William Walker Atkinson, Theron Q. Dumont

William Walker Atkinson (December 5, 1862 – November 22, 1932) was an attorney, merchant, publisher, and author, as well as an occultist and an American pioneer of the New Thought movement. He is the author of the pseudonymous works attributed to Theron Q. Dumont and Yogi Ramacharaka. He wrote an estimated 100 books, all in the last 30 years of his life.

Atkinson was born in Baltimore, Maryland on December 5, 1862, to Emma and William Atkinson. He began his working life as a grocer at 15 years old. He married Margret Foster Black of Beverly, New Jersey, in October 1889, and they had two children. Their first child died young. The second later married and had two daughters. Atkinson pursued a business career from 1882 onwards and in 1894 he was admitted as an attorney to the Bar of Pennsylvania.

In 1900, Atkinson founded the Yogi Publishing Society, which published his books and those of other New Thought authors. He also founded the magazine New Thought, which was published from 1901 to 1905.

Atkinson's books were very popular in the early 20th century. They were translated into many languages and sold millions of copies. His books were often used as self-help guides, and they helped to popularize the New Thought movement.

Atkinson died in Los Angeles, California on November 22, 1932. He was 69 years old.

Atkinson's work continues to be influential today. His books are still read by people interested in self-help, New Thought, and occultism. His work has also been cited by other authors, including Napoleon Hill and James Allen.

Here are some of the key principles that Atkinson lived his life by:

• The power of the mind: Atkinson believed that the mind is the most powerful force in the universe. He said that "thoughts are things" and that they can be used to create reality.
• The law of attraction: Atkinson believed in the law of attraction, which is the belief that like attracts like. He said that by focusing on positive thoughts, we can attract positive experiences into our lives.
• The power of visualization: Atkinson believed in the power of visualization, which is the act of creating a mental picture of what you want to achieve. He said that by visualizing our goals, we can make them more likely to happen.

Atkinson's work has had a lasting impact on the world. His books have helped to popularize the New Thought movement and his principles continue to be used by people all over the world.