Ask And It Is Given

[Acting Like Godot]

Although I am not fully acquainted with the Hicks material (yet), I think you may have misunderstood.

Abraham says that we're here to create. He also says that the process can be, and should be, joyful; because when you experience positive emotions, you are in your most powerfully creative state.

I don't see this as being incompatible with the idea that there is a deeper purpose to your life, and that you're here to fulfill that purpose. In fact, I would think that if you were to find and commit to that deeper purpose of yours, you WOULD be joyful. Your creations would then be towards your deeper purpose/

To offer a simple example, if your deeper life purpose is to heal people, you would find it meaningful (and joyous) to be a doctor. If you then applied LOA, you could create events etc that would lead you to be a better doctor, to help more sick people etc.

[Isis Kali]

So, I'm in the middle of this book now. I'm feeling my eyes just skimming over some parts, like I'm not quite connecting with it. I think it's because I've been getting a bit depressed. There are so many philosophical walls I'm hitting when it comes to I-M in the way that Abraham talks about it, sometimes. Eeeek!

[Dobbler]

Do it if it feels good??

Thats like saying overeating is good for u! Not working feels good. Should everyone who felt that way stop working?

I find it hard to believe what they're teaching.

encouraging smoking because its relaxing? Why not crack pot, marijuana?

Unbelievable!

How about looking at it this way?

Why do you work? To provide for yourself, your family, to put a roof over your/your families head? To make you feel worthwhile? To be able to live in this society that you find yourself in. Do all these things not make you feel good? Or at least the illusion that these things will make you feel good? And they probably will, for a while. It's the "feeling good" that we are after. So why shouldn't we think about the things that will make us feel better? Over eating does not make you feel better. It may, for a while. But ultimately, you know that you are damaging your physical apparatus.

The whole message of Abe-Hicks / LoA is that focusing your energy (thought, words, action) on feeling good will bring you more good feelings. Now, in my book, there is no negativity about that. The negativity simply comes from your resistance to whatever it is that is bothering you. For example;

if your teenage daughter is sexually active you should encourage her to continue because it is what she wants to do and to impose your will on her may hurt your relationship.

"underage" sex. It is your belief that there is something "wrong" with sex among people who have been physical beings a certain amount of times the earth has revolved around the sun. That an "age" has anything to do with anything is quite perplexing to me. That an "age" of someone else living how they are living their life has anything to do with anyone other than that person is also quite perplexing. Do you not see that your resistance to the situation is what is causing you negative emotion? You want someone else to fit into the idea that you have for them. How would you feel if someone did that to you? Is that not what this whole "war on terrorism" is about? Freedom? Freedom is exactly that. Free. Freedom is freedom from negative emotion. Do you want to focus your life on all the things that are "wrong" with the world? Because you'll see an awful lot of it. There is "wrongness" in everything if you look for it.

Happiness is a feeling. And I hope we are all in agreement when we say that happiness feels good. Look for things in this physical reality that you find yourself in for things that make you feel happy. As Abe-Hicks says, when you are free from negative emotion you are so free that you could choose bondage.

Either way, it's you who does the feeling, and you who will see (or not) the results of that which you think and feel, no one else. You are extremely powerful.

Love.

Rob.

[dor]

I'd be dishonest if I didn't say that I am a bit put off by the whole 'abraham' thing, i listened to some introductory mp3s and when she started 'channeling' and said 'we are here' and then her husband asked 'what cd would recommend people listen to'....hmmm
That said I am reading (just started) the amazing power of deliberate intent-sI find their -her, umm whomever - concepts interesting the way it is presented is a bit off-putting. I am trying to keep an open mind and realize that many great artists and authors have said that their work seems to come from something outside them...but sometimes it just seems like an act....

[Chris_Stretten]

It has been mentioned previously... but I'll mention it again.
Does it matter if Esther Hicks is really channeling Abraham?
Even if she was making it all up (and she would be a genius considering how quickly she can "get" and respond to peoples questions in seminars)...
Does it matter? Who or What is providing the message doesn't negate or dilute the potency of the message itself. Perhaps one would believe it if the message came in the form of a burning bush... or a dream... or written in a book that is about things that happened two thousand years ago? Perhaps the medium (pun) doesn't matter here.
I read a similar thing in Neale Donald Walsch's book "Conversations with God". I will quote from the book:

" NW: How can I know that this communication is from God? How do I know this is not my own imagination?

