How Clairvoyance Is Developed

Theosophical Classics

By: C. W. Leadbeater

Narrated by: Michael Strader

Leadbeater attempts to answer the age-old question, which all aspirants to the occult sciences ask their teacher: How can I have those powers? He outlines different examples of the steps and the philosophy behind what the student will need to do in order to begin accessing the extraordinary powers they have within. In doing so, he doesn't limit the discussion to simply clairvoyance, but he touches on astral travel and other psychic powers.

©2014 Lamp of Trismegistus (P)2016 Lamp of Trismegistus

Rather prejudiced.....

The author basically knocked every race except for Europeans for their contributions into this field. He speaks from bad knowledge. He basically speaks to Europeans and Rosacrutions being the forefathers of mysticism. He said all other races use drugs and aren't qualifed to practice these arts. And he only speaks of his methods and anything else is wrong?!
Very biased.

Short and ending was worth it.

Short and the ending finally got to the points I was looking to gain. It was very clear to understand and could have really gotten to the point quicker, book was short anyway and clear. Glad it was offered.

Compressed Learning & Safety

At first, I admit I wanted the author to get to the point, the nitty gritty; but, I soon learned that developing & improving these type of abilities in consciousness require some ground to cover. Most importantly, is knowing how to keep yourself safe during the process. Leadbeater answered my questions about other techniques & methods people have used throughout history; e.g., organic or inorganic elements, hallucinogens, etc. Leadbeater provides meaningful & satisfying explanations about why these organic/inorganic/artificial means to save time in the process operate on our lower levels of being, our lower levels of consciousness. This means there are no quick fixes; however, it doesn't mean it's a tortuous process that takes pains to practice & develop. He gives recommendations for the practice & development but nothing formulaic or boring. The book is short & easy to read or listen to in one or two sittings.

Pretty much any book on this topic will be better

In my explorations of C.W. Leadbeater's writings, I've occasionally unearthed 'gold nuggets' of wisdom or insight amidst what I'd consider the 'rubbish.' However, "How Clairvoyance Is Developed" stands out as an exception where the search for valuable insights proved fruitless. This book, aiming to delve into the development of clairvoyant abilities, is significantly flawed. The approach to explaining clairvoyance is also frustratingly vague. Leadbeater often provides strong opinions without practical guidance, leaving readers with more questions than answers. This is extremely odd due to the book’s title. The structure of the book is also a mess, as it hops sporadically from one topic to another. One of the most glaring issues is the book's outdated and problematic views on race. Leadbeater's remarks on 'advanced races' and his condescending attitude toward non-Western spiritual practices, like his example of mentioning “the primitive neg**’s Voodoo” and its “dangerous magical practices,” are not just troubling and deeply offensive but most of all, are completely unnecessary to even mention to begin with.

The tone of the book is also concerning. While this is probably the most accessible writing style of his that I’ve read, the book leans towards extreme fear-mongering and pearl-clutching, portraying many tried and true techniques for developing clairvoyance as either ineffective or extremely dangerous. He literally fear-mongers over practicing simple breathing techniques or soft-gazing at a flame. This narrative culminates in an elitist stance, where he suggests that true clairvoyant development is exclusively achievable under the mentorship of an (ascended) ‘master' from the Theosophical Society, a path depicted as highly exclusive. He says that if someone is pure enough they might get invited into the elite inner circle while studying in Theosophy and potentially learn under an ascended master. The book's primary advice to 'concentrate,' 'meditate,' and 'contemplate' is presented without detailed instructions, which is disappointing for those seeking practical steps. Leadbeater's authoritative tone, paired with a lack of discussing any personal clairvoyant experiences or abilities first hand, further diminishes the book's credibility. While I typically hesitate to leave negative reviews, "How Clairvoyance Is Developed" is hard to recommend. Its unsupported fear, troubling racial views, and gatekeeping of psychism overshadow any potential insights, which I admittedly couldn’t find within it. For readers looking for an inclusive, respectful, and practical guide to spiritual or psychic development, this book likely isn't the right choice. I really left the book feeling that Leadbeater had no idea what he was ever so authoritatively writing about on this subject and that I completely wasted my time. Very disappointing.

A “How to book” without any “how to”

This book should have been called “A cautionary tale of clairvoyance” instead of “How clairvoyance is developed.”

For anyone looking to develop their clairvoyant gifts and hoping to find practices or exercises to help on that path, this book is not for you!

This book does not have any “How To” in it!
Outdated ideology and no actionable steps… after doing some research I realized that the writer may have written his book in a time when you had to keep the information secret.