Peryt Shou’s Esoteric Philosophy
Beginning in 1907, Albert Christian Georg Schultz aka Peryt Shou started publishing books on Esoteric Christianity, occult philosophy, yoga, fakirism, mantras, breathing exercises, cultivating willpower, development of superior faculties (including practices based on the Runes), Egyptian studies, sacred astrology & cosmology, connecting with the Cosmos and other topics that he saw as relevant for the development of humanity.
Shou’s writings were aimed at encouraging and giving tools to those readers who were ready for a different way of seeing the world: “a spiritualistic worldview”. Even in the early 1900s, he was already talking about the possibility of a ‘new age’ or ‘coming age’ and how the individual could best prepare for it. He was well-read and often references other authors’ ideas whom he considered relevant. He had quite a unique perspective on many subjects and appears to have influenced a number of occultists (mostly german-speaking), including Arnoldo Krumm-Heller (Huiracocha).
In 1919, Huiracocha not only helped edit and publish one of Shou’s books, Concentration and Willpower , but (a decade or so later) translated it into Spanish and was publishing it (in multiple parts) in his Magazine Rosa-Cruz Revista , which was sent to subscribers and FRA Lodges in Latin America.
By the late 1920s and early 1930s, Shou’s profound insights and legitimacy in German occult circles had been cemented. What is of particular interest to us are his use of postures and gestures in combination with mantras, in addition to his methods for the development of willpower.
Articles Showing Peryt Shou’s Influence and Revealing Aspects of his Methodology
In an October 1929 article entitled “Dance and Magic” in the Central-Journal for Occultism [Zentralblatt für Okkultismus] by Sav Nemo, we read the following interesting reference to Shou:
Anyone who has delved into Experimental-Magic knows how closely rhythmic movement is linked to it, and it is no coincidence that Dance has been used time and again to unleash magical Forces within People.
…
But there is one more thing I would like to say about the magical Dance, about the Possibility that it can unleash magical Abilities and Forces.
To become a Magician is to integrate and align oneself with the cosmic Machinery [kosmische Räderwerk ]; to practice Magic is to prepare oneself so that the immense magical Forces of the Universe can manifest through us [sich durch uns auswirken können ]. Peryt Shou, the great western Magician, was the first to give us, in an accessible Way, a clear Grasp of the Power of cosmic Waves and to teach us practically how to open ourselves to these Forces through our Attitude and Posture [Einstellung und Haltung ]. He, too, drew from the Wellspring of ancient Tradition, for the Science of the sacred-magical Gesture [sakralen-magischen Geste ] is as old and as venerable as Magic itself. The royal Science, Magic, teaches us how the Forces of the Universe have their own Vibrational-Levels through which they exert their influence, and how these Spheres Relate to one another, how the Realm of the Absolute corresponds with the Realm of Ideas, and the Realm of Ideas with the Realm of the Material, both on the Side of Light and on the Side of Shadow. Human-Beings are a ‘tiny Cosmos’ or Microcosm [ein Kosmos im kleinen ]. Peryt Shou, for his part, has written in an accessible and practical way about how the Vibrational-Levels are arranged within the Human-Being and through which Gestures and Movements [Gesten und Gebärden ] it is possible to Connect them to the great universal Force-Fields.
Dance, which consists of a series of successive harmonious Movements that intersect the great natural and supernatural Force-Fields in various ways, thereby unleashes unknown Forces. To use an Analogy from Physics, one could say: Just as a small Iron-Rod moving within a larger wire-wound Coil generates Surges of electrical current —that is, a new Force— so too does an unknown universal Force stream into the human Body when it is moved in a suitable manner within the great cosmic Solenoid.
In addition, intense physical Exertion (such as a whirling Dance) affects the Body almost exactly the same way as its Opposite: a somnambulistic or cataleptic state.
In both Cases, a certain Relaxation of the Soul and Body occurs, thereby creating the Conditions necessary for divinatory Experiments.
A few months later, in a December 1929 article in the same magazine, entitled “Why Do Magic Experiments Fail?”, by W. Marduk, we have another reference to Shou:
There is no Domain more controversial than that of Experimental-Magic. It is rejected by official Science or viewed as a Mirage conjured by ‘overheated Brains’, because the Majority of its Successes are of a dubious Nature. However, the Failure does not lie with Magic itself, but stems from the Ignorance with which the Individual approaches Magic.
