Your Invisible Power
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Your Invisible Power
Genevieve Behrend's *Your Invisible Power* is less a theoretical exploration and more a practical instruction manual for the aspiring mind-master. Behrend, a clear inheritor of Thomas Troward's teachings, avoids the mystical vagueness that can plague similar texts. Her directness, particularly in chapters detailing the "Power of the Will," is commendable. She asserts that the ability to hold a mental image with conviction is the primary tool for manifestation, a concept she illustrates with relatable, if somewhat dated, examples. However, the book's primary limitation is its very simplicity. While accessible, the lack of nuanced exploration into potential psychological barriers or the broader societal implications of such individualistic focus can leave the reader wanting more depth. A passage where Behrend describes the "Feeling of the Fact"—experiencing your desire as already accomplished—is potent, yet its immediate application requires significant imaginative effort from the reader. It’s a functional guide, but one that demands rigorous self-discipline to yield its promised results.
📝 Description
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Genevieve Behrend published Your Invisible Power in 1927, detailing a method for manifesting desires.
Originally released in 1927, "Your Invisible Power" offers a practical guide to using focused thought and belief to achieve personal goals. Genevieve Behrend, a student of Thomas Troward, translates metaphysical ideas into concrete actions. The book emphasizes that directed mental energy and unwavering faith are key to bringing desired outcomes into reality.
This work is intended for individuals interested in self-improvement, spiritual psychology, and mental discipline. It provides a straightforward approach for those seeking internal change to reach their objectives. Readers will find a direct method for applying mental principles to their lives.
Published in 1927, "Your Invisible Power" is a product of the New Thought movement, a spiritual and philosophical tradition that gained prominence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This movement emphasized the mind's ability to influence physical reality and health. Behrend's work follows in the lineage of thinkers like Phineas Quimby and Thomas Troward, simplifying their concepts for practical application. It connects to later ideas associated with the Law of Attraction.
💡 Why Read This Book?
• Learn the specific technique of "Feeling the Fact" to imbue your desires with the reality of their fulfillment, a core practice derived from Behrend's interpretation of Troward's work. • Understand the 1927 context of the New Thought movement, seeing how Behrend's direct approach distinguished itself from more philosophical contemporaries. • Gain practical methods for aligning your mental focus and emotional state, as outlined in Behrend's emphasis on the "Power of the Will" for manifestation.
⭐ Reader Reviews
Honest opinions from readers who have explored this book.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
When was Your Invisible Power first published?
Your Invisible Power was first published in 1927, placing it firmly within the early 20th-century New Thought movement.
Who was Genevieve Behrend influenced by?
Genevieve Behrend was a student of the influential New Thought author and lecturer Thomas Troward, whose ideas significantly shaped her own teachings.
What is the core message of Your Invisible Power?
The core message is that focused thought, unwavering belief, and the "Feeling of the Fact" (experiencing your desire as real) are the keys to manifesting your desires.
Is Your Invisible Power still relevant today?
Yes, its principles of mental discipline and manifestation continue to be relevant for self-help and spiritual growth, resonating with modern Law of Attraction practices.
What is the 'Feeling of the Fact' in Behrend's work?
The 'Feeling of the Fact' is the practice of mentally and emotionally embodying the reality of your desire as if it has already been achieved, a crucial step for manifestation.
Does the book offer exercises or just theory?
The book offers practical guidance and specific mental exercises, encouraging readers to actively apply the principles of focused thought and visualization to their lives.
🔮 Key Themes & Symbolism
The Creative Power of Thought
Behrend asserts that thoughts are creative forces capable of shaping reality. The book details how consistent, focused mental imagery, combined with unwavering belief, acts as a blueprint for manifestation. This isn't mere positive thinking; it's about directing mental energy with precision, akin to a sculptor shaping clay. The emphasis is on the individual's internal world as the primary generator of external circumstances, a concept central to metaphysical thought since the late 19th century.
The Feeling of the Fact
This is perhaps the most potent technique presented. Behrend instructs the reader to not just visualize a desired outcome, but to *feel* it as if it has already occurred. This emotional resonance is presented as the critical element that bridges the gap between imagination and reality. It's about inhabiting the state of already having what you seek, thereby impressing the subconscious mind and the universal creative principle.
The Role of Will and Faith
The "Power of the Will" is central to Behrend's system. She argues that a strong, directed will, coupled with absolute faith in the desired outcome, is essential. Doubt and wavering intention are seen as impediments that dilute the creative force. The book provides guidance on cultivating this steadfastness, presenting it not as blind optimism, but as a conscious, disciplined alignment of mental and emotional states.
