£1.85 net IN UK ONLY 158N 0.09 190811 6 Printed in Gret Britain Sepharial was a well known student of the occult at the turn of the century. His Manual of Occultism, first published in 1910, is a serious book for people who are truly interested in the occult. Its calm lucid style makes the considerable and often mysterious content of this complex subject much more accessible than usual Through the writing comes a genuine belief in the possibility of contacting the hidden sources of wisdom and guidance which lie within us. CONTENTS Part 1 Astrology - Palmistry : Thaumaturgy * Kabbalism - Numerology Talismans - Hypnotism Part 2 Divination - Tarot : Cartomancy - Crystal Gazing : Clairvoyance - Geomancy Psychometry : Dowsing « Dreams « Sortileges - Alchemy RIDER A Manual of Occultism SEPHARIALA MANUAL OF OCCULTISM re BY SEPHARIAL RIDER AND COMPANY LONDONRIDER AND COMPANY 3 Fitzroy Square, London Wr London Melbourne Sydney Auckland ‘Wellington Johannesburg Cape Town and agencies throughout the world First published 1910 This edition 1972 Second impression 1973 Printed in Great Britain by litho on smooth wove paper by Anchor Press, and bound by Wm, Brendon, both of Tiptree, Essex ISBN 0 29 110910 8 (cased) © 09 110911 6 (paper) INTRODUCTION Ir is not my intention in these pages to attempt an exposition of the deeper arcana in connection with the various subjects treated of; but rather to place before the lay reader a number of methods by means of which he will be able to demonstrate to his own satisfaction, and that of others, that there is a deep substratum of truth in what is usually called “ Occultism,” and that the occult arts are sure and definite means of exploring them. "The ancient Hermetic philosophers were well aware of a certain subtile correspondence or analogy existing between the superior and inferior worlds, the world of causation and that of effects. They traced a connection between the noumenal and the phenomenal, between the mind of man and his bodily condition, between the spiritual and the natural. ‘They affirmed all this in a trite axiom: ‘As above, so below. This philosophy extended to concrete observations, and became a science which they embodied in the Doctrine of Correspondences. ‘Tho hieroglyphic writings of the Chinese, Egyptians and Assyrians are the outcome of this science, portions of which are current in our own thought and language. Thus when we speak of commerce,vi INTRODUCTION the merchant and the market, we are going back to traditional knowledge which associated the “winged messenger ” of the gods with the ship in full sail; the word merx (trade) being at the root of the name Mercury, and the symbol Y the hiero- glyph for all that the name imports. We call the Sun “le” and the Moon “she,” tracing unconsciously a subtile correspondence between the day and the active male function in nature, and between the night and the passive female function. We speak of jovial men and infer their connection with the planet Jupiter; and all our destructive and hurtful ideas are embodied in such words as “to mar,” “ martial,” “ murder,” ete., linking them to their source in the root marna (to strike), because the destructive element in nature is represented in our system by the planet Mars. This Doctrine of Correspondences is at the root of all occult interpretation. It is our human presentation of the Universal Law which binds the Microcosm to the Macrocosm as an effect to its antecedent cause. The mystic, the poct and the creative artist are all unconscious interproters of this universal law. ‘They have in some degree the universal sense by which their souls are rendered responsive to the ptlsations of Nature's own heart- beat. The sybil, the diviner and the seer are in even closer touch with the Great Life, while they have less conscious enjoyment of that intimacy. Others there are who reach to the heart of things by a clear and conscious intellection, understanding what they INTRODUCTION vii see, analyzing and interpreting what they feel. ‘These are the Occultists, the true masters of the secret knowledge. Here it is perhaps necessary to ark the distinction which exists between occult- ism and mediumism, between the voluntary conscious effort of the trained intellect and the automatic functioning of the natural “ sensitive,” in their respective relations to the occult world. ‘The