William Walker Atkinson wrote a sentence that’s worth slowing down and unpacking:
“The mental phase of personal magnetism depends upon two coordinated manifestations of mental power, as follows: (1) the holding of certain mental states until the mental atmosphere becomes charged with the vibrations of the particular mental states; and (2) the conscious projection of the mental current from the brain centers, by the action of the will of the individual.”
So what is Aktinson really saying?
He’s explaining how personal magnetism works on a mental level. According to him, there are two parts to it and they need to work together.
1) Holding a strong mental state long enough to charge your atmosphere
This means staying in a focused state of mind (like confidence, desire, calm, or enthusiasm) until that state starts to radiate from you.
Think of it like striking a tuning fork, if you keep it vibrating, it starts affecting things around it. Your mind works the same way: if you hold a certain feeling steadily, the space around you picks it up, people can feel it, even if they can’t explain why.
You’re not just thinking something for a second. You’re being that state, and letting it soak into your energy. That’s what gives your presence real weight.
2) Projecting that state on purpose using your Will
Once your internal state is steady, the next move is to project it outward. This is where your Will comes in.
Atkinson believed we can deliberately send our mental energy into the world—like aiming a spotlight. You focus your attention, channel your Will, and push that energy toward a person, a space, or an outcome.
He meant this literally: your mind can radiate. Your thoughts don’t just stay inside your head, they shape the environment around you.
How do these two work together?
First, you build the energy.
Then, you send it out with direction.
That’s what creates magnetism — not just being in a good mood, but consciously radiating a state that others can feel. It’s why some people seem to draw attention without saying a word.
When you do that, and people won’t just see you… they’ll feel you.
You’re not just in the room… you’re influencing it.
In the next email we’ll elaborate on specific issues and problems that arise with both of these.
