
-Manly P. Hall, Secret Teachings of All Ages
Exoteric - It is knowledge that is public as opposed to secretive. There is nothing hidden and it can be reproduced. It relates to "external reality" as opposed to one's thoughts or feelings.
(Some of these images were obtained through the Vigilant Citizen website.)
