theosophy
Mystical spiritual philosophy
Theosophy in its broadest sense refers to any mystical or esoteric philosophy claiming direct knowledge of the divine through spiritual intuition rather than reason or orthodox religion.
The term covers various traditions across history that seek hidden wisdom about God and the cosmos.
Ancient theosophy influenced later mystical movements. (Capitalized Theosophy refers specifically to the modern movement founded by Helena Blavatsky.)
Belief in supernatural forces
- esotericismStudy of hidden teachings
- hermeticismAirtight, impervious condition
- gnosticismPrivileging inner revelation
- kabbalahJewish mystical tradition
anthroposophy · mysticism · initiations · hidden knowledge · theurgy · adepts · arcana · symbolism
Formal admission ceremony
- self-realizationAchieving personal potential
- spiritual pathCourse of inner development
- inner lightSpiritual guidance within oneself
- awakeningReturn to consciousness
illumination · higher self · discipleship · clairvoyance · meditation · contemplation · purification · spiritual evolution
Spiritual cause and effect
- reincarnationSoul's rebirth after death
- dharmaCosmic moral order
- mayaPhenomenal world's deceptive nature
- nirvanaRelease from cyclical existence
moksha · chakras · kundalini · Vedas · Upanishads · Buddhism · Hinduism · Sanskrit
Theosophical movement founder
- root racesTheosophical human evolutionary stages
- astral bodySoul separate from flesh
- akashic recordsSupposed universal knowledge storehouse
- roundsAmmunition or bout divisions
Inward-turning process
- emanationSomething that flows out
- logosBrand identification symbols
- nature spiritsSupernatural beings in landscapes
- world soulEarth's unified consciousness
macrocosm · microcosm · ether · astral plane
occultism
Belief in supernatural forces
- esotericismStudy of hidden teachings
- hermeticismAirtight, impervious condition
- gnosticismPrivileging inner revelation
kabbalah · anthroposophy · mysticism · initiations · hidden knowledge · theurgy · adepts · arcana · symbolism
initiation
Formal admission ceremony
- self-realizationAchieving personal potential
- spiritual pathCourse of inner development
- inner lightSpiritual guidance within oneself
awakening · illumination · higher self · discipleship · clairvoyance · meditation · contemplation · purification · spiritual evolution · consciousness expansion
karma
Spiritual cause and effect
- reincarnationSoul's rebirth after death
- dharmaCosmic moral order
- mayaPhenomenal world's deceptive nature
nirvana · moksha · chakras · kundalini · Vedas · Upanishads · Buddhism · Hinduism · Sanskrit · atman
Blavatsky
Theosophical movement founder
- root racesTheosophical human evolutionary stages
- astral bodySoul separate from flesh
- akashic recordsSupposed universal knowledge storehouse
involution
Inward-turning process
- emanationSomething that flows out
- logosBrand identification symbols
- nature spiritsSupernatural beings in landscapes
world soul · macrocosm · microcosm · ether · astral plane
- occultwitchcraft, sorcery, necromancy, black magic, tarot
- British IndiaBritish Raj, East India Company, viceroy, Raj, governor-general
- pseudosciencehomeopathy, astrology, phrenology, numerology, palmistry
- Spiritual MovementsGnosticism, Kabbalah, Sufism, spiritualism, anthroposophy
- Victorian IdeasVictorianism, Darwinism, social Darwinism, evolution, natural selection
- European Mysticismpaganism, Wicca, druidry, witchcraft, esotericism
theosophyscientific method
Structured process for investigation
empiricism · positivism · materialism · physicalism · naturalism