Walter Gornold

Walter Gorn Old.

Walter Gornold (March 20, 1864 — December 29, 1929) was known until 1895 as Walter Richard Old. He was very active in the Theosophical Society from 1887-1895 and in August 1890 became a member of H. P. Blavatsky's Inner Group in London. During his long career as an astrologer, he used the pen name Sepharial.

Personal life

Walter Richard Old was born March 20, 1864 in West Bromwich, Staffordshire (now West Midlands), England. He officially changed his name to Walter Richard Gornold on April 19, 1895, incorporating the name Gorn (also spelled Gorm), a Danish king from whom he was descended.

On June 23, 1896, he married Marie Katherine Susanna Moore who shared his interest in the occult. The couple had at least six children – daughters Cynthia, Iris, Ivy, Averil, and Barbara, and a son, Walter R. Gorn Old – whom Mr. Old supported as a "literary author," living mostly in London.

On December 29, 1929, Walter Old died of a cerebral hemorrhage in Hove, England.

Involvement in Theosophical Society

Mr. Old was admitted as a Fellow [member] of the Theosophical Society on January 12, 1888, at a time he was living in Birmingham. He worked with Madame Blavatsky in London, and also spent time at the Adyar headquarters of the Theosophical Society. He served as the General Secretary of the Theosophical Society in England from 1890 to 1891, and around that time introduced W. F. Allen – an astrologer best known as Alan Leo – to Theosophy. In addition Old acted as associate editor of The Vahan in 1890-1891 and of The Theosophist in 1892. He served as Recording Secretary and Treasurer of the international Theosophical Society in 1893.

In London

Rev. B. Old, brother of Walter, recalled an experience the latter had when living with Mme. Blavatsky:

He [Walter] had been thinking about some astrological problem and came into the sitting-room looking serious and harrassed. H.P.B. and I were having a chat; she evidently sensed something from my brother, so in a masterful way directed him to sit down on the sofa and rest himself. The she turned to me and softly said: "Don't be alarmed, I am going to show him what he wants to know." She only touched his thumb with the ring she had upon her finger, and he instantly fell asleep as in a trance, just as one sees a sensitive go into a trance during a performance of hypnotism. In a very short time, he was awakened and she said to him, "Do you understand what you saw?" He said, "Yes, and it is the answer to my astrological problem in Hebrew letters of fire." "Yes," she said, "that is right. But at present you must not go over by yourself." Then she again turned to me and said that she had been away from her body three times during my brother’s trance or sleep.

According to an account by Ernest Pelletier:

On Thursday, May 19th, 1887, the Blavatsky Lodge was founded. Old served as its Vice-President for the year 1889 and was re-elected on Jan. 2nd, 1890 for another year. On Dec. 18th, 1889, at a meeting held at 17 Lansdowne Road, Old was elected as the first General Secretary of the newly formed British Section. He was a member of the Esoteric Section. Along with Miss Laura Cooper and Claude Falls Wright, Old was present when H.P.B. passed away. At the first Annual Convention of the Theosophical Society in Europe on July 9th -10th, 1891, Old was appointed Assistant Secretary to G. R. S. Mead, Secretary. He was also elected as Librarian of the Headquarters Library. Old gave lectures on astrology and contributed to the Questions and Answers section of The Vahan. He was a student of the Kabala and of medicine. He wrote the preface to H.P.B.'s Gems of the East — a Birthday Book of Precepts and Axioms.

Old was a member of the household at 19 Avenue Road, the house of Annie Besant where H.P.B. lived in her final months. When Blavatsky formed her Inner Group in July, 1890, Old was one of the twelve men and women who studied with her. Along with Miss Laura Cooper, Claude Falls Wright, and Miss Black, the nurse, Old was at H.P.B.'s bedside when she died of influenza on May 8, 1891.

At Adyar

In November 1892, he travelled to India to work at the Headquarters and contributed to the pages of The Theosophist.

During his time at Adyar, Mr. Old also lectured in the Indian branches:

Madanapalle. - Mr. Old visited the Branch on July 12th and remained nearly a week. During this time he delivered two lectures, one on the "Ethical Basis of Theosophy"; the other, "Vindication of Yoga." The meetings were presided over respectively by the District Munsiff and Tahsildar

Mr. Old also presided over a meeting of the boys of the Theosophical class attached to the Branch. This visit to the Branch will have a lasting effect for good.

R. Seshagiri Rau,

Secretary.

Adyar Library

While still using the name Walter R. Old, he was one of the earliest librarians in the Adyar Library. His name appears frequently in early issues of The Theosophist, in brief notices about the library, such as this:

ADYAR LIBRARY.
The undersigned acknowledges with thanks the receipt of a copy of Manira S'âstra from the Hon. S. Subramania Iyer; also the gift of Rs. 30 to the Adyar Library Fund from Mr. R. Sorria Row Naidu, Masulipatam.

Walter R. Old,

Librarian.

Judge controversy

Walter Gorn Old.

