Thursday, May 8, 2025

White Lotus Day, 5/8/25 (Theosophical Society of San Francisco)

 

"The Universe is the periodical manifestation of this unknown Absolute Essence" - H.P. Blavatsky

Every year, on May 8th, in solidarity with our fellow Theosophists throughout the world, the SFTS Lodge celebrates #WhiteLotusDay. To honor the passing of the great occultist H.P. Blavatsky, founder of the #TheosophicalSociety

Here are some powerful, personal reflections on the life and work of H.P. Blavatsky, from three beings, who like H.P.B. herself, made profound contributions to the collective knowledge and wisdom of our species (one of them might surprise some of you):

And we, who lived around her, who in closest intimacy watched her day after day, we bear witness to the unselfish beauty of her life, the nobility of her character, and we lay at her feet our most reverent gratitude for knowledge gained, lives purified, strength developed. - Annie Besant

Mme Blavatsky is a bit wild and somewhat irrational and speaks as if she were the Oracle of Delphi. But I will admit that I find some interesting observations in her book which was published as you know, back in 1888, at a time when physics and science were in their swaddling clothes... I'm astonished how much in keeping it is with modern Physics... There are many other significant statements of hers which I find interesting, but for which i have no time to discuss now. - Albert Einstein

She was a splendid pianist, playing with a touch and expression that were simply superb. Her hands were models—ideal and actual—for a sculptor and never seen to such advantage as when flying over the keyboard to find its magical melodies... There were times when she was occupied by one of the Mahâtmas, when her playing was indescribably grand. She would sit in the dusk sometimes, with nobody else in the room beside myself, and strike from the sweet-toned instrument improvisations that might well make one fancy he was listening to the Gandhâvas, or heavenly choristers. It was the harmony of heaven... - Henry S. Olcott 

And here is a beautiful performance of the adagio from Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata (the music she asked be played in remembrance of her, annually, on this date): 


#theosophy

White Lotus Day, 5/8/25 (Reposted from Theosophical Society World HQ - Adyar)

 











Tuesday, May 6, 2025

THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF SAN FRANCISCO - MAY-JUNE 2025 PROGRAM

H.P. Blavatsky, Occultist, Author, Founder of the Theosophical Society, Messenger to Humanity
On White Lotus Day, May 8th, Throughout This World & Beyond,
We Theosophists Celebrate Her Extraordinary Life & Profound Teachings

THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF SAN FRANCISCO 

MAY-JUNE 2025 PROGRAM 

ON-LINE: Sunday, 5/18/25, at 6 p.m. - Elaine Santos presents "Relieve Stress with Imagery" 
(For more information on Elaine's work, visit https://wellnessasart.com)

IN-PERSON: Sunday, 5/25/25, 4 to 6 p.m. - Lodge Library Hours

ON-LINE: Sunday, 6/15/25,  at 6 p.m., Richard Power presents "Shadow"
 (First in A Series of Four Talks on "Verities of Being")

ON-LINE: Sunday, 6/22/25,  at 6 p.m., Jeff Curtis presents "Recent Scientific Developments in Consciousness & Cosmology"

IN-PERSON: Sunday, 6/29/25, 4 to 6 p.m. - Lodge Library Hours

Our monthly Sunday in-person events start at 4 p.m. and end at 6 p.m. Our monthly Sunday on-line events start at 6 p.m. All are free and available to the public. 

SPECIAL EVENT: "Verities of Being: A Series of Four Talks by Richard Power"

 6/15/25  -  Shadow
 7/20/25  -  Siddha
 8/17/25  -  Bhakta 
 9/21/25 -  Spanda

This "Special Event" is will be held on-line via Zoom. 

Here is the Zoom registration link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ygrx3Z1ESHCR9muMtKrwDw

You will only have to register once. You will be confirmed for all four talks.

After you register, you will receive e-mail with confirmation and instructions.

For more information, e-mail us (sftslodge at gmail.com) or inquire via Facebook Messenger (https://www.facebook.com/sfts.lodge)

Monday, April 21, 2025

Water Shapes Rock; Outdoor Butoh Improvisation


In this moment, our planet, our species, our nation are all facing great peril. We are being challenged in unprecedented ways, both individually and collectively. Therefore, it is imperative to dance. To dance for joy as well as sorrow, to dance for both grief AND hope, to perform the dances of sanity, of empathy and of will. After all, dance articulates all of that for which there are no words.

Indeed, dance is a mystical language, non-verbal and somatic, and yes, Butoh is the dialect of the inexpressible and unspeakable.

Let us explore this powerful moment together.

As part of Bay Area Dance Week, Mary Power and the MPOWERDANCE Project are offering FREE outdoor dance classes in San Francisco, CA:

'Water Shapes Rock; Outdoor Butoh Improvisation'
Monday, April 28, 2025
Thursday, May 1, 2025
12 pm to 1 pm PDT
Class size is limited. Please Register through Bopsidy by clicking date of event.

These “Bay Area Dance Week” offerings and the film festival journey of “Butoh Changed Everything” epitomize MpowerDance Project’s “GDP 2025: Cloud Woman Calls the Dance.”

