Elementary treatise on occult science: Understanding the Theories and Symbols Used by the Ancients, the Alchemists, the Astrologers, the Freemasons & the Kabbalists

Gérard Encausse, also known as Papus, was a French physician, hypnotist, and popularizer of occultism. He was born on July 13, 1865, in A Coruña, Spain, to a Spanish mother and a French father. Encausse moved to Paris at a young age and received his education there. He dedicated much of his time to studying various occult subjects, such as the Kabbalah, tarot, and alchemy. He was a member of the French Theosophical Society but left due to his disagreement with their focus on Eastern occultism. In 1888, Encausse co-founded the Kabbalistic Order of the Rose-Croix and established the Librarie du Merveilleux and its monthly revue L’Initiation. He was also associated with other esoteric organizations and authored several occult books. Despite his involvement in occultism, Encausse pursued conventional academic studies and became a successful physician. He even served as a physician and occult advisor to Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra of Russia. Encausse warned the royal couple about the influence of Rasputin in their government decisions. He passed away in 1916.