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William Walker Atkinson was a prolific writer, attorney, merchant, and publisher, born on December 5, 1862, in Baltimore, Maryland. He pursued a legal career and was admitted to the bar of Pennsylvania. Although successful in his profession, Atkinson's life took a dramatic turn following a mental and physical breakdown, after which he became interested in mental and spiritual healing. This interest led Atkinson to the New Thought movement, where he became a prominent advocate of the power of the mind in healing and personal transformation. His explorations in the realms of the mind led to him writing and publishing under several pseudonyms, the most famous being 'Yogi Ramacharaka'. Under this pseudonym, he penned 'Advanced Course in Yogi Philosophy and Oriental Occultism'-a seminal work on Eastern philosophy and the practices of Yoga, which aimed to illuminate the Western world regarding the psychological and spiritual techniques of the East. His literary style often fused empirical observations with esoteric principles, aimed at making complex metaphysical concepts accessible to the Western audience. Atkinson's contributions extend beyond this title to over 100 books on various subjects ranging from the power of thought, psychic phenomena, personal development, and the mastery of one's own mind. Atkinson passed away on November 22, 1932, and remains a respected figure in the study of New Thought and the broader field of esoteric wisdom. |