- What’s your name, where are you from and how long have you been a member of the TS?
My name is Marina De Grandis, I am from Italy, was born in Venice and am a member of the TS since 1999.
- Are you active in your Lodge/Section and if so, what do you do?
I am president of my Lodge in Venice and a member of the executive group of the Italian section. I organize the activities of my section, and use my home for the meetings of the Lodge. I help the Italian Section in the organization of the Seminars and annual Convention we hold all around Italy. I give conferences when requested in other Lodges.
- How did you first learn about Theosophy or come in contact with the Society?
I first learnt about Theosophy when I was very young from my uncle Renato De Grandis, a musician and a deep investigator in Theosophy. He died in 2008. He wrote many books in Italian about Theosophical subjects. And it is a pity they have not been translated in English.
- What does Theosophy mean to you?
Theosophy has given me a good reason to live and it has given answers to many existential questions.
- What is your favorite Theosophical book and why?
My favorite work is The Secret Doctrine. It is a never ending source of knowledge and in the purpose to understand the meaning of many occult truths revealed in that work I have read many other books of different authors and subjects, especially books on Theosophy, Buddhism, Christianity and other religions and philosophical systems. The other two books I love are The Divine Plan by Geoffrey Barborka and Teosofia Contemporanea by Renato De Grandis.
- What in your opinion is the biggest challenge the TS is facing at the moment?
The biggest challenge TS is facing is to educate young people in order to give them the chances and instruments to be the builders of a better Humanity.
- Is there anything you would wish for the future of the Theosophical Movement?
I wish that Theosophy would be studied by everybody and that Theosophical books would be in the library of every school and University in the world.
From the editor:
Opinions and ideas expressed in the mini-interviews are exclusively of those who are being interviewed. They don’t necessarily represent the ideas and opinions of the compilers of Theosophy Forward. The responses of the interviewees are not edited for content. Some contributors give short answers to the questions while others touch upon the subject more elaborately.