GOD: What would be the difference? Do you not see that I could just as easily work through your imagination as anything else? I will bring you the exact right thoughts, words or feelings, at any given moment, suited precisely to the purpose at hand, using one device or several.
You will know these words are from Me because you, of your own accord, have never spoken so clearly. Had you already spoken so clearly on these questions, you would not be asking them."

Cheers,
Chris

[dor]

Chris, I agree, I am just saying I find the language hard to deal with I guess that's why there are so many books about the same subject you really need to find an author's voice that 'speaks' to you.
I heard of several authors - including ones that just wrote fiction - that claimed it was channeled or a 'voice' and i have met people who have experienced these 'voices' i don't doubt them, but with EH i just find it distracting...I am reminded of mark twains acidic comments about the book of mormon

[dor]

what do people think of this:
Cult Education Forum :: View topic - Abraham - Hicks
In the mid 70's to mid 80's, Jerry Hicks was an Amway distributor; some diamond level, based in Fresno CA. He's from Arkansas and said he was an "entertainer" - whatever that means. His wife at the time was a charming older lady from the South,maybe Texas. They presented themselves as darling chaming southern hospitality type couple. I think she had the money that set up the successful and elegant lifestyle they used to attract new recruits to their Amway organization - always selling the dream of riches.During his presentations of the Amway business plan to groups of people at hotel and restaurant meeitng rooms, Jerry would start off with a sort of metaphysical babble about becoming who you think yourself to be, etc. etc. That you are here now doing this because it is what you always wanted to do, etc. etc. Kind of mind numbing stuff, but
everyone was in awe of him - very charasmatic and handsome - so they listened and some people bought into it and the Amway groups took on a new meta-physical dimension. Turns out that this is the beginnings of the stuff that Esther now channels' and they call it "Abraham." I guess that sells better than Mohamed, or Shiva. One of the couples (Amway was very big on married couples) that Jerry recruited into his organization about 1978, was Esther and her then husband "R", from Fresno. After a couple of years of working "closely together", Jerry and Esther left their spouses and moved in together, later marrying after the divorce dust settled. About this time their Amway groups had begun declining, but Jerry and Esther had already started switching their revenue sources to selling tapes and seminars to their Amway down-line organization, and new followers.
Jerry was doing generic 'Think and Grow Rich' seminars and that kind of thing. Jerry learned from Amway that there is always a large and financially viable number of people that need to feel involved in a warm and fuzzy clique, an 'inner circle' of people who know the truth and promote a way of thinking that holds out the hope of prosperity and happiness, but never quite gets there, so you have to buy some more tapes or attend another seminar.
You gotta hand to these two, they figured out a pretty nifty way to travel, live a luxury life, and not work too hard - problem is - it's all b.s. IMH

[Chris_Stretten]

Originally Posted by dor

what do people think of this:
Cult Education Forum :: View topic - Abraham - Hicks
In the mid 70's to mid 80's, Jerry Hicks was an Amway distributor; some diamond level, based in Fresno CA. He's from Arkansas and said he was an "entertainer" - whatever that means. His wife at the time was a charming older lady from the South,maybe Texas. They presented themselves as darling chaming southern hospitality type couple. I think she had the money that set up the successful and elegant lifestyle they used to attract new recruits to their Amway organization - always selling the dream of riches.During his presentations of the Amway business plan to groups of people at hotel and restaurant meeitng rooms, Jerry would start off with a sort of metaphysical babble about becoming who you think yourself to be, etc. etc. That you are here now doing this because it is what you always wanted to do, etc. etc. Kind of mind numbing stuff, but
everyone was in awe of him - very charasmatic and handsome - so they listened and some people bought into it and the Amway groups took on a new meta-physical dimension. Turns out that this is the beginnings of the stuff that Esther now channels' and they call it "Abraham." I guess that sells better than Mohamed, or Shiva. One of the couples (Amway was very big on married couples) that Jerry recruited into his organization about 1978, was Esther and her then husband "R", from Fresno. After a couple of years of working "closely together", Jerry and Esther left their spouses and moved in together, later marrying after the divorce dust settled. About this time their Amway groups had begun declining, but Jerry and Esther had already started switching their revenue sources to selling tapes and seminars to their Amway down-line organization, and new followers.
Jerry was doing generic 'Think and Grow Rich' seminars and that kind of thing. Jerry learned from Amway that there is always a large and financially viable number of people that need to feel involved in a warm and fuzzy clique, an 'inner circle' of people who know the truth and promote a way of thinking that holds out the hope of prosperity and happiness, but never quite gets there, so you have to buy some more tapes or attend another seminar.
You gotta hand to these two, they figured out a pretty nifty way to travel, live a luxury life, and not work too hard - problem is - it's all b.s. IMH

