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Occult Manuals #3
Clairvoyance and Occult Powers
There is in every human being a sense which is not generally recognized as such, although nearly every person has had more or less experience regarding its workings. I refer to the sense of the presence of other living things, separate and apart from the operation of any of the five ordinary physical senses. I ask you to understand that I am not claiming that this is a higher sense than the other physical senses, or that it has come to man in a high state of evolution...
158 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1916
245 people are currently reading
809 people want to read
About the author
William Walker Atkinson
2,445 books397 followersPseudonyms: Theron Q. Dumont, Yogi Ramacharaka, Swami Bhakta Vishita & Swami Panchadasi
William Walker Atkinson (December 5, 1862 – November 22, 1932) was an attorney, merchant, publisher, and author, as well as an occultist and an American pioneer of the New Thought movement. He is also known to have been the author of the pseudonymous works attributed to Theron Q. Dumont, Swami Panchadasi and Yogi Ramacharaka and others.
Due in part to Atkinson's intense personal secrecy and extensive use of pseudonyms, he is now largely forgotten, despite having obtained mention in past editions of Who's Who in America, Religious Leaders of America, and several similar publications—and having written more than 100 books in the last 30 years of his life. His works have remained in print more or less continuously since 1900.
William Walker Atkinson was born in Baltimore, Maryland on December 5, 1862, to William and Emma Atkinson. He began his working life as a grocer at 15 years old, probably helping his father. He married Margret Foster Black of Beverly, New Jersey, in October 1889, and they had two children. The first probably died young. The second later married and had two daughters.
Atkinson pursued a business career from 1882 onwards and in 1894 he was admitted as an attorney to the Bar of Pennsylvania. While he gained much material success in his profession as a lawyer, the stress and over-strain eventually took its toll, and during this time he experienced a complete physical and mental breakdown, and financial disaster. He looked for healing and in the late 1880s he found it with New Thought, later attributing the restoration of his health, mental vigor and material prosperity to the application of the principles of New Thought.
Some time after his healing, Atkinson began to write articles on the truths he felt he had discovered, which were then known as Mental Science. In 1889, an article by him entitled "A Mental Science Catechism," appeared in Charles Fillmore's new periodical, Modern Thought.
By the early 1890s Chicago had become a major centre for New Thought, mainly through the work of Emma Curtis Hopkins, and Atkinson decided to move there. Once in the city, he became an active promoter of the movement as an editor and author. He was responsible for publishing the magazines Suggestion (1900–1901), New Thought (1901–1905) and Advanced Thought (1906–1916).
In 1900 Atkinson worked as an associate editor of Suggestion, a New Thought Journal, and wrote his probable first book, Thought-Force in Business and Everyday Life, being a series of lessons in personal magnetism, psychic influence, thought-force, concentration, will-power, and practical mental science.
He then met Sydney Flower, a well-known New Thought publisher and businessman, and teamed up with him. In December, 1901 he assumed editorship of Flower's popular New Thought magazine, a post which he held until 1905. During these years he built for himself an enduring place in the hearts of its readers. Article after article flowed from his pen. Meanwhile he also founded his own Psychic Club and the so-called "Atkinson School of Mental Science". Both were located in the same building as Flower's Psychic Research and New Thought Publishing Company.
Atkinson was a past president of the International New Thought Alliance.
Throughout his subsequent career, Atkinson wrote and published under his own name and many pseudonyms. It is not known whether he ever acknowledged authorship of these pseudonymous works, but all of the supposedly independent authors whose writings are now credited to Atkinson were linked to one another by virtue of the fact that their works were released by a series of publishing houses with shared addresses and they also wrote for a series of magazines with a shared roster of authors. Atkinson was the editor of a
William Walker Atkinson (December 5, 1862 – November 22, 1932) was an attorney, merchant, publisher, and author, as well as an occultist and an American pioneer of the New Thought movement. He is also known to have been the author of the pseudonymous works attributed to Theron Q. Dumont, Swami Panchadasi and Yogi Ramacharaka and others.
Due in part to Atkinson's intense personal secrecy and extensive use of pseudonyms, he is now largely forgotten, despite having obtained mention in past editions of Who's Who in America, Religious Leaders of America, and several similar publications—and having written more than 100 books in the last 30 years of his life. His works have remained in print more or less continuously since 1900.
William Walker Atkinson was born in Baltimore, Maryland on December 5, 1862, to William and Emma Atkinson. He began his working life as a grocer at 15 years old, probably helping his father. He married Margret Foster Black of Beverly, New Jersey, in October 1889, and they had two children. The first probably died young. The second later married and had two daughters.