Oceultist is one who intelligently and con- tinuously applies himself to the understanding of the hidden forces in nature and to the laws of the interior world, to the end that he may consciously ‘co-operate with nature and the spiritnal intelligences in the production of effects of servico to himself and to his fellow-beings. This entails upon him a close study of the mystery and power of sound, number, colour, form; the psychological laws underlying all expression of faculty; the laws of sympathy and antipathy ; the law of vibration; of spiritual and natural affinity; the law of periodicity, of cosmic energy, planetary action; occult correspond ences, ete. To these labours he must bring a natural gift of understanding, an unusual degree of patience and devotion, and a keen porveption of natural facts. ‘The Medium, or natural sensitive, is one who holds himself in negative relations to the interior worlds, and submits himself to the operation of influences proceeding from things and persons, as well as to that of discarnate intelligences. The medium cultivates an unusual degree of responsiveness to environment and to the emanations (atomic, mag-viii INTRODUCTION netic or psychic) and suggestions of other persons. ‘The phenomena developed by this process of mediumism includs automatism (temporary loss of control over the motor nerves), as in the pheno- mena of involuntary speech and automatic writing ; hyperasthesia, as in the function of clairvoyance, clairaudience, psychometry, etc. ; trance, with its attendant phenomena of unconscious cerebration, ‘obsession, and a variety of physical effects of a supernormal character. In its highest manifesta- tion, following upon the “ crucifying of the flesh,” the subjugation of the passions, and a process of intense religious aspiration, mediumism is frequently followed by spiritual revelation and spontaneous prophooy. “But this sort cometh not but by fasting and prayer” ‘The various forms of divination to which recourse is had in so-called oceult circles rest largely upon the exercise of a faculty which is compounded of oceultism and mediumism. They are seen to employ the automatic faculty in conjunction with an em- pirical knowledge of certain occult methods of interpretation. ‘The following pages are intended to place the lay reader in possession of come of the principal methods of the occultists and mediums; and although nothing of a purely esoteric nature is divulged, it will never- theless be found that everything necessary to an initial understanding and practice of the various occult arte is included in this work. It is within the author’s purpose to place so much information INTRODUCTION ix at the disposal of the student as will effectually dobar him from any excuse of ignorance concernirig the psychic powers latent in man and the verity of the ocoult sciences. It is within the power of everybody to be convineed, and to convince others, while he who perseveres to the point of perfection in the exercise of his faculty may justly be dignified by the name of Adept. The Magi of ancient times were astrologers, diviners and prophets all, and he who would aspire to their high degree must pursue their methods and live their life. They have committed to us the following maxims, which are still preserved in the schools— Kxyow—Wuit—Dare—Keer Siext; and as to the rule of life they enjoin— Ruoxr Txovant—Ricut Freixa Rioxt Srrrcn—Ricur Action Riou Livia.CONTENTS PART I THE OCCULT SCIENCES Introduction. 6 ee ASTROLOGY—Skeriox I 1 THE ALPHABET, ER. | we 8 a HomHESIONS. eee Wome mous we ASTROLOGY—Szonox IT 1 MAKING A HOROSCOPE cee 11 FOREIGN HoROsCOP! + 3 ASTROLOGY—Sxcrion IIL 1 PERSONAL APPEARANCE so mommpconsromos 5. - eA nn HEALTH Se woomamactee. ee vo scars... ew 8 vio THE PoRTONES - . . we. 8D vu THE PosTiox =... wwe OBBxin " an Ww w 1 w a4 1 m CONTENTS ‘THE OOOUPATION MARRIAGE Progr... TRAVELLING . YRIENDS AND ExEMIES . KIND oF DEATH. ASTROLOGY—Sroriox 1V THE MEASURE OF TIME, RXAMPLE OF DIRECTIONS SECONDARY DIRECTIONS TTRANSITS AND EOLIPSES, ETO, MUNDANE ASTROLOGY OTHER METHODS . PALMISTRY ‘TYPES OF HANDS. MOUNTS OR CUREIONS ‘THR PHALANGES . Tae Lines : NINE PRINCIPAL LINES . INCIDENTAL MARKS THAUMATURGIO ART THE KABALA : ‘THE CALCULATORY ART or Evin sprmirs MAN'S SPIRITUAL FREEDOM ‘st 37 60 63. 