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Spiritual Event I:
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The Centennial Effort of 1875, Occult
revival in the West, founding of the TS.
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Historical Consequences:
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Influence of TS on art, spirituality
and politics etc., long-term expectation, New Age.
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Spiritual Precedents:
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a) 1075, b) 1175, c) 1275, d) 1375,
e) 1475, f) 1575, g) 1675 and h) 1775.
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Historical Consequences:
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a) the Crusades, b) Gothic Renaissance,
c) High Middle Ages, d) Rosicrucian Underground, e)
Italian Renaissance, f) English Renaissance, g) Scientific
Revolution, h) Political Revolution.
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From Blavatsky's The Key to Theosophy, last chapter
in which she discussed the future of the TS:
"During the last quarter of every hundred years an
attempt is made by those "Masters," of whom I
have spoken, to help on the spiritual progress of Humanity
in a marked and definite way. Towards the close of each
century you will invariably find that an outpouring or upheaval
of spirituality--or call it mysticism if you prefer--has
taken place. Some one or more persons have appeared in the
world as their agents, and a greater or less amount of occult
knowledge and teaching has been given out. If you care to
do so, you can trace these movements back, century by century,
as far as our detailed historical records extend."
(Full
text of chapter)
From the third volume of the Secret Doctrine by
Blavatsky:
"Among the commandments of Tsong-kha-pa there is one
that enjoins the Rahats (Arhats) to make an attempt to enlighten
the world, including the "white barbarians," every
century, at a certain specified period of the cycle. Up
to the present day none of these attempts has been very
successful. Failure has followed failure."
(Tsong-ka-pha (1357-1419). Founder of the Gelugpa
sect of Tibetan Buddhism, the "Yellow Hats", the
now most powerful sect, headed by the Dalai Lama. Started
his own school in 1392.)
With this in mind let's look at some key dates
and persons connected with the centennial effort of the
19th century:
Event I: 1875-1900 Occult Revival
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1848
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Beginning of Spiritualism in America
with the Fox sisters.
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1875
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Founding of the Theosophical Society
by H.P. Blavatsky, Col. H.S. Olcott, and W.Q. Judge.
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1875
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Publication of Science and Health
With Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy.
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1877
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Publication of Isis Unveiled
by Blavatsky.
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1888
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Publication of the Secret Doctrine
by Blavatsky.
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1893
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World's Parliament of Religions
in Chicago.
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Eliphas Lévi (pseud. for Anton Louis
Constant. 1810-1875). French Kabbalist and Occultist.
Edward Bulwer Lytton (1803-1873).
English novelist and Rosicrucian. His popular books helped
to create a favorable climate for the reception of esoteric
teachings.
Helena Petrovna Blavatsky (1832-1891).
Russian mage and writer. Principle founder of the TS. Instructed
by the Masters of Wisdom. Wrote the Secret Doctrine
and Isis Unveiled.
Henry Olcott (1832-1906). American
lawyer, educator, healer and occultist. First President
of the Theosophical Society. Instigator of a Buddhist revival
in South and East Asia.
Mary Baker Eddy (1821-1910). Religious
teacher and spiritual healer. Founder of Christian Science.
Emma Curtis Hopkins. Spiritual healer.
Started the New Thought tradition. Founder of the Christian
Science Theological Seminary.
Historical consequences:
The TS had an inspiring influence on many
leaders in different fields. Its influence has been acknowledged
more and more and even has become a somewhat respectable
subject of historical study. Some even want to include HPB
in the list of the great influential minds of her days:
Marx, Darwin, Freud and Nietzsche--something HPB herself
might find a dubious honor.
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art:
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"Great poets and writers such
as W.B.Yeats, George William Russel, Jack London,
E.M.Forster, D.H.Lawrence, T.S.Elliot, James Joyce,
Thornton Wilder and others are mentioned as being
profoundly influenced by Theosophy... The occult dynamics
of Theosophy are also evident in the paintings of
Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, the Bauhaus mystics,
Piet Mondriaan, and Nicholas Roerich. Moreover the
music by Scriabin, Sibelius and Mahler would not have
been written without the inspiration of Theosophy."
