Theosophy and the Society in the Public Eye

The artist

David Grossman (photo above, taken by his daughter Liliana) is a good friend of ours and a gifted photographer. On Theosophy Forward we have used many of his images, and in this issue we publish the first five at times provocative photos, which will arouse your fantasy and curiosity. He introduces the series with a quotation by William Q. Judge:

“Theosophists and occultists from the earliest times have held that every object in the world receives and keeps all impressions, not only of all objects that stand before it, but also of all that happens before it; that these impressions are indelible and can at any time be taken off by man's nervous system and from that reported to the mind; and, therefore, that if we possess a piece of stone from the Roman Forum, we can reproduce to the mind, as clearly as a picture, all that happened in the Forum.”

Psychometry, by W.Q. Judge, The Platonist, Jan.1884

The artist, Joma at work

At the moment I am working on my new series of small panels. Underneath you can see some images of the “illuminated” version, called “Lumine Stellarum”, meaning “The Light of The Stars”. This is a special series for me because I am working with permanent inspiration, new Mandalas are arising, and being transported to paper. It is very pleasant work as I can fulfill my inspiration and explore my own imagination.

I am also involved with Theosophical Memorabilia, as always one of my great interests. Currently working on a document which would summarize the editions of HPB’s Isis Unveiled, from 1877 until 1920. This will be gathered together along with images of the amazing editions of this book. The interest in doing this came about ever since I bought three editions, one from 1878, another one from 1891 and one from 1901.These are truly wonderful editions with original portraits of HPB.

I am seriously considering making a similar summary with other editions of HPB’s books, like The Secret Doctrine, The Key to Theosophy, and The Voice of The  Silence. Those were times when books were made to be appreciated, pleasant to both sight and mind, with arty covers, golden letters and wonderful designs. Even the interior design, letter types, thickness of paper, were fabricated to be magnificently perfect.

The Old School of the New Age

Aquarelles by Armand Alexey Davidovich.

In this issue of Theosophy Forward in the category THE SOCIETY, you’ll find a mini-interview with Armand, who is a Russian Theosophist. His interview might not be the most detailed or longest we’ve published over the past years, but Armand is certainly an interesting friend of ours and a very talented artist.

At times art forms speak louder than words, so it is with pleasure that we can present five of Armand’s wonderful watercolors. Enjoy … !

 Alexey Davidovich Armand

Hilma af Klint revisited. Part I – The Theosophical Society in Sweden

Marty Bax – the Netherlands

[This article is reproduced with kind permission from the author, Dr. Marty Bax. It previously appeared here: http://baxpress.blogspot.com.br/2017/05/hilma-af-klint-revisited-part-i.html The piece is not revised by Theosophy Forward’s editors]

As a researcher, I am inclined to return to subjects which have seen no satisfactory conclusion. These open ends keep nagging me and force me to revise the facts and search for new ones. Such is the case with Hilma af Klint. I wrote about her a couple of years ago, questioning some biographical facts of her life, her position within the group of The Five and her art production. Four of the women of The Five, all members of the Stockholm Lodge of the Theosophical Society, are supposed to have merely served the impressive output on esoteric art which made Hilma af Klint famous.

In this article, divided into three parts, I want to present alternative views.

As with most of my research into Theosophical artists around 1900, I start by revisiting the General Register of the Theosophical Society. The raw factual basis. This time I studied the Swedish members more extensively and in a more general sense – not in the narrow context of the five women. New information had made me more interested in the esoteric climate in which the “The Five” operated and in the events leading up to the formation of the group. 

Leslie Price – England

Those who work on the powers latent in man are familiar with sceptics, that well organised community who assail any positive testimony to such powers on principle. They would like to be seen as meticulous and scholarly people in contrast to, well, anyone who does not adhere to orthodox views. Recently I was reminded of a case where this was not so, as I shall explain.

In 2014, I came across a sceptical book in which H.P.B. featured, and I wrote to the author Jason Colavito as below.

Subject: madame blavatsky
Date: Sat, 22 Nov 2014

Dear Mr Colavito,

As associate editor of the journal Theosophical History  (www.theohistory.org ) I was naturally interested in your anthology Theosophy on Ancient Astronauts. I was surprised to read on p.x that Blavatsky material was channelled by her spirit guide. Truthfully or not, she always claimed that her Mahatmas, Brothers etc. were living men; though Olcott describes in his Old Diary Leaves what were clearly trances.

Introduction compiled by Jan Nicolaas Kind

Wonderful black and white photo of Albert Schweitzer, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1952, philosopher, musician, physician & humanitarian, 1875 – 1965

Albert Schweitzer was born on January 14, 1875, in Kaysersberg, a town near Strasbourg in Alsace, Germany (now part of France). Schweitzer has been called the greatest Christian of his time. He based his personal philosophy on a "reverence for life" and on a deep commitment to serve humanity through thought and action. For his many years of humanitarian efforts, Schweitzer was awarded the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize.