Theosophy, Besant and Leadbeater
Opening Night in Thought-Forms
Figure 31 is presented as the thought-form of an actor waiting to go on stage. The account combines ambition and confidence with uncertainty about the audience. Its movement is compared to a flag flapping in a gale, while clear and indistinct portions express the authors’ contrast between confidence and anxiety.
Also known as Actor Waiting to Perform
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In the sources
Account in the source
ReportedFigure 31 is presented as the thought-form of an actor waiting to go on stage. The account combines ambition and confidence with uncertainty about the audience.
Further detail
ReportedIts movement is compared to a flag flapping in a gale, while clear and indistinct portions express the authors’ contrast between confidence and anxiety.
Context & interpretation
The event is an encounter claimed by Besant and Leadbeater, not an independently witnessed mental object. The plate illustrates their interpretation of an actor’s state before a performance. The colours and movements are not clinical measurements or a general diagnosis of stage anxiety.
Original passages
Source 1
Thought-Forms
the thought-form of an actor while waiting to go upon the stageOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Besant and Leadbeater, Thought-Forms, active reader leaf 41
Checked against the active prepared edition; reader leaf and original-page mapping verified, spacing normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0021-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0021-E001-P0041
- Original scan leaf
- 40
- Recorded leaf number
- 41
- Current Reader position
- 41
- Reader verification
- Matches the reviewed Reader
- Location review
- Original scan location confirmed against the reviewed Reader mapping; the earlier recorded number is retained above.
Source 2
Thought-Forms
like a flag flapping in a gale of windOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Besant and Leadbeater, Thought-Forms, active reader leaf 42
Checked against the active prepared edition; reader leaf and original-page mapping verified, spacing normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0021-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0021-E001-P0042
- Original scan leaf
- 41
- Recorded leaf number
- 42
- Current Reader position
- 42
- Reader verification
- Matches the reviewed Reader
- Location review
- Original scan location confirmed against the reviewed Reader mapping; the earlier recorded number is retained above.
