Ask And It Is Given
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Ask And It Is Given
The Hicks' "Ask and It Is Given" presents a coherent, albeit singular, perspective on reality creation. Its strength lies in the sheer volume of practical exercises, the "22 Different Processes," which offer tangible steps for readers to engage with the core concept of vibrational alignment. The channeling of Abraham, while potentially a point of contention for skeptics, provides a consistent voice throughout the text, making the complex ideas accessible. However, the book's limitation is its unwavering focus on individual manifestation, sometimes bordering on a simplistic cause-and-effect model that may not fully account for systemic societal issues or complex human suffering. A passage detailing the "Emotional Guidance System" effectively illustrates the book's utility, showing how specific feelings serve as indicators of one's energetic alignment. Ultimately, the work functions as a comprehensive manual for those committed to the principles of the Law of Attraction, offering tools rather than just theory.
📝 Description
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Esther and Jerry Hicks' 2009 book outlines a system for shaping reality through thought and emotion.
Ask and It Is Given presents a framework for understanding how thoughts and feelings create one's reality, based on channeled teachings from a non-physical entity named Abraham. The authors detail the principles of the Law of Attraction, explaining that individuals can consciously direct their energetic output to manifest desired outcomes in their lives. The book includes practical techniques and exercises intended to help readers align their emotional state with their aspirations. It emphasizes the power of positive emotions and clear intentions in actively shaping personal experiences, relationships, and circumstances. The core message is that what one asks for, and the feeling associated with that asking, is what is given.
This work targets individuals interested in personal growth, manifestation, and New Thought philosophies. It is for those ready to assume responsibility for their life's direction and who are open to metaphysical explanations. Readers familiar with concepts like visualization or affirmations will find a structured approach here. It also serves those facing difficulties and seeking alternative methods for problem-solving and achieving goals.
Published in 2009, "Ask and It Is Given" emerged during a period of renewed public interest in the Law of Attraction. The Hicks' method of channeling Abraham places them within a tradition of individuals claiming to receive spiritual guidance from non-physical entities, a practice notably seen with Jane Roberts and her entity Seth in the 1970s. This era saw a rise in self-help literature that combined spiritual concepts with practical advice for personal success, often drawing from principles found in New Thought and earlier metaphysical movements.
💡 Why Read This Book?
• Learn the "22 Different Processes" that Esther and Jerry Hicks present as practical tools for aligning your vibrational output with your desires, a methodology distinct from generic visualization techniques. • Understand the "Emotional Guidance System" as described by Abraham, providing a concrete framework to interpret your feelings as indicators of your creative momentum towards or away from your intentions. • Grasp the concept of the "Vortex" as presented by Abraham, a specific metaphysical space where your desires already exist, offering a unique perspective on the nature of manifestation distinct from abstract spiritual notions.
⭐ Reader Reviews
Honest opinions from readers who have explored this book.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core principle behind "Ask and It Is Given"?
The core principle is the Law of Attraction, which states that your thoughts and feelings attract similar energies into your life. The book, channeled by Esther and Jerry Hicks from Abraham, teaches how to consciously direct these thoughts and emotions to manifest desired outcomes.
Who is Abraham, and how is this book presented?
Abraham is described as a group of non-physical entities with whom Esther Hicks has been channeling since 1987. "Ask and It Is Given" is presented as the teachings of Abraham, translated and organized by Jerry and Esther Hicks, offering a comprehensive system for personal creation.
What are the "22 Different Processes" mentioned in the book?
The "22 Different Processes" are specific exercises and techniques outlined in the book designed to help individuals shift their vibrational state, clarify their desires, and align with the energy of abundance and fulfillment. Examples include the "Rampage of Appreciation" and the "Pure Creative Thought" process.
How does the book explain the role of emotions?
Emotions are presented as an "Emotional Guidance System." The book explains that positive emotions like joy indicate alignment with your desires, while negative emotions signal a vibrational mismatch, guiding you to adjust your thoughts and focus.
Is "Ask and It Is Given" only about attracting material wealth?
No, while material wealth is discussed, the book's principles apply to all aspects of life, including relationships, health, career, and overall well-being. The focus is on creating a life of joy and fulfillment through conscious creation.
When was "Ask and It Is Given" first published?
"Ask and It Is Given" was first published in 2009. It builds upon the teachings channeled by Esther and Jerry Hicks from Abraham over several years prior to its release.
🔮 Key Themes & Symbolism
The Law of Attraction
This central theme posits that your dominant thoughts and feelings act as a vibrational signal, attracting corresponding experiences into your life. The book elaborates on how this universal principle operates, explaining that by consciously directing your focus and emotional state, you can influence the reality that unfolds around you. It's presented not as a passive force but an active, responsive mechanism inherent in the universe, a concept explored in various forms throughout spiritual traditions but articulated here through Abraham's specific terminology and practical applications.
Conscious Creation and Deliberate Creation
The work emphasizes that individuals are inherently creators of their reality, whether consciously or unconsciously. "Deliberate Creation" is presented as the process of intentionally focusing your desires and aligning your energy to manifest them. This involves understanding your desires, asking for them, and then "allowing" them to come into being by maintaining a positive vibrational state, as guided by the "Emotional Guidance System."
The Emotional Guidance System
Emotions are framed as a sophisticated internal compass. Abraham explains that feelings like joy, love, and inspiration indicate you are in vibrational alignment with your desires, signifying you are "allowing" creation. Conversely, feelings of fear, anger, or sadness signal a misalignment, prompting a shift in thought. This system provides readers with a practical, moment-to-moment indicator of their creative process and energetic state.
