[1] In 1941, he was introduced to esotericism by an English Rosicrucian by the name of Edith Lynn, and a few years later he came into contact with the Jeanne Guesdon, as well as Ralph M. Lewis, both high ranking AMORC figures.

[2] In the 1950s, he was also involved in Italian Freemasonry, and joined the French Grande Loge nationale française Opéra, where he achieved the three symbolic grades given out by the organization.

[2] In 1963, Raymond Bernard met with Anton Leuprecht, supreme head of the Autonomous Grand Priories of the OSMTJ (those who did not follow Antonio Fontes), and received a personal document recognizing him.

The creation of this group was supposedly validated by a "White Cardinal" apparition that had appeared to Bernard in Rome, who initiated him as a Templar.

[11] He was the Grand Master of both groups, and they merged in 1993, with CIRCES becoming the charity wing of the OSTI as the Comité d'initiatives et de réalisations caritatives et sociales.

In the late 1990s he entrusted responsibility of the organization to Yves Jayet, giving him the status of Grand Master, after which he had no direct control.

[2] He wrote several books that included representations of esoteric elements like Agartha, Rosicrucian orders, as well as an occult world government controlled by a figured called "Maha"; these were allegorical works, though many took them literally.

[13][14] In 2012, associates of Bernard created a bilingual website to reignite interest in his works, which was launched on his birthday on 19 May; it is organized by specific event, and also discusses the mission of the OSTI.