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Helena Blavatsky

1831 – 1891 Russian occultist, co-founder of the Theosophical Society

Occultist who co-founded the Theosophical Society and shaped modern esotericism.

Religion
Theosophy, which she founded: an esoteric synthesis of Hindu and Buddhist ideas, Kabbalah, and Hermeticism claiming an ancient hidden wisdom guarded by spiritual Masters.
Affiliations
Co-founded the Theosophical Society in 1875 with Henry Steel Olcott and William Quan Judge.

Helena Blavatsky co-founded the Theosophical Society in New York in 1875 and wrote its central texts, Isis Unveiled and The Secret Doctrine. She taught that a single ancient wisdom underlay all religions and was preserved by hidden Masters, or Mahatmas, with whom she claimed contact. Her synthesis of Eastern and Western esoteric ideas shaped nearly every occult movement that followed.

Works in the library

Connections

  • influenced Alice Bailey — Presented her work as continuing the Theosophical wisdom Blavatsky began.
  • mentor of Annie Besant — Besant became her disciple and later led the society.
  • student of Annie Besant — Converted to Theosophy as Blavatsky's disciple.
  • influenced Comte de Saint-Germain — Theosophy adopted him as one of its legendary hidden Masters.
  • influenced Eliphas Levi — Blavatsky drew on Levi's occult writings.
  • influenced Emanuel Swedenborg — Blavatsky cited Swedenborg among forerunners of her spiritual teaching.
  • influenced Franz Anton Mesmer — Mesmerism informed the psychic ideas Blavatsky later drew on.
  • associate of Henry Steel Olcott — Co-founded and led the Theosophical Society with her.
  • associate of Henry Steel Olcott — Co-founded the Theosophical Society together.
  • influenced Manly P. Hall — Drew on the Theosophical idea of a single hidden wisdom behind all religions.
  • influenced Max Heindel — Came out of the Theosophical movement she founded.
  • associate of Papus — Was briefly a member of the Theosophical Society.
  • influenced Rudolf Steiner — Began within the Theosophy she founded before departing from it.
  • associate of William Quan Judge — Co-founded the Theosophical Society with her and Olcott.
  • associate of William Quan Judge — Third principal co-founder of the Theosophical Society.

In the timeline

Wikipedia