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Stanislav Panin
Papus and his influence on Russian occultism
Papus (real name Grard-Anaclet-Vincent Encausse) is an occultist who has
strongly affected an occultism in Russia. Papus was born in 1865 in Spain, but
he has spent the most part of the life in France. Papus is known as talented
compiler and the popular writer on different occult topics. He began his occult
education in the Bibliothque Nationale (French National Library), where he
immersed himself in esoteric literature, including old grimoires (magickal
texts) and the works of liphas Lvi, Paul Christian, Hoene Wronski, and
others. Then he had met Alexandre Saint-Yves d'Alveydre and they became
friends. Papus promoted popularization of d'Alveydres ideas. For some time
he also was a member of Theosophical Society created by H. Blavatsky.
Influence of Papus on Russian occultism can hardly be overestimated. He
visited Russia several times: in 1901, 1905, 1906. Here he performed lectures
about an occultism and served Tsar Nicholas II both as physician and occult
consultant. In October 1905, he conjured up the spirit of Alexander III, the Tsar Nicholas's father, who
prophesied that the Tsar would meet his downfall during the revolution. According to one of the versions
of this story, Papus informed the Tsar that he would be able to magickally avert Alexander's prophesy so
long as he was alive and his claim proved accurate, Nicholas kept his hold on the throne of Russia until 141
days after Papus's death. During their later correspondence, he also warned them a number of times against
the influence of Rasputin.
In the beginning of the 20th century, many of his works have been translated into Russian and were published
in Russia. These works became very popular among Russian seekers of occult wisdom. Papus was seriously
interested in destiny of Russia. He has written works related to this topic: Russia today (1902) and he
Russian-Japanese conflict and magnetic figures (1912).

Papus was also connected with German occult movement. In 1908, he has organized in Paris the congress
of masons and spiritualists received the name International Masonic conference. There he met German
occultist Theodor Reuss who has initiated him in the X degree of O.T.O.

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We will better understand the ideas of Papus if we will keep in mind two important things. On the one hand,
Papus had a classical European sight at an occultism. He was an opponent of occult materialism and
considered that a basis of the occult doctrine is belief in God. On the other hand, Papus was a professional
doctor. Despite his time-consuming esoteric activities, he performed his medical studies and even received
doctorate in 1894. In his books there are a lot of parallels with medicine. As doctor and scientist, he rejected
supernatural things and considered magick as understanding of secret laws of the nature. Therefore, the
magick from the point of view of Papus is closely connected with a science.
In Soviet time, occult teachings in Russia were restricted. No new translations were performed and esoteric
literature existed as samizdat (books, retyped manually be enthusiasts). But in 1980s interest to an occultism
in Russia has amplified. Some scholars mention this process as Russian Occult Reviveal. At this time, the
books of Papus have become very popular among Russian occultists again. Many Russian readers have
found in them for the first time an information about an occultism they are looking for. The work of Papus
that is most popular in Russia is his Practical magick. But other works are also known and translated in
Russian, among them: Cabbala, Initial data on an occultism, The Tarot Divination, Magick and
hypnosis.