Online Programs

Introduction to Theosophy: Part II

Wednesdays, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. CT
October 29 – December 3 (6 classes)

Online Classes

Saturday Group

Preparation for the Spiritual Life
With Barbara Hebert and Jayne Fleener
4^th Saturday of the month, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. CT
Join at any time!

Join us as we explore the teachings of Clara Codd’s The Technique of the Spiritual Life through a course created for the Online School of Theosophy by Pablo Sender. In these sessions, we will delve into preparing for the higher spiritual path, focusing on the development of willpower and the disciplined training of the body, emotions, and mind. Each unit includes additional materials and practical exercises to help students integrate the course teachings into their daily lives.

To get the most out of this group, we recommend signing up for the Online School of Theosophy. Registration is free and easy. Once you have your login and password, enroll in the course "Preparation for the Spiritual Life—A Practical Approach." There, you will find all the resources listed below and more. If you’re unable to do the additional reading, we encourage you to watch the videos before each meeting.

September 27, 2025
Unit 1: Introduction to the Spiritual Life (video)
Additional Readings: The Technique of the Spiritual Life Study Course (Lessons 1-2) and Wiki article "Ego"

October 25, 2025
Unit 2: Development of the Will, Part I (video)
Additional Readings: The Technique of the Spiritual Life Study Course (Lesson 3)

November 22, 2025
Continue Unit 2: Development of the Will, Part II
Additional Readings: Wiki Article "Will" and "Development of the Will" by Franz Hartmann

December 27, 2025
Experiential practice from Lessons 1-3

January 24, 2026
Unit 3: Training the Body (video)
Additional Readings: The Technique of the Spiritual Life Study Course (Lesson 4)

February 28, 2026
Unit 4: Training the Emotions (video)
Additional Readings: "Emotion, Intellect and Spirituality" by Annie Besant

March 28, 2026
Unit 5: Training the Mind (video)

April 25, 2026
Unit 6: The Ego (video)

May 23, 2026
Wrap-Up. Discussion of all aspects of the course.

Facilitators

Barbara Barbara Hebert, Ph.D., is a third-generation Theosophist who has been involved in local, regional, and national offices throughout her years of membership, including two terms as the National President of the Theosophical Society in America. She has also had a long career as a mental health practitioner and educator.

Jayne Jayne Fleener, Ph.D., is a Dean and Professor Emerita at North Carolina State University. Dr. Fleener is an active participant in several TSA lodges and study groups and is teaching for the Virtual Study Centers initiative of the TSA. She is currently a TSA Fellow, treasurer for the Theosophical Society Mid-south Federation, and co-coordinator for the Research Triangle Theosophical Society Study Group.

Program Format

This is a live, interactive online program. This program will not be recorded.

Join online via a Zoom link that will be emailed upon your registration. Please download Zoom for free at zoom.us/download and test your connection at zoom.us/test. For further information, check out www.theosophical.org/FAQ or email webinars@theosophical.org.

Friday Group

Rising in Consciousness: Insights from Quest Magazine
With Anne Gillis and Stephen Braun
3^rd Friday of the month, 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. CT
Join at any time!

Expand your horizons by joining our Quest Magazine Study Group. Each session, we will discuss a selected article from Quest—the acclaimed publication of the Theosophical Society in America, dedicated to exploring philosophy, religion, science, and the arts through the lens of the Ageless Wisdom. In this group, you will have the opportunity to dive into a variety of subjects, authors, and perspectives with others. Participants are encouraged to read the article of the month before each meeting.

September 19, 2025
The Mission of the Theosophical Society by Tim Boyd

October 17, 2025
Seek Out the Way by Joy Mills

November 21, 2025
Justice and Mercy: An Interview with Rabbi Rami Shapiro by Richard Smoley

December 19, 2025
The Extended Mind by Rupert Sheldrake

January 16, 2026
Beyond Duality by Barbara Hebert
Dualism or Nondualism? Your choice! by A.V. (Sheenu) Srinivasan

February 20, 2026
The Meaning and Method of the Spiritual Life by Annie Besant (not a Quest article)

March 20, 2026
Dawning of the Clear Light: A Comparison of The Tibetan Book of the Dead with Theosophical Teachings on the Afterlife by Antti Savinainen and Tommi Tolmunen

April 17, 2026
Paying Attention by Betty Bland

May 15, 2026
Mystical Experience and the Evolution of Consciousness by Gary Lachman

Facilitators

Anne Anne Sermons Gillis is a minister, coach, and the author of five books. She has been a student of perennial wisdom since the 1960s. She is the past president of the Houston Lodge and current vice president of the Theosophical Order of Service. She is a national speaker for the TSA.

Stephen Stephen Braun is a writer, photographer, and cultural audience development specialist based in New York City. A Life Member of the Theosophical Society, he is on the Board of the New York City Lodge and a member of the Washington, D.C. Lodge. He has a strong curiosity for astrology and astrological archetypes embedded in wisdom traditions

Program Format
This is a live, interactive online program. This program will not be recorded.

Monday Group

Introduction to The Mahatma Letters
With Maria Parisen and Susanne Hoepfl-Wellenhofer
3^rd Monday of the month, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. CT
Join at any time!

Discover a foundational Theosophical work: The Mahatma Letters. Written by two Masters of Wisdom to Alfred P. Sinnett—an early Theosophical Society member and English newspaper editor in India—these letters contain many core Theosophy teachings. Once kept in the British Museum and now in the British Library, they are valued for their profound metaphysical and philosophical content and the extraordinary methods of their creation.

Each month the group will reflect on a theme or a specific letter starting with an introduction of the Mahatmas in the first meeting. During the meetings specific information and quotes will be shared and discussed. Participants are encouraged to review the selected video or reading before each meeting. Part of the course is based on An Introduction to The Mahatma Letters, a study guide by Virginia Hanson.

September 15, 2025
The Mahatma Letters (video)
This video gives the historical background of The Mahatma Letters, discusses the phenomenal aspects of their production, and comments on their subsequent impact on the Theosophical Society.

October 20, 2025
The First Letter
Master KH responds to A.P. Sinnett’s idea that the existence of the Mahatmas could be proved to skeptics by simultaneously having a London newspaper precipitated in India on the very day of its publication, and a Pioneer precipitated in London. KH explains why that method would not work.
Additional Reading: An Introduction to The Mahatma Letters (Chapter 3)

November 17, 2025
Philosophical Questions: An Introduction to The Mahatma Letters (Chapter 4)
At the outset Mr. Sinnett and Mr. Hume were primarily interested in occult phenomena rather than in the profound philosophy of the East. Their suggestions were rejected by Master KH.

December 15, 2025
Probation and Chelaship: An Introduction to The Mahatma Letters (Chapter 5)
The Mahatma ideal is widely and deeply held in the East, and more and more people in the West are coming to accept its reality as a natural and inevitable outgrowth of the evolutionary process.

January 19, 2026
Some Important Passages: An Introduction to The Mahatma Letters (Chapter 9)
The letters contain many gems relating to a number of subjects, all pertinent to the ideas the Mahatmas were trying to impress upon Mr. Sinnett and Mr. Hume.

February 16, 2026
Mahatma Letter No. 44
This letter conveys important Theosophical principles, interpersonal tensions, and instructions for the recipient’s spiritual development.

March 16, 2026
Mahatma Letter No. 88
This letter deals with three important ideas: the concepts of God, matter, and evil. The Mahatma presents, in no uncertain terms, the occult doctrine regarding these concepts. Their consideration requires serious reflection and ongoing inquiry.

April 20, 2026
Mahatma Letter No. 123
The main message of this letter is one of reassurance, encouragement, and spiritual guidance. It emphasizes that faithfully fulfilling everyday duties, even those that seem mundane or ordinary, is a powerful path toward spiritual growth and enlightenment.

