This book consists of three essays of which the first two were articles published in Lucifer, a journal edited by H.P.Blavatsky, in 1888.

'Practical Occultism' describes the essential difference between theoretical Occultism (Theosophy) and  Practical Occultism (Occult Science), and the nature of the difficulties involved in the study of the latter.

'Occultism versus the Occult Arts' dispels the widely held misconception that the two are same and akin to magic or sorcery, and clearly spells out what exactly the theosophist ought to strive after.

The last essay, a set of compilations by Blavatsky,consists of practical ideas, quotations and insights to meditate on daily, as pointers to self-knowledge and ultimately self-realization.