Five Years of Theosophy

What It's About

First published in 1885, this is a compilation of essays drawn from The Theosophist, the journal of the Theosophical Society. The collection ranges across mystical, philosophical, historical, and scientific territory, unified by a shared concern with occult knowledge and the hidden dimensions of existence. Topics include the prolongation of life through esoteric practice, the nature of psychic and subtle bodies, and the relationship between matter and spirit. It is a foundational text of the Theosophical movement, presenting its teachings in a rigorous and wide-ranging form.

Key Concepts

Central themes include the Elixir of Life and occult methods of extending human longevity; the constitution of the human being across physical, psychic, and spiritual planes; the nature of initiation and discipleship; and the claim that esoteric traditions — Eastern and Western — share a common underlying wisdom. The essays assume familiarity with Theosophical terminology and draw on Hindu, Buddhist, and Western occult sources.

About the Author

G. R. S. Mead (1863–1933) was an English scholar, editor, and Theosophist who became one of the most learned figures in the Victorian esoteric world. He later founded the Quest Society, devoted to the undogmatic study of religion, philosophy, and science.