May 18, 2026
Extracts from Letters of the Masters: The Mahatma Letters include many hints and instructions for those committed to a spiritual path. We consider a selection of other extracts especially relevant for our times, including passages you would like to explore more fully.

Facilitators

Susanne Hoepfl-Wellenhofer is the Eastern Board of Directors of the TSA and current president of the D.C. Lodge. She is an active contributor to the Online School of Theosophy and the Theosophy Wiki, and a mentor in the TSA Prison Mentorship Program. She has a law degree and a master’s degree in educational technology. She translates German to English and teaches Yoga. Visit her personal website: https://spiritualityconsciousnessandme.com

Lejla

Maria Parisen joined the Theosophical Society in America in 1969. She has served on the governing boards of the Detroit Lodge, TSA, Theosophical Order of Service, and currently the Krotona Institute of Theosophy where she has lived since 2003. As TSA national speaker, Maria has presented and guided workshops and retreats internationally. She retired recently after directing Krotona's School of Theosophy for 15 years and currently serves as a project manager for the Institute.

Program Format

This is a live, interactive online program. This program will not be recorded.

Sunday Group

Roundtable Discussion
With Justin Tanksley and Christopher Howard
1^st Sunday of the month, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. CT
Join at any time!

If you are seeking deeper understanding, meaningful dialogue, and spiritual community, join our Roundtable Discussion—a welcoming, interactive forum where seekers of all backgrounds come together to explore timeless themes from a theosophical perspective. Each month thought-provoking topics will be discussed in an atmosphere of respect and open-minded inquiry. Your voice and curiosity are welcome.

September 7, 2025 — The Conception of the Theosophical Society

October 5, 2025 — The Masters

"The Masters of Wisdom, or simply 'The Masters' are initiates in the occult science and esoteric philosophy, who take disciples or chelas. H. P. Blavatsky, in the glossary of her book The Key to Theosophy defined the Theosophical concept of 'Master' as follows: Master. A translation from the Sanskrit Guru, 'Spiritual teacher,' and adopted by the Theosophists to designate the Adepts, from whom they hold their teachings. The Masters of Wisdom are sometimes referred to indistinctly as 'Brothers,' 'Adepts,' or 'Mahatmas.'" —Theosophy Wiki

November 2, 2025 — Discernment and the Search for Truth

“The great Shankaracharya teaches in his Tattwa Bodha that the first requisite for obtaining real knowledge is the discernment between the ‘lasting and not lasting,’—between the high and the low, the real and unreal, the true and the false—to distinguish between one's own permanent Self and the evanescent personality to which that higher Self is bound during its terrestrial and astral life.” —Franz Hartmann, ‘The Dangers of Occultism’

“You must distinguish between truth and falsehood; you must learn to be true all through, in thought and word and deed. In thought first; and that is not easy, for there are in the world many untrue thoughts, many foolish superstitions, and no one who is enslaved by them can make progress. Therefore you must not hold a thought just because many other people hold it, nor because it has been believed for centuries, nor because it is written in some book which men think sacred; you must think of the matter for yourself, and judge for yourself whether it is reasonable. Remember that though a thousand men agree upon a subject, if they know nothing about that subject their opinion is of no value. He who would walk upon the Path must learn to think for himself, for superstition is one of the greatest evils in the world, one of the fetters from which you must utterly free yourself.” —J. Krishnamurti, At the Feet of the Master

“‘There is no religion higher than truth,’ the inspiring motto of the Theosophical Society, means that at all times, no matter how wonderfully coherent our theories are, the flexibility to accommodate new understandings is a necessary component of spiritual growth. —Betty Bland, ‘What Is Truth?,’ Quest magazine, September-October 2005