(Sylvia Cranston The Extraordinary Life &
Influence of Helena Blavatsky)
|
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1880s
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Buddhist and Hindu revival in South
and East Asia. Henry Olcott.
|
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1948
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India's political independence.
O.A.Hume, Indian Congress, Annie Besant, Gandhi, Nehru.
This project stood high on the agenda of the Adepts.
|
Spiritual Precedents: The Gothic Renaissance 1075-1344
(combining the 1075, 1175
and 1275 efforts)
|
1070
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Start of a rabbinical, cabalistic
and esoteric school, headed by Rashi (Rabbi Solomon
Ben Isaac 1040-1105) in Troyes, Champagne.
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1095
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First Crusade. Peter the Hermit,
Godfroi de Bouillon, Hugues, Comte de Champagne and
Raymond de Saint Gilles, Comte de Toulouse,
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1099
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Capture of Jerusalem
|
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1099
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Founding of the Order of Notre Dame
de Sion by Godfroi de Bouillon.
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1113-1115
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Saint Bernard joins the Order of
Cistercians at Cîteax with thirty of his relatives
and friends. Founding abbot of Clairveaux.
|
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1118
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Official Founding of the Order of
the Poor Knights of Christ and the Temple of Solomon.
Hughes de Payens, Geoffrey de St. Omer, André de Montbard,
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux and the Cistercians.
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1128
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Church council officially recognized
and incorporated the Templars. Hugues de Payens first
Grand-Master. Eulogy and Rule composed by Saint Bernard.
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1128
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St. Bernard starts translating the
'sacred geometry' of King Solomon's masons with help
of Rashi's school. This art was obtained by the Templars
in the Holy Land and passed on to St. Bernard.
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1137-1250
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Suger (1081-1151), abbot of Saint-Denis,
was first to try out some of the key elements of Gothic
architecture. Suger worked with St. Bernard to reconcile
different factions in French feudal politics. Building
of the Cathedrals and many other structures (+
150 altogether acc. to Charpentier). Executed by the
Children of Solomon, a guild of masons instructed
by Cistercians and financed by Templars. Architecture
based on sacred geometry.
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1139
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Papal bull by Pope Innocentius II
(protégé of Saint Bernard and former Cistercian monk)
declares Templars' sole allegiance is to the Pope.
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1140-1170
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Flowering of the Gnostic Cathars
in Languedoc. Their mystic doctrines showed up in
the poems of the Troubadours.
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1130-1220
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Coming and going of the Troubadours
who sang in the Langue d'Oc. Troubadours flourished
between 1170-1209 and inspired the north French Trouvères
and German Minnesinger.
|
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1145
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Second Crusade. Instigated mainly
by Saint Bernard.
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1187
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Battle at Hattin in Palestine, beginning
of end of Frankish presence in the Holy Land. Grand
Master of the Templars Gérard de Ridefort responsible
for the debacle.
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1180-1200
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Publication of the esoteric Grail
Romances. Chrétien de Troyes (sponsored by Marie,
Contesse de Champagne), Wolfram von Eschenbach, and
Robert de Borron. Some having a strong Cathar, Templar
or Cistercian influence.
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1210
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Establishment of the order of Franciscans
by St. Francis of Assisi (1180\2-1226). Approved by
Pope Innocentius III (same pope who went after the
Cathars).
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1285
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Detachment of Templars established
itself on the summit of the mountain of Bézu, invited
by Pierre de Voisins, lord of Bézu and Rennes-le-Château.
Templars discovered and amplified the natural sacred
geometry of the landscape?
|
Rashi or Rabbi Solomon Ben Isaac (1040-1105).