Practical Application and Manifestation
Unlike purely philosophical texts, Your Invisible Power is designed for practical application. Behrend outlines a systematic approach to achieving goals, whether they be material, personal, or spiritual. The focus is on the 'how-to,' providing a clear methodology for readers to implement these metaphysical principles in their daily lives to bring about tangible changes.
💬 Memorable Quotes
Direct passages from the work, attributed to the author.
“The greater the "Feeling of the Fact" the sooner will come the "Fact of the Feeling."”
— This highlights Behrend's core principle: the intensity and conviction with which you emotionally experience your desire as already real directly influences how quickly that desire manifests in your external reality.
“You must give yourself to your desire.”
— This emphasizes the need for complete commitment and immersion in your goal. It suggests that partial effort or divided attention will prevent the manifestation process from being fully effective.
“The Power of the Will is the power to hold the mental image.”
— Behrend identifies the disciplined ability to maintain a clear and unwavering mental picture of your desire as the fundamental mechanism of personal power and manifestation.
“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
— Quoting Hebrews 11:1, Behrend uses this biblical verse to underscore the importance of belief as the foundational 'evidence' for desires yet to materialize physically.
“The Law of Attraction is the law of the mind.”
— This frames the principle that like attracts like not as an external force, but as an inherent function of consciousness, suggesting that our thoughts and beliefs actively draw corresponding experiences.
🌙 Esoteric Significance
Tradition
This work is a key text within the New Thought tradition, itself a branch of the broader Western Esoteric thought that gained momentum in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It draws heavily from Hermetic principles, particularly the concept of 'As Above, So Below,' and the idea that the mind is a conduit for universal creative energy. Behrend's approach is less about complex ritual and more about the direct application of mental laws, aligning with the practical, mind-focused aspects of Hermeticism and the broader New Thought emphasis on immanent divinity and personal causation.
Symbolism
While not overtly symbolic in the way of older traditions, the book's core concepts function symbolically. 'Invisible Power' itself symbolizes the untapped potential within the individual consciousness. The act of 'holding the mental image' symbolizes the mind's role as a creative architect. The 'Feeling of the Fact' symbolizes the bridging of the gap between the unseen (thought) and the seen (manifestation), representing the necessary energetic alignment for creation.
Modern Relevance
Behrend's *Your Invisible Power* continues to influence contemporary self-help and manifestation communities. Its principles are echoed in modern Law of Attraction teachings, coaching programs, and positive psychology practices. Thinkers and practitioners focusing on conscious creation, mindset shifts, and the power of belief, such as those within the broader New Age movement and even secular self-improvement circles, often engage with these foundational ideas, sometimes without direct attribution.
👥 Who Should Read This Book
• Aspiring creators and manifestors seeking a direct, actionable guide to harnessing their mental and emotional energy for goal achievement. • Students of early 20th-century metaphysical thought interested in the practical applications of New Thought principles as taught by Genevieve Behrend. • Individuals feeling stuck or limited by their current circumstances who are ready to explore the power of their own consciousness to effect change.
📜 Historical Context
Published in 1927, *Your Invisible Power* emerged during the zenith of the New Thought movement, a spiritual and philosophical current that emphasized the power of the mind to influence physical reality. Genevieve Behrend, a student of Thomas Troward, channeled Troward's more academic lectures into a practical, accessible guide. This era also saw figures like Wallace Wattles (*The Science of Getting Rich*, 1910) and Ernest Holmes (founder of Religious Science) articulating similar principles. While New Thought focused on mind-over-matter, it coexisted with other spiritual and psychological explorations, including the burgeoning field of psychoanalysis and established traditions like Christian Science. Behrend's work offered a streamlined, self-directed approach that resonated with individuals seeking personal empowerment outside traditional religious structures.
📔 Journal Prompts
The 'Feeling of the Fact' as applied to a current desire.
Sustaining the 'Power of the Will' through doubt.
Identifying personal 'invisible power' sources.
Translating a mental image into tangible action.
The role of faith in manifestation.
🗂️ Glossary
Invisible Power
The inherent, unseen mental and spiritual force within an individual that can be directed through thought and will to influence external reality and manifest desires.
Feeling of the Fact
The practice of experiencing a desire with the full emotional conviction and certainty as if it has already been achieved, acting as a catalyst for manifestation.
Power of the Will
The faculty of directed intention and focused concentration, essential for holding a clear mental image and maintaining unwavering belief in one's desires.
Mental Image
A clear, sustained visualization of a desired outcome held in the mind, which Behrend teaches is the blueprint for external creation.
Manifestation
The process by which thoughts, beliefs, and focused intentions are brought into physical or external reality.
New Thought
A spiritual and philosophical movement emphasizing the power of the mind to create reality, influencing self-help and spiritual practices since the 19th century.
Faith
Unwavering belief and conviction in the reality of one's desires and the process of manifestation, considered essential for success.
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