British journalist and writer of occult and astrological works, a leader in astrological thought for 30 years. He joined the Theosophical movement in 1889, working with the Society as part of the inner circle and was by the side of Madame Blavatsky when she died, 5/08/1891. Extremely well-known in his day, he was a co-worker of Alan Leo, in spite of a certain amount of competitive rivalry, but he did not survive in history with as much acknowledgment as Leo. Tall and thin, Walter had a gentle, mystical manner that belied a sharp tongue with which he exchanged barbs with more of his colleagues than Leo. Devoted to the mystical pursuit, he became a renowned psychic, a dowser, an astrologer and leading occultist of his day.
Walter was age four, with three older brothers and an infant sister, when his dad died. Their mother raised the family alone in Handsworth. By 1881, all the boys were gainfully employed, George and Robert as bank clerks, Bernard and Walter as merchant apprentices. From the time he was 16, he studied the occult with great fascination, reading Scripture and Kabbala, Swedenborg and philosophy, ancient languages and astrology.
His biographer recounts a turning point on 8/05/1886, when Walter has a mystical experience with his crystal ball. At a low point, he focused on the crystal and lost consciousness. For about a fortnight, he was in a mystical state of finding himself. His first book was published the following year, “Astrological Judgment on the Great Eclipse.” Writing under his pseudonym of Sepharial, Walter introduced the radix system of directions and was the editor of “Old Moore’s Monthly Almanac.” He wrote for newspapers for several years and attempted his own publication but found that he had little head for business.
During the 1880s, all four Old brothers became active member of the burgeoning Theosophical Society. Walter and Madame HBP began their correspondence in 1887 and when she moved to England, he took up residence with her in April 1888 as one of 12 members of the inner circle known as the Esoteric Section. After the death of HBP, he remained deeply involved in executive posts within the society. In 1894, there was an internal scandal having to do with letters alleged to have been written by the Mahatmas (or by whom?) in which Walter was implicated and he resigned on 9/27/1894, followed by his close friend Sydney Edge. He was never again involved with Theosophy, though he retained ties to some of the members.
On 4/19/1895, Walter Old officially changed his name to Walter Gornold, based on the Danish family name of Gorm Eld. While attending a lecture in London, he met Marie Moore (Minnie: born 1/29/1864) and they were married on 6/23/1896 at Marylebone Register Office. Daughter Cynthia was born in 1897, Iris in 1898, Ivy in 1899 and at the turn of the century, James Julian, who lived only 17 days. Their son Averil was born in 1903 and Walter Royal, known as Roy, in 1905, concluding with Barbara in 1907. They moved often, depending on whether Sepharial’s fortune’s were on the rise or fall. He continued to write astrological books but lost the use of one hand through an infected cut and had bouts of malaria. He moved through several more philosophical and religious conversions
He died of a stroke on 12/23/1929 in Hove, England. Three years prior, he had told his daughter Cynthia, who worked as his secretary, that his work would end that year and in July of 1929 he had informed her that a shadow was on her path in December.
Link to Wikipedia biography