2008
CHANGES
Structural changes in the
Theosophical Movement in
as it separates into independent
groups that run their own show
The 2008 Theosophy Wales
Changes
Background
In the early
years of Theosophy in Wales, no single specific body represented the Adyar groups
with all Wales groups being in a variety of federations and alliances that were
affiliated to the Theosophical Society in England & Wales. The Theosophical
Society (Pasadena) also had groups in Wales as early as 1895 and still has a
presence in Wales today. Although there has been collaboration between the
Adyar and Pasadena Societies, the two Societies remain separate both in Wales
and internationally. Another group, The United Lodge of Theosophists has also
had a presence in Wales but no Wales ULT group currently exists.
Pioneering Theosophist Peter Freeman in an impressive motor
circa 1919
He was the first General Secretary of the Welsh National Society
which was
formed in 1922 with an extensive self-determining remit for
Wales and
voting power to influence Adyar Theosophical Society policy at
international level. Sadly this body folded in the early 1990s.
The structure
of the Adyar Theosophical Society in Wales changed in 1922 with the
establishment of The Welsh National Society of the Theosophical Society to
which all Adyar groups in Wales affiliated. The first General Secretary of this
body was the pioneering Cardiff Theosophist Mr Peter Freeman. This body
affiliated itself to the Adyar Theosophical Society, which was then led by
Annie Besant, and was given a vote at senior international policy making level.
The Welsh National Society continued as an executive body for Adyar Theosophy
in Wales until it folded due to lack of support in the early 1990s. This
reflected a general decline in the Theosophical Movement at that time.
An uncertain
period followed the demise of the Welsh National Society with pressure from
outside Wales for Welsh groups to be absorbed into the Theosophical Society in
England. There was an interesting proposal from English member Adam Warcup to for a new British Theosophical Society but there
was little enthusiasm for this. The general mood amongst Welsh Theosophists was
for Theosophy in Wales to at least continue as some sort of separate entity.
In February
1993 Adyar Head Office directed the formation of a new body called The Regional
Association of the Theosophical Society in Wales with an Organising Secretary,
and as the titles suggest, this was a body of much lower remit and status than
the Welsh National Society. This was purely an administrative body with a remit
to collect dues from, and link Adyar affiliated groups and individual members
in Wales. This body had no executive power with no vote at European or full
international level while having to accept direction from these levels, but it
did at least purport to maintain Theosophy in Wales as a separate, if not self
determining, entity.
The term
Regional in the body’s title has always been controversial as it fails to
acknowledge Wales as a separate political entity within the United Kingdom and
many were, and still are, concerned that the body represented an interim phase
in the absorption of Welsh Theosophy into the Theosophical Society in England.
______________________
2008 and Theosophy Cardiff’s Separation from
The Welsh Regional Association (formed 1993)
Wolfie keeping up to date with the
latest
developments in Theosophy in
Despite its
ambiguous title and limited remit, The Regional Association continued from 1993
onward to be funded by all Adyar Theosophists in Wales until 2008, when
Theosophy Cardiff decided to separate from it. This came after a long period of
difficulty, much discussion, meetings of members and taking legal advice.
A letter was
sent to the Adyar Head Office outlining Theosophy Cardiff’s concerns and
arrangements were made to pay a proportion of subscriptions directly to Adyar.
A letter was sent to the Regional Association Organising Secretary, Ms Julie
Cunningham in advance of the March 2008 Regional Association annual meeting,
informing her of Theosophy Cardiff’s decision and the reasons for separation.
Copies were also sent to all Regional Association officers and made available
to members.
There has
been much confusion surrounding this decision and Theosophy Cardiff are still
receiving enquiries from all over the world about it. Here is a link to Theosophy
Cardiff’s letter of separation from the Welsh Regional Association, which it is hoped will answer most
questions.