65 67 69 13 6 80 91 7 105 m1 6 1g 123 134 140 146 158 161 voox mausMANS 5. .e wummrowogy 5 ee HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM . PART IT ‘THE OCCULT ARTS 1 Divraniox. MommetapoT. 2. we mt Cantowascy 2... IY VaRIous METHODS v Crverapaaiing. 2. VI PRELIMINARIES AND PRACTICR VI VISIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS VEIT SOME EXPERIENCES =... 1x Gromaney . : X CASTING AND JUDGING THE FIGURE XI SYMBOLS IN THE TWELVE HOUSES . xm Psvonomemy 2... xm Demme. xiv Sonmuroms. 9. 0. ALCHEMY... . adit 168 18 193, 213 218 233 240 24T 253 260 264, 269 215 282 310 320 333 344PART I THE OCCULT SCIENCES YHE VOLITIONAL FACULTY—THE WILL AND IMAGINATION — ADEPTSHIP — ASTROLOGY —KABALISM—TALISMANS—-NUMEROLOGY --PALMISTRY—HYPNOTISM, Ero, Ero,A MANUAL OF OCCULTISM SECTION I CHAPTER I ASTROLOGY Ta astrologic art is held to be the key to all the occult sciences. Certainly it is the most ancient, and that which most readily lends itself to scientific demonstration. Much that is contained in this and the following chapters is traditional knowledge, but some portion of it is the result of modern discovery and experi- ment. Thus the nature and significations of the signa of the zodiac and the planets, the aspects andsome other parts of the groundwork of astrology, have come down to us from times immemorial; but the methods of computing the periods, the exact times of events, together with some methods of in- terpretation, are of modern or comparatively recent origin. Of course, all that is known of Neptuno and Uranus is the result of modern discovery. 34 A MANUAL OF OCCULTISM ‘The subject before us can be divided into three parts — 1. The alphabet. Tae Atenaner This includes the: ‘symbols and names of the planets and the signs, their groupings and dominions. The Pranets (including, for convenience of phrasing, the Sun and Moon) are nine in number. Stated in the order of their distances from the earth they are as follows :— __) The Moon, which returns to the same place in the zodiac in about 27 days, and to its conjunetion with the Sun in about 29 days. Every 19 years ‘the New Moons fall in the same part of the zodiac. The Moon’s characteristic is change or mobility, 2 Venus, which returns to the same part of the zodiae about the same date in 8 years, Tt is at its nearest to tho earth when in inferior conjunction with the Sun. Tt characteristic i placidily or peace. It is called by the Greeks Aphrodite. ¥ Mercury, when in inferior conjunction with the Sun, is next in distance from the earth. It returns to the same longitude on the same date in 79 years. Its characteristic is activity. © The Sun is the chronocrater of out system, and all time is measured by its apparent movements, Tt bas an apparent motion round the earth in 24 ASTROLOGY 5 hours and 4 minutes, and an annual motion through the zodiac in 365 days 5 hours 48 minutes 49 seconds. ‘The earth is nearer the sun than it used to be, the day is shorter, and the precession of the equinoxes is greater. The equinoxes pass through each sign in about 2,160 years. ‘The vernal equinox is now in the constellation Pisces,and in about 700 years will be in Aquarius, The characteristic of the Sun is vitality. 3 Mars returns to the same part of the zodiac about the same time at the end of 79 years. Conse- quently it forms its conjunction with ¥ in the same part of the zodiac at the end of that period. Its characteristic is energy. ag Jupiter returns to the same longitude about tho same date every 83 years. It is called the Greater Fortune. Its charscteristic is expansion. } Saturn has @ period of 59 years, after which it comes to the same longitude about the same date. It is called the Greater Infortune. Its characteristio is privation. ly Uranus has a synodie petiod of 84 years. Its characteristic is disruption, ¥y Neptune has a period of about 165 years and its characteristic is chaos, ‘Tho periods of the plancts according to the Chaldeans are— ) 4 years, ¥ 10 years, 98 years, © 19 years, f 15 years, % 12 years, and » 30 years. ‘Thus the ) rules the life from birth to 4 years of age and is succeeded by U up to 14, then @ to the age of 22, followed by the Sun from 22 to 41, to which6 A MANUAL OF OCCULTISM succeeds until 56, and is followed by %, who rules the life up to the age of 68, thw last 30 years, up to the age of 98, being dominated by Satum. ‘Theso are the periods recited by Shakespeare in his famous passage in As You Like Jt, beginning “AIL the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” Thus the ) is the babe, “mewling and puking in its nurse's arms.” ¥ is the acholar, % the lover, 3 the soldier, % the judge “with good capon lined,” and the “Iran and slip- ered pantaloon.” ‘The last stage of all is that of (disruption), the paralytic senility of which condition is so aptly described by the Bard. Planetary Colours, Neptune—Mauve, lilac, heliotrope (admixtures of pale blue and scarlet). ranus—Crey, black and white mixed, in checks or stripes. Saturn. —Dark brown, black, Jupiter —Violet, purple. Mars.