Vera Petrovna de Zhelihovsky

Vera Petrovna de Zhelihovsky (1835-1896) was the younger sister of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky.

Witnessing Mahatma

In May 1884, Vera was in Paris (at Rue Notre Danle des Champs, 46) with Mme. Blavatsky, the Russian author V. S. Solovyov, and N. A. de Fadeyev. After having witnessed a phenomenon she saw the astral form of a Master appearing for a few seconds:

When I returned to the drawing room I found H. P. Blavatsky sitting quietly as before at the table between Mme. de Fadeyev and Mr. Solovyov. At the same time, I saw as distinctly as can be, the figure of a man, grayish, yet quite clear form, standing near my sister, and who, upon my looking at him, receded from her, paled, and disappeared in the opposite wall. This man—or, perhaps, his astral form—was of a slight build, and of middle size, wrapped in a kind of mantle, and with a white turban on his head. The vision did not last more than a few seconds, but I had all the time to examine it, and to tell every one what I distinctly saw, though, as soon as it had disappeared, I felt terribly frightened and nervous.

Writings

Russian edition. Image from Boris de Zirkoff Collection, TSA Archives.

Vera wrote stories for children and articles for Russian periodicals. She also wrote several important works about the life of her sister:

• When I Was Small. 2nd edition published in 1894.
• My Adolescence. 1983.
• "The Truth about Helena Petrovna Blavatsky". Rebus, St. Petersburg, 1883.
• "Helena Petrovna Blavatsky". Lucifer, London. Serialized November, 1894 - April, 1895.