Is there a reading list of major books/authors in this general field?

[nantucketsunset]

In the 80s, I struggled through Wattles, Scovel Schinn, James Allen, Sanaya Roman, Catherine Ponder, Napoleon Hill, etc etc, even Chopra's Unconditional Life, and I am glad that nowadays these ideas are being described in modern American English with a general audience in mind.

--Has anyone categorized the history of this idea, in Western civilization as well as other ones, (the general ideas of "ask and ye shall receive" or "where there's a will there's a way" -- yes, they are different ideas but i do think they converge, based on various definitions of the word "will", which can mean "intent") throughout human history, and the different historical strands of beliefs, different titles given to the same idea, and minor disagreements about best methods, appropriate steps, and allowable aims? I think that would be fascinating to study.

--Can anyone point me to an all-encompassing reading list on the subject, something like the "50 classics" series by Butler-Bowdoin? (I know I can just type "intention manifestation" into Amazon or the internet, but the problem with that is this subject goes by slightly different names which are not always considered to be in the same subject "category"). Maybe there is a list on this Forum and I have missed it?

[SamBeaven]

While it's not exactly all encompassing, Steve's posted a brief reading list himself: Personal Development Books

[ming]

These will keep you busy for a long while.
http://www.universallawstoday.com/ebooklists.html

[Kylark]

Acting Like Godot (whom I like to think of as our resident guru) has posted a list of books on I-M here.

He has also posted a more comprehensive list, but I haven't found it yet.

[Kylark]

Originally Posted by ming

These will keep you busy for a long while.
Free eBooks for Universal Laws Today

Ming, that is a great link. I just downloaded How to win friends and influence people, which I've been meaning to read for a long time.

Many of these books are still under copyright. I wonder how long they'll be up.

[ming]

Originally Posted by Kylark

Many of these books are still under copyright. I wonder how long they'll be up.

I downloaded all just in case! It is the most extensive free e-book collection I found so far.

[mercuryrising]

I'd go get Illusions by Richard Bach. This is the book where the "manifest a blue feather" comes from. You could probably read it in a few hours.

[Wax Frog]

Originally Posted by mercuryrising

I'd go get Illusions by Richard Bach. This is the book where the "manifest a blue feather" comes from. You could probably read it in a few hours.

Long before I heard of IM/LoA, I met someone online who claimed to be able to do some truly remarkable things. Perhaps he was exaggerating, or even mentally unstable (a suspicion based on matters that I won't go into here), but he recommended this book to me, claiming that everything I needed to know about the process could be found in it's pages. I cannot say if this is true, but it certainly makes for an inspiring and moving 'primer'...

My acquaintance was certainly a complex and interesting fellow, and he vanished rather suddenly. I guess he was my Donald Shimoda, huh?

[mercuryrising]

Originally Posted by Wax Frog

Long before I heard of IM/LoA, I met someone online who claimed to be able to do some truly remarkable things. Perhaps he was exaggerating, or even mentally unstable (a suspicion based on matters that I won't go into here), but he recommended this book to me, claiming that everything I needed to know about the process could be found in it's pages. I cannot say if this is true, but it certainly makes for an inspiring and moving 'primer'...

My acquaintance was certainly a complex and interesting fellow, and he vanished rather suddenly. I guess he was my Donald Shimoda, huh?

What are you saying, only mentally unstable mystics recommend this book ?

[Wax Frog]

Originally Posted by mercuryrising

What are you saying, only mentally unstable mystics recommend this book ?

LOL!

His claims were quite extraordinary, perhaps even in the context of this forum. I have my doubts, but then when I consider the possibility of it all being completely true, it excites me. I'd love to learn that this world is indeed every bit as illusory and plastic and subject to will as the most extreme pro-IMers would tell me it is!

[supertom]

PsiTek - FREE Metaphysical Books & The Law of Attraction

[mercuryrising]

Originally Posted by Wax Frog

LOL!

His claims were quite extraordinary, perhaps even in the context of this forum. I have my doubts, but then when I consider the possibility of it all being completely true, it excites me. I'd love to learn that this world is indeed every bit as illusory and plastic and subject to will as the most extreme pro-IMers would tell me it is!

In the other thread you were talking about becoming an artist... I would say that believing reality is this mailable thing in which you can make what you want out of it would be right up your alley. From what I understand, insanity goes a long way in the art world.

