I remember glancing at the hardback in a bookstore in 2006 and skimming the description on the back, and thinking that almost $25 bucks was over priced for an only hinted at "secret." Caveat emptor.
Book Description: "Fragments of a Great Secret have been found in the oral traditions, in literature, in religions and philosophies throughout the centuries. For the first time, all the pieces of The Secret come together in an incredible revelation that will be life-transforming for all who experience it."In this book, you'll learn how to use The Secret in every aspect of your life--money, health, relationships, happiness, and in every interaction you have in the world. You'll begin to understand the hidden, untapped power that's within you, and this revelation can bring joy to every aspect of your life.
"The Secret contains wisdom from modern-day teachers--men and women who have used it to achieve health, wealth, and happiness. By applying the knowledge of The Secret, they bring to light compelling stories of eradicating disease, acquiring massive wealth, overcoming obstacles, and achieving what many would regard as impossible."
I understand there was even a 2006 direct-to-DVD-film spun off from the book called--surprise--The Secret, which consisted of a series of "talking head" interviews designed to demonstrate the value of this "secret." (Admittedly, I haven't seen it. The Secret Film)
In late 2007, someone I knew was tossing out this book, which she had been given in a random holiday gift exchange. Thus, I got a chance to weed through the writing and at last discover what this amazing little known "secret" was--this "Great Secret" whispered among the ancients in "oral traditions, in literature, in religions and philosophies."
Hold on to your pointy hats, friends....drum roll please...the secret is: THE LAW OF ATTRACTION.
Several pages into Byrne's book I thought, "Oh crap, you have got to be kidding..."
The Secret was not about any "lost secret." It was about something that could be found in numerous inexpensive books in the New Age section, the Occult section, or the Self -Help section in almost any book store or public library.
Indeed, I had read about the Law of Attraction when I was age 10 during the magical-mystical tour through the Aquarian 1960's in some little paperback book--which cost a whole lot less than The Secret did.
The Secret has tapered off from its high point, the talk of the nation, and a publishing industry sensation, but it’s still 170# on Amazon's popular books. Amazon now lists used hardback copies beginning at $0.75. Apparently one can also now get free downloads of The Secret.
Below is a link to a June 2013 article from Salon.com. Deputy editor of the science magazine Skeptical Inquirer, Benjamin Radford is quoted as saying, "The Secret was old wine in new bottles." Radford is correct. The Law of Attraction is an old, old magical theroy--but, in spite of what Byrne named her book, it is not a a secret.
Not only did the ancients know and use the Law of Attraction , but we modern practitioners have been using it for years.
Law of Attraction: "Like Attracts Like"
In brief, the Law of Attraction is that "Like Attracts Like;" to create a particular reality you must put out vibes/energy/emanations of a similar sort. Your thoughts, deeds, and words have an impact as to what happens to you. Thus, by focusing one's self on positive thoughts, feelings, deeds, symbols and words a person will be able to attract positive events and experiences to her/himself. Likewise by focusing one's self on negative thoughts, feelings, deeds, symbols, and words a person will attract the negative events and experiences. Knowledge of this law has been said to be the key to working magick in the cosmos... Simple.
Yet, at age 10, I thought that idea was "pretty darn cool."
Critics and skeptics will say:
A The Law of Attraction is too simplistic.
B. The Law of Attraction isn't a law as in the laws of physics.
C. If it is true--as those of us who claim to successfully apply Law of Attraction say it is--how and why did six million Jews attract the Holocaust to themselves?
They do have a point, so here are my brief responces.
A. The Law of Attraction is simplistic. For example, simply feeling one is a valuable employee will not automatically attract a raise in pay. Most occultists, magicians, witches, or anyone else with half a brain will certainly agree that one must do a little more than just inwardly appreciating one's own self.
In the case of actually practicing magic--to successfully cause change in conformity with one's will upon one's desired results--Isaac Bonewits collected several Laws of Magic from numerous magical and occult sources and wrote them up in his Authentic Thaumaturgy (1979, 1998, 2001 c.e.). He refered to it as the "Law of Positive Attraction" and quoted the famous phrase "Like attracts like."
