根據學者皮爾·A·李法德(英语:Pierre A. Riffard)(Pierre A. Riffard)所述,它是一個「在所有奧秘思想學派中出現(present in all esoteric schools of thinking)」的特徵。[2]它與荷米斯主義(Hermeticism)密切相關並且基於諸如占星術、煉金術,以及神聖幾何(英语:sacred geometry)(Sacred geometry)其前提是「其下如其上,其內如其外(As Above, So Below)」的實踐。[3]
Theories of Macrocosms and Microcosms in the History of Philosophy, G. P. Conger, NY, 1922, which includes a survey of critical discussions up to 1922.