spirituality

The Toronto Theosophical Society was one of the most notable of the Theosophical groups, and Gillian McCann’s forthcoming book, Vanguard of the New Age: The Toronto Theosophical Society, 1891-1945 , due in May, tells the story of this group “ that introduced Victorian Toronto to Eastern thought and theology, vegetarianism, reincarnation, cremation, and the pacifism of Mohandas Gandhi .” Vanguard of the New Age unearths a largely ignored dimension of Canadian religious history. Members of the... Read Full Story

* Interesting Articles, Links and Other Media , Mark Russell Bell’s blog, for February 5, 2012, culls a number of accounts from Olcott’s Old Diary Leaves to give a picture of Phenomena and Madame H. P. Blavatsky. “ Olcott commented about HPB: ‘. . . she was from the first and continued to the end an insoluble riddle . . . On the hypothesis that she was a medium for the Great Teachers, only that and nothing more, then the riddle is easy to read . . . . ’” * “H.P.B. Was the Thread Linking the... Read Full Story

An exhibition on the Belgian painter and sculptor Ferdinand Schirren (1872-1944) is on view at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium in Brussels until March 2012. The catalogue for the exhibition states that “ Schirren, whose work is well represented in the Royal Museums’ holdings, is considered to be the first Belgian Fauve .” His major work, completed early in his career, is a head of Helena P. Blavatsky, a crucial figure in the Theosophical movement. This astonishingly expressive... Read Full Story

Anders Björnsson’s review of Francis W. Wcislo’s biography of HPB’s nephew Count Witte, Tales of Imperial Russia , in volume 4 ( 2011) of Baltic World , the quarterly journal and news magazine from the Centre for Baltic and East European Studies (CBEES) Södertörn University, Stockholm, is now online. Headed “On the desirability of industrial capitalism and autocracy. A Russian road to modernization,” it gives a succinct overview of Witte’s professional accomplishments in Russian politics. The... Read Full Story

The Volume 12, Number 1 (2012) issue of Aries , the “Journal for the Study of Western Esotericism,” publishes an article by Gregory Tillett on “Modern Western Magic and Theosophy.” Tillett argues that The influence of the Theosophical Society on the development of modern Western esotericism can hardly be overestimated. Both directly and indirectly Theosophy functioned as a catalyst and resource for almost everything in the Western esotericism, which followed the publication of the teachings... Read Full Story

The Hermetic Library Blog provides the following facsimiles of pages from an 1888 edition of Blavatsky’s The Secret Doctrine . The set, described as “ A unique autographed association copy belonging to Violet Tweedale [1862-1936] with copious fascinating and erudite marginalia in pencil ,” includes the Third Volume and the index issued at the time. “ Tweedale, a British author, was a close associate of H.P.B., an initiate of the Order of the Golden Dawn, and a respected psychic. Tweedale... Read Full Story

No matter what your age LEGO Toys are fun to own, build and collect. There are even LEGOS For Adults these days and that makes LEGO Suitable for a big audience. I`m an Adult LEGO Collector and it`s fair to say, that i have a lot more respect and love for the toy i grew up with and adored as a child. You see as an adult, you have more money at your disposal, so LEGOS For Adults suddenly becomes more fun and exciting to collect, there`s no more waiting for Christmas and Birthdays with the hopes... Read Full Story

This is an overview of spiritual material I put online in the past month or so. All Considering: Ritual as part of a spiritual practice: Tibetan Buddhism  (13) Giving yourself permission to rejoice in what’s good…  (8) Merry Christmas & overview of 2011  (1) Baby steps or big changes – about self control and habit  (11) Great Spiritual Books, my reviews: Andrew Cohen, Evolutionary Enlightenment: a new path to spiritual awakening  (2) Contemporary Buddhism... Read Full Story

Ritueel en spirituele beoefening: Tibetaans Boeddhisme  (11) Jezelf toestemming geven je te verheugen in wat goed is…  (2) Fijne kerst en Jaaroverzicht 2011  (2) Kleine stapjes of grote veranderingen – over zelfbeheersing en gewoonte  (0) Als je dit interessant vond, bekijk dan ook: Fijne feestdagen & overzicht: meditatie, schuld en spijt en meer Overzicht afgelopen maand: Channeling, zekerheid zoeken, handelingen en ethiek Spirituele overpeinzingen en boekverslagen deze maand... Read Full Story

Ritueel en spirituele beoefening: Tibetaans Boeddhisme  (11) Jezelf toestemming geven je te verheugen in wat goed is…  (2) Fijne kerst en Jaaroverzicht 2011  (2) Kleine stapjes of grote veranderingen – over zelfbeheersing en gewoonte  (0) Als je dit interessant vond, bekijk dan ook: Fijne feestdagen & overzicht: meditatie, schuld en spijt en meer Overzicht afgelopen maand: Channeling, zekerheid zoeken, handelingen en ethiek Spirituele overpeinzingen en boekverslagen deze maand... Read Full Story