B. Law of Attraction isn't a law as in "the laws of physics." Newton's "Law of Gravity" is a law of physics. It's more of a "principle" than a "law." Unfortunately, the name, "Law of Attraction," was given to it a long time ago and we are sort of stuck with it.
C. Six million Jews didn't attract the Holocaust to themselves. Twenty million individuals didn't each attract her/his own illness and eventual death from the pandemic of the bubonic plague in 14th century Europe.
Babes in arms died in both of those historical events. I doubt that anyone would dare claim that babes could have attracted a genocide or plague upon themselves through their negative thoughts, feelings, deeds, symbols, and words. (In my opinion, anyone who does claim that is an idiot.)
Incidentally, You may be wondering why I thought the Law of Attraction was such a "pretty darn cool" principle. At age 10, I was still opperating on the advice my parents had given me for getting through life. "Sit down; be quiet. They'll come to you when it's your turn. Don't call attention to youself, and don't be a bother to anyone."
The Law of Attraction does not imply that everything is possible; nothing is impossible. Rather, one can attract something which is possble towards one's self. I think it impliesmuch is possible; not everything is impossible..
I simply liked the idea that there was principle which suggested how to attempt to change one's present lot, instead of always waiting for whatever an adult handed me. I was delighted that such a principle had printed up in a mass produced book. The whole concept seemed rather obvious. I was glad someone had recently admitted it in writing.
Returning to what I thought of Byrne's The Secret I didn't much care for it. I think there are a whole lot of better books in print that go over the same material more effectively--but I had read so much rich stuff long before 2006 which I thought was more informative. By all means if you read and enjoyed The Secret, I am glad you did so, but I urge you to ask other Wiccans and magic practioners for their suggestions on books.
Disclaimer: The essay above represents my own opinions and therefore is not neccessarily representative of the opinons of other Wiccans.
Copyright 2013 Myth Woodling
Sources:
Daniel D'Addario, From "Bling Ring" to Oprah, "The Secret" lives on In this era of class immobility, the self-help book looks less relevant than ever -- but don't count it out yet, Monday, Jun 17, 2013
Isaac Bonewits, The Laws of Magic as excerpt from his
Authentic Thaumaturgy, (1979, 1998, 2001 c.e.)
End Notes:
Caveat emptor: Caveat emptor is Latin for "Let the buyer beware." It's a principle in commerce: the buyer takes the risk, if there is no warranty. After I began reading mythology, I observed that Hermes/Mercury (Greek/Roman) was the God of commerce. He was also the God of thieves.
"read about the Law of Attraction when I was age 10": I don't mean I started practicing magic at age 10. I mean I had read about about the Law of Attraction at age 10--just as I read about a lot of other bizarre things and weird ideas at age 10. I loved little Ripley's Believe it or Not paperbacks.
"magical-mystical tour though the Aquarian 1960's": For those too young to understand this allusion it is a pop-culture reference. The Beatles' song Magical Mystery Tour and the opening song Aquarius of the musical Hair were both released during the year of 1967.
"Law of Attraction isn't a law as in 'the Laws of physics.'" Yes, Issac Bonewits wrote--on the very page to which I have a link--that the "Laws of Magic" are "like" laws of physics, or laws of musical harmonyI've never agreed with anyone on every word s/he wrote or spoke. Bonewits did write, "The Laws of Magic are not legislative laws but, like those of physics or of musical harmony, are practical observations that have been accumulating over the course of thousands of years, with remarkable similarity in almost every known human culture." I think the use of the word "laws" is ultimately a misnomer, but they were called laws long before Bonewits collected these magical principles together.
"Sit down; be quiet. They'll come to you when it's your turn. Don't call attention to youself, and don't be a bother to anyone." To be perfectly fair to my parents, this might rather reasonable advice to give to most kids, age 10 and under.