Astral Tramp, Kim Farnell

The 'Astral Tramp' - a nickname given to Walter Old by Madame Blavatsky on account of his frequent sortie into the astral domain at night - is a highly illuminating biography on the life and work of Sepharial. Sepharial is one of astrology's most prolific writers, teachers and lecturers, and deserves a more prominent place in the history of not only astrology but also of contemporary mysticism than he currently occupies. Kim Farnell's book goes a long way in correcting this oversight. We are taken on a journey through Sepharial's quest for spiritual enlightenment. Commencing at an early age, Sepharial developed a fascination for the esoteric mysteries of life. By the time he had discovered Theosophy and had been 'chosen' to partake in the activities of the inner sanctum of Helena Blavatsky's Esoteric Section in 1887, Walter Old had already started his astrological career, answering questions from the public in an astrology problem page in the Society Times. Never one to hide from expressing his opinions, his life is rich with organisational political intrigue - involving complex and volatile relationships, In-house fighting, and being frequently ostracised! This theme is no better shown than in the many chapter's devoted to his involvement with the Theosophy Society. I found this book fascinating to read, and devoured it in three evenings. It has been thoroughly researched and comprehensively referenced, sourced and indexed, which is refreshing. There are extensive footnotes that contain birth records, magazine references, quotes, and short extracts of letters and articles written. I particularly loved the font and lay out of this book. The reader is transported back in time whilst getting lost in the subject matter, as the author has chosen a style appropriate to the late 19th century and early 20th century, giving an 'old feel' to the read.

The Astral Tramp is generally easy to read, though at times I lost my way in the nuances of the Judge Affair, and the chronological framework of the chapters, which jump about his various life interests. That said, the text style is clear, concise, fluid and easy to read. The chapters are short, and therefore allow you to read whilst waiting for the kettle to boil, or for your next client to arrive.

For astrologers, The Astral Tramp contains a number of treats. Much of Sepharial's work is no longer in print, and therefore difficult to get at. The Appendix therefore comes as a welcome insight into the astrological mind of Mr. Walter Old. It contains the transcripts of two lectures given at meetings of the British Astrological Society. The first is one the Influence of the Fixed Stars, and the second is an address on the Great Mutation of Jupiter and Saturn. In both articles we glean elements of the major influences on Sepharial's thinking - the Bible and Theosophist spirituality - and we therefore can see the story of Sepharial's life in action. Also included in the appendix are extracts from one of Sepharial's surviving notebooks. These extracts include the advice he sent the then Prime Minister of England, Lloyd George, on the welfare in the government during the years 1918 and 1919; and notes on two nativities - a murdered boy found in a railway carriage, and a boy struck by lightning. These notes give detailed astrological observations.

The Astral Tramp is an important book as it serves to bring alive one of the most colourful and important figures in the astrological community. Although he is not generally accredited with profound astrological innovations, without him it is unlikely that many other astrologers would have not got the kick in the pants that they needed to get on with bringing astrology out of the parlour and into a more mainstream direction. The book does not deal much with the inward reflections of the man, though it is perhaps impossible to do that with some one who has been floating on the astral place for quite some time, we can glean much of his personality through the insights and observations made of him by those with whom he fought, worked and loved. That this book deals with astrology's history and heritage means that The Astral Tramp should be required reading for all students of astrology. However the book is not too focused on his astrological endeavours to make it totally accessibly to all students of philosophic history, and even to those who just simply like reading biographies.

Walter Gorn Old (1864-1929) is little-known today, but he was in the thick of the magical and occult revival at the end of the nineteenth century, and a well-known figure in such circles in his day. One of Madame Blavatsky's closest companions and a founding member of the Theosophical Society in Britain, his purported habit of roaming about in his astral body at night earned him the nickname of the title. He also wrote profusely as an astrologer, under the name "Sepharial". Much of this work was driven by financial need, but there is also no doubting his grasp of the subject. The result was often a wildly eclectic mixture of populism and erudition, which extended all the way from the higher spiritual planes to the racing turf. There is also a suspicion that under the cover of modern science and ancient tradition, Old was not averse to improvising complex techniques simply to arrive at conclusions he had already reached in other ways. Be that as it may, many of his books remain in print, and his Manual of Astrology has a deserved place in the history of astrological textbooks. The same cannot really be said of his efforts at astrological magazines, which were a dismal flop. They stimulated the success of Alan Leo, however, whom he had also introduced to Theosophy. This is rather typical of Old, who gives the impression of having been self-defeatingly complex and sensitive; the stars were an apt subject-matter, perhaps, for someone so imperfectly earthed. The upshot was an inability to see any venture through with the consistency and determination necessary for it to succeed. He does not deserve our condescension for that, however. How many ventures have been so pursued and still failed, and how many have met with undeserved success? More to the point is the fact that Old was a fascinating character who sensitively (and therefore faithfully) mirrored many of the concerns of his time. He can serve as an excellent entry-point into the fin-de-siecle world of English occultism. In fact, the only limitation of this thoroughly-researched, well-written and attractively-produced (and priced) biography is that Farnell sometimes stops disappointingly short of making the wider connections to Old's cultural context, and drawing the wider conclusions, that would have made his interest clearer beyond (say) the history of modern astrology. But that is often the price paid for exercising the historian's virtues of attention to detail and fact, which Farnell certainly has demonstrated - something that stands out all the more given her decidedly otherworldly subject!


	Sepharial was very nearly one of the most important figures in the late 19th century. Psychic, Astrologer, Theosophist - again and again he avoided true success by a hair's breadth. In his day he was revered for his work with a reputation that spread worldwide. Yet, though 70 years after his death his works still feature on the reading lists of most astrologers, little is known of his life. Blessed with a complete lack of business sense, and a desire for truth and justice at whatever cost, he was destined to fade into obscurity. This book wrestles him back from that obscurity and seeks to place him where he belongs - at the heart of the occult establishment at the turn of the century.