A movement like Theosophy is an easy target for cynical criticism with 100+ years of hindsight, but considering the time it arose, I'd say they did some amazing

A movement like Theosophy is an easy target for cynical criticism with 100+ years of hindsight, but considering the time it arose, I'd say they did some amazing work synthesizing materials from traditions that had previously barely met, and putting the whole thing in relation with the science of the time. The mere fact of embracing all these cultural and spiritual strands on a roughly equal footing must have been a really bold step at the time. Then again, the fascination with occult forces really has not aged well.