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Why did the Theosophical Society investigate unexplained natural laws and human powers?

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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.

The Theosophical Society investigated unexplained natural laws and latent human powers because its core doctrine posits that "divine wisdom" provides access to the mysteries of nature and the inner essence of humankind.1

Theosophists believe that a deeper spiritual reality exists and that direct contact with this reality can be achieved through states that transcend normal human consciousness, such as intuition, meditation, or revelation. Consequently, the investigation of these phenomena is formally codified as one of the society's "Three Objects," which serves to guide members in their pursuit of spiritual insight and the understanding of the divine. By exploring these extraordinary occurrences and psychic capabilities, the society seeks to uncover the inner teachings they believe are concealed within all world religions.1