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Books > Humanities > Religion & beliefs > Alternative belief systems > Syncretist & eclectic religions & belief systems > Post-renaissance syncretist / eclectic systems > Theosophy & Anthroposophy
Annie Besant was born in 1847, and was a life long reformist,
fighting for the causes of women, secularism, freedom of thought,
birth control, socialism and workers rights. In 1889, she became
involved with Theosophy, and after the death of Madame Blavastsky
in 1891, she became a leading figure in the spiritual movement.
These two books explain the interaction between the physical body,
the mind, and the emotions, and the aura and the energies of the
Universe.
Since the late nineteenth century, the Theosophical Society has
been a central force in the movement now known as the New Age. Just
as the Communist Party was considered 'old hat' by peace activists
in the '60s, so the Theosophical Society was looked upon by many in
the 'spiritual revolution' of those years as cranky, uninteresting,
and pass. But the Society, like the Party, was always there,
and-despite its relatively few members-always better organized than
anybody else. Since then, the Society's influence has certainly not
waned. It plays an important role in today's global interfaith
movement, and, since the flowering of the New Age in the '70s, has
established increasingly intimate ties with the global elites. And
its various spinoffs, such as Elizabeth Clare Prophet's Summit
Lighthouse, and Benjamin Crme's continuing attempt to lead a 'World
Teacher Maitreya' onto the global stage-just as the Society tried
to do in the last century with Krishnamurti-continue to send waves
through the sea of 'alternative' spiritualities. Gunon shows how
our popular ideas of karma and reincarnation actually owe more to
Theosophy than to Hinduism or Buddhism, provides a clear picture of
the charlatanry that was sometimes a part of the Society's modus
operandi, and gives the early history of the Society's bid for
political power, particularly its role as an agent of British
imperialism in India. It is fitting that this work should finally
appear in English just at this moment, when the influence of
pseudo-esoteric spiritualities on global politics is probably
greater than ever before in Western history.
H. P. Blavatsky introduces and clarifies her theosophical movement
to the curious reader in this detailed text, which is written in
the style of questions and answers. The Theosophic Society
attracted popular interest for its esoteric and unusual nature;
theosophy unites numerous mystical, spiritual and occult principles
with the stated mission of finding the hidden truths of existence.
This was accomplished through investigating ancient societies and
writings, together with Medieval and Renaissance era authors,
occultists and other mystics. With The Key to Theosophy, Blavatsky
intended to demystify and clarify many of the finer points of the
movement she founded. She not only discusses what topics the
Theosophical Society has an interest in, but the organizational
structure and leadership under which it operates The agreed beliefs
among its members concerning man's place on the Earth, and how
nature affects and controls humans perceptibly and imperceptibly,
are likewise detailed.
Annie Besant, former president of the Theosophical Society, sets
out the basic principles and beliefs of Theosophy in this short
book. Originally published in 1907, this edition is a facsimile
reprint from a privately printed edition from 1910.
Besant and Leadbeater believed that thoughts are forms in mental
matter, that they have energy, shape and colour and that some
people can perceive these properties and draw and analyse them.
Although written over a century ago, this ground-breaking work is
still fascinating to all followers of theosophy and anyone
interested in auras and the extra-ordinary life of the mind. This
handsome new edition from Benediction Classics comes complete with
all the original mesmerising colour illustrations.
The first volume of a projected four-volume series explores the
body's relationship to soul and spirit on the basis of Rudolf
Steiner's insights into the workings of the spiritual world. An
extensive discussion of developmental disorders and childhood
diseases is followed by an in-depth exploration of the polarity of
inflammation and sclerosis and the biochemistry and pathology of
nutrition and metabolic disorders.
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