Theosophical History A Quarterly Journal of Research Volume VIII, No. 2 April 2000 ISSN 0951-497X THEOSOPHICAL HISTORY A Quarterly Journal of Research Founded by Leslie Price, 1985 Volume VIII, No. 2 April 2000 EDITOR but a few examples) that have had an infl uence on or displayed an James A. Santucci California State University, Fullerton affi nity to modern Theosophy. The subscription rate for residents in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada is ASSOCIATE EDITORS $21.00 (one year) or $38.00 (two years). California residents, please add Robert Boyd $1.62 (7.75%) sales tax onto the $21 rate or $2.94 onto the $38 rate. For residents outside North America, the subscription rate is $25.00 (one year) or †John Cooper $45.00 (two years). Air mail is $35.00 (one year) or $65.00 (two University of Sydney years). Single issues are $6.00. Subscriptions may also be paid in British sterling. 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Box 6868, Fullerton, CA 92834-6868 California State University, P.O. Box 6868 U.S.A.) The journal consists of eight issues per volume: one volume covering Fullerton, CA 92834-6868 (U.S.A.) a period of two years. The journal’s purpose is to publish contributions FAX: 714-693-0142 E-Mail: [email protected] specifi cally related to the modern Theosophical Movement, from the time of TELEPHONE: 714-278-3727 Madame Helena Blavatsky and others who were responsible in establishing Web address: www.theosophicalhistory.org the original Theosophical Society (1875), to all groups that derive their teachings—directly or indirectly, knowingly or unknowingly—from her or her immediate followers. In addition, the journal is also receptive to Copyright ©2000 by James A. Santucci related movements (including pre-Blavatskyite Theosophy, Spiritualism, Composition by Robert Hütwohl, Santa Fe, NM Rosicrucianism, and the philosophy of Emanuel Swedenborg to give Printed on acid-free paper THEOSOPHICAL HISTORY Contents April 2000 Volume VIII, Number 2 Editor’s Comments James Santucci ............................................................................................43 Associate Editor’s Comments In the Beginning Leslie Price ..................................................................................................47 Communication A Report on the Kalachakra Initiation in Bloomington, Indiana James Burnell Robinson .............................................................................50 Articles Methodology and the Study of Western Spiritual Alchemy Dan Merkur.................................................................................................53 Walter Richard Old: The Man Who Held Helena Blavatsky’s Hand Kim Farnell..................................................................................................71 Book Reviews Aleister Crowley e la tentazione della politica Joscelyn Godwin.........................................................................................84 “...Een kern van Broederschap...’: 100 Jaar Theosofi sche Vereniging in Nederland, 1897-1997 Alfred Willis.................................................................................................88 On the cover: Walter Old, pre-1914. Published with permission from Kim Farnell and Pastor Christopher Gornold Smith. Editor’s Comments In This issue wo articles appear in this issue that are of it was perhaps the primary reason for its Timportance from different perspectives: existence in the early years according to John P. Kim Farnell’s “Walter Richard Old: The Man Deveney. His work in the T.S. included serving Who Held Helena Blavatsky’s Hand” and as General Secretary of the British Section in Dan Merkur’s “Methodology and the Study of 1890-1891 and receiving, as a member of the Western Spiritual Alchemy.” Inner Group, occult training from Madame The first article recounts the life of one Blavatsky. The title of Miss Farnell’s article is of the most infl uential astrologers of the late reflective of Old’s presence at the death of nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Madame Blavatsky in May, 1891. The rest of Walter Richard Old (1864–1929). Known in the story of his involvement in Theosophy astrological circles as Sepharial and from 1895 and in the Society, which eventually ended by as Walter Gornold in private life, his name 1896, was not of crucial importance so far as does appear prominently in Theosophical the history of the T.S. is concerned; it does, circles during Madame Blavatsky’s lifetime. however, reveal some interesting reactions to In fact, Miss Farnell writes that “[a]lthough it signifi cant events at that time, most notably is commonly recorded that he was a friend the Judge affair. No matter what our final of Helena Blavatsky and a member of the assessment is of Old as a Theosophist, any Theosophical Society his involvement goes far addition to our knowledge of late nineteenth beyond that often hinted at.” This involvement century Theosophy is most welcome. was not only intellectual but experiential as Miss Farnell’s paper was fi rst presented at well. In 1886, Old had a “mystical experience” the Theosophical History Conference in 1997, which was later published in Lucifer. The around the time when she was completing article, “My Unremembered Self: The Experi- a book on Walter Old. The book has since ence of An Astral Tramp,” describes his vision come out as The Astral Tramp: A Biography of meeting his own self. The epithet “Astral of Sepharial (Ascella Publications 1998) ISBN Tramp,” given by Blavatsky herself, is an apt 1-898503-88-5. Trained as a journalist and one because of Old’s tendency to roam about a professional astrologer since 1990, Kim her residence in astral form, a significant Farnell has written for numerous astrological ability within the Theosophical Society since periodicals and lectured widely in the U.K. Theosophical History VIII/2 43 She currently writes sun sign columns for Dr. Merkur, the author of Gnosis: An Esoteric British magazines and teaches astrology for a Tradition of Mystical Visions and Unions Japanese school. Her next book, a collection (Albany: SUNY, 1993) and the recently pub- of biographical essays of nineteenth-century lished The Mystery of Manna (Park Street Press, astrologers, will appear on CD next year. 2000), has taught at Syracuse University and Copies of The Astral Tramp may be obtained Auburn Theological Seminary and is currently direct from the author for £9.99, with additional living in Toronto. airmail postage of £3. Miss Farnell may be reached by e-mail at [email protected], by In addition to these articles, James B. fax at 44 171 358 9690 (fax), or by mail (54 Robinson reports on the 1999 Kalachakra Sprules Road Brockely, London SE4 2NN). Initiation held in Bloomington, Indiana. Dr. Robinson captures the significance of the The second paper, Dan