SEERSHIP; Guide to Soul Sight - Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn

taught by the Secret Schools, can be gradually developed into a living, pulsating, scintillating fire
which envelopes the entire being and which finally results in the Illumination and Immortalizing of
the Soul. This is the Great Work so much spoken of by the various writers on the Mysteries. It is
the Way, the Light, and the Life of Man.
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It may require a special examination in certain cases to determine whether the person is best fitted,
naturally, for a sympathist, or psychometer, truly such in any one of a thousand phases, or for a
clairvoyant in any particular degree. To go blindly to work is but to waste your time and effort to
no purpose whatever. If your natural bent, organization and genius best fit you for one particular
thing, it were folly to attempt to force yourself into another path.
Never begin a course of experiments unless you intend to carry them on to certain success. To begin
a course of magnetic experiments, and become tired in a fortnight because you do not succeed, is
absurd. Mesmeric circles are, all things considered, probably the quickest way to reach practical
results in a short time.
In the attempt to reach clairvoyance, most people are altogether in too great a hurry to reach grand
results, and in that haste neglect the very means required, permitting the mind to wander all over
creation - from the consideration of a miserable love affair of no account whatever, to an
exploration of the mysteries enshrouding the great nebulæ or Orion or Centauri. Now that won't
do. If one wants to be able to peruse the life-scroll of others, the first thing learned must be the
steady fixing of mind and purpose, aim and intent, upon a single point, wholly void of other thought
or object. The second requirement is, Think the thing closely; and third, WILL steadily, firmly, to
know the correct solution of the problem in hand, and then the probabilities are a hundred to ten
that the vision thereof, or the PHANTORAMA of it, will pass before you like a vivid dream; or it
will flash across your mind with resistless conviction of truth.
Mechanical or magnetic means may be used to facilitate results, but never by the opiates or
narcotics. Lured by what Cahagnet wrote about the use of narcotic agents, and strengthened in the
hope by what THEOPHILE GAUTIER, BAYARD TAYLOR, FITZ HUGH LUDLOW, and
various other travelers, wrote regarding the use of one, early in the year 1855, I was led to make
two experiments; but may God forgive me for so doing. Nothing on earth could induce me to repeat
them, or to suffer others to do so, for I know no possible good, but much of inmitigated evil, can
result therefrom.
In attempting to gain lucidity, I strongly advise purely magnetical means, either at the hands of a
judicious manipulator, or by the means indicated herein. A magnetic bandage worn over the head,
with the polar plates either in the front or back head, or covering either temple, may be worn to
equalize the currents, and induce the slumber. And now I end my task with a bit of advice, hoping
that the matter of this book, original and selected, may benefit all. To everybody the poet says, and
I repeat: