Florence Scovel Shinn was a prominent American artist, author, and spiritual teacher who became one of the leading figures of the New Thought movement in the early 20th century. She wrote several books on the power of positive thinking, affirmations, and the law of attraction, such as The Game of Life and How to Play It and Your Word is Your Wand. Her teachings have influenced millions of people around the world and inspired many other authors, such as Louise Hay, Wayne Dyer, and Rhonda Byrne. But how did this remarkable woman die? And what was the cause of her death?
A Brief Biography of Florence Scovel Shinn
Florence Scovel was born on September 24, 1871, in Camden, New Jersey. She came from a distinguished family, as her great-great-grandfather, Francis Hopkinson, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and an American composer. She showed artistic talent from an early age and studied art at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia. There, she met her future husband, Everett Shinn, a fellow artist. They married in 1898 and moved to New York City, where they became part of the Ashcan School of realistic painters. Everett also built a theater next door to their studio apartment and wrote three plays in which Florence played a leading role. They spent their summers in Plainfield, New Hampshire, in a colonial-style house designed by Everett.
However, their marriage was not a happy one, and they divorced in 1912. Florence continued to work as an illustrator for magazines and books, such as Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch and Pollyanna. She also developed an interest in spirituality and metaphysics, and became a student of Emma Curtis Hopkins, a renowned New Thought teacher. Florence began to write her own books on the subject, starting with The Game of Life and How to Play It, which she self-published in 1925. She also became a popular lecturer and counselor, giving advice and guidance to many people who sought her help. She wrote three more books: Your Word is Your Wand (1928), The Secret Door to Success (1940), and The Power of the Spoken Word (published posthumously in 1945). Her last book, The Magic Path of Intuition, was discovered by Louise Hay in 2013 and published by Hay House.
The Circumstances of Her Death
Florence Scovel Shinn died on October 17, 1940, at the age of 69. She passed away in her home at 1136 Fifth Avenue, New York City, where she had lived since 1932. The cause of her death remains unclear, as there are no widely available records detailing the circumstances surrounding her passing. According to one source, she had an illness and died peacefully in her sleep. According to another source, she had a heart attack and died suddenly. According to a third source, she had a stroke and died after a few days of coma. None of these sources provide any evidence or references to support their claims, so they should be taken with a grain of salt.
What is certain is that Florence Scovel Shinn left behind a legacy of wisdom, inspiration, and empowerment for generations to come. Her books have been translated into many languages and have sold millions of copies worldwide. Her teachings have helped countless people to overcome their fears, doubts, and limitations, and to create a life of joy, abundance, and harmony. Her words have resonated with many seekers of truth and happiness, and have shown them the way to their own inner power and divine guidance. She was a pioneer of the New Thought movement and a master of the art of living. She was, in her own words, “a woman of destiny”.