Atkinson pursued a business career from 1882 onwards and in 1894 he was admitted as an attorney to the Bar of Pennsylvania. While he gained much material success in his profession as a lawyer, the stress and over-strain eventually took its toll, and during this time he experienced a complete physical and mental breakdown, and financial disaster. He looked for healing and in the late 1880s he found it with New Thought, later attributing the restoration of his health, mental vigor and material prosperity to the application of the principles of New Thought.
Some time after his healing, Atkinson began to write articles on the truths he felt he had discovered, which were then known as Mental Science. In 1889, an article by him entitled "A Mental Science Catechism," appeared in Charles Fillmore's new periodical, Modern Thought.
By the early 1890s Chicago had become a major centre for New Thought, mainly through the work of Emma Curtis Hopkins, and Atkinson decided to move there. Once in the city, he became an active promoter of the movement as an editor and author. He was responsible for publishing the magazines Suggestion (1900–1901), New Thought (1901–1905) and Advanced Thought (1906–1916).
In 1900 Atkinson worked as an associate editor of Suggestion, a New Thought Journal, and wrote his probable first book, Thought-Force in Business and Everyday Life, being a series of lessons in personal magnetism, psychic influence, thought-force, concentration, will-power, and practical mental science.
He then met Sydney Flower, a well-known New Thought publisher and businessman, and teamed up with him. In December, 1901 he assumed editorship of Flower's popular New Thought magazine, a post which he held until 1905. During these years he built for himself an enduring place in the hearts of its readers. Article after article flowed from his pen. Meanwhile he also founded his own Psychic Club and the so-called "Atkinson School of Mental Science". Both were located in the same building as Flower's Psychic Research and New Thought Publishing Company.
Atkinson was a past president of the International New Thought Alliance.
Throughout his subsequent career, Atkinson wrote and published under his own name and many pseudonyms. It is not known whether he ever acknowledged authorship of these pseudonymous works, but all of the supposedly independent authors whose writings are now credited to Atkinson were linked to one another by virtue of the fact that their works were released by a series of publishing houses with shared addresses and they also wrote for a series of magazines with a shared roster of authors. Atkinson was the editor of a
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 14, 2020
"This reads like stereo instructions." I couldn't help but keep hearing this Beetlejuice quote in my head as I read Clairvoyance and Occult Powers. This is one of several books I'm reading for research and for my purposes, it served quite a few purposes. That said, the tone of the book is often pompous and condescending, which works perfectly for what I needed. The curious thing is that there are actually quite a few great bits of life advice within all the spooky occultism, which was not something I expected, and goes to show you can find good advice any and everywhere. As is, there are many things that make sense though the book shifts between explaining well and being vague to the point of being annoying, all depending on the subject matter. A LOT of things are referred to as "obvious" and "logical" and it puts people who research the occult and practice occultism above the rest of us mere mortals. Still, even with all of that, there are still things that actually resonated and if you're researching morally gray characters or want to have a villain who actually has some proper righteous motivations, there's a lot to see here.
October 7, 2015
I really liked this book. It has some great exercises. Now this is a old book so some of the stuff about witches and voodoo is a little off but it's still a great book. He really keeps to the subject and doesn't let that much of his own religion/personal beliefs influence his the science behind it all.
Want to read
September 28, 2012I found a first edition at the swap meet! Spoooooooky.
July 3, 2017
There is a ton of information crammed into this book. It's clear the author has written about this subject before and has experience with it. He even provides further reading and recommendations at the end of the book.
Not everyone is going to like this book as it does deal with certain beliefs that not everyone is into, however if you are into this sort of thing (clairvoyance, clairaudience, telepathy, telekinesis, psychic influence, and the "laying on of hands". Even astral travel is mentioned and takes up about half the book.
The author quotes other writers and his other books quite often in order to make a point or further explain the concepts therein. There are exercises to develop your psychic powers should you choose to do so.
It is very well written and full of information. Every angle is sufficiently explained. If you're looking to learn more about what clairvoyance and occult powers are, I'd start with this free ebook off Amazon.
Not everyone is going to like this book as it does deal with certain beliefs that not everyone is into, however if you are into this sort of thing (clairvoyance, clairaudience, telepathy, telekinesis, psychic influence, and the "laying on of hands". Even astral travel is mentioned and takes up about half the book.
The author quotes other writers and his other books quite often in order to make a point or further explain the concepts therein. There are exercises to develop your psychic powers should you choose to do so.
