Madame Blavatsky

(1831 – 1891)

Helena Petrovna Hahn was endowed from her childhood with remarkable psychic powers. In 1848, at sixteen she married Nikifor Blavatsky, 60, and they separated a few months later. Helena traveled extensively and became known throughout the world as Madame Blavatsky.

Blavatsky came to New York City in 1873 and founded The Theosophical Society along with Henry S. Olcott and William Q. Judge in 1875. She became an American citizen in 1878.

Then in 1890, she established the European headquarters of the Theosophical Society in London where she also died the following year.

Throughout her lifetime, Blavatsky was adept in several psychic abilities that included levitation, clairvoyance, out-of-body projection, telepathy, clairaudience and materialization.

Many researchers feel that much of what we now call ‘New Age’ thought began with Blavatsky.

Manly P. Hall writes of Madame Blavatsky in the Phoenix,

“Madam Blavatsky’s greatest “miracles” are her books, and by her writings she is elevated far beyond the reach of her calumniators.

Her literary accomplishments and not materialized tea-cups are the hallmark of her genius.”

1875 Madame Blavatsky with two of her disciples. Picture from the book Astrology by Louis MacNeice ISBN18706307777

Picture from the book Astrology by Louis MacNeice ISBN18706307777

BIRTH AND DEATH DATA:

Lois Rodden in Profiles of Women, page 143, lists Madame Blavatsky’s birth data as:

August 12, 1831, N.S. Ekaterinoslav, Russia, 2:17 AM/LMT.

However, at the bottom of the page Rodden refers to Americana; Sinnett’s letters; “Mahatma Letters” where it states “Midnight to dawn of July 31, OS, from her.”

Manly P. Hall in Phoenix, page 86. reads “Upon the night of July 30 1831, at Ekaterinoslaw, H.P. Blavatsky (then Mademoiselle Hahn) “was ushered into the world amidst coffins and desolation” due to the plague of cholera then raging throughout Europe.”

Madame Blavatsky died on May 8, 1891 in London, England after suffering for years of chronic illnesses. Her body was cremated and her ashes were divided and sent to Europe, United States and India.

May 8^this celebrated by Theosophists as White Lotus Day.

BOOKS:

Madame Blavatsky published her first book, Isis Unveiled, in 1877.

The Secret Doctrine was published in 1888,

The Key to Theosophy and The Voice of the Silence were both published in 1889 and Nightmare Tales in 1892.

Many writings by and about Blavatsky are online in their full-text at the web site of The Theosophical Society:

http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/ts/bio-hpb.htm

REFERENCED WRITINGS:

“The Russian Sphinx,” in the Pheonix by Manly P. Hall, Profiles of Women

by Lois M. Rodden and The Theosophical Society.

Memorials A-K , Continued
Back to Memorials L-Z

DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? This memorial is interactive, and we welcome your memories and tributes, which we will add to the page in the order received. They may be edited for length, grammar, or suitability. If there are any additional contributions we should mention or any inaccuracies in the memorial, please bring them to our attention. We would also love to have photos to bring back vivid memories. (Photos will be scanned and returned.) To suggest names, share memories, create tributes, or volunteer, send us an e-mail.

CREDITS: This memorial written by Arlene DeAngelus and created by Liz Houle with graphics from Word of Mouth Web Design. and http://rexcurry.net/theosophy-madame-blavatsky-theosophical-society.html

Helena Petrovna Hahn was endowed from her childhood with remarkable psychic powers. In 1848, at sixteen she married Nikifor Blavatsky, 60, and they separated a few months later. Helena traveled extensively and became known throughout the world as Madame Blavatsky.

Blavatsky came to New York City in 1873 and founded The Theosophical Society along with Henry S. Olcott and William Q. Judge in 1875. She became an American citizen in 1878.

Then in 1890, she established the European headquarters of the Theosophical Society in London where she also died the following year.

Throughout her lifetime, Blavatsky was adept in several psychic abilities that included levitation, clairvoyance, out-of-body projection, telepathy, clairaudience and materialization.

Many researchers feel that much of what we now call ‘New Age’ thought began with Blavatsky.

Manly P. Hall writes of Madame Blavatsky in the Phoenix,

“Madam Blavatsky’s greatest “miracles” are her books, and by her writings she is elevated far beyond the reach of her calumniators.

Her literary accomplishments and not materialized tea-cups are the hallmark of her genius.”

BIRTH AND DEATH DATA:

Lois Rodden in Profiles of Women, page 143, lists Madame Blavatsky’s birth data as:

August 12, 1831, N.S. Ekaterinoslav, Russia, 2:17 AM/LMT.

However, at the bottom of the page Rodden refers to Americana; Sinnett’s letters; “Mahatma Letters” where it states “Midnight to dawn of July 31, OS, from her.”

Manly P. Hall in Phoenix, page 86. reads “Upon the night of July 30 1831, at Ekaterinoslaw, H.P. Blavatsky (then Mademoiselle Hahn) “was ushered into the world amidst coffins and desolation” due to the plague of cholera then raging throughout Europe.”

Madame Blavatsky died on May 8, 1891 in London, England after suffering for years of chronic illnesses. Her body was cremated and her ashes were divided and sent to Europe, United States and India.

May 8^this celebrated by Theosophists as White Lotus Day.

BOOKS:

Madame Blavatsky published her first book, Isis Unveiled, in 1877.

The Secret Doctrine was published in 1888,

The Key to Theosophy and The Voice of the Silence were both published in 1889 and Nightmare Tales in 1892.

Many writings by and about Blavatsky are online in their full-text at the web site of The Theosophical Society:

http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/ts/bio-hpb.htm

REFERENCED WRITINGS:

“The Russian Sphinx,” in the Pheonix by Manly P. Hall, Profiles of Women

by Lois M. Rodden and The Theosophical Society.

Memorials A-K , Continued
Back to Memorials L-Z