We’re back with Part 2 of our deep dive into Helena Blavatsky—the controversial, chaotic, and endlessly woo woo founder of modern occultism. In this episode, we follow Madame Blavatsky’s journey to America, where she teams up with Henry Steele Olcott and steps fully into her era as a spiritualism celebrity.

From the founding of Theosophy to her many scandals, disputed “miracles,” and the wild amount of cultural appropriation baked into her work, we’re unpacking the messy, fascinating legacy that shaped New Age spirituality, occult history, and the modern mystic movement.

If you’ve ever wondered how one woman became the blueprint for so much 19th-century spiritualism—for better and worse—this episode has you covered.

Time stamps

00:00 Intro

01:26 Helena's Lost Decade and Move to America

02:37 The Rise of Spiritualism

06:23 Helena's Struggles and New Beginnings

10:14 Meeting the Eddie Brothers

14:02 Partnership with Henry Steele Olcott

17:26 Founding the Theosophical Society

22:47 The Success of 'Isis Unveiled'

26:03 Helena's Celebrity Era

26:27 Move to India and Cultural Appropriation

29:51 Blavatsky's Popularity and Controversy in India

32:51 Health Issues and Betrayal

40:50 The Secret Doctrine and Blavatsky's Theories

45:40 Final Years and Legacy

Queens podcast is part of Airwave Media podcast network. Please get in touch with [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Want more Queens? Head to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, check out our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ merch store⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Never miss a Queens Podcast happening! Sign up for our newsletter: https://eepurl.com/gZ-nYf

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices