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How do theosophists describe human beings as sparks of the divine?

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Annie Besant and Jiddu Krishnamurti stand side by side in formal attire, Besant holding papers, in a black and white photograph from 1933. — theosophy Annie Besant and Jiddu Krishnamurti, 1926.

In the context of theosophy, human beings are described as sparks of the divine that have become trapped within the material world.1

Theosophical doctrine posits that while there is a distinction between the phenomenal world and a higher spiritual reality, there exists an overarching, all-encompassing unity that subsumes all differentiation. Within this framework, theosophists believe that God is an utterly transcendent and impersonal force, and that the process of creation occurs through spiritual emanations from this divine source. Consequently, because humans are considered sparks of this divine essence, they possess an inherent desire to return to their true spiritual home.1