In 1885, the German philosopher Carl du Prel, now almost forgotten, published his widely read Philosophie der Mystik (Philosophy of Mysticism). Based on reported cases of somnambulism (= spontaneous hypnotic states), this book explored the depths of the human unconscious. Du Prel drew on Schopenhauer, but he went much further; he assumed the existence of a personal unconscious or deep Self, allegedly leading the human life. Both Freud and Jung were greatly inspired by Du Prel. They were not only thrilled by Du Prel’s first outlining the human unconscious, but also by the treatment of subjects like creativity, inspiration, and ecstasy. Especially Jung was fascinated by Du Prel’s account of exceptional human states such as clairvoyance or telepathy.
The first part of the English translation of Du Prel’s book has now been completely re-edited and provided with an introduction, a bibliography, and an artistic cover. It can be ordered online through Amazon etc. for an affordable price.
Here you can watch a recent video podcast on Du Prel’s book with the two book editors, James Ellis and Rico Sneller.