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

emoved the hood, so lightly that I was not even aware of it. My respiration having become more
free, he informed me that I might look around. I found myself, however, in such intense darkness
that I could ascertain nothing. After a short time, I saw a luminous star, which at first trembled,
and soon became brilliant before me. At first, it seemed most remote; but, when at its brightest,
appeared very near me. It was produced, I think, of a light which became more and more intense,
and which was behind a transparency. Cagliostro made me approach the star, which was an orifice
pierced in the wall. On the other side of that wall I saw a chamber, magnificently decorated, and
filled with lights regularly arranged. This room, in its character and ornaments, had every air of a
place dedicated to magical operations. I had not time, however, to examine it, my attentions being
absorbed by a person who sat before a table. He was alone, and hid his face with his hands, as if
immersed in deep meditation. I could not see his features, and his person was disguised by a
costume in which I had hitherto seen no one. As far as I was able to remark, it was a robe or cloak
of white satin, faced with purple, fastened over the breast with hieroglyphic gems, on which I
observed a rose, a triangle, a cross, a death’s-head, (34) and many rich ribbons of various kinds. All
that I could see was that it was not Porpora. After one or two minutes, this mysterious personage,
which I began to fancy a statue, slowly moved its hands, and I saw the face of Count Albert
distinctly, not as it had last met my gaze, covered with the shadows of death, but animated amid its
pallor, and full of soul in its serenity; such, in fine, as I had seen it in its most beautiful seasons of
calm and confidence.(34) I was on the point of uttering a cry, and by an involuntary movement
crushing crystal which separated him from me. A violent pressure of Cagliostro’s hand reminded
me of my oath, and impressed me with I know not what vague terror. Just then a door opened at
the extremity of the room in which I saw Albert; and many unknown persons, dressed as he was,
joined him, each bearing a sword. After having made strange gestures, as if they had been playing a
pantomine, they spoke to him, in a very solemn tone words I could not comprehend. He arose and
went towards them, and replied in words equally strange, and which were unintelligible to me,
though now I know German nearly as well as my mother tongue. This dialogue was like that which
we hear in dreams, and the strangeness of the scene, the miracle of the apparition, had so much of
this character, that I really doubted whether I dreamed of not. Cagliostro, however, forced me to be
motionless, and I recognized the voice of Albert so perfectly that I could not doubt the reality of
what I saw. At last, completely carried away by the scene, I was about to forget my oath and speak
to him, when the hood again was placed over my head and all became dark. ‘If you make the least
noise,’ said Cagliostro, ‘neither you not I well see the light again.’ I had strength enough to follow
him, and walk for a long time amid the zigzags of an unknown space. Finally, when he took away
the hood again, I found myself in his laboratory, which was dimly lighted as it had been at the
commencement of this adventure. Cagliostro was very pale, and still trembled, for, as I walked with
him, I became aware of a convulsive agitation of his arm, and that he hurried me along as if he was
under the influence of great terror. The first thing he said was to reproach me bitterly about my
want of loyalty, and the terrible dangers to which I had exposed him by wishing to violate my
promises. ‘I should have remembered,’ said he, ‘that women are not bound by their word of honor,
and that one should forbear to accede to their rash and vain curiosity.’ His tone was very angry.
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(33) Thought is frequently superficial. In the deeper moments of life we may be thinking,
nevertheless beneath the thought there is memory which is far stronger than the moment’s thought;