December 7, 2025 — Living an Ethical Life

“Happiness cannot exist where Truth is absent. Erected upon the shifting sands of human fiction and hypotheses, happiness is merely a house of cards tumbling down at the first whiff; it cannot exist in reality as long as egotism reigns supreme in civilized societies. As long as intellectual progress will refuse to accept a subordinate position to ethical progress, and egotism will not give way to the Altruism preached by Gautama and the true historical Jesus (the Jesus of the pagan sanctuary, not the Christ of the Churches), happiness for all the members of humanity will remain a Utopia. … It follows, therefore, that no spiritual progress at all is possible except by and through the bulk of Humanity. It is only when the whole of Humanity has attained happiness that the individual can hope to become permanently happy—for the individual is an inseparable part of the Whole.” —Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Collected Writings, vol. XI

January 4, 2026 — Thought-Forms and Freedom of Thought

“Every thought of man upon being evolved passes into the inner world and becomes an active entity by associating itself — coalescing, we might term it — with an elemental; that is to say with one of the semi-intelligent forces of the kingdoms. It survives as an active intelligence, a creature of the mind's begetting, for a longer or shorter period proportionate with the original intensity of the cerebral action which generated it. Thus, a good thought is perpetuated as an active beneficent power; an evil one as a maleficent demon. And so man is continually peopling his current in space with a world of his own, crowded with the offsprings of his fancies, desires, impulses, and passions, a current which reacts upon any sensitive or and nervous organisation which comes in contact with it in proportion to its dynamic intensity.” —The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett

February 1, 2026 — Study, Meditation, and Service

“In Theosophy more than anywhere else is it necessary that we should clearly distinguish between the higher mind and the intellect, and never attempt to use the intellect as a way to knowledge about things which belong to the higher mind. If we, as is sometimes done, drag the things of the higher mind down to the level of the intellect, we get a distortion of truth, even though it may present itself as a beautiful logical system fitting perfectly.”—J.J. Van Der Leeuw, The Fire of Creation

“Meditation is not like any ordinary occupation. ‘If there is no meditation, then you are like a blind man in a world of great beauty, light and colour.’ (Krishnamurti) It is as necessary for the unfoldment of the spiritual nature as food is for the growth of the body. But meditation does not fill the consciousness or mark the brain with more impressions and memories. It empties it of its contents. Much of what we have considered till now prepares the mind for this inner freedom.” —Radha Burnier, The Universal Yoga

March 1, 2026 — Identity

"The key to all our successes is in our recognition of the fact of the Higher Self—colourless, cosmopolitan, unsectarian, sexless, unworldly, altruistic—and the doing of our work on that basis." —H.P. Blavatsky, "Our Three Objects," Lucifer (September, 1889)

April 12, 2026 — Group Karma

"It is but a truism, yet I say it, that in adversity alone can we discover the real man. It is a true manhood when one boldly accepts one's share of the collective Karma of the group one works with, and does not permit oneself to be embittered, and to see others in blacker colours than reality, or to throw all blame upon some one "black sheep," a victim, specially selected. Such a true man as that we will ever protect and despite his shortcomings, assist to develop the good he has in him." —The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett

May 3, 2026 — Love and Compassion

"Compassion is not the doing of charitable acts or social reform; it is free from sentiment, romanticism, and emotional enthusiasm. It is as strong as death. It is like a great rock, immovable in the midst of confusion, misery and anxiety. Without this compassion no new culture or society can come into being. Compassion and intelligence walk together; they are not separate. Compassion acts through intelligence. It can never act through the intellect. Compassion is the essence of the wholeness of life." —J. Krishnamurti’s Letters to His Schools

Facilitators

LInda Justin Tanksley is a member of the staff at the National Center of the Theosophical Society in America (TSA). He is a board member of the Theosophical Order of Service and an organizer for the Young Adult Theosophists in America. He leads an in-person Roundtable Discussion for TSA, and participates in several theosophical groups in the US and the world.

Christopher Howard is a longtime volunteer and member of the Theosophical Society in America. He is also a member of the Wheaton-Olcott lodge and serves as a co-facillitator for the Introduction to Theosophy class. Christopher is a lifelong musician with over 40 years of experience as a guitarist, music minister, and songwriter, blending his deep love of sound with contemplative practice.