In 1894-1895 the Theosophical Society was embroiled in a controversy that Mr. Old made public, thereby worsening the situation: In August 1893 both Old and Edge were suspended from their membership in the E.S.T. for violating their pledge of secrecy because of their article "THEOSOPHIC FREETHOUGHT" which appeared in The Theosophist. Old, upset with Annie Besant's comments at the General Council meeting held July 7th, 1894 and how that meeting turned out, decided to send his statement of alleged facts to The Westminster Gazette with the intent of exposing Mr. Judge as a fraud, which he thought Mr. Judge was, according to the copied evidence he had. It was this letter of alleged facts published in November 1894 that re-started the whole Judge Case controversy.

Old became very unpopular within the theosophical movement after the Westminster Gazette item. It was apparently reported in the November 12th, 1894, Westminster Gazette that he had also resigned, but this seems doubtful because of his letter which appeared in the December issue of Lucifer. In his undated letter to the Editor, he refers to a note of Nov. 15th which appeared in the previous issue in the "Watch-Tower". He goes on to state: "I am still working for the Society, and I retain the fullest confidence in its power to outlive all troubles that are honestly faced."

In a letter to Mrs. Fielding, January 31st, 1939, Sydney H. Old commented on his brother. "It is a matter of keen regret that in 1894/5 my brother (the astral tramp ["H.P.B. used to call him 'the astral tramp,' on account of his habit of 'roaming about in his astral body at night,' as she put it.']) should, after all his experience with H.P.B. have been partner to those articles in the Westminster Gazette and the publication of that booklet by Edmund Garrett entitled 'Isis Very Much Unveiled'. He seemed after that to slump in T.S. work, got married, and ended his career as a strong advocate of the Four Square Gospel of Aimee Semple Macpherson." On September 13th, 1929, three months before he died, he announced at a meeting "I have spent all my life and travelled half way round the world in search of the truth. Today I have found it...in the simple Gospel of Jesus Christ which I learned at my mother's knee".

Career as an astrologer

Old was a prominent practitioner of astrology. In The Theosophist he published the horoscopes of Mme. Blavatsky, Colonel Olcott, and Annie Besant. He also contributed to periodicals for astrologers such as The Sphinx, The Horoscope, and the British Journal of Astrology. The Evening News of London would publish his annual predictions for the coming year.

He was also noted for his proposal of a second moon of Earth that he called Lilith.

Writings

Gornold was a prolific writer of books and articles. The Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals lists 19 articles by or about Walter R Old, 21 articles under Gornold, and another 43 articles under the pseudonym Sepharial. Most of the latter deal with astrology. He also wrote books and pamphlets. These are listed under the author name on the title page of the first edition, if known; later editions often used Sepharial.

He also issued many astrological papers such as commodities predictions by private subscription. Those are mostly lost. A book called the Golden Key and another devoted to pyramidology were never published.

Walter R. Old as author

• What is Theosophy? A Handbook for Inquirers. London: Hay Nisbet, 1891. Translated into Danish and Norwegian.
• The Book of the Path of Virtue, or a Version of the Tao-Teh-King of Lao-tze, the Chinese Mystic and Philosopher: with an Introduction & Essay on the Tao as Presented in the Writings of Chuang-tze, the Apostle of Tao-tze.. Madras, India: Indian Section of the Theosophical Society, 1894. 46 pages. 1894 edition is available at Google Books and Hathitrust.

Walter Gornold as author

• The Simple Way, Laotze (the ‘Old Boy’): A New Translation of the Tao-Teh-King with Introduction and Commentary. London: Philip Wellby, 1904. Available at Internet Archive and Scribd. Third edition by London: Rider & Son, 1913.
• The Shu king; or, The Chinese historical classic, being an authentic record of the religion, philosophy, customs and government of the Chinese from the earliest times. London And Benares, Theosophical Pub. Society; New York, John Lane, 1904. 306 pages. Available at Hathitrust and Internet Archive, among other sources.

