Theosophical astral cosmology
Spiritualism in The Astral Plane
Leadbeater attributes the growth of modern Spiritualism to a concealed occult lodge trying to counter materialism. This unusual origin story is a claim within the book, not a documented history of the movement. He also describes séances as admitting several possible agents rather than only the returning dead. Familiar communications can therefore receive explanations different from those favored by Spiritualist participants.
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In the sources
Principal account
ReportedLeadbeater attributes the growth of modern Spiritualism to a concealed occult lodge trying to counter materialism. This unusual origin story is a claim within the book, not a documented history of the movement.
Further detail
ReportedHe also describes séances as admitting several possible agents rather than only the returning dead. Familiar communications can therefore receive explanations different from those favored by Spiritualist participants.
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
gradually Ho the vast fabric of modern spiritualism, and though t would perhaps be unfair to hold the originators of the iemeOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Theosophical astral cosmology; active reader leaf 101
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0005-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0005-E001-P0101
- Original scan leaf
- 104
- Recorded leaf number
- 104
- Current Reader position
- 97
- Reader verification
- Matches the reviewed Reader
Source 2
The Astral Plane
and even materializations. In tact, the nature-spirits alone, if any of them happened to be disposed to take the trouble, could giveOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Theosophical astral cosmology; active reader leaf 109
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0005-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0005-E001-P0109
- Original scan leaf
- 112
- Recorded leaf number
- 112
- Current Reader position
- 105
- Reader verification
- Matches the reviewed Reader