It is very well written and full of information. Every angle is sufficiently explained. If you're looking to learn more about what clairvoyance and occult powers are, I'd start with this free ebook off Amazon.
November 1, 2018
Mindblowing
After the clairvoyance stuff. This book shows you how it all comes together with the other psychic abilities. I'm hooked even more then my previous 7 years of study
After the clairvoyance stuff. This book shows you how it all comes together with the other psychic abilities. I'm hooked even more then my previous 7 years of study
December 1, 2024
The problem with "seeing the past", anybody who claims that they can just do it for the memes.
Why not solve murders like Zodiac or Freeway Phantom? I feel their answer would be something of "gate keeping for integrity" or "it doesn't work that way". It just happens it shows only mundane things which sometimes it doesn't work, and 100% and totally not confirmation bias when it does work
It's to note that human bodies are adept in seeking danger. In fact, the reason why we felt like we saw a snake is because communication from eye to brain is quick. Our brain communicates danger as arbitrary. Think of it like the speed of light. Then there is the slower part where your brain understands the danger. Speed of sound. Like place your hand on a hot stove, you will be moving your hand away before thinking about what's happening.
Deja vu from memory (so take it as a grain of salt) is correlated with tiredness. Your brain saw either danger or an event because you actually prompted The brain rapidly but was slow in the "understood it" mode.
Apparently the pineal gland is the part of the brain which deals with the astral. I was actually interested because apparently surrounding the pineal gland, there is something called Brain Sand. Calcified structure of unknown purpose. Which was cool because Brain Sand helps doctors find pineal glands. Anyhow, when this book was written, both pineal glands and "Brain Sand" were not understood properly. Not until the 50's it was discovered that pineal glands deal with the hormone Melatonin. Help all creatures sleep! Unfortunately, nothing to do with the astral.
Lastly, I probably wouldn't have ripped on this book since it was going to be a "fun read" but damn, can the author just own what he's talking about? Like, who gives a fuck about the haters. Write a 100 page introductory page book on some wacky occultism and throw your middle finger to the rest of the world. I would have given the book 5 stars. 60% of the book could have been cut if he just stopped stating, "plz believe me, my haters are mean"
Why not solve murders like Zodiac or Freeway Phantom? I feel their answer would be something of "gate keeping for integrity" or "it doesn't work that way". It just happens it shows only mundane things which sometimes it doesn't work, and 100% and totally not confirmation bias when it does work
It's to note that human bodies are adept in seeking danger. In fact, the reason why we felt like we saw a snake is because communication from eye to brain is quick. Our brain communicates danger as arbitrary. Think of it like the speed of light. Then there is the slower part where your brain understands the danger. Speed of sound. Like place your hand on a hot stove, you will be moving your hand away before thinking about what's happening.
Deja vu from memory (so take it as a grain of salt) is correlated with tiredness. Your brain saw either danger or an event because you actually prompted The brain rapidly but was slow in the "understood it" mode.
Apparently the pineal gland is the part of the brain which deals with the astral. I was actually interested because apparently surrounding the pineal gland, there is something called Brain Sand. Calcified structure of unknown purpose. Which was cool because Brain Sand helps doctors find pineal glands. Anyhow, when this book was written, both pineal glands and "Brain Sand" were not understood properly. Not until the 50's it was discovered that pineal glands deal with the hormone Melatonin. Help all creatures sleep! Unfortunately, nothing to do with the astral.
Lastly, I probably wouldn't have ripped on this book since it was going to be a "fun read" but damn, can the author just own what he's talking about? Like, who gives a fuck about the haters. Write a 100 page introductory page book on some wacky occultism and throw your middle finger to the rest of the world. I would have given the book 5 stars. 60% of the book could have been cut if he just stopped stating, "plz believe me, my haters are mean"
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April 29, 2022Tumbs Up
Promotes self hypnosis & oversensativity of the nervous system.
Good instruction, somewhat passé: not exactly practical for the modern world but does get one well on their way to becoming the psy-mind some curious people chose to become & want to be.
Promotes self hypnosis & oversensativity of the nervous system.
Good instruction, somewhat passé: not exactly practical for the modern world but does get one well on their way to becoming the psy-mind some curious people chose to become & want to be.
April 26, 2020
good book with some exercise
January 27, 2023
Old book by an Indian Swami
Quite interesting about how some people may be able to develop clairvoyant powers.
Written in old language, however
Quite interesting about how some people may be able to develop clairvoyant powers.
Written in old language, however
June 13, 2025
Was sort of a dry read.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews