THE ARCANE FORMULAS OR MENTAL ALCHEMY: The Forgotten Law of Attraction Teachings – William Walker Atkinson (1909) cover art

THE ARCANE FORMULAS OR MENTAL ALCHEMY: The Forgotten Law of Attraction Teachings – William Walker Atkinson (1909)

THE ARCANE FORMULAS OR MENTAL ALCHEMY: The Forgotten Law of Attraction Teachings – William Walker Atkinson (1909)

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 (00:00:00) 1. Egohood (00:09:24) 2. Establishing The Ego (I) (00:18:23) 3. Establishing The Ego (II) (00:27:56) 4. Establishing The Ego (III) (00:39:50) 5. Will-Focalization (00:49:52) 6. The Excluded Middle (01:01:28) 7. Mastering The Opposites (01:11:16) 8. Neutralizing Rhythm (01:21:40) 9. Cyclicity And Balance (01:29:54) 10. Mentalism In A Nutshell THE ARCANE FORMULAS OR MENTAL ALCHEMY: The Forgotten Law of Attraction Teachings – William Walker Atkinson (1909)First published in 1909, The Arcane Formulas: Or Mental Alchemy is one of William Walker Atkinson’s most advanced and practical works on mental science, self-mastery, and conscious transformation. Written as a companion and continuation to The Arcane Teaching, this book moves beyond philosophical foundations and into applied inner work—what Atkinson calls Mental Alchemy: the art of transforming one’s inner states in order to consciously shape outer reality.In this episode of the Secret Law of Attraction Podcast, we explore The Arcane Formulas as a true manual for inner power. Atkinson does not approach the Law of Attraction as wishful thinking or emotional positivity. Instead, he presents it as a law-governed mental process rooted in will, balance, polarity, rhythm, and conscious identity. This is a book for serious students—those willing to discipline the mind, observe their inner mechanics, and deliberately transmute weakness into strength.Atkinson draws deeply from ancient esoteric traditions—Hermeticism, Eastern philosophy, and occult psychology—while translating them into practical exercises suited for modern life. The “Arcane Formulas” are not spells or rituals, but mental laws and methods that allow the individual to rise above unconscious emotional swings, reactive thinking, and external domination. The central theme is clear: master the inner world, and the outer world must follow.Throughout the ten lessons, Atkinson systematically trains the reader to recognize the true Self (the Ego), establish sovereignty over thought and emotion, and apply the principles of polarity, rhythm, and balance with precision. This episode walks through each lesson, revealing how Mental Alchemy functions as one of the most sophisticated early expressions of what we now call the Law of Attraction.Lesson 1: EgohoodAtkinson begins with the most fundamental requirement of mental alchemy: the recognition of the Ego. Egohood, in this sense, does not mean vanity or selfishness—it refers to the awareness of the inner “I,” the observing, willing center of consciousness. Atkinson teaches that without recognizing this inner core, all attempts at mental mastery are unstable.This lesson introduces the idea that the individual is not merely a collection of habits, emotions, or social roles. Instead, there exists a deeper identity—the I Am—that stands behind thoughts and experiences. This realization is the cornerstone of self-mastery, because one cannot control what one believes oneself to be.Lesson 2: Establishing the Ego (I)Having introduced Egohood, Atkinson now focuses on stabilizing it. This lesson emphasizes mental clarity and self-recognition amid distraction, habit, and social conditioning. He explains how most people live identified with moods, fears, or opinions absorbed from the environment.Practical exercises help the reader withdraw attention from external influence and re-center awareness in the inner “I.” This lesson teaches that mental alchemy begins not with changing circumstances, but with changing the seat of identity—from reactive personality to conscious selfhood.Lesson 3: Establishing the Ego (II)In this lesson, Atkinson introduces will as the active force that strengthens Egohood. Awareness alone is not enough; the Ego must learn to assert itself deliberately. The will is described as the directing power of the mind—the ability to choose thoughts, actions, and attitudes intentionally.Atkinson provides methods for developing decisiveness, focus, and mental firmness. He emphasizes that a weak will leads to scattered attraction, while a trained will becomes a magnetic center capable of shaping outcomes.Lesson 4: Establishing the Ego (III)The final lesson in the Ego trilogy addresses emotional mastery. Atkinson explains that uncontrolled emotions dissolve Egohood by pulling consciousness into reaction. Fear, anger, excitement, and despair all weaken the inner center when allowed to dominate awareness.This chapter offers practical strategies for emotional regulation—not repression, but conscious command. By learning to observe emotions without being possessed by them, the student strengthens the Ego and preserves inner sovereignty regardless of external events.Lesson 5: Will-FocalizationHere, Atkinson introduces one of the most important techniques in the book: Will-Focalization. He compares the will to a lens that concentrates mental energy. Scattered thought produces weak results; focused will ...
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