Madame Blavatsky and Spiritualism

I find what Blavatsky said about Spiritualism interesting. Before she founded the Theosophical Society she was a materialisation medium and was very involved with communicating with what many people regard as the spirits of the departed. However, she eventually turned her back on it and said that what spiritualists are doing is not contacting the immortal spirits of people who have passed over but the astral shades of the "dead" instead. I would be wary of getting involved in séances that included demonstrations of table tapping and the use of spirit trumpets.

[Papa Bear]

Hi Stephen,
May I ask, what is an `astral shade of the dead`?

[Astral Jane]

Originally Posted by Stephen333

I find what Blavatsky said about Spiritualism interesting. Before she founded the Theosophical Society she was a materialisation medium and was very involved with communicating with what many people regard as the spirits of the departed. However, she eventually turned her back on it and said that what spiritualists are doing is not contacting the immortal spirits of people who have passed over but the astral shades of the "dead" instead. I would be wary of getting involved in séances that included demonstrations of table tapping and the use of spirit trumpets.

Well Blavatsky was outspoken and hardheaded and like lots of theorists wasn't afraid to run away w ideas or get too attached, too conclusive; she'd say what came to mind and believe it. She was extraordinarily racist and carried on and on about how indigenous and darker skinned people were inferior species to Whites. I mean, unabashedly expounded on these theories as if the whole scientific community took them for granted (probly bcuz she knew 1 or 2 men who did). If that tells you anything about taking particular claims, even from big names, with a grain of salt.

& I think what she found about the 'astral shades' is, again, just someone's observation/experience with ONE of the things that can-maybe happen. It's premature when HB or anyone turns that obervation into, "ah, if you have A, then you get B, then what you have is Explanation C," when all they really saw was, "sometimes, when you have A, the next thing you get is B..." and those who experienced that are blind to /unaware of those who also had A but then got F & never heard of B. Makes me wonder if HB was weak on her Descartes, Leibniz, Spinoza & Hume (western philosophy). When no one could be doing her kind of studying (let alone a woman)- and be making her kind of claims - and had anyone west of Munich take them seriously, and not know that philosophy was essential background for them.

Sometimes people who "can hear" those "special messages" from the skies or whatever are picking up on some well-hidden cosmic truths but sometimes they are also people of little sound judgement in most other areas.

[Astral Jane]

or, alternatively, like Crowley and other "alternative" experts when they get their regional cult leader status, then they're human, maybe egotistical, and they bring a lot of baggage w/regards to years of being at odds with the mainstream.

I think Blavatski like all of us, was just trying to find out what is really going on in this world.

I think the lady tried to do her best to investigate and share her findings on what she thought could have been the truth back then.

I think her views on spiritualistic phenomena are important considering that she was heavily involved in it at one time. She said eventually it made her feel sick watching mediums conjuring up spooks using ectoplasm, knowing full well that these were not the immortal souls of the departed but just the astral shells or residue of what those people once were on earth. As to what she did in later life, she often seemed to be in a semi-trance state when she was "receiving theosophical teachings but thought of herself as more of a "mediator" than a medium. She wasn't controlled by any stray spirit who happened to be passing by but was receiving instruction from her "Masters".

[Nameless]

I have never been "called" to read M. Blatvasky. I don't know why either - I loved Sylvia Browne's books, and she mentions her time and again. I have been interested in Edgar Casey lately, but the books I found were not quite what I was looking for either.

I think it is all a matter of listening to your gut and if it doesn't feel right to you, do something that does.

There are many modern day channels who I find very exciting to listen to I thought I'd share.

Orindaben.com has many free meditations on their website - in Orin's Meditation Room. Orin is a being of light, and his messages make the energy sing in my body and feel so good to me.

Abraham Hicks. Can't say enough about them....just went to their seminar yesterday, and it lit up my world again. They are simply amazing. There are 1000's of youtube videos (audio) of some of their seminars and their channel has videos. Abraham changed my life in so many ways.

Seth Speaks, by Jane Roberts. There is a youtube video of her channeling Seth (it is a 3 part video and the only one I know to exist) as well as the many books she channeled from him. Seth also changed my life.

So I don't know why I wasn't called to M.Blats - I would say if she was a bigot (I got that from reading the prior post) that could be why I never got "the call". But that doesn't mean she didn't have good information for someone else, but that would have rang my bells.

I also like listening to Marina Michaels. She is very down to earth and channels very interesting information. thelighthouseonline.com She has a years worth of free channeling sessions on there, really interesting topics.

Originally Posted by Stephen333

I find what Blavatsky said about Spiritualism interesting. Before she founded the Theosophical Society she was a materialisation medium and was very involved with communicating with what many people regard as the spirits of the departed. However, she eventually turned her back on it and said that what spiritualists are doing is not contacting the immortal spirits of people who have passed over but the astral shades of the "dead" instead. I would be wary of getting involved in séances that included demonstrations of table tapping and the use of spirit trumpets.

my own view on this is to just leave the dead alone. if they really want to talk to you, they will.

[Arcturus]

i read the secret doctrine, thought it was pretty good, espicially "the stanzas of dyzan". i liked reading them as they sound real archaic, heres one description :: The stanzas of The Book of Dzyan are not easy to understand, but they reveal, to the person willing to study them, a sublime description of cosmic evolution

it was blavatsky who first, apparently, mentioned that another christ was to be born. i think she was right and i reckon she no doubt had some actual contact with masters, as much as an unenlightened being can without distortion, which no doubt came into it. the main aim of theosophy was to prepare people for the coming world teacher. i think their ultimate goal was conceived and reached.

STANZA -1-

1. The Eternal Parent wrapped in her Ever- Invisible Robes, had slumbered once again for Seven Eternities.

2. Time was not, for it lay asleep in the Infinite Bosom of Duration

3. Universal Mind was not, for there were no Ah-hi to contain it.

4. The Seven Ways to Bliss were not The Great Causes of Misery were not, for there was no one to produce and get ensnared by them..

5. Darkness alone filled the Boundless All, for Father, Mother, and Son were once more one, and the Son had not yet awakened for the new Wheel and his Pilgrimage thereon.

6. The Seven Sublime Lords and the Seven Truths had ceased to be, and the Universe, the Son of Necessity, was immersed in Paranishpanna, to be out breathed by that which is, and yet is not. Naught was.

7. The Causes of Existence had been done away with; the Visible that was, and the Invisible that is, rested in Eternal Non-Being - the One Being.

8. Alone, the One Form of Existence stretched boundless, infinite, causeless, in Dreamless Sleep; and Life pulsated unconscious in Universal Space, throughout that All-Presence, which is sensed by the Opened Eye of Dangma

9. But where was Dangma when the Alaya of the Universe was in Paramârtha , and the Great Wheel was Anupadaka?

[Miss Hepburn]

Well said, Astral Jane.