The Vortex and Allowing
The "Vortex" is described as a non-physical space where all your desires reside, perfectly formed and awaiting manifestation. "Allowing" is the state of being in vibrational harmony with this Vortex, releasing resistance and doubt that prevent your desires from manifesting. The book offers various techniques, including the "22 Different Processes," to help individuals reach this state of allowing and receive what they have asked for.
💬 Memorable Quotes
Direct passages from the work, attributed to the author.
“You are the creator of your own reality.”
— This core tenet underscores personal responsibility and empowerment. It implies that external circumstances are not random but are direct reflections of one's inner state, particularly their thoughts and emotions, as articulated by Abraham.
“Emotions are your guidance system.”
— This concisely captures the essence of Abraham's teaching on feelings. It frames emotions not as mere reactions but as vital, informative signals indicating whether one's energetic output is aligned with their desires or is creating resistance.
“Ask for what you want, and then allow it to come.”
— This highlights the two primary actions in the manifestation process as taught by Abraham. 'Asking' involves clarity of desire, while 'allowing' signifies releasing resistance and maintaining an energetic receptivity to receive what has been requested.
“Everything that you are living, you have summoned.”
— This strong assertion reinforces the Law of Attraction. It suggests that every experience, positive or negative, is a result of the vibrational frequencies one has emitted through their thoughts and feelings, emphasizing the continuous nature of creation.
💡 Key Ideas
Editorial paraphrase of the work's core concepts — not direct quotes.
Your beliefs are like vibrational antennas.
This paraphrased concept suggests that one's deeply held beliefs function as energetic transmitters, broadcasting a specific frequency that attracts experiences matching that broadcast. It highlights the active, generative power attributed to our internal convictions within the framework of vibrational physics.
🌙 Esoteric Significance
Tradition
The work draws heavily from the New Thought movement, which itself has roots in 19th-century Transcendentalism and Christian Science. It shares common ground with Hermetic principles concerning "as above, so below" and the power of thought. However, the Hicks' explicit channeling of a non-physical entity named Abraham, and their detailed focus on vibrational physics as the mechanism for manifestation, offers a modern, distinct articulation that departs from the more symbolic or philosophical language of older traditions.
Symbolism
While not overtly symbolic in the manner of Tarot or Kabbalah, the book utilizes concepts that function symbolically. The "Vortex" represents the perfect, non-physical area of pure potential where all desires exist. The "Emotional Guidance System" acts as a symbolic compass, translating abstract energetic states into understandable feelings, guiding the practitioner. The "22 Different Processes" themselves can be seen as symbolic rituals or maps for working through the internal field of creation.
Modern Relevance
The principles outlined in "Ask and It Is Given" continue to influence contemporary spiritual and self-help circles. Thinkers and practitioners in areas like conscious living, positive psychology, and the broader Law of Attraction movement frequently cite or echo Abraham's teachings. Online communities, coaching programs, and modern spiritual authors often integrate concepts such as "vibrational alignment," "allowing," and "emotional guidance" into their own frameworks, demonstrating the work's enduring impact.
👥 Who Should Read This Book
• Aspiring manifestors seeking practical, step-by-step techniques to align their energy with their desires, moving beyond abstract concepts of universal laws. • Individuals interested in the New Thought tradition who wish to explore a modern, channeled interpretation of spiritual principles for personal empowerment and reality creation. • Those feeling stuck or frustrated with their current circumstances and looking for a metaphysical framework that emphasizes personal responsibility and the power of thought and emotion.
📜 Historical Context
Emerging in 2009, "Ask and It Is Given" arrived during a resurgence of interest in New Thought and manifestation principles, partly fueled by the 2006 film and book "The Secret." The Hicks' work positions itself within the lineage of channeled literature, a practice that gained significant traction in the mid-20th century with figures like Jane Roberts, who channeled "Seth." "Ask and It Is Given" offers a structured, step-by-step approach that distinguished it from more philosophical explorations of similar concepts. Its publication occurred in an era where digital platforms facilitated wider dissemination of such ideas, contrasting with earlier periods where similar teachings might have been confined to smaller spiritual communities or faced more skepticism. The Hicks’ direct engagement with the concept of "vibration" aligns with esoteric traditions but was presented here with a pragmatic, self-help orientation that resonated widely.
📔 Journal Prompts
Reflect on your current dominant thoughts regarding your financial situation and how they align with the "Vortex" of abundance.
Identify three feelings that signal your "Emotional Guidance System" is indicating misalignment with a specific desire.
Practice the "Rampage of Appreciation" for five minutes, focusing on a tangible object and its positive attributes.
Consider a desire you hold. How would you "ask" for it with clear intention, and what "resistance" might prevent you from "allowing" it?
Map your "beliefs" as "vibrational antennas": what message are they sending out about your relationships?
🗂️ Glossary
Law of Attraction
The fundamental principle taught by Abraham, stating that whatever you focus your attention on, combined with your emotional state, you attract into your experience. Like energy attracts like energy.
Abraham
A group of non-physical entities from the "Vortex" with whom Esther Hicks has been channeling since 1987, providing teachings on spiritual and metaphysical principles.
Vortex
A non-physical dimension or space where all that you have ever desired exists in its perfect, realized form. It is the area of pure potential and creation.
Emotional Guidance System
A framework of emotions that serves as an indicator of your vibrational alignment. Positive emotions signal alignment; negative emotions signal misalignment with your desires.
Allowing
The state of releasing resistance, doubt, and fear, allowing your desires to manifest naturally into your experience. It signifies vibrational harmony with your intentions.
Deliberate Creation
The conscious process of intending, asking for, and allowing your desires to manifest by managing your thoughts and emotions effectively.
Vibrational Frequency
The energetic signature or state that your thoughts and emotions emit, which determines what you attract into your life according to the Law of Attraction.
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