Katherine Tingley Portal

Febr. 20, 2026
last change: Febr. 21, 2026

* July 6, 1847 Newburyport, Massachusetts (USA) – † July 11, 1929 in Visingsö (Sweden)

Esoteric insights into the theosophical guruparampara:
“You understand of course, Companions, that when this Katherine Tingley Memorial Group was first formed, it was a child of my heart in memory, in commemoration, of the life-work of our blessed KT, the greatest esotericist of the three leaders and teachers who have preceded me — a greater esotericist than HPB, a greater esotericist than Mr. Judge.”
– Gottfried de Purucker, The Dialogues, Katherine Tingley Memorial Group, First Meeting of November 27, 1929, p. 1.

Further information of Tingleys rightful successorship based on both HPB’s “last photo” and its picture puzzle (rebus) as well as on private photos of her occult ring. It was published for the first time in 2010 by Frank Reitemeyer: HPB’s Occult Ring – Another Chapter of Theosophical History Clarified (update follows).

Photos: Public domain.

1. Receptions
2. Activities
3. Websites and portals
4. Books
5. Germany

2026: Katherine Tingley: The Purple Mother
History of Massachusetts Blog, February 6, 2026

2021: Selander, Josephine: Spiritual Entrepreneurs: Competing Theosophists and the Making of Alternative Spirituality in the Swedish Press (1900–1925), in: Comparativ | Zeitschrift für Globalgeschichte und vergleichende Gesellschaftsforschung 31 (2021) Heft 5 / 6, p. 612–630. DOI: 10.26014/j.comp.2021.05-06.06.
“In 1899, the American Theosophist leader Katherine Tingley visited Sweden for the first time on a quest to proclaim a new Theosophical coalition: the “Universal Brotherhood”. As a comment on Tingley’s mission, the Swedish women’s magazine Idun reflected on the appeal of spirituality at the turn of the twentieth century: One may hold whatever opinions one wishes about the feasibility of the coalition’s programme, but one thing is indisputable: this ‘Universal Brotherhood’ is a remarkable expression of the times in our end-of-century era, rich in strong spiritual movements.”

2013: Rudbøg, Tim: Point Loma, Theosophy, and Katherine Tingley, in: Handbook of the Theosophical Current, 2013

1998: Rugland, Raymond: A Few Facets of Katherine Tingley, in: Sunrise April/May 1998.

1998: Sunrise: Theosophic Perspectives, April/May 1998, Special Issue: Katherine Tingley: 1847-1929

1948: The Dialogues of G. de Purucker
Report of Sessions of the Katherine Tingley Memorial Group
Edited by ARTHUR L. CONGER, First ed. 1948, 2nd and Revised Ed. 1997 TUP
“You understand of course, Companions, that when this Katherine Tingley Memorial Group was first formed, it was a child of my heart in memory, in commemoration, of the life-work of our blessed KT, the greatest esotericist of the three leaders and teachers who have preceded me — a greater esotericist than HPB, a greater esotericist than Mr. Judge. This Group began in a small way, and now the Group has become large.
Seeds of the noblest trees are usually small. My hope was that from this one seeding originally in your Point Loma joint Club-work, would grow a spiritual tree, whose branches would overspread the earth; and this is coming.
I have decided therefore to have a stenographic record made of these meetings, beginning with this evening, for the purpose of enabling Katherine Tingley Memorial Groups which are in process of formation in other parts of the world to receive these teachings, and thus be associated with us in thought.
This KT Memorial Group will grow to be the greatest men-catching net, I believe, that the world has seen in historic times. Spread your mystic nets! Cast them on the waters of life! It is a great and holy duty that we are involved in.”
– Gottfried de Purucker, Meeting of November 27, 1929.

1893
– met William Quan Judge

1896
– March: Elected new head of The Theosophical Society after William Quan Judge.
– April: At the Annual Convention in Madison Square Garden, New York, revealed plans for an education center and a mystery school in the West.
– Closed nearly all local lodges as they were drifting away in psychism, phenomena, superstition, clairvoyance.
– June: Announced and launched a World Crusade for Theosophy, which began in June of 1896. Toured through the USA, Europe and India.
– Met Gottfried von [later: de] Purucker in Switzerland, who draw her a sketch of the Point Loma property to be brought for the new center.
– Collected mystical stones in Bavaria and Austria together with Dr. Franz Hartmann for the new center.

1897
Laid the foundation stone in Point Loma, California.

1898
– Was elected as head for life by 5,000 delegates in Boston Convention with the right to appoint her successor. Largest gathering of esotericists in recorded history. Autocracy as reaction of Jesuit plans to infiltrate and neutralize the TS.
– Integrated the TS into the new umbrella organization “Universal Brotherhood” and renamed to “Universal Brotherhood and Theosophical Society” (UBTS)

K. Tingley
The Theosophical Society Point Loma (TSPL), Blavatskyhouse

Katherine Tingley and Point Loma
Theosophy Northwest

Katherine Tingley
Wikipedia

The Mysteries of the Heart Doctrine (Original edition, 1902)

Theosophy: the Path of the Mystic (Second edition, 1922)

The Wine of Life (Original edition, 1925)

The Gods Await (1926, Second Revised Edition 1992)

The Travail of the Soul (Original edition, 1927)

The Voice of the Soul (Original edition, 1928)

The Wisdom of the Heart (Point Loma Publications, 1978)

Photo: theoarchive.com

Second Tingley-related German magazine “Leaves for Universal Brotherhood” (Blätter für Universale Bruderschaft), vol. 1, no. 1, Nuremberg (Nürnberg), March 13, 1902, by Mr J. Th. Heller; first number was hand-written (printed from no. 2 onwards).

The first Tingley-related German magazine was “News” (Nachrichten) from 1896 onwards, edited by Dr. Franz Hartmann, who served as President for Tingley’s reorganized “Theosophical Society in Europe” (T.S.E.), but only for one year. In 1897 he stepped back und launched his own Theosophical Society in Munich, allegedly “by order of the Masters”. He named it “International Theosophical Fraternization” (“Internationale Theosophische Verbrüderung”, I.T.V., 1897-1987, its state section “Theosophische Gesellschaft in Deutschland” is still active.). Two volumes of this magazine are known, the title of the second volume was augmended to “Theosophical News” (Theosophische Nachrichten).

Hartmann claimed that Tingley has left the original programme of H. P. Blavatsky by building a school and a theosophical church with dogmatism. That was the contrary of the truth, as Tingley was fulfilling the aims of Blavatsky, of which Hartmann was simply wasn’t informed about by her or by Judge. Despite the fact that Hartmann one year before wrote in a letter to Wilhelm Hübbe-Schleiden his convintions that Tingley was the rightful successor to Blavatsky. Also that he has eye-witnessed several times both her deep esoteric knowledge and occult powers, which were the same as that of Blavatsky.

And despite the fact that he himself, together with Countess Wachtmeister, tried to launch a theosophical monastary in Monte Veritá, Switzerland, a center of alternative groups like vegetarians, life reformers and occultists. The project was never realized because the money was lacking.

According to her occult powers he reported that Tingley had told him about circumstances of which she could have no knowledge, and that she has directed him occult the unknown way from his home in Kempten, Bavaria, to Berlin, to the foundation meeting, where he was to be elected for president. He did not even had the adress, but Tingley directed him by clairaudio, hearing her voice in his head. This eyewitness letter about Tingley’s occult status is among the Hübbe-Schleiden Collection of the University of Göttingen, Germany.