Magic is and remains a Science, for it has been so since Time Immemorial. However, it has always been a Specialized-Field, reserved only for the few who could lift the mysterious Veil. Let them laugh all they want: the World keeps turning nonetheless! Thus, Magic remains the preserve of those who persevere along the arduous Path to its very End. As mentioned, the Success of a magical Experiment depends on the Person themselves. But unfortunately, People all too easily forget that this Domain requires a thorough Understanding of the physical-and-psychological Constitution of the Person, and even more so, absolute Clarity regarding one’s Emotional- and Sensory-Life. The aspiring Magician must also be able to distinguish whether their Experiments involve the Magic of the conscious or unconscious Self, or the Magic of the conscious transcendental World-Will. He or She must be able to utilize the electromagnetic Force-Fields of the cosmic Establishment which lie beyond the conscious and unconscious Self, and to make them subject to their specific Individual-Will.
In this Domain, Peryt Shou has achieved Remarkable things.
For this Reason, his Writings serve as a true Guide which, when followed, will surely lead to a very favorable Outcome on the Journey. I would say that without Knowledge of his Writings, practical Magic is not possible.
Magic as such is a form of cosmic Mathematics who’s Precision reaches the Highest degree. From the Infinite, it finds the great One, the Primordial-Will of all Existence [den Urwillen allen Seins ]. Through it, one finds the great cosmic Circle in the Square-Root of all Becoming and Passing-Away.
…
In his book on magic, Dr. F. Schertel rightly emphasizes:
“The brilliant Magician must be born. Without this inner Birth, no one can become a priestly Magician. Please recall the Words of the greatest Master. ‘Truly, truly, I say to you: Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.’ Yes, one must be born again if one wishes to become a Magician.”
However, in order to increase magical Genius, it is Necessary to be able to transmute the Sexual-Potencies, which are more powerful than the human Will. For only on this Basis can one create a powerful electromagnetic Reservoir within one’s own Body.
Peryt Shou and Modern Germanic Runology
In Shou’s 1920 book The ‘Edda’ as Key to the Coming Age! [Die “Edda” als Schlussel des kommenden Weltalters! ], he tries to highlight some similarities between Christianity and Germanic Mythology (and Philosophy), and the need to develop willpower.
Quoting from the section ‘The new God-Experience [Das neue Gotterleben] ’:
“Christ, and Christianity, have led the World to Destruction, to Death. Wuotan, the Awakening-One, on the Cross (of the World-Tree) will lead it back to Resurrection. Certainly the World had to die, like him, but it also has to reawaken — as he did, in a higher Transformation [Verwandlung ].
The germanic Spirit (Edda “Hávamál”) predicted this long before there was a historical Christianity. Christianity led humanity to death. This is what has happened. And with him, Christianity killed itself too, succumbing to “the Lord of this World”! The christian Nations had to experience what is happening to them today, Death and Decay on the Cross. But in their second Mission, the Edda sees the Nations descend from the World-Tree (Cross), called to new Life, rejuvenated!
Here the Blood, the vibrating Crystal Within, takes on a certain Role! But it should be mentioned that what is “Germanic” in the rebirth is different from what is Germanic in decay and defeat —a drunken self-aggrandizement to some kind of blood-related privileged “caste” among humanity. Even the Botocuds [an indigenous South American tribe] think of themselves as Racially superior to all others. Through the divine drop of Blood in our veins we are a Flock of God. But woe unto those who would make this divine drop of blood bestial, who would blind the visionary Crystal, the eye of God, in our veins!
The new World will only shine for the “Visionaries”, not for the “Blind”, even if they will rule equally for a while! They will die and disappear. The Visionaries, however, will remain, for they shall return. The Runic-Magic of Wuotan, which allows for his Resurrection, is a Blood-Mystery…
Every great Cultural-Nation has its Vocation/Calling in Blood and Spirit, which in all cases Exemplifies the Modification of the single great World-Secret, and through this modification it establishes its most holy Traditions. But we do not know how far each of them has fallen away from, and has ruined, the divine Crystal of the Blood to the point where it is impossible to recognize [Unkenntlichkeit ].”
In the section of his book called ‘The Tabernacle of the new Will’, he explains a concept that he calls the “new Will [neue Wille ]”, associating it with some of Nietzsche’s and Schopenhauer’s writings, saying:
“If we follow the way of the Edda, there is one kind of Need [Not ] that we suffer through blindly and another kind that we suffer through while seeing; this is a divine Need [Not ], which leads to Salvation [Erlösung ].
Why doesn’t it work in time? Why doesn’t this victorious one descend from the cross?
The Edda gives the answer. Certainly, the one hanging on the World-Tree (Cross) will come after the Nine Nights…
He will awaken all Peoples to the Need that has gloomily and mortifyingly seized them.He will project his divine, glaring light into the general state of suffering, by means of a holy operation: “Bow down Wuotan and ‘pick-up [nimm ]’ the Need-Rune.”
Then within thyself will be ignited the higher Will, the new Will, that shall be born into humanity, that all of a sudden unfolds itself in you and turns the Need:
“When ye shall be those who Yearn with a single Will and when this Turning of all Need is also something which is a Necessity.” [Nietzsche]
These words by Nietzsche are actually a call in the direction of the new Volition [neuen Wollens ], but … this does not come from the intellect, nor from beautiful Words, but rather from harmonization with this Will itself…
The new Will-Impulse [neuen Willensimpuls ] must be embodied/incarnated [verkörpern ]; it means the Turning of all Adversity [Wende aller Not ]:“O, Thou, my Will, Turn every Need [Wende aller Not ]” (Nietzsche)
But this Will is not the passionate craving of the masses for whatever sort of material pleasures, but it really is – Will.
And woe unto whosoever does not obey it!
This is how the new Will Flows-Through or Permeates [Durchströmung ] into Humanity.
Liberation [Lösung ] from the stunted, egotistical Self-Will can only be achieved through Suffering [Leiden ] and through Hardship [Not ].
Humanity is blind until it lives in the new Will!
According to Nietzsche, the eternally Ascending, the eternally Powerful lies in the Will itself!…this Will functions in a wholesome manner… this is the prototypical language of a Cosmic-Community of all conscious beings.
Precisely because Willpower is not Craving, nor Desire, but instead is a constructive Force in the Universe (see Schopenhauer, The World as Will and Imagination [Die Welt als Wille und Vorstelung] [1859]), it works in a divine way.
In a secret Prototypical-Language, in its “Runes”, this Cosmic-Will [Welt-Wille ] speaks in an ascending way out of Need and Death [Not und Tod ] and Mud, and it is stronger than anything else for the one who knows these Characters [Zeichen], and who stands there in the Tabernacle of the new Will.”
Again, for Shou, this ‘new Will’ [neuen Willens ] is not Craving or Desire, but a “constructive Force in the Universe” that “works in a Divine way…”
Peryt Shou’s Bibliography
These are the books/booklets we have been able to find associated with the author, 40 items listed, with relevant links to the Library sources, either German National Library as “DNB” and/or World Catalog as “WC”:
• 1907 – The new Religion of the Rosicrucians according to the Statutes of the secret Fraternity [Die neue Religion der Rosenkreuzer nach den Satzungen der geheimen Fraternität]. — Google Books (unable to find in a Library source)
• 1909 (1920) – Indian Fakir Doctrine Theory and Practice of Fakirtum [Indische Fakir-Lehre Theorie und Praxis des Fakirtums]. — DNB & WC
• 1909 (1920) – Magic of the Will : by Peryt Shou [Magie des Willens : Von Peryt Shou]. — WC• 1910 (1914) – The World Day, or, The Great Period of Light (Manvantara) in Occidental Philosophy and Poetry, at the same time as an introduction to the writing The Mystery of the Central Sun. [Der Weltentag, oder, Die grosse Periode des Lichtes (Manvantara) in der abendländischen Philosophie und Dichtung, zugleich als Einführung in die Schrift Das Mysterium der Zentralsonne]. — DNB & WC
• 1910 (1905?, 1915, 1920) – Sexual-Mysteries in Religion [Sexual-Mysterien in der Religion]. — DNB & WC
• 1910 (1922) – The psychic Breath as the Key to the Secret-Doctrine [Der psychische Atem als Schlüssel zur Geheimlehre]. — DNB & WC
• 1910 (1929) – Key of Yoga : Indo-Hypnotism [Schlüssel der Jôga : Indo-Hypnotismus]. — WC• 1912 (1914) – The Mystery of the Central-Sun from a scientific and esoteric Point-of-View [Das Mysterium der Zentralsonne vom wissenschaftlichen u. geheimwissenschaftlichen Standpunkt]. — DNB & WC
