Cameron Miranda
The Law of Attraction is a principle that asserts the power of thought in shaping one's reality. Its roots extend deep into history, with influences from various cultures and philosophies. While the term Law of Attraction is relatively modern, the idea has been around for a long time and gained prominence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with the New Thought movement, influenced by thinkers like Phineas Quimby, Mary Baker Eddy, and Emma Curtis Hopkins. The concept gained mainstream attention in the 21st century with the release of the documentary and book, The Secret, and has since become a pervasive force in personal development and spiritual circles, with various authors contributing to its understanding.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Key Component | Changing negative thinking patterns by "feeling" that desired changes have already occurred through creative visualization |
| Basis | No scientific basis, but some supporters refer to scientific theories to justify their claims |
| Results | Individuals who indulge in manifestation and law of attraction beliefs exhibit higher perceived levels of success, but also show higher risk-taking behaviours, particularly financial risks |
| History | The term "Law of Attraction" is recent, but its principles can be traced back to ancient civilizations, such as Hermetic philosophy and Vedic traditions of ancient India |
| Development | The late 19th and early 20th centuries marked a significant development with the New Thought movement, influenced by Phineas Quimby, Mary Baker Eddy, and Emma Curtis Hopkins |
| Literature | "The Science of Getting Rich" by Wallace D. Wattles (1910), "The Law of Success in 16 Lessons" by Napoleon Hill (1928), "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill (1937), "The Power of Positive Thinking" by Norman Vincent Peale (1952) |
| Modern Popularization | "The Secret" (2006), a documentary film and subsequent book, "Money and the Law of Attraction: Learning to Attract Health, Wealth & Happiness" by Esther and Jerry Hicks (2008) |
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What You'll Learn
The Secret
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the New Thought movement emerged, with influential thinkers like Phineas Quimby, Mary Baker Eddy, and Emma Curtis Hopkins contributing to the idea that thoughts and beliefs have a direct impact on our experiences. The foundational principles of positive thinking, mental healing, and the power of the mind gained prominence during this era. Napoleon Hill's 1928 book, The Law of Success in 16 Lessons, frequently utilised the term "Law of Attraction". His 1937 book, Think and Grow Rich, further explored the idea that controlling one's thoughts leads to success.
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Ancient roots
The Law of Attraction is a spiritual belief that asserts the power of thought in shaping one's reality. While the term "Law of Attraction" is relatively recent, the concept has ancient roots that extend deep into history, weaving through various cultures and philosophies.
In the Vedic traditions of ancient India, the concept of "Karma" is closely aligned with the Law of Attraction. Karma represents the law of cause and effect, where actions and intentions shape one's destiny. This ancient Indian philosophy highlights the role of cause-and-effect in shaping our lives, echoing the fundamental tenets of the Law of Attraction.
Additionally, similar concepts can be found in ancient religious and philosophical writings, including Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, and Christian texts. The Law of Attraction, as we know it today, has its origins in the 19th century with the Christian New Thought movement in the United States. The movement's founder, Phineas P. Quimby, a mental and spiritual healer, taught that physical illness is a creation of the mind. By the late 19th century, New Thought philosophies evolved beyond healing to encompass the mind's ability to create material success.
The Law of Attraction gained prominence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with influential thinkers like Mary Baker Eddy and Emma Curtis Hopkins, who further contributed to the idea that our thoughts and beliefs shape our experiences. The term "Law of Attraction" first appeared in 1855 in "The Great Harmonia, Vol. IV" by American Spiritualist Andrew Jackson Davis. Prentice Mulford, a pivotal figure in the New Thought movement, extensively discussed the law in his essay "The Law of Success", published in 1886–1887.
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New Thought movement
The New Thought movement (also Higher Thought) is a new religious movement that emerged in the United States in the 19th century. It is a loosely allied group of religious denominations, authors, philosophers, and individuals who share a set of beliefs concerning metaphysics, positive thinking, the law of attraction, healing, life force, creative visualization, and personal power.
The movement was based on the teachings of Phineas Quimby (1802-1866), an American who practiced mesmerism (hypnotism) and developed his concepts of mental and spiritual healing and health. Quimby's view was that physical illness is a matter of the mind, and that the body is a house for the mind to dwell in. He is quoted as saying:
> The trouble is in the mind, for the body is only the house for the mind to dwell in, and we put a value on it according to its worth. Therefore, if your mind has been deceived by some invisible enemy into a belief, you have put it into the form of a disease, with or without your knowledge.
Quimby's influence was reflected in the writings of Warren F. Evans, a Methodist and then a Swedenborgian minister, who published several works exploring and systematizing Quimby's ideas, including "Mental Cure" (1869), "Mental Medicine" (1872), and "Soul and Body" (1876). Other proponents of Quimbian New Thought were Julius Dresser and his son Horatio, who spread the elder Dresser's teachings and later edited "The Quimby Manuscripts" (1921).