That's an interesting link... and opinion. I find it interesting, the level of stigma attached to Amway or any MLM. It's so strong in most people as to immediately cause dimissal of anyone involved with it. Amway or any MLM is a completely viable way of doing business and making money. It is true that a vast majority of people who get into it don't make it very "far" up the chain... but that has nothing to do with the system and everything to do with the individual... as with all other business endeavours. I find it fascinating, once again, that the message is ignored and instead people who haven't taken the time to understand it attack the messengers. I saw James Ray and Micheal Beckwith on Oprah again today... and one phrase stood out: "mediocrity always attacks success" (or something like that haha). Meaning... those who are not successful in their endeavours tend to be hostile to those who are successful. It is a reflection in the hostile persons mindset: envy usually.
Esther and Jerry Hicks did not invent LoA. They may have invented a unique way of delivering the message... and indeed have profited by it. If making money teaching the LoA to others was their goal, then they are to be considered successful in my opinion. Congrats to them. The LoA message has been handed down in various teachers and traditions for all of our history. Some have profited by it... others offer it for free. The point is that the message is the same!

Cheers!
Chris

[dor]

I think at the end of the day what is important is what you take away from their books - they, she, it, whatever, certainly don't market as aggressively as joe vitale in the attractor factor -which gets bogged down by plugs and in one sense, makes you fee like you paid for an advertisement of other books.

[Chris_Stretten]

Originally Posted by dor

I think at the end of the day what is important is what you take away from their books - they, she, it, whatever, certainly don't market as aggressively as joe vitale in the attractor factor -which gets bogged down by plugs and in one sense, makes you fee like you paid for an advertisement of other books.

I agree!
I haven't read Joe Vitale's book yet (I am turned off by the rumours of advertising etc. in his book, but I'll get to it eventually). I am more interested in reading some of the earlier books which taught and inspired the current teachers LoA (The Master Key System, Think and Grow Rich, Science of Getting Rich etc.) I like the W. Clement Stone reference in the Secret movie. Jack Canfield speaks about this man and mentions that it was Stone who taught him LoA... told him exactly what to do. Now Clement Stone was very rich and successful... and when you ask someone who is in that position how they did it and they say "Here, Do This..." One might have an inclination to listen to them. They are in a position that I would like to be in. What one man can do another can do.
Napoleon Hill (Think and Grow Rich) gave us the methods of achieving success from the mouths of Andrew Carnegie and hundreds of other wealthy people of the time. They speak the same message as W. Clement Stone... Jack Canfield... Abraham-Hicks and the other teachers. It seems to me that one might want to heed the message they're offering!

Cheers,
Chris

[rush23]

I discovered Abraham-Hicks via the Internet, which led me to 'The Secret'. I don't know if 'The Secret' is available in South Africa, but I went this Saturday to my local bookshop (something I rarely do because I usually go to the library to take out books and because books are very expensive here) and while I was browsing the 'Mind, Body and Spirit' section, my eye fell on a book - it was 'Ask and It is Given'.

I just knew the LoA was at work and I just had to have that book (the only one of its kind on the shelf)! I haven't been able to put it down and I am looking forward to putting its teachings into practice.

The amazing thing is whenever I'm thinking of a question regarding LoA and I open the book, the page that I find myself on ALWAYS has the answer to my question. I love this book!

[marky]

i also love the book "Ask and It Is Given". I have applied those principles (essentially) all my life, and i now better understand how some of those weird coincidenses (of luck) manifested themselves over the years.

i also attended an abraham "Art of allowing workshop". it was a bit pricey at $150, but it was really great seeing how Esther/Abraham answered all questions without a hitch or pause. so if Esther is not channelling, them she is one heck of an impromtu speaker not missing a single beat.

personally i dont so much focus on whether it is real channeling or not...i go to hear the message. i figure the more i hear and read of good positive material that is the foundation of that book, the more likely it will sink into my head and i will apply it.

[cbreeze]

My favorite "bible" is Nature of Personal Reality. Says it all what Abraham Hicks/The Secret/ACIM, etc. say. I believe it all, however find it hard to KNOW i am a god and can create as soon as i choose to. WHO ELSE has been an example of creating a new physical garment (body) or, remained at a certain age, etc. We talk and talk about this and other topics, yet, bewildered I don't see what they preach.

Was distraught when Rubert decided to disengage and wondered why since she knew how to heal herself. But, accepted that it was her choice to.

What's you take on the above?

[Max Power]

Originally Posted by annah

however find it hard to KNOW i am a god and can create as soon as i choose to.

What's you take on the above?

The problem is people don't think they're creating their present moment right now, they incorrectly think it's just a program/simulation/existance/gods will etc.

You'll never create anything unitl you realise you're already creating everything.

Do you want to see the instant manifestation that you are capable of?????..................just take a look around, if you're not creating everything right now, then who do you think is

Welcome to consciousness, welcome to your reality.

Max

[fascinoma]

Originally Posted by madgeylou

i havent read the books in question, but if your teenage daughter is having sex, and you forbid it, isnt that like trying to put toothpaste back in the tube? not gonna happen.

Yeah, and something people forget is that teenagers have always had sex. The average age of first sexual experience hasn't really changed very much, but the age of marriage has changed (to twenties or thirties). Teenagers are never going to stop having sex, because it's what nature wants teenagers to do. Except in religious communities, nobody's exactly going to tell teenagers to stop dating, or encourage them to get married younger.

How about instead of condemning teenagers or "trying to put the toothpaste back in the tube" we encourage them to make healthy choices, be responsible, not take advantage of other people, stand up for their rights, and especially for teenage girls, encourage them to say NO when they're not ready (because it's usually the boys putting on all the pressure).

[deepfried]

Hi!

It's my first post, but I thought I would jump into the deep end

In regards to the Partying/Spiritual Development discussion, it occured to me that perhaps the two aren't entirely seperate. I mean, it's hard to develop in any way (never mind spiritually) if you have to live in struggle day to day. Perhaps by creating abundance we can then concentrate on developing ourselves, and party in between!

After all, happiness is the window to the soul.

Thanks for listening, it's nice to meet you all :-)

[MrBig]

Originally Posted by Don

I want to add some of the books that Steve has recommended.

Pardon my ignorance, but where can I see Steve’s list of recommended books?

[Sam]

Its here
http://www.stevepavlina.com/personal...ment-books.htm

[MrBig]

Originally Posted by Sam

Its here
http://www.stevepavlina.com/personal...ment-books.htm

Thank you.

[Peleke4]

I learned of this book from this thread and really enjoying it! For me, this book seems to pick up where "The Power of Your Subconscious Mind" left off. I have a question about the "Virtual Reality Process."

Abraham advises to "not use this process to try to improve a specific existing situation, because in your attempt to fix something, you will bring the existing vibration into your Virtual Reality, and in doing so, you will lose the power of the Virtual Reality Process."

At the moment there is tension between me and a particular person. If this person comes to mind, rather than feel bad I visualize the both of us getting along very well like Bosom Buddies: shooting the **** w/ big smiles on our faces, laughing, pretty much enjoying each others company. I do gauge how I feel and it really does make me feel better. But I'm going against what Abraham advises by trying to improve a specific existing situation. Just curious how some of you used the "Virtual Reality Process." I know that no rule is set in stone, but I'd appreciate feedback since this is my very first exposure to Esther & Jerry Hicks/Abraham. Thank you!

