Second Sight: A Study of Natural and Induced Clairvoyance

In Short

Sepharial’s 1912 treatise presents clairvoyance not as a mystical anomaly or dangerous magic, but as a natural, orderly stage in human evolution. Combining physical instructions with spiritual principles, the work outlines how sensitives can train their perceptual faculties using tools like rock crystals and concave mirrors. The text systematically examines the mechanics of latent mind power, the nature of direct and symbolic vision, and the physical setup needed for safe scrying. Enduring as a quintessential example of early twentieth-century occult literature, it bridges the gap between Victorian psychical research and practical, self-guided esoteric study.

The Story

The book opens with an investigation into the scientific position regarding human perception. Sepharial establishes that human sense-organs are naturally limited, catching only a narrow band of physical vibrations while missing vast realms of subtle reality. Drawing on early studies by the Society for Psychical Research, he argues that the dreaming state reveals an underlying, highly accurate psychic sense that operates independently of physical organs. Human evolution, he asserts, relies on breaking through these sensory limitations to reveal previously invisible truths about nature and consciousness.

Moving into practical application, the author details the physical materials and environmental conditions needed to induce vision. He cautions against glass imitations, identifying true rock crystal or black concave mirrors as the most effective tools to concentrate light and stimulate the nervous system. Sepharial emphasizes that seership should proceed by steady, natural exercise rather than coercive magical rituals, which he warns can release uncontrollable forces. He classifies prospective seers into two primary physical and mental temperaments—the active, highly excitable nervous type and the passive, languid lymphatic type—noting that both require absolute integrity, emotional calm, and a truth-seeking spirit to succeed.

The narrative shifts to the operational setup of a scrying session. To achieve clear results, sittings demand quiet, shaded rooms, warm temperatures, and precise positioning relative to light sources. Sepharial outlines the roles of an Interrogator and a Recorder to preserve objectivity and capture accurate logs of every vision. He then classifies the nature of the visions themselves into two distinct categories: direct vision, which displays clear historical or future events, and symbolic vision, which conveys meaning through ideographs that reflect either personal sub-consciousness or the collective "world-soul."

The latter half of the work explores broader psychic phenomena, including psychometry, dowsing, and the recovery of lost memories. Sepharial explains that every material object retains an energetic record or aura of its history, which sensitive individuals can read through the universal medium storing the world's memories. These faculties allow individuals to foresee future events, comprehend historical connections, and understand the deeper purpose behind personal life experiences.

Finally, the text concludes with a philosophical defense of psychic development as a legitimate tool for human perfectibility. By organizing past, present, and future events into a cohesive, meaningful scheme, second sight helps individuals recognize the justice and order governing the universe. Sepharial closes by urging readers to approach these subtle faculties responsibly, using them to maintain a clear bridge between the physical and spiritual worlds.

How It Unfolds

Establishing sensory limits The author demonstrates that normal human perception registers only a fraction of existing vibrations, laying a foundation for the existence of higher psychic senses.

Selecting proper instruments Selecting natural materials like quartz crystals or concave mirrors proves essential, as synthetic substitutes fail to properly interact with the nervous system.

Recognizing seer temperaments Successful practice depends on identifying whether a practitioner possesses a positive nervous or passive lymphatic disposition, alongside maintaining strict moral integrity.

Setting up the session Sittings require controlled, low-light environments, absolute quiet, and a strict division of labor between an interrogator and a recorder to capture untainted evidence.

Distinguishing types of vision Visions manifest as either direct historical and future occurrences or complex symbolic ideographs requiring careful interpretation based on personal and universal associations.

Exploring related psychic phenomena The mechanics of clairvoyance extend into psychometry and water-dowsing, demonstrating how physical objects retain energetic records within a universal planetary memory.

Integrating spiritual purpose The practice ultimately serves to recover lost memories, reveal the underlying order of individual evolution, and advance human spiritual development.

The People

Sepharial The author acts as a measured, pragmatic guide who aims to demystify clairvoyance for the general public. He wants to establish seership as a natural evolutionary capability rather than a dangerous or superstitious art. Standing against both skeptical narrow-mindedness and the reckless invocation of occult forces, he ends his treatise as a confident advocate for disciplined, morally grounded psychic development.

Emanuel Swedenborg Cited as a historic archetype of the positive, nervous seer, Swedenborg exemplifies natural psychic perception operating alongside high intellectual capacity. He seeks to document spiritual reality through direct vision, unaffected by physical sensory decay. His distance-defying vision of a distant fire demonstrates the validity of the inner senses over physical limitations.

Jacob Boehme A historical cobbler whose latent faculty was suddenly ignited by sun rays reflecting off a simple water bowl. Boehme represents the constitutional seer whose dormant inner sight needed only a specific physical condition to break through. His transformation from humble craftsman to visionary author illustrates how psychic illumination elevates the human mind.

The Sensitive or Seer The generalized practitioner at the heart of the book's practical experiments. Driven by a desire for spiritual insight, the seer must overcome emotional excitability, selfish motives, and physical congestion to achieve lucidity. Through disciplined practice, the seer moves from uncertain experimentation to becoming a clear channel for direct and symbolic revelations.

In Its Own Voice

When contrasting our ordinary waking reality with the interior life of intuition, Sepharial notes the surprising durability of our subtle faculties:

"The soul is younger at a thousand years than the body is at sixty."

Warning against the reckless use of ceremonial magic to force open spiritual channels, he draws a sharp parallel to physical tools:

"A child can pull a trigger but cannot withstand the recoil of a gun, or by moving a lever may set machinery in motion which it can by no means control."

Regarding the patient mindset required for genuine psychic progress, he emphasizes the necessity of aligning with natural timelines:

"The acorn becomes the sturdy oak only because Nature is content with small results, because she has the virtue of endurance."

What It's Really About

Beneath its practical instructions for crystal gazing, the book presents a core argument about the nature of human evolution and consciousness. Sepharial asserts that physical senses are merely temporary tools suited for a limited material world, while psychic faculties represent the true, enduring senses of the immortal soul. The text argues that the universe is an interconnected whole, linked by a universal medium that records every action, thought, and historical event. True clairvoyance is not a magical trick, but the deliberate expansion of human awareness to read these records. By learning to navigate this inner reality safely, individuals can perceive the moral order behind life's events, overcome the illusion of physical limitation, and actively participate in their own spiritual development.

Why Read It Today

This book offers a fascinating, dignified glimpse into early twentieth-century esoteric thought, appealing to readers interested in the historical intersection of occultism, psychical research, and early psychology. Written in clear, measured prose, it avoids grandstanding in favor of structured explanations and practical advice. The reading experience feels like sitting with an earnest Victorian scholar who views the supernatural through a surprisingly methodical, quasi-scientific lens.

Modern readers must navigate period-specific elements, including late-nineteenth-century medical theories regarding body temperaments and fluidic energies. Additionally, the author's reliance on Edwardian cultural assumptions and references to classical esoteric authors requires a patient reader willing to engage with the text's original context. What stays with you is Sepharial's quiet conviction that human perception is far larger than our physical organs suggest. His balanced insistence on emotional discipline, moral integrity, and patience makes the work a thought-provoking historical document on the human desire to see beyond the visible world.