Vonda Urban
Vonda Urban was an independent teacher of Theosophy based in Chicago, Illinois.
The most impressive thing about Vonda was her impersonal and equal treatment of everyone regardless of their failings as humans, part of Nature's evolution. Absolutely non judgemental.[1]
Early life
Dance career
In the 1950s, Miss Urban taught ballroom dancing at the elegant Aragon Ballroom in Chicago. As many as 18,000 patrons visited the venue every week to enjoy the maple dance floor could could hold 8,000 at one time. Six nights a week, radio station WGN broadcast a nationwide hour-long program featuring the famous bands who were playing: the orchestras of Tommy Dorsey, Billy May, Eddy Howard, Teddy Phillips, Dick Jurgens, Chuck Foster, and Buddy Morrow. Lessons in the newest dance styles such as mambo, rhumba, cha cha, and merengue were offered free every Sunday night, and the classic fox trot and waltz on Tuesdays, with Vonda Urban as the instructor.
Theosophical work
In 1972, Miss Urban began offering classes in "Esoteric Philosophy as set forth by H. P. Blavatsky and her teachers." She advertised in the Daily Northwestern and listed her telephone number in the Yellow Pages of the telephone directory under "Philosopher."
George Cardinal LeGros (1905-1988) was one of her teachers.
Additional resources
Audio
All of the following lectures were delivered at the Theosophical Society in America, in Wheaton, Illinois.
- Helena Petrovna Blavatsky: Messianic Messenger October 1, 1991. Explores the relevance of Madame Blavatsky's life and teachings to modern times. Her handout is not available, but it was comprised of photocopied excerpts from and references to:
- Mahatma Letter 26
- 1888 letter from Koot Hoomi to Olcott
- Constance Wachtmeister's Reminiscences
- Mahatma Letter 44
- 1885 letter from HPB to Patience Sinnett
- H.P. Blavatsky, Tibet, and Tulku by Geoffrey Barborka Wheaton, Illinois: Theosophical Publishing House, 1966.
- Nightmare Tales by H. P. Blavatsky.
- Mahatma Letter 26
- The Voice of the Silence. May 1, 1992. How this classic book of Eastern Wisdom came to be shared with the world.
- Light for the Mind, Love for the Heart, Understanding for the Intellect. October 20, 1994. Spirit, Soul, and Body carry three separate lines of evolution.
- Blavatsky: The Mystery. October 19, 1995. H. P. Blavatsky was called the sphinx of the 19th century. Glimpse the real nature of HPB's world.
- Letters That Have Helped Me: Commemorating William Q. Judge. March 21, 1996. A tribute to Judge on the 100th anniversary of his death. Extracts from his inspirational letters are included.
- Hypnotism: A Psychic Malpractice. October 24, 1996. Comments on hypnotism by H. P. Blavatsky and W. Q. Judge are examined. How is hypnotism different from mesmerism?
- Tribute to H. P. Blavatsky: White Lotus Day 1997 Part 1. May 8, 1997. Recounts H. P. Blavatsky's work and tireless efforts to teach Theosophical principles.
- Tribute to H. P. Blavatsky: White Lotus Day 1997 Part 2. May 8, 1997.
- Ensouling of Our Human Nature. March 27, 1997. Based on insights from Theosophist G. de Purucker, this talk explores ways of living a noble life through a blending of heart and mind.
- Conversations in Occultism. September 25, 1997. H. P. Blavatsky answers W. Q. Judge's questions about the Kali Yuga, our present age. Includes discussion on elementals, mantras, mental discipline, and inner vibrations.
- Psychic and Noetic Action. May 28, 1998. According to the speaker, the brain is both physical and metaphysical. Our daily choice making originates either in selfish or selfless motive, and while the selection is made in our brain-mind, only selfless motives flow from the heart-light.
- Elixir of Life. September 30, 1999. A talk on selected works of H. P. Blavatsky, presenting longevity as a process of spiritual unfoldment based on knowledge and discipline.
- Karma, Reincarnation, and You. October 25, 2001. Through the understanding that everything we experience is the outflow of our own thoughts, emotions, and actions in past lives, we can find a new way to deal with our current challenges and pave the way to mental freedom.
- What Death Really Is Part 1. September 25, 2003. Through the understanding that everything we experience is the outflow of our own thoughts, emotions, and actions in past lives, we can find a new way to deal with our current challenges and pave the way to mental freedom.
- What Death Really Is Part 2. September 25, 2003.
- [ In Honor of H. P. Blavatsky: White Lotus Day Commemoration]. May 5, 2005.
Video
- Helena P. Blavatsky, Messianic Messenger. 1991 at Theosophical Society in America. Handout is not available, but it was comprised of photocopied excerpts from and references to:
- Mahatma Letter 26
- 1888 letter from Koot Hoomi to Olcott
- Constance Wachtmeister's Reminiscences
- Mahatma Letter 44
- 1885 letter from HPB to Patience Sinnett
- H.P. Blavatsky, Tibet, and Tulku by Geoffrey Barborka Wheaton, Illinois: Theosophical Publishing House, 1966.
- Nightmare Tales by H. P. Blavatsky.
- Mahatma Letter 26
Notes
- ↑ Richard Robb in text message to Michael Conlin. 2023. Theosophical Society in America Archives.
[[Category:Independent Theosophists