Hey again! I'd rather post this here rather than make an entire new thread:

The funniest thing happened today. During my shift at work, I read about Process#15 (The Wallet Process). If you're unfamiliar, the gist is that you obtain a $100.00 bill and ALWAYS keep it in your wallet. As you roam around town, you take note of as many things you can purchase with the $100.00. You never actually spend the $100.00, you simply use your imagination and take note of what you can buy.
Up until now, I've been really scrapped for cash and don't have the extra funds to leave a hundred bucks in my wallet. Anyways, I go to my parent's house and after half an hour or so, my father tells met to look on top of the stereo cabinet. Low and behold, there was a one-hundred dollar bill there waiting for me! He won cash playing poker and he hooked me up. What a coincidence how I happen to read that process and in the same day, I'm handed the necessary item for this process: a one-hundred dollar bill. I didn't realize the coincidence until like an hour later while I was finishing the last pages of the book. I just wanted to share.

[yoopersmith]

...I just had a thought...where did it come from? it wasn't in my head before...then it was...hmmm...

[changingbetter]

I love Abraham Hicks!

Damned.. I felt I have taken control of my life. (Once I am consious of my feelings and delibrately think myself to better feeling place).

It's so simple.

Although I do not believe they channelled Abraham. and I think it's all jerry's brillant idea. and I am loving it.

[tinkerbell]

Listen to yourself. Your inner being will tell you everything you need to know.

[greeneye]

I have translated four Abraham-Hicks books into my native language. Ask and It Is Given was the first. I am now working on The Nature of Personal reality by Jane Roberts.

When I began, I really loved the message and all that was said in Ask and It Is Given really sang to me, but I found the way it was presented kind of cheesy. My first thought was "Whatever works for the Americans". It took all the books (especially the one I'm translating right now) to convince me that Esther & Jerry are not a scam.

First: if the message is true, then it's logical that there would be many teachers spreading it. I personally am convinced that it is true, judging from my own experience. And the more I look into Christianity (the only organized religion I am intimately familiar with), the more I feel that the message hasn't changed - just the audience and therefore the language used to convey it. It could be that all the great teachers in history taught the same thing - I can't say for sure since I haven't studied them all.

Second: I was put off by Esther's language and the repetitiveness of the Abraham-Hicks material. After four books and God knows how many audio and video recordings from their seminars, I had the feeling I could write an Abraham-Hicks book of my own. My boss went to one of their seminars to ask them what she could do to help her daughter heal from cancer. When she came back I asked: "Did they tell you that you could not create in her life, but you could be of great assistance if you saw the best future for her and thus used your power of influence to help her raise her own vibration?" She said yes, a bit disappointed.
But after working on Jane Roberts' book for a while, it came to me that maybe the information which comes trough channeling is called trough the channel's mind and therefore actively shaped by it - meaning, the simpler the mind, the simpler the answer. Jane Roberts was a writer and an intellectual so the information which came trough her, though basically the same, is much more complex and detailed and the language used is much richer. I think both are necessary in the same way that there are different study books for different ages. Abraham's way of expression seems perfect for Esther Hicks and the people who go to her, just as Seth's way of expression is perfect for Jane Robers... and me Just as Jesus' way of speaking was perfect for the jews of 2000 years ago. They knew nothing of vibrations back then :P A primary is different than 12th grade astronomy, but both are necessary and provide accurate and adequate information.

So my point is that whatever Jerry and Esther are up to, judging the message by the message itself, I believe the message to be true. Different words resonate with different minds, but for myself, I have always been able to find a connection between my thoughts and my experiences, and it seems to be exactly what Abraham say it is. Whether you choose to use that to your advantage or not, just observing the way it works in your own life can be very informative.

[Dannyboy1]

I started reading it and put it down. I haven't touched it since. I'm glad this thread was started. I think it may be a sign to pick it up again.

[Lucid Dreamer]

I started reading it last night. Talk about synchronicity.

I first tried to read it earlier in the year and found it practically unreadable. It just wouldn't sink in. Now it makes perfect sense. I think I just have to be ready to listen to the message.