1.What’s your name, where are you from and how long have you been a member of the TS?
My name is Susanne Hoepfl-Wellenhofer and I started to attend DC Lodge meetings in 2010 and became a member of the TS in 2011.
2.How long have you been a member of your Section’s Board?
I was president of the DC Lodge from June 2019 until June 2022 and am currently again the president (elected in June 2023). Since July 2023, I am one of the Eastern District Directors of the Theosophical Society in America (Wheaton, Ill.).
3. How did you first learn about Theosophy or come in contact with the Society?
Even before finding Theosophy and beginning to attend lectures in 2010, I have been following my own spiritual path comparing religion, science, philosophy, and psychology for over 20 years (http://spiritualityconsciousnessandme.com/). I shared lots of books with a friend who one day found the DC Lodge, mentioned it to me and I started to attend meetings. After about 1 year I decided that this was the right group for me.
4. What does Theosophy mean to you?
Studying and sharing Theosophy fulfills my life and helps me to stay focused on my path. In addition, Theosophy has helped me tremendously to deal with life’s challenges. Thus, I am devoted to Theosophical teachings.
One of my favorite authors is the German Theosophist Dr. Franz Hartmann, who was a contemporary of HPB and a pioneer of the movement. I translated four of his books from German to English and they were published with the help of the European School of Theosophy. They created a website dedicated to Hartmann. (https://franzhartmann.eu/). He wrote a lot about the practical application of the teachings and I that has been helpful.
I contribute to the Wiki (https://theosophy.wiki/en/Main_Page), create courses for the online school (https://study.theosophical.org/) and mentor prisoner.
5. This year, 2025, the Theosophical Society celebrates its 150th anniversary. What in your opinion is the biggest challenge the TS is facing and what is to be done in order to maintain the Society’s relevance in the years to come?
We have to spread the teachings, strengthen the lodges and study centers and we need to inspire the younger generation to study the teachings and consequently spread them.
From the editor:
Opinions and ideas expressed in the mini-interviews are exclusively of those who are being interviewed. They don’t necessarily represent the ideas and opinions of the compilers of Theosophy Forward. The responses of the interviewees are not edited for content. Some contributors give short answers to the questions while others touch upon the subject more elaborately.