—Scarlet, crimson, Sun.—Orange, gold, Venus.—-Palo blue, turquoise, Mercury.—Indigo, dark blue. Moon—Opal, iridescent sheens, yellow, and in watery signs (25, |, x) sea green. Planetary Numbers, ‘The following numbers transmitted by John Heydon in the sixteenth century have been proved correct :— ASTROLOGY v b 8, U8, 5% 96, 955 © (negative) 4, (positive) te Dow ® » Planetary Metals, ‘¥ (onknown) ; g iton; uranium 5 9 copper fy lead; % quicksilver; 2 tin; D silver; © gold. Tho atomic weights of the ancient metals are not presumed to have been known to the ancient astrolo~ gers, yet we find they namod the planets and ascribed their dominions in the mineral world in exact accord ance with the facts of modern soienee. ‘The specific gravities of the various puro metals known to them are contained in the following glyph -—8 A MANUAL OF OCCULTISM This seven-pointed star is read from the ray marked J towards the left. The result is— iron, specific gravity 56; 9 copper, 6 D silver » 108; % tin » 118; © gold » 196; ¥ quicksilver ,, 200; Th toad » 207, Read alternately in the reverse order we have © tuling Sunday, > » Monday, go» Tuesday, % 4, Wednesday, % 5 Thursday, 4, Fridoy, Hh, Saturday. Tf wo road from point to point $0 as to make a heptagram or seven-poiuted star, or a star of seven angles, wo have the order of the planets according to the Chaldean system : R¥POVyD Syrmpathies The following glyph (see page 0) exhibits at a glance the sympathies and antipathies of the planets— Thus Satum is opposed to the Sun and Moon, Jupiter to Mereury, and Venus to Mars, ‘This is exhibited in detail by reference to the ASTROLOGY 9 Dominions of the planets, which are set forth in the following sehedule— fy governs a> and Vy opposed to © governing Q and > 4 Y governs ¢ and 3¢ ‘opposed to Y governing I] and mp governs 7° and m, opposed to @ governing = and y. ¢ XE > ‘The “ Dominions " are sometimes called “ Houses from domus, a house, but as other divisions of the10 A MANUAL OF OCCULTISM heavens are 60 called, I prefer to uso the term “dominions” to deserily the signs of the zodiac ruled over by the planets. Tn a general sense, and having regard to the specific naturo of each planet, Saturn is in aympathy with Mars, Mars with tho Sun, Jupiter with tho Moon and Venus; while Mercury ia variable, taking its radical tincture from that planet to which it is in closest aspect at birth. ‘The following figare shows at a glance the signs owned or ruled by the plancts and the luminaries i-— Ie will be observed thateach planet has two signs, the Sun and Moon one each. Neptune is found to have affinity with the sign x, Pisces, and Uranus with 2, Aquarius; but these are modern empiticistns, and for some timo must be received with caution, CHAPTER II HE ASPECTS ‘Tax ancients have handed down a tradition which informs us that the triangle is a symbol of the spirit and is efficacious for good, while the cross which is formed on the square is a symbol of matter and is of evil import. In practical astrology we find this dictum to be tno, Thus the aspect, or angular distance between two celestial bodies, or points of tho zodiac, is the means by which we determine whether a planet favours our fortunes or tho reverse, The trine A aspect of 120° is good, and produces harmonizing effects whenever and wherever it ooeurs. ‘The % sextile aspect of 60° is half tho trine, and is good in like manner but in less degree, The x, semisextile of 30° is similarly propitions, but in a very subsidiary degree. Te serves, however, to turn the scales when the influences are conflicting. These, then, are the good aspects :— A * 120° 60° 30° and to these are added the conjunctions of Y and Q,and of ¥ when in good aspect to another planet, ‘The evil aspects are : n