Masonic, Occult and Esoteric Online Library
H.P. Blavatsky The Light-Bringer
By GEOFFREY A. BARBORKA
Concerning H. P. Blavatskys Financial Status
NOT a word is said about Mme.Blavatsky receiving remuneration for her musical performances. From her literary work she did not derive such income as one might expect. Even with her two major works, Isis Unveiled and The Secret Doctrine, a great deal of the cost of publishing was borne by H.P.B. herself because of her fondness for making changes on proof-sheets. Dr. Keightley, who assisted her in preparing and publishing The Secret Doctrine wrote :
It went through three or four other hands besides H.P.B.'s in galley proof, as well as in revise. She was her own most severe corrector, and was liable to treat revise as MSS, with alarming results in the correction item in the bill.
Col. Olcott had the same to say about the changes made on the proofs of Isis Unveiled. However, even before the publication of her first book, Mme. Blavatsky's finances had sustained a heavy loss, because of the help she had given to the editor of the Spiritual Scientist, a Boston journal. H.P.B. had this comment to make : 'Between Col. Olcott and myself, H.P.B., we have spent over a iooo dollars given him to pay his debts and support his paper.
The meagreness of PI.P.B.'s financial status is attested in a document written by Countess Wachtmeister. While living with Mme. Blavatsky at Ostend, Belgium, the Countess had called a lawyer, and when he was prepared to draw up the will, H.P.B. stated that she wished to leave everything to Constance Wachtmeister. The Countess continues the narration :
The lawyer now expostulated. Had she no relations; would it not be right to leave her property to them ? And then he looked askance at me, as if he thought that I might have been unduly influencing H.P.B. to leave her money to me to the detriment of her relatives. H.P.B. flew out at him, and asked him what business it was of his; she should leave her money, she declared, to whom she chose. Madame Gebhard, fearful of a scene, interposed and said gently to the lawyer : 'Perhaps, when you know the amount which Madame Blavatsky has to will away, you will have no further objections to making the will as she desires; for had Madame Blavatsky died there would not have been sufficient money to pay for her funeral expenses.'
The lawyer could not restrain an expression of surprise, but set to work without further comment. In a few minutes the will was made and signed by those present.
Countess Wachtmeister also relates that H.P.B. had received an offer from a Russian journal which would have enabled her to recoup her dwindling finances. However, Mme. Blavatsky declined to take advantage of it, as narrated by the Countess :
One day a temptation came to her in the form of a large yearly salary if she would write for the Russian papers. She might write, she was told, on occultism or any other subject which pleased her, if she would only contribute to their columns. Here was a promise of comfort and ease for the remainder of her life. Two hours' labour every day would be ample to satisfy all demands made on her time; but then no Secret Doctrine would be written. I spoke of a compromise, and asked her if it would not be possible for her to accept this engagement, and, at the same time, continue her Theosophical work. 'No—a thousand times no!' she answered. 'To write such a work as The Secret Doctrine I must have all my thoughts turned in the direction of that current. It is difficult enough even now, hampered as I am with this sick and worn-out old body, to get all I want, how much more difficult, then, if I am to be continually changing the currents into other directions. I have no longer the vitality or the. energy left in me. Too much of it was exhausted at the time when I produced my phenomena.
However, there was another reason why H.P.B. was often without funds. She explained it to the Countess when the latter inquired concerning the task which Mme. Blavatsky had undertaken, namely to bring the knowledge of the Ancient Wisdom to the western world :
In occultism, a most solemn vow has to be taken never to use any powers acquired or conferred for the benefit of one's own personal self, for to do so would be to set foot on the steep and treacherous slope that ends in the abyss of Black Magic. I have taken that vow, and I am not one to break a pledge the sanctity of which cannot be brought within the comprehension of the profane. I would rather suffer any tortures than be untrue to my pledge. As for securing more favourable conditions for the execution of my task : it is not with us that the end is held to justify the means, nor is it we who are permitted to do evil that good may come. And it is not only bodily pain and weakness and the ravages of disease that I am to suffer with what patience I may, subduing them by my will for the sake of the work, but mental pain, ignominy, opprobrium and ridicule.