Cabbalist and Bible commentator. Founder of a rabbinical,
cabalistic and esoteric school in Troyes, France.
Godfroi de Bouillon (c. 1060-1100).
Duke of Lower Lorraine. Leader of First Crusade. First western
ruler of Jerusalem. Brother of Baldwin I, first western
King of Jerusalem. Founder of the Order of Notre Dame de
Sion, later named the Prieuré de Sion.
"...a vital link... indicating the dim
configurations of some elaborately concealed design."
HBHG-92:
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153).
a) Abbot of Clairvaux, b) patron of the Templars, c) religious
conscience of Europe, d) spokesman of Catholic Christianity,
e) nephew of André de Montbard, f) lived in the domains
of the Comte de Champagne, e) presided over the council
of Troyes in 1128 to incorporate the Templars.
André de Montbard: a) uncle of Saint
Bernard, b) member and later Grand Master of the Priory
of Sion 1153-1170 , c) Founding member of the Templars with
Comte de champagne + 1114, d) third Grand Master
of the Templars 1153-1170 , e) lived in the domains of the
Comte de Champagne.
Hugues, Comte de Champagne: a) Overlord
of Saint Bernard and de Montbard, b) gave land to Bernard
to build the abbey of Clairvaux, c) Founding member of the
Templars with de Montbard, d) hosted the council of Troyes
in 1128,
Hugues de Payens: a) Templars first
Grand Master, b) cousin of the Comte de Champagne, c) initiated
by Theocletes, Grand-Pontiff of the Order of the Temple
of the Nazarene sect, into the "true version of the
history of Jesus, and the early Christianity.... Freedom
of intellectual thought and the restoration of one and universal
religion was their secret object."
Roger Bacon (ca. 1220- ca. 1292). English
philosopher, scientist and reformer. An adept according
to HPB (BCW 11: 546).
1375-1400 The Rosicrucian Foundation
Dante Alighieri (1265-1321). Italian poet
inspired by the Provencal troubadours. "His `Inferno'
a true Occult Revelation in verse." (BCW14:45).
Rulman Merswin (1307-1382). Founder of the Friends
of God, a Christian esoteric movement.
Blanche d'Evruex (1332-1398). Wife of Philippe
VI, king of France. Immersed in Alchemical studies and experiments;
had laboratories in some of her castles. Personal patron
of Nicolas Flamel.
Nicolas Flamel (1330-1418). French Alchemist with
interest in Cabalistic and Hermetic thought. Sponsored by
Blanche d'Evreux. Life transformed by Alchemical text found
in 1362.
Christian Rosencreuz (1378?-1484?). German Magus.
Alleged founder of the Order of the Rosy Cross, which aim
was the study and application of ancient science, numerology
and cosmic law. (HPB: +1250; CWL: 1375).
Cardinal Nicolas de Cusa (1401-1464). German Cardinal,
scientist and Cabalist. Cusa was an Adept, reappearing as
Copernicus (BCW14:377). Published De Docta Ignorantia,
which "contains theosophical ideas throughout."
BCW14:538.
1475-1500 The Occult Renaissance in Italy
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1444
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Founding of the Library of San Marco
by Cosimo de Medici.
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1448
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Founding of the Order of the Crescent
by René d'Anjou.
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1471
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Hermetic corpus translated by Ficino.
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1475
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End of the Hundred Years' War with
a truce.
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1492
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(re-)Discovery of the new world
by Columbus.
|
|
?
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Founding of the Platonic Academy
in Florence by Cosimo de Medici.
|
George Gemistus Pletho (1355-1452).
Byzantine scholar and philosopher. Inspired Cosimo de Medici
to found the Platonic Academy. Promoted Greeks like the
philospher Plato and the geographer Strabo to the west,
which had a profound influence on the Renaissance. (EB 10:65)
Cosimo de Medici (1389-1464). Virtual
lord of Florence and patron of the arts. Influenced by René
d'Anjou. Patron of Marsilio Ficino. Protector of the Platonic
Academy in Florence. Founder of Europe's first public library,
the San Marco Library.
Rene D'Anjou (1408-1480?). King of
Naples and Sicily, and King of Jerusalem. Prompted Cosimo
de Medici to acquire and translate Platonic, Cabalistic,
Gnostic and Hermetic works. Founder of the Order of the
Crescent. Sponsored Mantegna. Accompanied Joan of Arc (1412-1431)
to Chinon, Orléans and Reims.
Marsilio Ficino (1433-1499). Italian
philosopher, scholar (EB 9:237) and magus. Head of the Platonic
Academy in Florence (1462). Translated the Hermetic corpus
(1471), Plato (1484) and Plotinus (1492). Sponsored by Cosimo
de Medici. Teacher of Lorenzo de Medici.
Andrea del Verrocchio (1435-1488).
Italian sculptor and painter. Alchemist and hermeticist.
Taught Leonardo da Vinci and Botticelli.
Botticelli (1444-1510). Italian
painter. Studied under alchemist and hermeticist Verrocchio
and Mantegna. Patronized by de Medici. Well acquainted with
Leonardo da Vinci.
Lorenzo de Medici (1447-1492). Virtual
lord of Florence and patron of the arts. Patron of Verrocchio,
Botticelli, Pico della Mirandola.
Christopher Columbus (1451-1506).
Spanish or Italian navigator and explorer. In the service
of René d'Anjou in 1472-73 (EB). Married to daughter of
a former Knight of Christ, who had charts and diaries. Sailed
under the red pattée cross of the Knights of Christ, the
renamed Knights Templars of Portugal. Incarnation of Saint
Germain (ECP).
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519). Italian
artist, inventor and universal genius. Sponsored by de Medicis
and Ludovico Sforza, son of Francesco Sforza, close friend
of René d'Anjou. Member of the Order of the Crescent.
John Pico della Mirandola (1463-1494).
Italian philosopher, scholar and magus. Sponsored by Lorenzo
de Medici. Connected with the Platonic Academy. Strongly
influenced by Ficino. Explored Cabalist magic. An adept
according to HPB (BCW 4: 607).
Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527). Philosopher
and social scientist. Worked with da Vinci on modern science
and study of politics and human nature. Founder of the philosophy
of history and first to understand the doctrine of historical
cycles (EB 14:520). Too often misjudged as immoral or cynical,
M was passionate, generous, ardent and basically religious
(EB 14:518).
Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543). Polish
astronomer, skilled medical practitioner, Adept, reincarnation
of de Cusa (HPB). Studied at Bologna, Italy.
1525-1550 The Occult Renaissance in Germany
Agrippa von Nettesheim (1486-1535).
German writer, physician and magus. Influenced by Pico.
Influenced Giordano Bruno. An adept according to HPB (BCW
3: 264).
Paracelsus (1490-1541). Swiss physician,
alchemist, chemist and magus. "Paracelsan Alchemy...
derived its stimulus from the Renaissance Hermetic-Cabalist
tradition" (GB-150). Influenced Giordano Bruno. An
adept according to HPB (BCW 4: 607).
Henry Kunrath (ca. 1560-1601 or 1605).
German alchemist and Hermeticist. Follower of Paracelsus.
An adept according to HPB (BCW 3: 264).
1575-1600 The Occult Renaissance in England.
Thomas More (1478-1535). Pioneering
English Neoplatonist. Incarnation of El Morya.
John Colet (1466?-1519). English Neoplatonist.
Worked with More and his circle.
John Dee (1527-1608). English Mathematician,
scientist and astrologer.
Francis Bacon (1561-1626). English
philosopher of science and politician. Incarnation of Saint
Germain. Real author of Shakespearean corpus.
Giordano Bruno (1548-1600). Philosopher,
writer and magus. Former incarnation of Annie Besant.
