The modern concept known as the Law of Attraction is a rebranding that draws heavily from older philosophical and spiritual traditions, including Ancient Greek philosophy, Hinduism and Buddhism, Hermetic philosophy, and the 19th-century New Thought movement, and it became mainstream in the 2000s partly through the 2006 book The Secret.

Verified by Lenz · Jul 10, 2026

The Short Version

The claim gets the big picture right: today’s Law of Attraction repackages older spiritual and philosophical ideas, and The Secret helped push it into mainstream culture in the 2000s. The strongest evidence ties it directly to New Thought and Western esoteric/Hermetic traditions. Links to Ancient Greek philosophy and Buddhism are plausible and commonly cited, but they are less firmly documented as direct lineages.

Caveats

The best-documented historical precursor is 19th-century New Thought; the other traditions listed do not all have equally strong evidence of direct influence.
Some supporting arguments rely on similarity of ideas rather than documented historical transmission from older traditions into the modern Law of Attraction.
The Secret was a major popularizer, but not the only factor; television exposure, celebrity endorsement, and broader self-help trends also amplified its reach.

The Receipts

The ancient origins of 'manifesting'—and why it's making a comeback
National GeographicSep 1, 2009
New Thought
Wikipedia
The Secret's secret: a law of attraction to massive sales
ReutersDec 28, 2006
A New Age Creed, a Bestseller and a Big-Money Movie
The New York TimesJun 25, 2007
Law of attraction (New Thought)
Wikipedia
New Thought (religious movement) | Research Starters - EBSCO
EBSCO
The Secret (Byrne book)
Wikipedia
Law of Attraction - Esperanto Magazine
Esperanto Magazine
The Secret by Rhonda Byrne | Summary
Audible.com
The Secret promises we can ‘manifest’ what we want. But if that’s true, why aren’t we all rich and famous?
The ConversationJul 10, 2023

+ 17 more sources — see the full list on Lenz

Filed Under

Ancient Greek PhilosophyBuddhism Hermeticism Hinduism Law Of Attraction New Thought

The Short Version

Caveats

The Receipts

Filed Under

More Fact Checks

The Law of Attraction became widely popular in the 2000s partly due to the 2006 book "The Secret."

The 19th-century New Thought movement, including Phineas Parkhurst Quimby and Mary Baker Eddy, influenced modern Law of Attraction teachings that the mind can affect health, wealth, and happiness.

Hinduism and Buddhism emphasize karma, intention, and mindfulness in ways that resemble the Law of Attraction idea that thoughts and actions shape future circumstances.

Hermetic texts include the principle "As above, so below" and related formulations that connect inner mental states with outer reality in a way that parallels Law of Attraction claims.