In the late 19th century, New Thought was propelled by a number of spiritual thinkers and philosophers and emerged through various religious denominations and churches, particularly the Unity Church and Church of Divine Science. Many of its early teachers and students were women, including Emma Curtis Hopkins, known as the "teacher of teachers", Myrtle Fillmore, Malinda Cramer, and Nona L. Brooks. Prentice Mulford, through his series of essays "Your Forces and How to Use Them" (published 1886-1892), was also pivotal in the development of New Thought thinking, including the Law of Attraction.
The movement holds that Infinite Intelligence, or God, is everywhere, spirit is the totality of real things, true human selfhood is divine, divine thought is a force for good, sickness originates in the mind, and "right thinking" has a healing effect. God is viewed as an unconditionally loving spirit, often described as a "power and presence" or an energy. While there is no dogma in New Thought, many adherents consider themselves to be Christian.
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Authors and speakers
The Law of Attraction is a principle that asserts the power of thought in shaping one's reality. Its roots extend deep into history, with influences from various cultures and philosophies. While the term "Law of Attraction" is relatively modern, its principles can be traced back to ancient civilizations.
One of the earliest influences on the Law of Attraction was Ancient Hermetic philosophy, especially the teachings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus. The concept of "Karma" in the Vedic traditions of ancient India also aligns closely with the Law of Attraction, as it represents the law of cause and effect, where actions and intentions influence destiny.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the New Thought movement emerged, significantly developing the Law of Attraction. Influential thinkers like Phineas Quimby, Mary Baker Eddy, and Emma Curtis Hopkins contributed to the idea that thoughts and beliefs directly impact our experiences. The principles of positive thinking, mental healing, and the power of the mind gained prominence during this period.
Several authors have since published works that further popularized the Law of Attraction. In 1910, Wallace Delois Wattles published "The Science of Getting Rich," emphasizing the role of creative thinking in the manifestation process. Napoleon Hill's book "Think and Grow Rich" (1937) also sold over 100 million copies by 2015, promoting the idea that controlling one's thoughts leads to success.
Other notable authors include Norman Vincent Peale, whose 1952 book "The Power of Positive Thinking" influenced the self-help genre. Neville Goddard's 1944 book "Feeling Is the Secret" promoted creative visualization and emotional feeling as a form of meditation to receive desires from the universe. More recently, Esther and Jerry Hicks' book "Money and the Law of Attraction" (2008) became a New York Times bestseller.
The Law of Attraction gained mainstream attention in the 21st century with the release of the documentary film and subsequent book, "The Secret." Authors like Louise Hay, Wayne Dyer, and Esther Hicks (channeling Abraham) have further contributed to its understanding and application, including concepts like visualization, affirmations, and aligning one's energy with desired outcomes.
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Criticism and skepticism
The Law of Attraction has been criticised for lacking scientific basis and for misrepresenting scientific concepts. While some supporters refer to scientific theories to justify their claims, there is no empirical scientific evidence supporting the law of attraction. It is widely considered to be pseudoscience or religion couched in scientific language. For example, it has been criticised for misrepresenting the electrical activity of brainwaves.
The law of attraction has also been criticised for its inclination to place blame on individuals who are not able to manifest their desires. For instance, if someone gets into an accident or contracts a disease, it is their fault for having negative thoughts. This can result in toxic positivity, victim-blaming, and low self-esteem. Positive thinking and visualisation can be beneficial, but only when used wisely and with reality testing.
The law of attraction is also criticised for preying on psychologically vulnerable people, bringing harm to many. It opens the door to pseudoscientific health and life advice, earning billions for fraudsters. It can also be exploited by multi-level marketing groups, cults, and other manipulators. For example, members of multi-level marketing schemes are taught to believe that doubts are harmful and that they should cut off contact with anyone who is skeptical.
The law of attraction has also been criticised for promoting a form of "magical thinking" that diminishes the value of hard work and perseverance. It can give people a false sense of control over external events, leading to higher risk-taking behaviours and susceptibility to bankruptcy.
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Frequently asked questions
The law of attraction is a principle that asserts the power of thought in shaping one's reality. Its roots can be traced back to ancient civilizations and philosophies. However, its recent popularity is often attributed to the 2006 documentary and subsequent book, "The Secret", by Rhonda Byrne.
Some notable works that contributed to the popularity of the law of attraction include:
- "The Science of Getting Rich" (1910) by Wallace Delois Wattles
- "The Law of Success in 16 Lessons" (1928) by Napoleon Hill
- "Think and Grow Rich" (1937) by Napoleon Hill
- "The Power of Your Subconscious Mind" by Dr. Joseph Murphy
- "The Power of Positive Thinking" (1952) by Norman Vincent Peale
Some influential people associated with the development and popularization of the law of attraction include:
- Phineas Quimby
- Mary Baker Eddy
- Emma Curtis Hopkins
- Neville Goddard
- Louise Hay
- Wayne Dyer
- Esther Hicks
