How did Theosophy influence New Age beliefs about spiritual masters and a coming New Age?

Theosophy served as a foundational influence on the New Age movement, particularly through its concepts of spiritual evolution and the guidance of humanity by hidden leaders.12

Spiritual Masters

Theosophical cofounder Helena Petrovna Blavatsky introduced the belief in the Ascended Masters of the Great White Brotherhood—perfected beings who allegedly guide the planet's destiny. This idea became a cornerstone for later New Age groups, which claimed to receive channeled messages from these preternatural beings to transmit spiritual energy to the world.12

The Coming New Age

Blavatsky was among the first to announce an imminent "New Age," a concept that evolved through her successors. Annie Besant and later Alice A. Bailey popularized the expectation of a coming messiah or world savior, such as the Master Maitreya. These teachings fostered a widespread belief that humanity could assist in its own evolution and prepare for a period of enlightenment and brotherhood. Independent theosophical groups subsequently became the primary environment where these hopes flourished, eventually giving rise to the broader international New Age movement of the 1970s and 1980s.12