G. O. Mebes (1868-1930/1934) was one of the most prominent Russian esotericists of the early 20th century. A mathematics professor, he gained renown for his public lectures titled A Concise Course in the Encyclopedia of Occultism. Mebes held key roles in Russian Freemasonry, Rosicrucian, and Martinist orders. In 1912, he severed ties with the French Martinist order to establish an Autonomous Martinist Order of Russian Obedience. Although Mebes was persecuted by the Soviet state and died in exile, his teachings endured and influenced several generations of occultists both in Russia and abroad.

Yury Pankratov, a native of Russia, earned his PhD in Computer Science before developing an interest in Western esotericism. His journey into the occult began in 2012, inspired by the writings of John Michael Greer, who was then the Grand Archdruid of the Ancient Order of Druids in America. This led Yury to study ceremonial magic, particularly the Golden Dawn tradition, as well as Hermetic sciences like astrology and alchemy. In 2015, Yury relocated to the United States, where he now lives with his wife, Anastasia.