Sunday, March 2, 2025

San Francisco Theosophical Society - World Peace Meditation

“I looked at my hands to see if I was the same person now I was free. There was such glory over everything. The sun came up like gold through the trees and I felt like I was in heaven.” - Harriet Tubman
“The Universe is worked and guided from within outwards.” - H.P. Blavatsky


SPECIAL EVENT
WORLD PEACE MEDITATION

Our "World Peace Meditation" starts on Wednesday, March 5th, 6 p.m., continues Monday through Friday at 6 p.m., ending on Friday, April 18th. 

During the meditation, one of our members will read aloud from either from the "Tibetan Book of the Great Liberation" or the "Diamond Sutra of Hui-Neng."

This event is intended to bring the San Francisco Bay Area community together, in person, to relax, breathe, sip tea, to listen and drift. (NOTE: We don't talk politics at the Theosophical Society.) 

In these times, it is vital to show up in person and set our intentions together, for 33 days, focused on vibrations and consciousness that promote peace for all beings. 

Friends who can't attend in person but wish to want to join online, here is the zoom registration link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/VR0_sD1pR1y5dIMJEOQiVA

You will receive e-mail with confirmation and instructions.

If you are attending in person, there is easy street parking that opens at 6 p.m. on the south side of Pine St. Just steps away from us.  

For more information, e-mail us (sftslodge at gmail.com) or inquire via Facebook Messenger (https://www.facebook.com/sfts.lodge)

THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF SAN FRANCISCO - MARCH-APRIL 2025 PROGRAM

"Written down in accordance with Tantric teachings & hidden away amidst a cache of precious things. May this book be read by those blessed devotees of the future. Samaya Gya Gya Emaho." - Yeshe Tsogyal 
Dr. W.Y. Evans-Wentz - "Tibetan Book of the Great Liberation" Oxford University Press, 1954

THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF SAN FRANCISCO 

MARCH-APRIL 2025 PROGRAM 

ON-LINE: Sunday, 3/16/25, at 6 p.m. - Elaine Santos presents "Healing Flowers Imagery" (For more information on Elaine's work, visit https://wellnessasart.com)

IN-PERSON: Sunday, 3/30/25, 4 to 6 p.m. - Lodge Library Hours

ON-LINE: Sunday, 4/13/25, Jeff Curtis presents "Recent Developments in the Fields of AI and Quantum Computing; Thunderbolts"

IN-PERSON: Sunday, 4/27/25, 4 to 6 p.m. - Lodge Library Hours

Our monthly Sunday in-person events start at 4 p.m. and end at 6 p.m. Our monthly Sunday on-line events start at 6 p.m. All are free and available to the public. 

SPECIAL EVENT
WORLD PEACE MEDITATION

Our "World Peace Meditation" starts on Wednesday, March 5th, 6 p.m., continues Monday through Friday at 6 p.m., ending on Friday, April 18th. 

During the meditation, one of our members will read aloud from either from the "Tibetan Book of the Great Liberation" or the "Diamond Sutra of Hui-Neng."

This event is intended to bring the San Francisco Bay Area community together, in person, to relax, breathe, sip tea, to listen and drift. (NOTE: We don't talk politics at the Theosophical Society.) 

In these times, it is vital to show up in person and set our intentions together, for 33 days, focused on vibrations and consciousness that promote peace for all beings. 

Friends who can't attend in person but wish to want to join online, here is the zoom registration link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/VR0_sD1pR1y5dIMJEOQiVA

You will receive e-mail with confirmation and instructions.

If you are attending in person, there is easy street parking that opens at 6 p.m. on the south side of Pine St. Just steps away from us.  

For more information, e-mail us (sftslodge at gmail.com) or inquire via Facebook Messenger (https://www.facebook.com/sfts.lodge)

Friday, January 31, 2025

San Francisco Theosophical Society - World Peace Meditation


“I looked at my hands to see if I was the same person now I was free. There was such glory over everything. The sun came up like gold through the trees and I felt like I was in heaven.” - Harriet Tubman

“The Universe is worked and guided from within outwards.” - H.P. Blavatsky

The San Francisco Theosophical Society (SFTS) is holding "World Peace Meditation," Monday through Friday at 6 p.m., starting on Wednesday, March 5th and ending on Friday, April 18th. During the meditation, one of our members will read aloud from either from the "Tibetan Book of the Great Liberation" or the "Diamond Sutra of Hui-Neng." 

This event is intended to bring the San Francisco Bay Area community together, in person, to relax, breathe, sip tea, to listen and drift. (NOTE: We don't talk politics at the Theosophical Society.) In these times, it feels vital to show up in person and set our intentions together, for 33 days, focused on vibrations and consciousness that promote peace for all beings. 

For friends who can't arrive in person but wish to attend, we'll post a zoom link on our web site, sftslodge.org, and in our social media. 

If you're arriving in person, there is easy street parking that opens at 6 p.m. on the south side of Pine St. Just steps away from us. 

- Mary Power, President, San Francisco Theosophical Society (SFTS)

For more information, e-mail us: sftslodge @ gmail.com