Sepharial as author

• The Manual of Occultism. London: Rider, 1910, 1972.
• Phrenoscopy, Being a Synthetic System of Astro-phrenology - the Key to Human Character. London: W. Foulsham, 1914, 156 pages.
• Eclipses in Theory and Practice.
• How to Read the Crystal, or Crystal and Seer. London: Foulsham & Co., 1922. [Waiheke Island]: Floating Press, 2009 (digital edition).
• The Daily Guide.
• The Astrological Ready Reckoner and Students' Assistant. London : W. Foulsham & Co., 19xx. 68 pages.
• Astrology and Marriage: . New York: S. Weiser, 1970.
• Hebrew Astrology: the Key to the Study of Prophecy. London: Foulsham, 1929. 140 pages.
• The Solar Epoch; a New Astrological Thesis. New York: S. Weiser, 1970.
• The Yoga of Yama: What Death Said: a version of the Katopanishad, with commentary: being a system of Yoga, or means of attainment. London: W. Rider & Son, 1915. Commentaries edited by Old.
• The Great Devastation - a Prophecy of the Times That are Coming upon Europe. London: Foulsham, 1914. Available at Hathitrust.
• The Numbers Book; the Science of Numerology. London, New York, W. Foulsham, 1957, 1987. 128 pages.
• Transits and Planetary Periods; a Book of Practical Hints to Students of Astrology. New York: S. Weiser, 1920, 1970. 93 pages.
• Second Sight: a Study of Natural and Induced Clairvoyance. London: William Rider & Sons, 1912. Kessinger edition, 1996. 1912 edition is available at Project Gutenberg.
• The Book of Charms and Talismans, with numerous diagrams of talismans, sigils, and seals. 1923. Philadelphia, David McKay Co., 1924. New editions by London, W. Foulsham, 1957, 1989.
• The Basis of Scripture Prophesies. Philadelphia: D. McKay Co., 1927.
• New Dictionary of Astrology, in which all technical and abstruse terms used in the textbooks of the science are intimately explained and illustrated. Reissued by Arco, New York in 1964. Reissued by New York: Galahad Books, 1963.
• The New Manual of Astrology. Four volumes.
• The Manual of astrology: in four books: treating of the language of the heavens, the reading of a horoscope, the measure of time, and Hindu astrology ; includes the influence of the planet Pluto. Revised edition by London; New York: W. Foulsham, 1962.
• Astrology Explained.
• The Silver Key.
• Cosmic Symbolism. London: William Rider & Son, 1912. Santa Fe, N.M.: Sun Pub. Co., 1981.
• Science of Foreknowledge.
• Prognostic Astronomy; the scientific basis of the predictive art commonly called astrology. London, L.N. Fowler, 1901. 100 pages.
• Degrees of the Zodiac Symbolised. 1907. Written with Charubel [John Thomas]. Chicago: Aries Press, 1943.
• Astrology: How To Make Your Own Horoscope. New York: R. F. Fenno & Company, n.d. 126 pages with illustrations. Revised, enlarged edition by Santa Fe, N.M. : Sun Pub. Co., 1981.
• The Arcana Or Stock And Share Key. Kessinger edition available.
• The Law of Values: An Exposition of the Primary Causes of Stock and Share Fluctuations. Cosimo Classics. 56 pages. On financial astrology.
• The Wheel of Fortune; a study of astrology, graphology, numerology, dreams, omens, palmistry. 1932.
• The Theory of Geodetic Equivalents in relation to mundane astrology, including many remarkable proofs and striking prophecies. Philadephia: David McKay, 19xx. London, W. Foulsham, 19xx. 61 pages.
• The World Horoscope, Hebrew Astrology; Key to the Study of Prophecy. London, W. Foulsham, 1965. 71 pages.
• An Astrological Survey of the Great War. London, W. Foulsham, 1914.
• The Kabala of Numbers. London: Rider & Son, 1911. 1911 edition available at Hathitrust. Revised edition by London, William Rider and Son, 1920. 913. 2nd edition by Philadelphia: D. McKay Co., 1928. New expanded edition by New York, S. Weiser, 1970 with 387 pages. New expanded edition by Hollywood, Calif., Newcastle Pub. Co., 1974.
• The Art of Card Fortune Telling: a lucid treatise dealing with all the popular and more abstruse methods. London, W. Foulsham, 1958.
• Directional Astrology: to which is added a discussion of problematic points and a complete set of tables necessary for the calculation of arcs of direction. Philadelphia: D. McKay, 1915. 119 pages.

Preface to Gems from the East

Old also composed the "Preface" to H.P. Blavatsky's Gems from the East:

Few words will be needed by way of preface to these "Gems from the East."

At a time when Western minds are occupied in the study of Oriental Literature, attracted possibly by its richness of expression and marvelous imagery, but no less by the broad yet deep philosophy of life, and the sweet altruistic doctrines contained therein, it is thought seasonable to present the public with a useful and attractive little volume such as this.

The Precepts and Aphorisms, compiled by "H.P.B.," are culled chiefly from Oriental writings considered to embody, in part, teachings which are now attracting so much attention in the West, and for the diffusion of which the Theosophical Society is mainly responsible.

As far as possible we have endeavoured to make the volume attractive, handy, and useful to all.

It contains a Precept or an Axiom for every day in the year; lines of a Theosophical nature, selected from sources not invariably Oriental, preface each month; and the whole is embellished with drawings from the pen of F. W., a lady Theosophist.

It is hoped that our efforts will meet with approval from all lovers of the good and beautiful, and that they may not be without effect in the cause of TRUTH.

W.R.O. "THERE IS NO RELIGION HIGHER THAN TRUTH"

Online resources

Articles

• That Terrible Iconoclast: a Brief Biography of Sepharial by Kim Farnell
• "The World as Object and Subject". Theosophical Siftings 5:9. Available at Canadian Theosophical Association.

Additional resources

• Sepharial's Natal Chart at Astrodienst
• Farnell, Kim. Biography of Sepharial/Walter Gorn Old.