Seven Realms of Mind or Seven Steps in the Study of Mental Magnetism, by Edmund Shaftesbury — First Edition / First Printing 1904, Ralston Natural College
Publisher: Ralston Publishing Company, Washington D.C. (1904)
A highly unusual occult book detailing the step-by-step method on how to control the minds of others by the founder of the movement Ralstonism, Edmund Shaftesbury in a first edition, first printing copy of "Seven Realms of Mind or Seven Steps in the Study of Mental Magnetism" from 1904. 444 pages. The boards and binding are solid and tight with some shelf-wear. The pages are crisp and clean with very light sporadic foxing on the first two pages. Pages 441-444 have a very small tear on the fore-edge, which have been professionally repaired. A strange and unusual book on controlling the minds of others from a late 19th century group. Also of very interesting note — he helped found the Ralston Purina Pet Food Company, today which included the products Chex and Cookie Crisp. Please read below for more fascinating information on Shaftesbury, Ralstonism, and its history today.
Ralstonism and Edward Shaftesbury
Ralstonism was a minor social cult movement in 19th century USA. It claimed about 800,000 followers. Ralstonism was the brainchild of Webster Eagerly (1852–1926). In Edgerly's words, "Ralstonism is the grandest movement that man is capable of establishing".
Ralstonism began as the Ralston Health Club, which published
Edgerly's writings. It was a hierarchical organization where members
were ranked according to the number of "degrees" they had, which ranged
from 0 to 100. Members advanced five degrees at a time, and each Ralston
book that a member purchased counted as five degrees.
Edgerly saw his followers as the founding members of a new race,
based on Caucasians, and free from "impurities". He advocated the
castration of all "anti-racial" (non-Caucasian) males at birth.
Edgerly wrote eighty-two of what would today be called self help books under the pseudonym "Edmund Shaftesbury". They covered subjects
like diet, exercise, punctuation, sexual magnetism, artistic deep
breathing, facial expressions and vemtroquism.
The books recommend
things like every young man should engage in a form of probationary
marriage with a woman old enough to be his grandmother. Edgerly also
created his own language, called the "Adam-Man-Tongue" with a 33-letter
alphabet.
The Magnestim Club of America another Ralstonite organization, was founded to give its members control over the minds of others.
Ralstonites were to follow strict dietary guidelines. For example,
watermelons were supposed to be poisonous to Caucasians. Correct diet
and proper physical exercise would help readers attain "personal magnetism",
which would give them control over the thoughts of others. Much of the
physical regime demanded moving in graceful curves and arcs and walking
exclusively on the balls of one's feet. Because sudden starts and stops
and sharp angular movements caused a "leakage of vital force".
In 1900 Edgerly joined forces with the founder of Purina Food Company, which took the name Ralston Purina Company (now Nestle Purina Pet Car.
It made whole-wheat cereal that Ralstonites were to consume. The food
company Edgerly founded evolved into what is now called Ralcorp, and was the original owner of the cereal brands Chex and Cookie Crisp.
