Raymond Holliwell

Raymond Holliwell – Life, Teachings, and Memorable Quotes

Raymond Holliwell (1900–1986) was an American New Thought author, minister, and lecturer, best known for Working With the Law. Explore his life, core spiritual principles, legacy, and inspiring quotations.

Introduction

Raymond N. Holliwell stands as a significant figure in the 20th-century New Thought and metaphysical/spiritual movement. While details of his personal life are relatively sparse in mainstream records, his influence comes through his writings, lectures, and the enduring appeal of Working With the Law, which presents a system of spiritual laws intended to guide readers toward harmony, abundance, and personal growth.

His worldview emphasizes the power of thought, alignment with universal principles, forgiveness, and moral discipline. For many spiritual seekers and students of New Thought, Holliwell serves as a practical voice—translating metaphysical ideas into everyday application. In this article, we examine his biography, teachings, legacy, personality, famous quotes, and lessons we can draw today.

Early Life & Background

Raymond Neff Holliwell was born January 6, 1900, in Waverly, Iowa, USA.
Details about his childhood, family upbringing, and formative education are not widely documented in major scholarly sources. The sources that cover his life mostly emphasize his role as a spiritual teacher and author rather than as a public figure with extensive biographical records.

One obituary source indicates that he was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania, under the name Leroy Raymond Halliwell, later going by Raymond N. Holliwell.
He later became deeply involved in metaphysical and spiritual teaching circles.

Education & Spiritual Formation

Although definitive academic records are scarce in mainstream reference sources, some narratives surrounding Holliwell’s life assert the following (with varying degrees of verification):

• That he received a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy in 1922 from the University of Iowa.

• That he earned a Master’s in Psychology in 1925 from the same institution.

• That he studied or drew inspiration from a variety of religious and philosophical traditions—Christian metaphysics, Eastern spiritual traditions, Emersonian thought, and New Thought philosophy more broadly.

Regardless of the precise academic credentials, what is clearer is that Holliwell aligned himself early on with the New Thought movement—a spiritual current that held that thought, mind, and spiritual principles are fundamental in shaping one’s life, and that divine laws govern success, healing, prosperity, and character.

Career, Teaching & Major Works

Ministry, School, and Leadership

• In 1941, Raymond Holliwell and his wife Loura May founded the School of Christian Philosophy and its seminary in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

• He served as its dean and was active in leading classes, lectures, and correspondence ministries.

• He also held the position of president of the International New Thought Alliance at one point.

• Later in life, he moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where he continued ministerial work. Before fully retiring in 1977, he served a brief term as senior minister of the Church of Christian Philosophy in Phoenix.

• Even after retirement, he remained active as Dean of the School of Christian Philosophy in Phoenix.

These roles show that his work was not just literary or philosophical, but institutional—he created a structure (school, church, seminar) to propagate his teachings.

Working With the Law and Core Teachings

Raymond Holliwell is best known for Working With the Law: 11 Truth Principles for Successful Living.
That text distills his spiritual system into a series of “laws” or principles—mental, moral, and metaphysical guidelines that he believed could be applied deliberately to shape one’s life.

Some of the key laws he describes are:

• Law of Thinking

• Law of Supply

• Law of Attraction

• Law of Receiving

• Law of Increase

• Law of Compensation

• Law of Non-Resistance

• Law of Forgiveness

• Law of Sacrifice

• Law of Obedience

• Law of Success

Holliwell’s approach aims to show that these are not mere ideas, but operative, universal principles—“laws” in the metaphysical sense that, when aligned with, yield greater harmony in life.

He emphasized that thought is creative, that gratitude and moral integrity open doors for receiving, and that forgiveness, resistance, and disobedience can block spiritual and material progress.

Because Working With the Law became his signature work, many later publications, lectures, and reprints have centered around it.

Later Years and Death

Raymond Holliwell passed away August 2, 1986 in Phoenix, Arizona, at age 86.
His remains are interred at Green Acres Memorial Park, Scottsdale, Arizona.
By the time of his passing, he had authored dozens of books, articles, conducted radio work, and led a network of spiritual students.

