Dora Van Gelder
Encyclopedia
Dora van Gelder Kunz was an American writer, psychic, alternative healer
, occultist and leader in the Theosophical Society in America
. As writer Kunz has titles published around the world in Dutch, English, French, German, Polish, Portuguese and Spanish.
city situated in the Dutch East Indies
, which at that time was a Dutch colony and today is known as Java
. There she was raised at her father’s estate, a sugar cane plantation. Since she was a child, she claimed, she interacted with ethereal beings without knowing that clairvoyant ability was unusual. At eleven years old she moved to Mosman, a suburb of Sydney
(Australia), to study with someone knowledgeable about her abilities, the then-Anglican clergyman and psychic C. W. Leadbeater, who instructed her in the refining of her psychic skills.
Through Leadbeater she met Fritz Kunz, who used to accompany Leadbeater on his travels. In 1927, at the age of twenty-two, Gelder and Kunz married and moved to the United States where her American husband became the principal of a scholastic foundation and she became president of a corporation related to pedagogic supplies. Soon after coming to the USA, the couple founded the first theosophical
camp at Orcas Island
in the state of Washington.
For many years, Dora dealt with new methods in healing, particularly therapeutic touch
, which she co-developed in 1972 with Dr. Dolores Krieger, a nursing professor at New York University
, which is said to promote healing, relaxation and lessen pain. Therapeutic touch, stated Kunz, has its origin from ancient Yogic texts written in Sanskrit, which describe it as a pranic healing method. As a result of that enterprise the technique is taught in approximately eighty colleges and universities in the U.S., and in more than seventy countries.
Kunz philanthropically directed her clairvoyance towards helping physicians in complicated medical cases, in particular aiding in the diagnoses through her supposed capability of seeing the effects of diseases in the aura
of the patients. More specifically she reported the existence of centers of energy in human body, also known as chakras, changing their colors according to diseases that affect matching endocrine glands
. She is said to have been able to predict some illness as many as eighteen months before symptoms manifest themselves.
In 1975 Kunz became president of the Theosophical Society in America
. In 1977 she published a manuscript about her fairies experiences in her youth, “The Real World of Fairies”. She stated that, during her life, she had always kept the communication with nature spirits. According to her, in 1979 she saw fairies in Central Park
, New York but due to the increasing pollution, it was more difficult to encounter them. Kunz claims that devas are intimately connected with a vital energy, transmitting force to preserve and heal the Earth. She said as long as more people get involved with environmental causes, better are the chances of communication between humans and devas. In 1987 after completing twelve years as president of the Theosophical Society in America, Kunz retired from the presidency and thereafter devoted herself mostly to lecturing and writing books.
Alternative medicine
Alternative medicine is any healing practice, "that does not fall within the realm of conventional medicine." It is based on historical or cultural traditions, rather than on scientific evidence....
, occultist and leader in the Theosophical Society in America
Theosophical Society in America
The Theosophical Society in America is a member-based nonprofit organization dedicated to the teaching of Theosophy and affiliated with the international Theosophical Society based in Adyar, Chennai, India. The name "Theosophical Society in America" was legally adopted by the American Theosophical...
. As writer Kunz has titles published around the world in Dutch, English, French, German, Polish, Portuguese and Spanish.
Biography
Dora van Gelder was born at a Dutch camp called Tjeweng located about five kilometers south of DjombangJombang Regency
Jombang is a regency of East Java, Indonesia. Its capital is Jombang. The regency has an area of 1,159.5 km² and population of 1,163,420...
city situated in the Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
, which at that time was a Dutch colony and today is known as Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
. There she was raised at her father’s estate, a sugar cane plantation. Since she was a child, she claimed, she interacted with ethereal beings without knowing that clairvoyant ability was unusual. At eleven years old she moved to Mosman, a suburb of Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
(Australia), to study with someone knowledgeable about her abilities, the then-Anglican clergyman and psychic C. W. Leadbeater, who instructed her in the refining of her psychic skills.
Through Leadbeater she met Fritz Kunz, who used to accompany Leadbeater on his travels. In 1927, at the age of twenty-two, Gelder and Kunz married and moved to the United States where her American husband became the principal of a scholastic foundation and she became president of a corporation related to pedagogic supplies. Soon after coming to the USA, the couple founded the first theosophical
Theosophy
Theosophy, in its modern presentation, is a spiritual philosophy developed since the late 19th century. Its major themes were originally described mainly by Helena Blavatsky , co-founder of the Theosophical Society...
camp at Orcas Island
Orcas Island
Orcas Island is the largest of the San Juan Islands, which are located in the northwestern corner of Washington state in San Juan County, Washington.-History:...
in the state of Washington.