Tommaso Campanela (1568-1639). Italian
philosopher, poet and magus.
1612-1622 Rosicrucian Interlude
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1612
|
Publication of the Fama Fraternitatis.
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|
1612
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Publication of The Aurora
by Boehme.
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|
1613
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Frederick marries Elizabeth Stuart,
daughter of James I, king of England.
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1615
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Publication of the Confessio
Fraternitatis.
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|
1616
|
Publication of The Chemical Wedding
of Christian Rosencreutz.
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1618-1620
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Insurrection of the Bohemian nobles
against Ferdinand II. Frederick elected as king of
Bohemia. Frederick lost at the battle of the White
Mountain and flees to Holland.
|
Robert Fludd (1574-1637). England's
leading exponent of Cabalist-Hermetic thought. Ardent defender
of the Rosicrucians. Published two booklets (in 1616 and
1617) in order to get in contact with them. An adept according
to HPB (BCW 4: 607).
Johann Valentin Andrea (1586-1654).
Possible author of the Fama, the Confessio and
The Chemical Wedding.
Michael Maier (1566-1622?). Germany's
leading exponent of Rosicrucian thought. Connected with
Fludd.
Jacob Boehme (1575-1624). German philosophical
Mystic and Theosophist. Speculative Alchemist influenced
by Paracelsus. Was in Prague when Frederick V entered the
city in 1619.
Frederick V, Elector Palatine (1596-1632).
His brief reign was a Hermetic Golden Age, during which
the Rosicrucian furor took place.
1675-1700 Groundwork for the Age of Enlightenment
|
1619
|
Descartes formulates his first ideas,
while serving at the Catholic army defeating Frederick
at Prague, which ended the Rosicrucian renaissance!
|
|
1623-1625?
|
Open correspondence between Fludd
and Mersenne
|
|
1637
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Publication of Discourse on Method
by Descartes
|
|
1645?
|
Founding of the `Invisible College.'
|
|
1663
|
Founding of The Royal Society in
London
|
|
1683
|
Opening of the first public museum,
the Ashmolean Museum by Elias Ashmole.
|
|
1687
|
Principia Mathematica by Isaac Newton
|
|
1689
|
Two Treatises on Government
by John Locke
|
|
1690
|
Essay Concerning Human Understanding
by John Locke.
|
Marin Mersenne (1588-1648). French mathematician
and theologian. Friend and supporter of Descartes. Clearinghouse
for French philosophers, scientists, theologians, mathematicians
etc. (like Hartlib in England). Educated at Jesuit college
La Fléche. Critical of Renaissance Occultism.
Johann Comenius (1592-1670). Bohemian educator,
writer and possibly Rosicrucian. Studied at Heidelberg with
professors close to Frederick. Member of the Bohemian Brethren.
Inspirer of the Royal Society. Corresponded with Andrea.
René Descartes (1596-1650). French philosopher,
mathematician and Rosicrucian. During winter quarters in
Bohemia D. had his famous dreams, "leading him towards
the conviction that mathematics were the sole key to the
understanding of nature." Heard about the Rosicrucians
and was seen as one of them. Friend of Mersenne and connected
with the Hartlib Circle. Educated at Jesuit college La Fléche.
(Article
about Descartes' status as a Rosicrucian and Rosicrucian
connections)
Samuel Hartlib (1600-1662). German educational
and agricultural reformer, Rosicrucian. Center of the Hartlib
Circle of esotericists and scientists. Connected with Andrea,
Descartes, Boyle and Newton.
Thomas Vaughn (1622-1666). English alchemist. Wrote
under the pseudonym of Eugenius Philaletes. An adept according
to HPB (BCW 4: 607).
Robert Boyle (1627-1691). English natural philosopher
and pioneering chemist. Member of the `Invisible College'
and the Royal Society. Taught Alchemy to Newton. Friends
with John Locke.
