1. What’s your name, where are you from and how long have you been a member of the TS?
I’m Nicoletta Boriello and I live in a small village in the countryside near Rome, in Italy. I’ve been a member of the TS since 2016, when with other brothers and sisters we decided to found the “Jiddu Krishnamurti” Lodge.
2.How long have you been a member of your Section’s Board?
I joined the Italian Section’s Board in 2022.
3. How did you first learn about Theosophy or come in contact with the Society?
It was the end of 2012, and I needed to deeply understand what freedom was, as I perceived it as an idea and a possibility, and I was looking for ways to express it concretely and see it practiced around me. Thanks to a friend, I started attending a group of spiritual seekers, dedicating myself to meditation, study, and exploring other approaches. It was in that context that I first heard about Theosophy and H.P.B., and then I came in contact with the Theosophical Society.
4. What does Theosophy mean to you?
For me, Theosophy represents a path of deep knowledge that aims to help us grasp the harmony and equilibrium underlying the universe. It is that subtle energy that permeates every aspect of life, a force that governs and sustains all manifestation, maintaining balance among all its elements.
5. This year, 2025, the Theosophical Society celebrates its 150th anniversary. What in your opinion is the biggest challenge the TS is facing and what is to be done in order to maintain the Society’s relevance in the years to come?
I believe that one of the biggest challenges of the TS today is how to deal with the growing isolation, division and polarization in society. In a world where differences of race, creed, thought and culture still lead to conflict, keeping alive the ideas of universal brotherhood and unity remains the central and fundamental point of which TS is the bearer.
To maintain the relevance of the TS in the years to come, as H.P.B. recommended, it is necessary to “keep the link unbroken”, while finding ways to adapt to transfer the teachings to the new generations. In my opinion, we need to foster dialogue, creating open and inclusive spaces for discussion where people can explore their differences but find common ground, thus strengthening the idea of unity, and bringing science and spirituality ever closer together.
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.