Theosophy & Laundry

The final day of March 2026 and the occasional venture was a trip out to Wheaton, Illinois to visit the headquarters for the Theosophical Society of America. A bit over an hour to reach the destination by car, counting nearly becoming stranded from running out of gas until a Shell station finally appeared for it and some coffee. 

Getting to the location I was greeted with a scene which seemed right out of a Supernatural episode by its aesthetics coalesced together: overcast, greener surroundings and a red brick and stone building full of esoteric thought. Center of focus within the bricks being the Henry S. Olcott Library chock-full of archived Theosophical journals, pamphlets and racks of philosophical works from Blavatsky to Zoroastrian literature. 

In my browsing I was led along the walls to focus on a few publications which seemed of note. Most interesting of available material being that of a four volume collection archiving a journal publication called The Light Bearer from 1993 up until 2008. Flipping through it presents as largely Buddhist leaning streams of thought with degrees of (syncretic) Gnostic lacing and interpretation. An interesting title for what is presented; in most contexts the term 'light bearer' conjures up a Luciferian or Promethean ideal. Pipeline separating though with connection to Satanic or adjacent thought evident (as well as within Blavatsky's Doctrine) with comparative analysis. Satanism being the closest the West, or specifically the USA, can ever get to the Eastern philosophy; its means of attaining this Gnosis is via indulgence in the existence whereas Buddhism's enlightenment is through a negation of said desires; both going into the introspective results. 

A small hardcover pamphlet was the next item of captivation, A Theosophical View of Human Races. Short, brief and syncretistic bit it is a largely symbolic posit regarding the idea. Going about explanation by historical mythos such as Atlantis, Hyperboreans and Aryan's with a purported new (at the time of the pamphlet being made) American on the way; detailing that it is more to do with era's of existence and the evolution humanity has during said segment rather than an ethnological determination as with breeding, the species is technically always evolving. In a sense the view given is akin to that of Mark Fishers' conception of 'disidentity politics': a fluid form adopted as method to dennunciate the dissatisfying institutional impositions. It's reminding in the Theosophical sense of a personal omnipotence, or elevated consciousness-- spiritual enlightenment; while Fishers' would be more hardline agnostic sociopolitical, awoken and reasoned with more of a depression. 

Lastly looked at in the Olcott Library was a small hard leather covered translation of The Book of Devotion from the Bhagavad Gita; and then a larger red book which was an exploration of power through a Hindu lense, which I find to be of so much interest I plan on returning soon to read it through...

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Now I sit on a blue table stool, it's nearly 11 at night and a nice cold, or cold to my being, temperature outside. In this space it's warm, likely on account of the clothes being soaked in heated water then blasted with warmed air. It's been a bit over a month since the last I did laundry, I'm surprised I didn't completely run out of outfits—though I scarcely wore my pants (pair of which my notebook is pressed down on top of in order to write)— in these five weeks in Chicago. Gotta love coverup scents; coffee and cannabis together make for a potent, sensual aromatic treat to the nasal cavity— which can be even more invigorated with an added hint of a caramel or coconut drizzle.

I always seem to find myself sitting and sipping coffee when I write, as well as when I'm not. Nonetheless I note it down when I can. I got this medium sized cup across the street at a Dunkin Donuts, which is mashed together with a Baskin Robins as seems commonplace now... it's still a bit hot, warm enough to sip mini bits. Now for the clothes and two towels to dry. 

A book about Abraxas sits in my bag on my side, if not for being on a timed schedule with the laundry I consider opening it up. Smokers' Law translates as much to reading as it does to a bus stop cigarette. 

Something about this space seems very 2000s with the colour scheme matched with machine scenery. Maybe I've primed myself for it and this is an inflation of aesthetics presented before me in a laundry place, but it certainly seems to have a Frutigo Areo atmosphere as a result of it. A hidden hit of electric myst as there is a 'no smoking on premises' sign, reminding me like on the train up to the city of being in school and hiding hits of this and that; it's almost natural with such practice. Clothes now in the dryer and nearly clean as Bad Habits by Ed Sheeran plays over the loudspeaker. I prefer the version with Bring Me The Horizon, but won't knock the original completely. 

My clothes are almost certainly done now after putting them on for another spin in the dryer, but I still have to grab my bag from the car and wait for others' matters to finish. Ed Sheeran becomes a nameless, faceless acoustic female and coffee cools to a warm temperature finally suitable for the tongue. Scribbling down banal bits about nothing like this is funny; it can pour out or simply dry out before coming to paper, as it seems there is so much nothing noting it would be a waste of page space...

Finishing finally and it's back to the lab again and now half an hour later, some similar amount of time after midnight. The blueberry muffin I got from Dunkin was good, though I think the sprinkled sugar was too thick of bits than necessary for the item. With that March has gone and slipped into April.