The Count of Gabalis

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Everyone admitted that these great secrets, and especially the Philosopher's Stone: The legendary substance believed by alchemists to turn base metals into gold and provide the elixir of life., are difficult to seek and in the possession of few people; but each one in particular had such a good opinion of himself that he believed he was among the number of the elect. Fortunately, the most prominent members at that time were impatiently awaiting the arrival of a German, a great lord and a great Cabbalist: A practitioner of Cabbala, a form of Jewish mysticism that was widely adapted by European scholars and occultists to explore the mysteries of God and nature., whose estates lie near the Polish border. In a letter, he had promised the original: "Kindern der Weisheit" — "children of wisdom," a traditional term for initiates or those dedicated to the pursuit of alchemical and spiritual truth. who live in Paris that he would visit them if he passed through France on his journey to Germany.

I was tasked with answering this great man's letter: I sent him the figure of my nativity: In astrology, a chart of the heavens showing the relative positions of the planets and the signs of the zodiac at the specific moment of an individual's birth., so that he might judge whether I could approach the highest light. This figure and my letter were so fortunate as to find favor with him; he replied to me that I should be the first in Paris whom he would see; and if Heaven did not oppose it, he would take care to admit me into the society of the wise.