Louise Hay

Louise Hay (born on October, 8th 1926) is a well-known writer of motivating books and founder of the publishing company Hay House. She wrote some books about new type of thinking, united by topics 'Help yourself', and she is most known for the book 'Cure your life' (1984).

Louise was born in Los Angeles in a problem family (her stepfather was cruel).
Louise Hay was born in an extremely poor family. She does not remember her father, and mother worked as a laundress. Her stepfather was constantly drunk, sometimes earned little money. Besides, he disliked his stepdaughter and preferred younger own child. She was only 5 years old when she was assaulted by her neighbor. In her childhood Louise was thoroughly 'taught' how not to respect herself. She always wore hand-downs. Parents often beat her. The neighbour's environment consisted of the same unfortunate, semipoor families among which there were many demoralized persons.

In 15 years she threw high school without receiving diploma due to her pregnance, and at 16 she refused from the newborn girl. Some respectable family adopted the baby and Louise never saw her daughter again. Later she moved to Chicago where worked basically as a servant, and in 1950 moved to New York where she changed her name and began model career. She successfully worked with Bill Blass, Oleg Cassini and Pauline Trigère. In 1954 Louise married English businessman Andrew Hay, but in 14 years Andrew left her for another woman.

The future writer found First Church of Religious Science on 48 Street where she was told about power of thought. Here she studied metaphysical works of such authors as Florens Shinn (Florence Scovel Shinn) which confirmed that positive thinking can change person's material life, and the founder of this Church Ernest Holmes (Ernest Holmes) who asserted that thoughts can cure a body.

Louise analysed her own thoughts and was captured by horror: she always felt superfluous, unnecessary to anybody, whom nobody appreciated and respected. She thought she did not deserve anything good since childhood. When she married, it was the most superb event. Marriage made her existence bright and full, but deep in soul she could not believe that it was real and she was worthy of her husband.

In the early seventies Hay became an expert. She helped people to treat illnesses with help of affirmations. She became popular as the leader of such seminars. Further she studied Transcendental Meditation by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi at his university in Fairfield, Iowa.

In 1977-1978 Hay found out that she had cancer, and discovered the roots in disgust from childhood, offenses, cruelty and assault. She refused from medical care and began a new way of life, forgiving everybody, treated herself, relaxed and cleansed her organism. So she cured herself from cancer.

In 1976 Hay wrote the small brochure 'Cure your body'. It contained list of various diseases and their possible metaphysical reasons. This brochure was expanded and added to the book 'Cure your life', published in 1984. In February, 2008, this book still was in the list of the most sold books according to New York Times.

At the same time Louise organized groups of support for HIV and AIDS patients which she named "Hay Rides". The groups consisted of several persons in Hay's room, but have gradually grew to hundreds of persons gathering in the big hall in the Western Hollywood. Her work with AIDS patients earned public recognition, and in March, 1988 Louise was invited to participate in two teleshows - "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and "Donahue".

Louise has founded Hay House Publishing which became the main publishing house of books and audio-books of Dipak Chopra and Dorin Virche, as well as many books of Wayne W. Dyer. But except the publishing house, Hay created charity organisation "Hay Foundation" in 1985.

In 2008 they aired a film about Louise Hay's life which was named after the book "Cure Your Life". On the film's official site Louise makes comments: 'This film - history of my life, my doctrine, and how I have received main principles of this doctrine in my life'. The film got Ammy award.