1. What’s your name, where are you from and how long have you been a member of the TS?
My name is Birgitta Skärbo and I’m from Sweden. I have been a member since 1992.
2. Are you active in your Lodge/Section and if so, what do you do?
I’m the secretary of the board of the Swedish section and have been for some years.
3. How did you first learn about Theosophy or come in contact with the Society?
I actually found Theosophy through a medium (who is famous in Sweden). She saw some symbols over my head but didn’t know the meaning of them. Then she asked if I had heard about Theosophy, because she got it very powerfully that it was something for me. She also got two names, Leadbeater and Besant and that it seemed like I had been in contact with them in my past life. She also saw me showing books to people but didn’t know if it was in a library or a bookshop. When I first came to our place in Stockholm I saw both the library and the bookshop there. All this (even though I’m doubtful about what a medium says) made me look for information about Theosophy and if there was any Theosophical group in Stockholm. I found the lodge in Stockholm and went there for a lecture. Since then I’m a member of the society. After having been in different spiritual groups I felt I had “come home”.
4. What does Theosophy mean to you?
Theosophy has helped me to understand more and more of life, death and the cosmos and has been a help in daily life.
5. What is your favorite Theosophical book and why?
That isn’t easy to answer as there are so many interesting and useful books, but the most important book to me is the The Secret Doctrine by H. P. Blavatsky, which I have been studying for 3 years. It contains “everything” I’m searching for. My teacher has studied The Secret Doctrine for 30 years! I must also mention You by G. Arundale and Gods in Exile by J.J. Van Der Leeuw. I have recently read those books, in which I found very important knowledge.
6. What in your opinion is the biggest challenge the TS is facing at the moment?
I think it is to interest young people for Theosophy
7. Is there anything you would wish for the future of the Theosophical Movement?
I do wish that Theosophy will be spread to different ethical and religious groups.
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.