William Walker Atkinson (1862-1932) was an American author, publisher, and spiritual teacher. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland and began his career as a lawyer before turning to the field of new thought and spirituality. Atkinson was a prolific writer, and authored dozens of books on a variety of topics including yoga, personal development, and metaphysics. He is perhaps best known for his work on the law of attraction, which he wrote about in books such as "Thought Vibration" and "The Secret of Success." Atkinson was also a publisher, and founded several magazines and publishing companies focused on new thought and spirituality. He was a proponent of the idea that individuals have the power to shape their own lives through positive thinking and visualization. In addition to his work in the field of new thought, Atkinson was a practicing occultist and wrote extensively on the topics of astrology, divination, and psychic phenomena. He was a member of several secret societies and was a prominent figure in the spiritualist movement of the early 20th century. Despite his many contributions to the field of spirituality and new thought, Atkinson's work fell into obscurity in the years following his death. However, his ideas and teachings continue to influence spiritual seekers and self-help enthusiasts today.