2008
CHANGES
Structural changes in the
Theosophical Movement in
as it separates into independent
groups that can do their own thing
For more info on Theosophy
Try these
Cardiff Theosophical Society meetings
are informal
and there’s always a
cup of tea afterwards
The Cardiff Theosophical Society Website
The National Wales Theosophy Website
Wales has Theosophy Groups in
Dave’s Streetwise Theosophy Boards
This is for everybody not just people in Wales
Theosophy
Cardiff’s Instant Guide to Theosophy
General pages about Wales, Welsh History
and The History of Theosophy in Wales
Teosofia en Cardiff (Página en Español)
One Liners & Quick Explanations
The Most Basic Theosophy Website in the Universe
If you run a Theosophy Study
Group you can use
this as an introductory handout
Writings of William Quan Judge
The
South of Heaven Guide to
Theosophy and Devachan
The preparation of this Website
The Spiritual Home of Urban Theosophy
The Earth Base for Evolutionary Theosophy
Classic
Introductory Theosophy Text
A Text Book of
Theosophy By C W Leadbeater
What Theosophy Is From the Absolute to Man
The Formation of a Solar System The Evolution of Life
The Constitution of Man After Death Reincarnation
The Purpose of Life The Planetary Chains
The Result of Theosophical Study
An Outstanding
Introduction to Theosophy
By a student of
Katherine Tingley
Elementary Theosophy Who is the Man? Body and Soul
Body, Soul and Spirit Reincarnation Karma
Preface to the American Edition Introduction
Occultism and its Adepts The Theosophical Society
First Occult Experiences Teachings of Occult Philosophy
Later Occult Phenomena Appendix
Preface
Theosophy and the Masters General Principles
The Earth Chain Body and Astral Body Kama – Desire
Manas Of
Reincarnation Reincarnation Continued
Karma Kama Loka
Devachan
Cycles
Arguments Supporting Reincarnation
Differentiation Of Species Missing Links
Psychic Laws, Forces, and Phenomena
Psychic Phenomena and Spiritualism
Karma Fundamental Principles Laws: Natural and Man-Made The Law of Laws
The Eternal Now
Succession
Causation The Laws of Nature A Lesson of The Law
Karma Does Not Crush Apply This Law
Man in The Three Worlds Understand The Truth
Man and His Surroundings The Three Fates The Pair of Triplets Thought, The Builder
Practical Meditation Will and Desire
The Mastery of Desire Two Other Points
The Third Thread Perfect Justice
Our Environment
Our Kith and Kin Our Nation
The Light for a Good Man Knowledge of Law The Opposing Schools
The More Modern View Self-Examination Out of the Past
Old Friendships
We Grow By Giving Collective Karma Family Karma
National Karma
India’s Karma
National Disasters
Intoduction The Dense Physical Body
The Etheric Double
Prana, The Life The Desire Body Manas, The Thinker, or Mind
The Quaternary, Or Four Lower Principles
Subtle Forms of The Fourth and Fifth Principle
The Higher Manas Âtma – Buddhi, The Spirit Manas in Activity
The Monad in Evolution Lines of Proof for
an Untrained Enquirer
Annotated Edition
Published 1885
Preface to the Annotated Edition Preface to the Original Edition
Esoteric Teachers The Constitution
of Man The Planetary Chain
The World Periods Devachan Kama
Loca
The Human Tide-Wave The Progress of Humanity
Buddha Nirvana The Universe The Doctrine Reviewed
The Unity Underlying all Religions
The Physical
Plane The Astral Plane
Kamaloka The Mental Plane Devachan
The Buddhic and Nirvanic Planes Reincarnation Karma
The Three Kinds of Karma Collective Karma
The Law of
Sacrifice Man’s Ascent Building a
Cosmos
Try these if you are looking for a
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Group or Centre
UK Listing of Theosophical Groups
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Worldwide Directory of Theosophical Links
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Your Own Theosophy
Group Starts Here
A Guide to
starting your own
Theosophy Group
These are
suggestions and pointers for forming
your own independent
Theosophy Group and
not instructions on
how to form a branch of a
larger Theosophical
Organisation.
The subject of
affiliation to a larger body is
covered but as affiliation
may mean compromise
and nobody owns
Theosophy anyway, we leave
that decision entirely
up to you
___________________
General pages
about Wales, Welsh History
and The History of
Theosophy in Wales
Wales is a
Principality within the United Kingdom
and has an eastern
border with England. The land
area is just over 8,000
square miles. Snowdon in
North Wales is the
highest mountain at 3,650 feet.
The coastline is
almost 750 miles long. The population
of Wales as at the 2001 census is 2,946,200.
Sited at a former
Roman garrison town
with access to the
sea via the river Usk.
The Roman
Amphitheatre at Caerleon,
Dinas Emrys (The Fort of Merlin)
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