John Locke (1632-1704). English philosopher, initiator
of the Age of Enlightenment and Reason in England and France,
inspirer of the American Constitution. Friend of Newton.
Did research on Mary Magdalen, Alchemy, and the Cathars.
Isaac Newton (1642-1727). English scientist and
mathematician. President of the Royal Society. Strong interest
in Alchemy and Hermeticism. Connected with some of Andrea's
friends. Friends with leading Masonic figure Jean Desagulier,
who was connected with pioneering Freemasons Chevalier Ramsay,
James Anderson and Charles Radclyffe.
Elias Ashmole (16?? -1692). English antiquarian,
collector and expert on chivalric orders. Freemason (1646).
Founder of the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford. "The last
of Rosicrucians and alchemists." (HPB)
1775-1800 Age of Political Revolutions
|
1773
|
Boston Tea Party. Mostly Freemasons
were involved.
|
|
1775-1781
|
American War of Independence. American
army led by Freemason Washington. International diplomatic
support organized by Freemason Franklin.
|
|
1776
|
Declaration of Independence. Majority
of signers were Freemasons. Saint Germain was unknown
person exhorting the assembly to sign the document
(ECP).
|
|
1789
|
Washington elected first President
of the USA. Inaugurated with Masonic honors.
|
George Washington (1732-1799). General, statesman,
first President of the USA. Freemason. Influenced the elaborate
esoteric geometry governing the layout of the capital.
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826). Third President of
the USA. Principle author of the Declaration of Independence.
Political philosopher.
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790). American author,
inventor, scientist and diplomat. One of the best known
and admired man of his time (EB 9:802). Member of the Royal
Society. Master of the influential French Lodge `Neuf Soeurs.'
Freemason.
Comte de Saint Germain (1660\95?-?). Mystic, occultist,
philosopher and diplomat. The greatest Oriental Adept Europe
has seen during the last centuries (HPB). Probably the son
of Ferenc Rakoczy II (1676-1735), Prince of Transylvania.
Templar Freemason. Worked with Anton Mesmer (1734-1815).
Eminence Gris behind the American Revolution. An adept according
to HPB (BCW 4: 607).
Emmanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772). Swedish scientist,
mystic, philosopher and theologian.
Karl Gotthelf von Hund ( -1776). German Freemason.
Introduced the `Strict Templar Observance,' with its `Unknown
Superiors.'
Some Continuous Threads
The Guardians of the Wisdom Religion. The Mahatmas
releasing strategic impulses in the form of teachings and/or
agents. Tsong-Kapha's centennial effort for the west. References
to unknown superiors in the secret societies. References
to the importance of the east.
The Will to Freedom. Continuing efforts to establish
religious, scientific, political and economic freedom. Saint
Bernard proclaiming freedom of opinion in all matters not
determined by faith (EB 3:524). Incarnations of Saint Germain
working for a New Atlantis: Columbus, Francis Bacon, Comte
de Saint Germain. Freemasons' stance for religious freedom
and tolerance. John Locke developing political philosophy
for a Republic of free man. Jefferson's Declaration of Independence.
The principled commitment of the Theosophical Society to
freedom of thought.
Incarnations of the European Adept Saint Germain.
Roger Bacon, Christian Rosenkreuz, Francis Bacon, Le Comte
de Saint Germain. Abiding interest of one Adept for the
well-being of Europe. Promoted science, occultism and the
establishment of a New Atlantis in the new world.
The Four Ages
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1075-1344
|
The Age of the Templars, or the
Gothic Age
|
|
1375-1618
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The Age of the Rosy Cross, or the
Renaissance
|
|
1618-1850
|
The Age of the Freemasons, or the
Enlightenment
|
|
1851-2000
|
The Age of the Mahatmas, or the
Theosophical Enlightenment
|
See Diagram of
the Centennial Efforts
© 1999 Govert Schüller
|