Legacy & Influence

Raymond Holliwell’s legacy lies primarily in these domains:

• Enduring readership: Working With the Law remains in print through multiple editions and continues to be read by students of metaphysical, spiritual, and self-help traditions.

• Influence in New Thought and spiritual movements: His style—clear, accessible, structured—has made his ideas useful to teachers, coaches, and modern spiritual writers who integrate metaphysics with practical life advice.

• Institutional continuation: The School of Christian Philosophy and its networks continue (in various forms) to be a reference point for those who follow or wish to explore Holliwell’s framework.

• Quotational and teaching heritage: Many of his aphorisms, succinct principles, and counsel on thought, forgiveness, and non-resistance circulate widely in motivational, New Age, and spiritual content spheres.

Although he is not as widely known in mainstream academic or religious scholarship, within the circles of New Thought, metaphysical spirituality, and self-growth his name continues to hold weight.

Personality & Teaching Style

From the available accounts, Holliwell came across as a practical, disciplined, and clear communicator. He aimed not to mystify but to simplify, to make metaphysical ideas usable and testable in everyday life.

His teaching style relied on structured laws, stepwise principles, and moral precepts—he often framed spiritual growth as a kind of “work” or discipline.

He also valued balance: spiritual principles should not excuse neglect of integrity, service, or responsibility. His tone is often pastoral, gentle, and motivational rather than doctrinal or combative.

The fact that his systems still attract students suggests that his voice had a certain humility and earnestness that resonates beyond charisma.

Famous Quotes by Raymond Holliwell

Here are some of his more cited statements, reflecting his metaphysical perspective:

• “Your thoughts create your reality, so choose wisely.”

• “When you constantly expect that which you persistently desire, your ability to attract becomes irresistible. Desire connects you with the thing desired and expectation draws it into your life. This is the Law.”

• “The wise man changes his mind; the fool never.”

• “There can be no progress without change, no growth without renewal.”

• “Success is not about luck.”

These quotations underscore recurring themes in his work: thought as causative, expectation as magnet, change as necessary, and the application of universal law rather than random luck.

Lessons from Raymond Holliwell

1. Thought is foundational
   Holliwell insists that before any external change, the internal landscape of thought must align. We cannot reliably change our life without first transforming our thinking.

2. Laws are invitations, not traps
   His “laws” are not deterministic constraints but principles to work with. He encourages experimentation, observation, and personal verification.

3. Forgiveness and non-resistance are critical
   Negative emotions, grudges, inner resistance—Holliwell sees these as energetic blockages. He teaches that letting go (through forgiveness and non-resistance) is essential for receiving.

4. Alignment demands moral integrity
   He stresses that prosperity and spiritual growth require honest character, discipline, and service. It is not about wishful thinking alone.

5. Change is inevitable and necessary
   Growth demands adaptation. Staying fixed is antithetical to spiritual and personal evolution in his view.

6. Persist gently, expect consciously
   He teaches that expectation aligned with desire, when persistent yet unforced, generates attraction. But “forcing” or impatience can backfire.

7. Teachability over dogmatism
   Holliwell’s framework invites inquiry, application, and personal witnessing rather than blind acceptance. He wants readers to test the laws in their own life.

Conclusion

Raymond Holliwell may not enjoy widespread name recognition in broader religious or academic circles, but within New Thought, spiritual growth, and metaphysical self-help traditions, his work retains a lasting presence. Working With the Law continues to serve as a doorway for many into the exploration of how thought, moral alignment, and spiritual principle can cohere in a lived path toward abundance and purpose.

Holliwell’s contribution is not in novel theology or bold institutional power, but in crafting a clear, accessible, ethically grounded map of metaphysical living. For seekers who wish to experiment with spiritual “laws,” or to bridge inner transformation with outer results, his writing offers a steady, disciplined invitation.