The Story Behind our Name

In 1875, Madame Helena P. Blavatsky resided at 3420 Sansom Street, now home of the White Dog Cafe. Scholar, teacher, spiritualist, and uninhibited eccentric, Madame Blavatsky was one of the most colorful and extraordinary characters of the century. She authored many volumes of work including The Secret Doctrine, which explored, in her words, "The accumulated wisdom of the ages." In the fall of 1875, she founded the Theosophical Society, a worldwide organization dedicated to the promotion of universal brotherhood, and standing for complete freedom of individual search and belief.

While living on Sansom Street, Madame Blavatsky became ill with an infected leg. During her illness, she underwent a transformation which inspired her to found the Theosophical Society. In a letter dated June 12, 1875, Madame Blavatsky described her recovery, explaining that she dismissed the doctors and surgeons who threatened amputation, ("Fancy my leg going to the spirit land before me!") and had a white dog sleep across her leg by night, curing all in no time.

"Behold the truth before you: A clean life, an open mind, a pure heart, an eager intellect, an unveiled spiritual perception, a brotherliness for one's co-disciple, a readiness to give and receive advice and instruction, a courageous endurance of personal injustice, a brave declaration of principles, a valiant defense of those who are unjustly attacked, and a constant eye to the ideal of human progression and perfection - these are the golden stairs up the steps of which the learner may climb to the temple of divine wisdom." H.P.B.

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