Violet Tweedale
Violet Tweedale, née Chambers (1862 – 19 December 1936), was a Scottish author and poet and a Spiritualist. Claiming to be psychic from a young age, she became involved in Spiritualism and Theosophy, and was a close associate of Helena Blavatsky. Tweedale became also a member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.
Personal life
Violet Chambers was born in 1862 to publisher Robert Chambers and his wife.[1] On June 8, 1891 at St. Peter's Church in Eaton Square, Belgravia, London, she married Clarens (or Clarence) Tweedale.[2] He was a British subject born in Florence, Italy, the son of an Indian army captain, and had served as a Lieutenant in the Royal Perth Rifles.[3] They were independently wealthy. She died at the Villa Languard, Torquay, Devon on December 10, 1936.[4] Clarens outlived her, dying in Devon at August 25, 1950.
Theosophical Society involvement
Mrs. Tweedale was admitted to the Theosophical Society on June 9, 1893 in the London Lodge, although her permanent address at that time in Balquholly, Turriff, Scotland.[5]
Around 1888–1889 in London, when talking to H. P. Blavatsky, she saw the astral form of either an Adept or a chela. She wrote:
On another occasion when I was alone with Madame Blavatsky, she suddenly broke off our conversation by lapsing into another language, which I supposed to be Hindustani. She appeared to be addressing some one else, and on looking over my shoulder I saw we were no longer alone. A man stood in the middle of the room. I was sure he had not entered by the door, window, or chimney, and as I looked at him in some astonishment, he salaamed to Madame Blavatsky and replied to her in the same language in which she had addressed him.
I rose at once to leave her, and as I bade her good-by she whispered to me, "Do not mention this." The man did not seem aware of my presence; he took no notice of me as I left the room. He was dark in color and very sad looking, and his dress was a long, black cloak and a soft black hat, which he did not remove, pulled well over his eyes. I found out that evening that none of the general staff were aware of his arrival, and I saw him no more.[6]
Writings
She was a prolific writer of short stories, published as anthologies, and novels, often with a romantic or supernatural theme. She wrote over 30 books on spiritual subjects, such as "The Cosmic Christ" (1930), and her own personal psychic experiences were documented in "Ghosts I have Seen", "Phantoms of The Dawn" and "Mellow Sheaves" where she mentions teachings she learned from Mme. Blavatsky.[7]
Online resources
- A Casebook of Encounters with the Theosophical Mahatmas Case 57, compiled and edited by Daniel H. Caldwell
- H. P. Blavatsky as seen by Violet Tweedale published in The Canadian Theosophist.
Notes
- ↑ Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1931.
- ↑ Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1931.
- ↑ 1881 England Census.
- ↑ England & Wales, National Probate Calendar, 1858-1966.
- ↑ Theosophical Society General Membership Register, 1875-1942 at http://tsmembers.org/. See book 1, entry 9702 (website file: 1D/6).
- ↑ Violet Tweedale, Ghosts I Have Seen and Other Psychic Experiences (New York:Frederick A. Stokes, 1919), 51, 56–61.
- ↑ H. P. Blavatsky as seen by Violet Tweedale (Theosophy: modern, history and archives) at http://theosophy.katinkahesselink.net/canadian/Vol-23-1-C-Theosophist.htm