Review of Second
Sight (1912)
and How to Read
the Crystal,
or Crystal and Seer
(1922).
Sepharial was the pen name of Walter
Gorn Old,
a British author who published books about astrology,
the kabala, numerology, and other arcane topics in the
early part of the 20th century. Here I am offering two
of his books on crystal divination: Second
Sight (1912) and How
to Read the Crystal (1922).
Both these books are exceedingly brief--they could
never be described as in-depth or incisive studies.
However, they are both well-written and full of common
sense (even if Sepharial's "scientific" explanation as
to why crystal divination actually works is not very
persuasive). Our author is wise enough to continually
stress the spiritual nature of the practice, and he
correctly condemns the use of magical techniques. He
is very much aware that learning how to work with a
crystal takes both patience and discipline. His advice
about how we can do it ourselves strikes me as being
very sound. I have never had much interest in working
with a crystal, but I would start with the information
in these two books if I ever decide to give it a try.
It is interesting to note that what Sepharial says
about crystal gazing corresponds to what other writers
on the subject have also had to say, including Theodore
Besterman's Crystal
Gazing (1924)
and Northcote Whitridge
Thomas's Crystal
Gazing, Its History and Practice (1905).
One final note: the
astrological information at the end of the How
to Read the Crystal doesn't
have anything to do with crystal divination--it was
probably tacked on because Sepharial's publisher
wanted to add some filler to an already brief book.
Read How to Read the Crystal here and Second
Sight here.
...it
may be said that the clairvoyant faculty is
constitutional and already fully developed,
waiting only the circumstances which shall
serve to bring it into active play.
--Sepharial, How to Read the Crystal