Theosophically Inspired Movements in Denmark 587

Theosophically Inspired Movements in Denmark 587 Chapter 71 Theosophically Inspired Movements in Denmark René Dybdal Introduction In Denmark, like in many other countries in the West and elsewhere, modern Theosophy, as introduced by H.P. Blavatsky and H.S. Olcott in 1875, has played a key role as a source of inspiration to many religious groups. Although the Theosophical Society Adyar (here abbreviated TS) has left its mark on numer- ous contemporary new religious movements, globally and locally, the following presentation will focus solely on groups that historically descend from or doctrinally have their primary inspiration from this modern Theosophical tradi tion. It will be subdivided into two parts: (a) Groups formed in Denmark and (b) Groups imported to Denmark, i.e., international groups inspired by Theosophy that are or have been present in Denmark. A variety of new groups emerged in the wake of the transformation that the Danish section of TS underwent during the 1970s (as described in the chapter in the present volume on Theosophy in Denmark). Some of these groups, e.g., the Anthroposophical Society and Martinus Cosmology, have experienced a significant expansion over the years and are covered in separate chapters in the present volume. Consequently, they will only be mentioned briefly here. Groups Formed in Denmark Shan the Rising Light Up to the 1970s, the Theosophical current in Denmark was primarily repre- sented by the Danish section of the TS. The period was characterised by an urge to transform or even revolutionise both the organisation and the practice of this section, and several new initiatives were taken. A central figure was the Theosophist Jeanne Morashti (1946–2002), later known as Ananda Tara Shan, who in 1978 founded the TS lodge Den lysende Cirkel (The Shining Circle). Morashti soon met fierce resistance from other prominent Theosophists because of her claim that she was an active channel or even vehicle for the Ascended Masters. This resulted in the leading council of the TS in Denmark deciding to expel her only a few months after the foundation of Den lysende © koninklijke brill nv, leiden, 2016 | doi 10.1163/9789004325968_073 588 Dybdal Cirkel (Teosofia, November 1978). Together with a large group of former TS members, Morashti founded Shan the Rising Light, where she continued as a practitioner of channelling from the Ascended Masters to “mankind”, through group meditations as well as through private healing sessions. With the inten- tion of expanding their activities globally, Morashti, in 1982, moved with her family and a core of followers to Australia, where she established a new centre in Victoria. The leadership of the Danish branch passed into the hands of a couple of prominent figures of the group, including Asger Lorentsen, and the activities of Shan the Rising Light in Denmark in the following years were cen- tred around the spiritual commune Rosenhaven (The Rose Garden). Before her death in 2002 at the age of 56, Morashti founded several other organisations based on her teachings, such as the Society for Maitreya Theosophy in 1991, The Theosophical Fellowship in 1994, and Heart Flow Worldwide in 2001. After a period of turmoil in the mid-1990s, several central figures left the group, tak- ing a significant amount of members with them (see Den Gyldne Cirkel [The Golden Circle] below). At the time of writing (2014), Theosophical Fellowship and Heart Flow are the last two Morashti groups practising in Denmark, with between 150 and 200 members, respectively, in Copenhagen and Esbjerg in the western part of Jutland. Den Gyldne Cirkel During the early 1990s, a conflict erupted between prominent members of Shan the Rising Light and Jeanne Morashti, the charismatic leader of the group. Several of the schismatic members, including Asger Lorentsen, were opposed to what they experienced as an increasing centralisation in the group, which had positioned Morashti as the sole authority on doctrinal matters. Lorentsen decided to leave Shan the Rising Light in 1993, accusing the organisation of isolating itself from similar groups and being reluctant to accept that others, too, could establish some kind of contact with higher spiritual levels or Ascended Masters (Dybdal Pedersen 2005: 50). The following year, he and his wife, Yvonne Wassini, established Den Gyldne Cirkel (The Golden Circle). Due to his experience with Morashti’s group, Lorentsen intended Den Gyldne Cirkel to be a non-hierarchical organisation, where groups of individuals, as equal participants, could practise so-called lystjenester (light services), i.e., group meditations channelling healing light and energy to people or societies in need. Shortly after Den Gyldne Cirkel had initiated its meditation services, Lorentsen established a school in order to instruct people how to conduct these services locally. This resulted in local light service groups beginning to sprout nationwide already during the first years of the existence of Den Gyldne Cirkel. Another reason for this rapid expansion was that, through the 1980s and early 1990s, Lorentsen had become a well-known figure in various new .

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