Theosophical Society,
H P Blavatsky
At
By
Countess Constance Wachtmeister
This account appeared in a memorial publication
entitled:-
In Memory of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky by Some
of Her Pupils
Published 1891
In
the month of November, 1885, I went to
of
the T. S. in this respect, and she said that if she could only raise the veil
for moment, and let them see into the future, what a difference it would make;
but each had to work out his own Karma and battle through his difficulties
alone.
Madame
Blavatsky was settled in comfortable apartments with lofty rooms and with the
quiet surroundings she so much needed for the stupendous work in which she was
engaged. Every morning at 6 a.m. she
used to rise, having a good hour’s work before her breakfast at 8 a.m., then,
after having read her letters and newspapers she would again settle to her
writing, sometimes calling me into the room to tell me that references from
books and manuscripts had been given to her by her Master with the chapter and
page quoted, and to ask me whether I could get friends to verify the
correctness of these passages in different Public Libraries: for as she read everything reversed in the
Astral Light, it would be easy for her to make mistakes in dates and numbers
--- and in some instances it was found that the number of the page had been
reversed, for instance 23 would be found on page 32, etc.
Between
one and
time
varying to accommodate her work, and then without any repose she would
immediately set herself at her table again, writing until
the
same unvarying life went on, only broken by the malicious Hodgson report which
caused waves of disturbance to reach us from all sides. H. P. B. said to me one evening: “You cannot
imagine what it is to feel so many adverse thoughts and currents directed
against
you; it is like the prickings of a thousand needles, and I have continually to
be erecting a wall of protection around me”.
I asked her whether she knew from whom these unfriendly thoughts came,
she answered: “Yes; unfortunately, I do, and I am always trying to shut my eyes
so as not to see and know”; and to prove to me that this was the case, she
would tell me of letters that had been
written,
quoting passages from them, and these actually arrived a day or two afterwards,
I being able to verify the correctness of the sentences.
All
who have known and loved H. P. B. have felt what a charm there was about her,
how truly kind and loveable she was; at time such a bright childish nature
seemed to beam around her, and a spirit of joyous fun would sparkle in her
whole countenance, and cause the most winning expression that I have ever seen
on a human face. One of the marvels of
her character was, that to everybody she was different. I have never seen her treat two persons
alike. The weak
traits
in every one’s character were known to her at once, and the extraordinary way
in which she would probe them was surprising.
By those who lived in daily contact with her the knowledge of Self was
gradually acquired, and by those who chose to benefit by her practical way of
teaching progress could be made. But to
many of her pupils the process was unpalatable, for it is never pleasant to
be
brought face to face with one’s own weaknesses; and so many turned from her,
but those who could stand the test, and remain true to her, would recognise
within themselves the inner development which alone leads to Occultism. A truer and more faithful friend one could never
have than H. P. B., and I think it the greatest blessing of my life to have
lived with her in such close intimacy,
and
until my death I shall try and further the noble cause for which she slaved and
suffered so much.
I
shall not speak of phenomena in this paper, for my personal testimony can be of
no use to anybody but myself, except to satisfy curiosity; all I can say is,
that phenomena occurred daily both in
unable
fully to explain --- and the shooting stars, the growth of trees, in fact all
nature around us is one vast phenomenon which if witnessed but rarely would
fill us with far more incredulity and astonishment than the ringing of astral
bells, etc.
Our
stay in
In
October, 1886, I joined H. P. B. in Ostende, and found her settled in
comfortable enough quarters; she welcomed me with all the warmth of her genial
nature, and was, I think, as truly glad to have me as I was to be with
her. We recommenced our monotonous but
interesting life, the thread being taken up from where it was last broken, and
I watched with delight how the piles of manuscript for the S. D. were increasing. Our near vicinity to
people
once more to come buzzing round H. P. B., and we received several visitors,
amongst whom were Mrs. Kingsford and Mr. Maitland, and it was a pleasure to
listen to the conversation of three such highly gifted intellects on all the
points of resemblance between Western and Eastern Occultism, but still with my
further and later experience of H. P. B. and her teachings it is marvellous to
me how she kept safely locked within her own breast the occult knowledge
which
she has lately been permitted to give to a few of her pupils.
Towards
the end of the winter H. P. B. became very ill; her kidneys were affected, and
after some days of intense suffering the Belgian doctor told me that he
despaired of her life. I telegraphed to
Madame Gebhard, who had been a true and sincere friend of hers for many years,
and also to Mr. Ashton Ellis, a member of the T. S. and a clever doctor, both
responded to my call and helped me through those trying and anxious days, and
in the end Mr. Ellis’ wise
treatment
pulled her through the dangerous crisis.
As H. P. B. was slowly recovering other friends came. Dr. Keightley and also Mr. Bertram Keightley
were among these, and they both persuaded Madame Blavatsky to go and spend the
summer in
I
then left Ostende, Madame Gebhard kindly remaining with the old lady until she
felt equal to undertaking the journey to
I
came to England in August, 1887, found H. P. B. at Norwood, and shortly
afterwards we moved into 17, Lansdowne Road, Holland Park, and then began a
new, difficult and then painful life.
Trials followed each other in quick succession, but the very outcome of
all these trials and worries was the development of the Society and the
spreading of theosophical truths.
Madame
Blavatsky was at home every Saturday afternoon, and visitors
came
every evening, crowds of people; some out of curiosity, others with a true
desire to learn about Theosophy, and a few attracted by her personality. To watch the varied way in which H. P. B.
would receive each new arrival was in itself a study, and later events have
proved that her knowledge of character was unique. At times she would seem to grow and expand in
intellect and the force and power with which she would put forward her vast
knowledge would seize those present with awe; at other times she only talked of
the most trivial things, and her hearers would go away quite satisfied with
themselves, feeling that they were vastly her superiors. But I have only a certain space allotted to
me and must close these few lines.
The
house in
CONSTANCE
WACHTMEISTER, F.T.S.
Countess
Wachtmeisters’ Letter to A P Sinnett 1886
A more detailed
account of the meeting with HPB in
Cardiff Blavatsky Archive
Theosophical Society, Cardiff Lodge, 206 Newport Road,
Cardiff CF24 – 1DL