- What’s your name, where are you from and how long have you been a member of the TS?
My name is Nicoletta Boriello and I’m from Civitavecchia, a seaside town near Rome, in Italy. For the last 15 years, I’ve lived around Rome and in the surrounding countryside. I’ve been a TS member since 2016. With other sisters and brothers we decided to found the “Jiddu Krishnamurti” Lodge in Grottaferrata.
- Are you active in your Lodge/Section and if so, what do you do?
Yes, I’m currently the vice-president of my Lodge and I’m active on several fronts, both concerning my group and the wider National Section. I support my Lodge in any way I can, participating in and helping the organization of various activities related to study groups, conferences, meetings and also theosophical trips. I’m also involved with the Theosophical Order of Service.
On the National level, I am involved with translations and conferences, and I am also part of the coordination of the Young Italian Theosophists, a group of about 10 young people with whom we are carrying out small projects to deepen our experience and knowledge, and also to support our headquarters, and various Italian Lodges and their members. To give an example: currently we are recording audio-articles of the Italian Journal of Theosophy.
- How did you first learn about Theosophy or come in contact with the Society?
I can say that I knew Theosophy before I was even aware that it existed!
Since childhood I have always asked myself many questions about "who we are", about the "why" of life, about the relationship between humans and the law of nature, about the powers latent in man, visible and invisible, and I’ve always believed in the presence of something above religions, which I generically identified as a "flow of Energy".
Then, in my teenage years, I joined various group experiences, for example with sports, theater, voluntary associations, and I began to experience brotherhood and service. I can only see this now!
In 2012 I felt the need to seriously address my questions and to deepen certain issues, and I came across a group of people who, for over 20 years, had been involved in studies and meditation and they were in contact with some theosophists in Rome. That is how I came to know the theosophical Lodges in Rome, the Italian General Secretary, Antonio Girardi and his staff, Patrizia Calvi in particular
From there began an intense and fascinating journey which, in 2016, led my group to decide to form our Theosophical Lodge, of which I became vice-president.
- What does Theosophy mean to you?
Theosophy for me is a way of being, of living on all planes, material and spiritual. It means Life in a broad sense: Theosophy is inside everything, it represents the basis of the world. For me Theosophy means Research and Understanding of the Truth, of the Beautiful and of the Good, to be reached through love and will; it means Possibilities for mankind; it means Union in diversity, Unity in duality.
- What is your favorite Theosophical book and why?
That is a very difficult question to answer! There are a lot of Theosophical book I love, such as The Voice of Silence by H. P. Blavatsky, At the Feet of the Master by J. Krishnamurti, or The hidden side of things by C. W. Leadbeater. All of them are original and helpful in their contents, which I find timeless and, therefore, always valid and accessible beyond time and space, for those who want to search.
Another book I want to mention, which I love very much, is The human dimension written by Bernardino del Boca, an excellent Italian theosophist. The book has multiple levels of reading, and I find it very interesting because it provides an insight into human life, from its first appearance on Earth, to the ancient myths, from the mysteries of the collective unconscious, to the profile of the man of tomorrow.
- What in your opinion is the biggest challenge the TS is facing at the moment?
I think that the biggest challenge the TS is facing at the moment is how to overcome separateness. In this historical period many forces aim to separate and the TS has the challenge of making Unity come true, through spirituality and practice, but also through the strengthening of the bond between humans and Nature. Theosophists are required to rise above duality and apply the principles, not just study them. We all must rejoin Nature and understand its power.
- Is there anything you would wish for the future of the Theosophical Movement?
I wish that the Theosophical Movement will always keep the connection with the Masters alive. In these dark, noisy, chaotic times, I hope that Theosophists are not confused but that they will be able to hear “the Voice of Silence.”
It is my auspice what H. P. Blavatsky said in The Secret Doctrine: "He who sees Me everywhere and everything in me, that no one can separate him from Me nor will I separate from him".
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.