• 1913 (1918) – The Esotericism of the Atlantians: in its Relation to the Egyptian, Babylonian and Jewish Secret-Doctrines [Die Esoterik der Atlantier: in ihrer Beziehung zur ägyptischen, babylonischen und jüdischen Geheimlehre ] or The Esotericism of the Atlanteans in Relation to Egyptian, Babylonian, and Jewish Esoteric Teachings [Die Esoterik der Atlantir in ihrer Beziehung zur aegyptischen, babylonischen und jüdischen Geheimlehre]. — DNB WC
• 1913 (1917, 1919, 1921, 1923) – The Healing-Force of the Logos [Die Heilkräfte des Logos]. — DNB & WC• 1914 (1920) – Practical Esotericism or The Laws of Higher Worlds [Praktische Esoterik oder Die Gesetze höherer Welten]. — DNB & WC
• 1914 (1920, 1923) – The Communication with Beings of higher Worlds: The Incantations in “Faust” ; The Symbolism and Magical Number Theory of the “Kabbalah” [Der Verkehr mit Wesen höherer Welten: Die Beschwörungen im “Faust” ; Die Symbolik u. d. magische Zahlen-Theorie d. “Kabbala”]. — DNB & WC
• 1914 – Communication with Beings of a higher Kind [Der Verkehr mit Wesen höherer Art]. — DNB & WC• 1919 (1924) – Concentration and Willpower: Their Training Based on the Logos-Teaching [Konzentration und Wille: Ihre Schulung auf Grundlage d. Logos-Lehre]. Sometimes cited as authored by ‘Arnold Krumm-Heller’, however he only published and edited it [Herausgegeben und bearbeitet von Dr. A Krumm-Heller ] — DNB & WC
• 1919 (1920, 1922) – I will [Ich will ] or I want the Pathway to higher Man [Ich will Wege zum höheren Menschen ] or I want Ways to become a greater Human-Being ; about the Forces of the Soul, about Clairvoyance, Clairsentience and Clairaudience and their Development [Ich will Wege zum höheren Menschen ; von den Kräften der Seele, vom Hellsehen, Hellfühlen und Hellhören und ihrer Entwicklung]. — DNB & WC• 1920 (1922) – The ‘Edda’ as Key to the Coming Age! [Die “Edda” als Schlüssel des kommenden Weltalters]. — DNB & WC
• 1920 (1922, 1931) – Secret-Doctrine of the “Book of the Dead” with Transcriptions and Commentary [Geheimlehre des “Totenbuchs” mit Übertragungen und Kommentar]. — DNB & WC
• 1920 – The Occult Power of Jesus [Die okkulte Kraft Jesu]. — DNB & WC
• 1920 (1922) – Yoga Practice : a practical Key to the Study of the Secret-Doctrine of all Religions and to the Development of higher Soul-Forces : from the Self-Induction of the Will : Physics and Metaphysics of the Breath [Yoga-Praxis : Ein praktischer Schlüssel zum Studium der Geheimlehre aller Religionen und zur Entwicklung höherer Seelenkräfte : Von der Selbstinduktion des Willens : Physik und Metaphysik des Atems]. — DNB & WC
• 1920 (1922) – M-Waves and Man’s sixth Sense [M-Wellen und der sechste Sinn des Menschen]. — DNB & WC• 1921 – The World Religion of New Buddhism and Western Currents of Thought: Kwa-non-seh [Die Welt-Religion d. Neu-Buddhismus u. d. abendländ. Geistesströmungen: Kwa-non-seh]. — DNB & WC
• 1921 – Visions: The Fall of Potsdam and the Coming Events in the Light of Uraric Prophecies ; With Key Exercises of the Prophetic Art. Art [Schauungen: Der Fall Potsdams u. d. kommenden Ereignisse im Lichte urarischer Prophezeiungen ; Mit Schlüssel-Uebungen der prophet. Kunst]. — DNB & WC
• 1921 – “INRI”- about the real Origin of Christianity: with a practical Key to the Original Christian Di-ony-sos Religion [“INRI”- über den wirklichen Ursprung des Christentums: mit e. prakt. Schlüssel der urchristlichen Di-ony-sos Religion]. — DNB & WC• 1922 – The Chain of the great Will : the four basic logical Fallacies of the materialistic-monistic Conception-of-the-World [Die Kette des großen Wollens : die vier logischen Grundirrtümer der materialistisch-monistischen Weltauffassung]. — DNB & WC
• 1922 – The psychic Breath and the “Astral-Vision” (as Key to the Secret-Doctrine) [Der psychische Atem und das “Astralsehen” (als Schlüssel zur Geheimlehre) ]. — DNB & WC• 1923 – Man and the World-Soul [Weltseele und Mensch]. — DNB & WC
