An Allegory
Walking within the garden of his heart, the pupil suddenly came upon the Master, and was glad, for he had but just finished a task… Read More »An Allegory
Story
Fictional and Occult Stories
The Coming of the Serpent
The white rays shed over all the Island when the Diamond on the mountain shot forth its last light continued shining until the malignant snake… Read More »The Coming of the Serpent
Vikramâditya’s “Jewel.”
Dramatis personae. 1. Ghost of Kâlidâsa (the Court-poet of King Vikramâditya). 2. Professor M.M. (Orientalist). 3. Smith (a plebeian). ——— Scene. Kâlidâsa’s Cave, in the… Read More »Vikramâditya’s “Jewel.”
Where the Rishis Were
The rishis were the sacred Bards, the Saints, the great Adepts known to the Hindus, who gave great spiritual impulses in the past and are… Read More »Where the Rishis Were
True Progress
Perhaps those who have engaged in discussions about whether it is more advisable to become acquainted with the Astral Plane and to see therein than… Read More »True Progress
The Skin of the Earth
The cold materialism of the 19th century paralyzes sentiment and kills mysticism. Thus it commits a double crime, in robbing man and preventing many classes… Read More »The Skin of the Earth
The Tell-Tale Picture Gallery
Although the gallery of pictures about which I now write has long ago been abandoned, and never since its keepers left the spot where it… Read More »The Tell-Tale Picture Gallery
The Wandering Eye
This is not a tale in which I fable a mythical and impossible monster such as the Head of Rahu, which the common people of… Read More »The Wandering Eye
The Magic Screen of Time
An old Hindu saying thus runs: “He who knows that into which Time is resolved, knows all.” Time, in the Sanscrit, is called Kala. He… Read More »The Magic Screen of Time
The Serpent’s Blood
It was an old and magic island. Many centuries before, the great good Adepts had landed on its shores from the West and established for… Read More »The Serpent’s Blood
A Curious Tale
Some years ago I ran down to the Lakes of Killarney, but not for the purpose merely of seeing them as any other traveller. During… Read More »A Curious Tale
Papyrus
The Tale-teller, shading his gentle eyes from the evening sun, paused a moment while he listened to the soft strains of the music as it… Read More »Papyrus
Orcus; or Past and Future
It was almost midnight. I was sitting in the parlous of a quaint old ivy-clad house, over whose high-gabled, red-tiled roof rose the tower of… Read More »Orcus; or Past and Future
Papyrus—The Gem
The roads were thronged with the people moving toward the great square, for it was a feast of the Goddess. The temples were crowded, while… Read More »Papyrus—The Gem
[An Experience of the Astral World]
Recently the tea-table was chatting about the Widow’s escape from the Romish fold. She was nearly converted by the urbane Monsignor Capel, but escaped at… Read More »[An Experience of the Astral World]
A Bewitched Life
[Note: the following is a verbatim reproduction of the story as it first appeared in The Theosophist. For the enlarged, posthumous edition, see Nightmare Tales.] It was… Read More »A Bewitched Life
A Weird Tale
Part I. The readers of this magazine have read in its pages, narratives far more curious and taxing to belief than the one I am… Read More »A Weird Tale
The Ensouled Violin
The almost supernatural or magic art of Nicolo Paganini—the greatest violin player that the world has ever produced—was often speculated upon, never understood. The sensation… Read More »The Ensouled Violin
From the Caves and Jungles of Hindostan
Translator’s Preface “You must remember,” said Mme. Blavatsky, “that I never meant this for a scientific work. My letters to the Russian Messenger, under the… Read More »From the Caves and Jungles of Hindostan
The Cave of the Echoes
In the older countries of Europe and Asia there frequently occur examples of interference by the dead with the living, to which American Spiritualists are… Read More »The Cave of the Echoes
The Luminous Circle
We were a small party of merry travellers. We had arrived at Constantinople a week before from Greece, and had devoted fourteen hours a day… Read More »The Luminous Circle
A Story of the Mystical: Can the “Double” Murder?
[Forward from the republication in The Theosophist:] The story which follows was written by the editor of this magazine some years ago at the request of… Read More »A Story of the Mystical: Can the “Double” Murder?
Zanoni
“The Occult Novels of Bulwer-Lytton,” by H. T. Edge Contents Introduction Book the First: The Musician Book the Second: Art, Love and Wonder Book the… Read More »Zanoni