Theosophy, Besant and Leadbeater
Three Classes of Thought-Forms
Besant and Leadbeater distinguish a form taking the thinker’s likeness from forms taking an imagined object’s image or a shape entirely their own. Their discussion treats the last class as a glimpse of forms belonging to astral or mental planes, explaining its importance for the illustrations.
Also known as Thought-Forms Classification
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In the sources
Account in the source
ReportedBesant and Leadbeater distinguish a form taking the thinker’s likeness from forms taking an imagined object’s image or a shape entirely their own.
Further detail
ReportedTheir discussion treats the last class as a glimpse of forms belonging to astral or mental planes, explaining its importance for the illustrations.
Context & interpretation
The three classes are an attributed theoretical division in Thought-Forms. They do not establish that these objects exist outside imagination or that astral and mental planes have been independently observed. The entry describes the authors’ organisation of their claims and images.
Original passages
Source 1
Thought-Forms
That which takes the image of the thinkerOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Besant and Leadbeater, Thought-Forms, active reader leaf 21
Checked against the active prepared edition; reader leaf and original-page mapping verified, spacing normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0021-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0021-E001-P0021
- Original scan leaf
- 20
- Recorded leaf number
- 21
- Current Reader position
- 21
- 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
we have a glimpse of the forms natural to the astral or mental planesOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Besant and Leadbeater, Thought-Forms, active reader leaf 22
Checked against the active prepared edition; reader leaf and original-page mapping verified, spacing normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0021-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0021-E001-P0022
- Original scan leaf
- 21
- Recorded leaf number
- 22
- Current Reader position
- 22
- Reader verification
- Matches the reviewed Reader
- Location review
- Original scan location confirmed against the reviewed Reader mapping; the earlier recorded number is retained above.
Continue exploring
Thought-Form Models & Imagery ↗
Logos in Thought-Forms
The divine principle contemplated through globes, interwoven lines and threefold symbolism in Thought-Forms.
Same subject and traditionMeaning of Colours in Thought-Forms
The colour correspondences used by Besant and Leadbeater to interpret their illustrations.
Same subject and traditionThought-forms
The coloured shapes that Besant and Leadbeater describe as expressions of thought and feeling.