Honorable Mentions
The Theosophical Society always considered itself to be a bulwark within a wider theosophical movement for the burgeoning modern world and the subsequent de-colonialization process. Therefore instances of theosophical influence are usually accompanied with a certain amount of conflict and controversy, which is not unusual for a reform movement in very tumultuous times. Below is a lot of people whose theosophical activities require more research. They are characterized by a more individualistic, original, ambiguous approach to their theosophical inspirations.
See Part 1
Jack London (1876 – 1916)
In a 1983 dissertation, William Linville: London's books Martin Eden, The Star Rover, and John Barleycorn all reveal a debt to the Secret Doctrine.
'Martin Eden’s head was in a state of addlement when he went away after
several hours, and he hurried to the library to look up the definitions
of a dozen unusual words. And when he left the library, he carried under
his arm four volumes: Madam Blavatsky’s “Secret Doctrine,” “Progress
and Poverty,” “The Quintessence of Socialism,” and, “Warfare of Religion
and Science.” Unfortunately, he began on the “Secret Doctrine.” Every
line bristled with many-syllabled words he did not understand.'
T S Eliot (1888 – 1965)
I shall not want Pipit in Heaven: Madame Blavatsky will instruct me
In the Seven Sacred Trances;
Piccarda de Donati will conduct me.
A Cooking Egg, Poems, 1919
Fantastic Views: T. S. Eliot & the Occultation of Knowledge & Experience (1997jstor.org/stable/4075513 https://www.openculture.com/2014/07/full-lecture-and-reading-list-from-sun-ras-1971-uc-berkeley-course.html
Wayne Shorter (1933 – 2023) Gene Wilder (1933 – 2016)
Sun Ra (1914 – 1993)
Proponent
of a very particular brand of neo-theosophy that was quite influential,
he included Blavatsky on his reading list in a college course that he
gave as lecturing musician in residence
Sun Ra’s Full Lecture & Reading List From His 1971 UC Berkeley Course, “The Black Man in the Cosmos” July 21st, 2014
Kurt Vonnegut (1922 – 2007)
Kurt Vonnegut called her ‘the Founding Mother of the Occult in America’, which is not entirely hyperbole.
McCalls Magazine, March 1970
https://www.apollo-magazine.com/transcendental-painting-group-new-mexico/ Martin Luther King Jr. (1929 – 1968)
Not an official theosophist, but deserves an honorary status
You Say You Want a Revolution—in Consciousness?
tapped into a mystical East-West lineage, one that can guide us in divisive times
Christopher Naughton Jan. 1, 2020
There
is an obvious neo-theosophy influence in free jazz with Sun Ra, but maybe
also in hard bop through John Coltrane's reading theosophist Cyril Scott,The Philosophy of Modernism, 1917. Kenny Burrell covered a Cyrill
Scott composition, Lotus Land, on his album with Gil Evans. McCoy Tyner has an album
title Atlantis and there is Carter Jefferson's The Rise of Atlantis. Wayne was a Nichiren Buddhist, perhaps into Theosophy?
1985 album titled Atlantis.
His
aunt was a neo-theosophist from Wheaton and he developed some sort of
spiritual practice that did not go very well, but maybe it somehow had
some sort of positive influence. He was advised to quit smoking. Good
advice.
Gloria Steinem (1934-)
Journalist and social-political activist who emerged as a nationally recognized leader of second-wave feminism in the United States in the late 1960s and early 1970s.Her mother was a Theosophist.
'In
retrospect, I realize that I was so lucky that it was my mother’s
child-rearing philosophy, because if you believe in reincarnation, you
don’t think children are your possessions.'awpc.cattcenter.iastate.edu/2018/02/08/voi
Elvis Presley (1935 – 1977)Apparently, he would read Blavatsky's 'Voice of the Silence' at his concerts... he had some sort of neo-theosophy interest...
The seeker King: a spiritual biography of Elvis Presley,
18 june 2020 (Awaken | Gary Tillery)
Theosophy
doesn't have the Beatles, Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin rock n' roll
cred that the Thelemans have, but check out Todd's (Alice
Bailey inspired?) falsetto wailing and proggy guitar riffing, with a nice intro
about cooperation.
Utopia - Seven Rays, (BBC Old Grey Whistle Test, 1975)
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