Hay House founder Louise Hay dies

Louise Hay, the founder of self-help publisher Hay House, has died aged 90.

Hay died "peacefully" at her home in San Diego on 30th August, a representative of Hay House Publishing said. 

Hay launched Hay House in 1987 after publishing her first book Heal Your Body in 1976 and her second, You Can Heal Your Life in 1984, which went on to becomes a New York Times bestseller and spent 16 weeks on the list.

Her first book was inspired by her time as a popular speaker and counsellor at the Church of Religious Science. It was a reference guide detailing the mental causes of physical ailments on the back of several years' work and sought to develop positive thought patterns for reversing illness and creating health. 

Hay House now has offices in California, New York, London, Sydney, Johannesburg, and New Delhi and has published works by authors including Dr Wayne Dyer, Doreen Virtue, Dr. Christiane Northrup, and Esther and Jerry Hicks.

Reid Tracy, president and c.e.o. of Hay House, co-owned the publisher with Hay and will continue to run it following her death.

He said: “Meeting Louise changed the direction of my life. Her passion for serving others translated into everything she did. Simply by working alongside her, an analytical accountant like me transformed into someone who became aware of the power of affirmations and self-love. Being able to learn from her has been one of my life’s greatest blessings. The beauty of Louise was that you didn’t have to work alongside her to learn from her, you felt like you were there with her with every word you read or heard.”

Hay’s estate, as well as all future royalties, will be donated to The Hay Foundation, a nonprofit organisation established by Hay that financially supports diverse organisations supplying food, shelter, counseling, hospice care, and funds to those in need.

Hay's memorial service will be a "private and intimate" event in San Diego. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Hay Foundation have been welcomed.