• 1923 – Practical Mantram-Course [Praktischer Mantram-Kursus]. — DNB & WC
• 1923 – Germany’s Future in the Law of cosmological Development [Deutschlands Zukunft im Gesetz kosmologischer Entwicklung]. — DNB & WC
• 1923 – Medusa, the Demon of Europe [Medusa, der Dämon Europas]. — DNB & WC• 1924 – Yoga as a Way to eternal Youth : from the Treasure of ancient Indian Wisdom [Yôga als Weg zur ewigen Jugend : aus d. Schatz altind. Weisheit]. — DNB & WC
• 1926 (1925?) – How and when is Christ coming again? : Revelations from roman Catacombs ; the Christ-Movement in India and Tibet [Wie und wann kommt Christus wieder? : Enthüllungen aus röm. Katakomben ; die Christus-Bewegung in Indien und Tibet]. — DNB & WC
• 1927 – Practical Mantramistics : the Mantram and Vowel-Breathing ; Essence and Practice of Concentration and of Meditation. [Praktische Mantramistik: das Mantram und die Vokal-Atmung ; Wesen und Praxis der Konzentration und der Meditation]. — DNB & WC
• 1928 – Esotericism of the New-Spirit-Symbols Magic of Signs & Sounds ; With Appendix about Symbol-Meditations [Esoterik der Neugeist-Symbole Magie von Zeichen u. Laut ; Mit Anh. über Symbol-Meditationen]. — DNB & WC
• 1931 – Atlantis: The Destiny of Humanity ; The spiritual Early-Culture of the Atlantians and contemporary Europe ; According to scientific Sources [Atlantis: Das Schicksal d. Menschheit ; Die geistige Frühkultur d. Atlantier u. d. gegenwärtige Europa ; Nach wissenschaftl. Quellen]. — DNB & WC
• 1932 (1935) – The Call of the New Spirit Gaining Power through Harmony with the Cosmos [Der Ruf des neuen Geistes Kraftgewinnung durch Harmonie mit dem Kosmos]. — DNB & WC
• 1933 – The Sign of the Son-of-Man: The New Blossoming of Humanity through Cosmic Radiation-Influences [Das Zeichen des Menschensohnes: Das Neuaufblühen d. Menschheit durch kosmische Strahlungs-Einflüsse]. — DNB & WC
• 1933 (1934) – Armageddon: The Logos as Ruler in Politics; The Final Battle of Present-Day Humanity; The Numerical Mystery of the Apocalypse [Harmageddon Der Logos als Regent in d. Politik ; Der Endkampf d. gegenwärt. Menschheit ; Das Zahlengeheimnis d. Apokalypse]. — DNB & WC• 1935 – The Spirit-Weapon of the nordic People [Die Geistes-Waffe des nordischen Menschen]. — DNB
• 1938 – The Awakening of the Soul in the Dawn-of-Mankind : an Attempt at the Interpretation of the first Light- and Heaven-Belief, the Emergence of the first Speech and Thought-World! [Das Erwachen der Seele in der Menschheitsfrühe : ein Versuch zur Deutung des ersten Licht- und Himmelsglaubens, der Entstehung der ersten Sprache und Gedankenwelt!]. — DNB & WC
• 1941 – The Liturgical Degree of the Feast of the Conception of Mary in the Byzantine Rite from the 8th to the 13th Century [Der liturgische Grad des Festes der Empfängnis Mariens im byzantinischen Ritus vom 8. bis zum 13. Jahrhundert]. — DNB & WC
• 1944 – The Guardian at the Gate: The Uranian Age and the Primordial-Religion [Der Hüter am Tor. Uranisches Zeitalter und Ur-Religion]. — DNB & WC
>>> Note: According to researcher Manfred Lenz, “The Guardian at the Gate…” was self-published by Shou in 1944 and was his last orignal work. Additional publishing, Lenz says, were just “renamed” books previously published in 1933-34.
• 1953 – Under the Sign of the Logos: Practical Rebirth-Spiritual-Exercises and their Symbolism [Im Zeichen des Logos: Praktische Wiedergeburts-Exerzitien und ihre Symbolik]. — DNB & WC
>>> Note: Researcher Manfred Lenz says this book is a renamed “Im Zeichen des Menschensohnes ” aka “Das Zeichen des Menschensohnes ” (1933)• 1954 – The Law of the Logos: Armageddon and the Kabbalistic Mystery/Secret of the Apocalypse [Das Gesetz des Logos: Harmageddon und das kabbalistische Geheimnis der Apokalypse]. — DNB & WC
>>> Note: Researcher Manfred Lenz says this book is a renamed “Harmageddon ” aka “Harmageddon Der Logos als Regent in der Politik ” (1933)
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