For many years, Dora dealt with new methods in healing, particularly therapeutic touch
Therapeutic touch
Therapeutic touch , also known as Non-Contact Therapeutic Touch , is an energy therapy which practitioners claim promotes healing and reduces pain and anxiety. Practitioners of therapeutic touch state that by placing their hands on, or near, a patient, they are able to detect and manipulate the...
, which she co-developed in 1972 with Dr. Dolores Krieger, a nursing professor at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, which is said to promote healing, relaxation and lessen pain. Therapeutic touch, stated Kunz, has its origin from ancient Yogic texts written in Sanskrit, which describe it as a pranic healing method. As a result of that enterprise the technique is taught in approximately eighty colleges and universities in the U.S., and in more than seventy countries.
Kunz philanthropically directed her clairvoyance towards helping physicians in complicated medical cases, in particular aiding in the diagnoses through her supposed capability of seeing the effects of diseases in the aura
Aura (paranormal)
In parapsychology and many forms of spiritual practice, an aura is a field of subtle, luminous radiation surrounding a person or object . The depiction of such an aura often connotes a person of particular power or holiness. Sometimes, however, it is said that all living things and all objects...
of the patients. More specifically she reported the existence of centers of energy in human body, also known as chakras, changing their colors according to diseases that affect matching endocrine glands
Endocrine glands
Endocrine glands are glands of the endocrine system that secrete their products, hormones, directly into the blood rather than through a duct. The main endocrine glands include the pituitary gland, pancreas, ovaries, testes, thyroid gland, and adrenal glands. The hypothalamus is a neuroendocrine...
. She is said to have been able to predict some illness as many as eighteen months before symptoms manifest themselves.
In 1975 Kunz became president of the Theosophical Society in America
Theosophical Society in America
The Theosophical Society in America is a member-based nonprofit organization dedicated to the teaching of Theosophy and affiliated with the international Theosophical Society based in Adyar, Chennai, India. The name "Theosophical Society in America" was legally adopted by the American Theosophical...
. In 1977 she published a manuscript about her fairies experiences in her youth, “The Real World of Fairies”. She stated that, during her life, she had always kept the communication with nature spirits. According to her, in 1979 she saw fairies in Central Park
Central Park
Central Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
, New York but due to the increasing pollution, it was more difficult to encounter them. Kunz claims that devas are intimately connected with a vital energy, transmitting force to preserve and heal the Earth. She said as long as more people get involved with environmental causes, better are the chances of communication between humans and devas. In 1987 after completing twelve years as president of the Theosophical Society in America, Kunz retired from the presidency and thereafter devoted herself mostly to lecturing and writing books.
Books
- Christmas of the Angels, 1962.
- The Real World of Fairies, 1977.
- Fields and their clinical implications; co-author Erik Peper, 1985.
- Spiritual aspects of the healing arts, 1985.
- Devic Counsciouness, 1989.
- The Chakras and the Human Energy Fields; co-author Shafica Karagulla, 1989.
- The Personal Aura, 1991.
- Spiritual Healing, 1995.
- Aura en persoonlijkheid: aura's zien en begrijpen (Aura and personality: see auras and understand); co-author George Hulskramer, 1998.
Interviews and lectures
- Reminiscences of Annie Besant and C.W. Leadbeater; with Fritz Kunz, 1967.
- Healing and the Dynamic Structure of Man, 1974.
- Masters and the Future of the Theosophical Society, 1978.
- The Alchemical Power of Consciousness Healing; with Janet Macrae, 1979.
- The Path and the Spiritual Life; with Renee Weber, 1980.
- Application of Theosophy; with William J. Ross, 1981.
- Use of Healing Energy in Therapeutic Touch, 1981.
- Karma and Human Relations, 1981.
- Masters of the Wisdom, 1982.
- Inner Structure of Man & Its Effects On Life, 1983.
- Interview with Father Bede Griffiths, 1983.
- Depression From the Energetic Perspective; with Erik Peper, 1984.
- Masters and the Future, 1984.
- Man's Experience at Different Levels of Consciousness, 1985.
- Theosophical Perspectives on Dealing with Pain; with Erik Peper, 1985.
- The Objectives of the Theosophical Society; with Radha Burnier, 1986.
- The Role of Karma in Life, 1986.
- Letting Go: Perspectives on Death and Dying; with Erik Peper, 1987.
- Chakras and the Human Energy Fields, 1989.
- Deeper View of Healing and Its Many Aspects; with Dolores Krieger, 1989.
- Conscious Use of the Healing Mind; with Dolores Krieger, 1990.
- Healing and Changes in the Invisible Emotional Patterns, 1991.
- Conversation with Dora Kunz, 1992.
- Personal Aura and its Relation to Daily Life, 1992.
- Karma: White Lotus Day Commemoration, 1994.
- Spiritual Aspects of Healing and Therapeutic Touch, 1994.
- Meditation as a Part of Life, 1996.