NEW AGE GENESIS

Helena Petrova Blavatsky (or HPB as she preferred to be called) was one of the earliest driving forces in the modern New Age movement. This outspoken, fascinating woman was as multi-faceted as a Swarovski crystal. Her influence proved invaluable to spirituality and gave followers of Eastern religion and the occult a voice, which spread these movements across the Western world.

HPB's tumultuous and often controversial life began in Ekaterinoslav, Russia in 1831. She was born to Peter von Hahn, a colonel in the Russian army, and Helena Andreyevna, a novelist. Both her mother, who wrote about strong Russian heroines breaking free of society's constraints, and her scientist grandmother, proved to be instrumental role models that shaped HPB's fiery, nonconformist, and highly outspoken character.

HPB's first marriage began when she was only seventeen. To aggravate her governess, Helena married the forty year old Nikefor Blavatsky. The marriage lasted only a few months. Helena simply left her husband, (they were not even officially divorced), a testament to her intense free will. Blavatsky is the name she would keep, despite the short life of their relationship. HPB was infamous for twisting stories and changing, or making up details about her life, but it is safe to say that she had several affairs, possible marriages, and at least one illegitimate deformed son named Yuri who died in childhood.

The year after her marriage to Blavatsky marked the start of a ten year period that is vague, to say the least. All that is known about this time in her life, (which she made a point of keeping secretive), is that she traveled extensively, and possibly entered Tibet a few times, as she claimed, to study Eastern religion. There are several stories as to what occurred in this decade, but none can be confirmed.

When she emerged from this "veiled period" as she liked to call it, Helena began to explore and strengthen her supernatural powers. She was aware of her psychic abilities from childhood, and claimed to be clairvoyant, clairsentient, clairaudient, and a medium. She was obsessed with the occult and paranormal from a very early age, and often alienated herself from other children with her unusual and often morbid behavior.

The years after the "veiled period" were HPB's most productive. After a few years in Russia and an affair with an Italian opera singer, HPB went to Cairo and founded the Societe Spirite for practice of occult phenomena. The society was closed when HPB and her society cofounder were charged with fraudulent behavior. In 1873, HPB went to New York where she eventually gained U.S. citizenship, in 1878, becoming the first Russian woman to do so. She became a well known psychic in New York spiritual circles. It was during this time that she met, and became lifelong friends with Colonel Henry Olcott. Olcott was an established lawyer, agricultural expert, and journalist who covered psychic phenomena. The two were complete opposites. HPB was rambunctious and outspoken, a true firebrand. Olcott, on the other hand, was more subdued and diplomatic. Together, they founded the Theosophical Society in 1875, HPB's most well-known accomplishment.

The word theosophy means "divine wisdom" or "wisdom of the gods" and this is exactly what HPB wanted to harness. The society was started with three goals in mind: to form a universal brotherhood of man, to study and make known the ancient religions, philosophies and sciences, and to investigate the laws of nature and develop the divine powers present in all people. The Theosophical emblem, which incorporates many ancient symbols, also bears the mantra of the society, "There is no religion higher than truth."

The founding of the society was rocky; HPB and Olcott had few supporters and little publicity. The release of her first book "Isis Unveiled" which was a major success, coincided with, and overshadowed the Society's launch. By 1878 the Theosophical Society had nearly folded. To spark interest in the group, HPB performed public "miracles" usually involving levitation, out-of-body projection, or some form of psychic power. These "miracles" (although sometimes charged as hoaxes) along with HPB's charismatic and commanding personality gained her followers to the society. In 1882, HPB moved the Society's headquarters to Adyar, India, just outside of Madras. She had always been fascinated with India, and it seemed only natural to have the headquarters of her society located there.

HPB's health began to fail, so she moved back to Europe, and continued to work in Germany until her death. She produced three more books, including "The Secret Doctrine" which is often regarded as her masterwork. By 1891, HPB's condition took a turn for the worst. She died on May 8, 1891, known as white lotus day to Theosophists. Her cremated remains were divided threefold and spread in Europe, America, and in the Ganges River, holy site to the Hindus of India. At the time of HPB's death, there were nearly 100,000 followers of her teachings.

Numerous signs of HPB's influence remain today. The Theosophical Society that she and Olcott founded still exists, complete with an official website: ts-adyar.org. The society that HPB founded 127 years ago is alive and well, perhaps because of the current revival of Eastern religion and the occult, but perhaps just because of the timeless appeal the fundamentals of the society holds. HPB's legacy will live on, in her teachings, in her books, in her legends, and in the way she helped shape the New Age renaissance of spirituality that is so apparent today.

This is the first in a series of columns that will introduce you to the people, movements and ideas that are behind today's spiritual renewal. This article was researched and written by Suzanne Carlson. For more information on Helena Blavatsky and Theosophy see the following references:

Biography: www.kheper.net/topics/Theosophy/Blavatsky.htm
Biography: www.themystica.com/mystica/articles/b/blavatsky_helena_petrovna.html
Theosophical Society: ts-adyar.org