Archibald Keightley

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Archibald Keightley was an English Theosophist who was very close to Helena Petrovna Blavatsky during her later years in London.

Personal life

Archibald Keightley was born on April 19, 1859. His uncle, Bertram Keightley, was a year younger, having been born on April 4, 1860. He married Julia van der Planck, known as "Jasper Niemand," and they were active in the Theosophical Society in America, later renamed Theosophical Society, which was headed by Ernest Temple Hargrove in New York. He died on November 18, 1930 in New York City.

Theosophical Society involvement

Archibald was one of the regular attendants at Mme. Blavatsky's meetings in London, and witnessed the appearance of Adepts or chelas on occasion. He wrote:

Sometimes there would be unseen visitors, seen by some but not by others of us. Results were curious. Mme. Blavatsky felt the cold very much and her room was therefore kept very warm, so much so that at the meetings it was unpleasantly hot very often. One night before the meeting time, I came downstairs to find the room like an ice-house, though fire and lights were fully on. I called H.P.B.’s attention to this, but was greeted with a laugh and "Oh, I have had a friend of mine here to see me and he forgot to remove his atmosphere." Another time I remember that the rooms gradually filled until there was no vacant seat. On the sofa sat a distinguished Hindu, in full panoply of turban and dress. The discussion proceeded and apparently our distinguished guest was much interested, for he seemed to follow intelligently the remarks of each speaker. The President of the Lodge arrived that night very late, and coming in looked around for a seat. He walked up to the sofa and sat down — right in the middle of the distinguished Hindu, who promptly, and with some surprise, fizzled and vanished!

In August, 1890, he became a member of H. P. Blavatsky's Inner Group in London.

Writings

Archibald Keightley wrote over 50 articles that the Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals names in this list. Some are available online:

• "From Ostende to London. A Turning Point in the T. S." at Blavatsky Study Center. Reprinted from The Path 7.8 (November 1892), 245-248.
• "The Natural Law of Altruism" at Theosophical University Press online. Reprinted from The Path 6.8 (November 1891), 240.
• "Reminiscences of H.P. Blavatsky" at Blavatsky Study Center. Reprinted from The Theosophical Quarterly (October 1910), 109-122.

Additional resources

• Keightley, Archibald in Theosophy World