Annie Besant and the Science of the Astral
A prominent Theosophist lecturer brings mystical discourse to the Seattle Theater, claiming that science confirms the existence of the 'astral body.'
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Mrs. Annie Besant addressed a representative audience at the Seattle theater last night on the subject, 'Death—and After.' She explained that Theosophy offers a certainty of life beyond the grave through demonstration rather than mere faith. She defined the soul as being clad in three bodies: the physical, the astral, and the body of desire. Describing the astral body, she invoked the experiments of Nikola Tesla and suggested it could be separated from the physical form. She stated that souls progress through reincarnation, eventually returning to aid struggling humanity.
“The difference between Theosophy and other faiths was that the former asserted its certainty of the future life from knowledge and not from mere faith or authority.”
In the 1890s, Seattle was a major hub for seekers and alternative spiritual movements like Theosophy, reflecting the era's fascination with bridging the gap between emerging electrical science and ancient mysticism.
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