Isis Unveiled

Isis Unveiled was Blavatski's first major work in the Theosophical movement, and is considered to one of the movements central texts. Published in two volumes, the first volume Science, and this volume Religion (or Theology) each examines an incredibly wide scope of both ancient and early modern wisdom and mysteries to illuminate the hidden aspects of our reality. It marks an important milestone in the Western Esoteric Tradition, being one of the first works attempting to syncretize both Eastern religions with Western Occult studies and various occult systems. Despite being named for the Egyptian goddess (so named as a symbol of both Nature and Magic), the subjects touched upon in these volumes go far beyond the Egyptian mythology, and are as vast as they are eclectic, ranging from the Afterlife, magical phenomena, black magic, the beginnings of Christianity and several Eastern religious figures. Blavatski denied that Theosophy was an inherently religious movement, while also claiming that it was a modern telling of "the once universal religion" or "Wisdom-Religion." The text had some detractors in its time, as many argued that many of the ideas put forth were simply rewritings of other contemporary occult writers. However, the full scope of these volumes is why both volumes remain books of great importance to all modern esoteric scholars and students of the occult revival.