Theosophical astral cosmology
Spirit Photography
Leadbeater proposes that a partly materialized form may affect a camera without reflecting light visible to human eyes. He connects this with what séance participants call spirit photographs. The claim appears within a wider classification of tangible and visible manifestations. The supposed photographic mechanism is part of that theory rather than a demonstrated explanation of a particular photograph.
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In the sources
Principal account
ReportedLeadbeater proposes that a partly materialized form may affect a camera without reflecting light visible to human eyes. He connects this with what séance participants call spirit photographs.
Further detail
ReportedThe claim appears within a wider classification of tangible and visible manifestations. The supposed photographic mechanism is part of that theory rather than a demonstrated explanation of a particular photograph.
Context & interpretation
Leadbeater presents a Theosophical classification based on claimed occult investigation. Its planes, beings, and mechanisms belong to that historical esoteric system; the book’s assurance of reality is an authorial claim rather than independent scientific verification.
Original passages
Source 1
The Astral Plane
make a more or less definite impression upon the camera, and so provide us with what are known as ''spirit photographs." When there isOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Theosophical astral cosmology; active reader leaf 119
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0005-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0005-E001-P0119
- Original scan leaf
- 122
- Recorded leaf number
- 122
- Current Reader position
- 115
- Reader verification
- Matches the reviewed Reader
Source 2
The Astral Plane
us with what are known as ''spirit photographs." When there is not sufficient power available to produce a perfect materialization we sometimesOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Theosophical astral cosmology; active reader leaf 119
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0005-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0005-E001-P0119
- Original scan leaf
- 122
- Recorded leaf number
- 122
- Current Reader position
- 115
- Reader verification
- Matches the reviewed Reader
Continue exploring
Materialization
The claimed temporary formation of a visible or tangible spirit body.
Same subject and traditionLevitation
Reported floating bodies explained through spirit support or altered gravity.
Same subject and traditionPrecipitation of Letters and Pictures
The Theosophical claim that a mental image can be made into writing or an image.
Same subject and traditionRepercussion
A claimed transfer of marks or injuries from a manifested form to a physical body.