Like making money... the normal way is to work for someone being paid for your time making reality into what they want. The IM way would be to make reality as you see it and extract the money (value) from it.

Seeing is what it is all about... check out the director David Lynch's book Catching the Big Fish. As a visual artist, I think you would appreciate it.


BTW, I would browse it at a bookstore. I don't know if it's worth the $20.

[Wax Frog]

Originally Posted by mercuryrising

BTW, I would browse it at a bookstore. I don't know if it's worth the $20.

I really need to get back into the library habit

[pj567]

I just got Illusions from the library today, thanks to the helpful info from you guys. I would have never considered reading such a book if I didn't know it had some actual truth to it. It is so much fun to read, knowing that some of the "miracles" the messiah has experienced are some of the things I seemed to have been experiencing. Not levitating or bringing insects to life, but just little things like waving a finger over a tiny scrape and seeing it heal in front of my eyes, or finding a clear signal on my radio after it had been staticky for years. Or finding out my dishwasher is suddenly cleaning things better than it has before.

It was interesting to see that when the "messiah" and the other character was having something to eat, the "messiah" thought his pan bread tasted awful and he opted for some peaches instead. So it does seem that what someone eats may impact how he feels about something. I read somewhere that just by altering a mouse's diet, scientist's could make a mouse walk right up to a cat without hesitation.

It occurred to me that maybe that's why, as this book points out, some people may think it makes more sense to suffer for God than to believe their god wants them to live a happy and fulfilling life.

Just an observation.

(And Wax Frog, I did get this from the library before I ever saw your post about going to the library. Another syncronicity I should say, eh? )

[mercuryrising]

Originally Posted by pj567

It occurred to me that maybe that's why, as this book points out, some people may think it makes more sense to suffer for God than to believe their god wants them to live a happy and fulfilling life.

Just an observation.

(And Wax Frog, I did get this from the library before I ever saw your post about going to the library. Another syncronicity I should say, eh? )

What that book pointed out to me more than anything was that we enjoy the story line of our lives, even the horrific, violent, perverse, boring and so on. And if we didn't, we would choose something else.

Many people go, "I want all the good stuff in life," but when you take a closer look they are addicted to the drama that blocks them from getting it. That took me a long time to understand and Illusions puts it in such a clear way.

I guess Richard Bach put out a full text of "Manual for Messiahs" that I've been wanting to check out. I always love those books where you think of the question, turn to the page and there's your answer.

Glad you enjoyed it.

Peace, dog.

[pj567]

Hi MercuryRising

Thanks for the mention of the Manual for Messiahs. I'll definitely look out for it too. You're a true wealth of information

I completely agree with you about how many of us can be addicted to drama. I was just at that part of the book where Richard is trying to manipulate clouds by shooting fireballs and laser beams at it and Don told him he didn't have to try that hard, that all he had to do was relax and remove it from his thinking.

I think what he means is to try to stay impartial when dramatic things fly in the air, and only exert emotion when positive things occur. That way, you'll increase the possibility of things occurring to produce the same positive feeling.

I think it's like how Luke Skywalker or Obi Wan Kenowbi acted in the Return of the Jedi, when he remained calm over all things. I think those movies were based partly on what Joseph Campbell said in his books (I have heard, anyway.) So he might be another good source to go to for information on this stuff.

[Wax Frog]

Originally Posted by mercuryrising

Many people go, "I want all the good stuff in life," but when you take a closer look they are addicted to the drama that blocks them from getting it.

I know I shouldn't post, let alone have, pointlessly-bitter thoughts, but if I'm addicted to the kind of life I have right now, I must be profoundly sicker than I thought.

[pj567]

With respect to MercuryRising's intent, I think the word "addicted" may be too strong a word to use for the tendency to engage in drama.

A phrase that may be more easier on the ego might be "easily distracted by drama." Even though we may not consciously want drama, I think there's a whole underpinning of programming by the media that plays into our thoughts and teaches us how to talk to ourselves in ways that create the same drama that gives these shows such good ratings. You could probably read more about it with several selections of books, one of which is Shad Helmstetter's "What to Say When You Talk to Yourself," or any book on how to use affirmations. Such reprogramming may sound simplistic, but may be necessary in order to create the circumstances we want in life.

[mercuryrising]

Originally Posted by Wax Frog

I know I shouldn't post, let alone have, pointlessly-bitter thoughts, but if I'm addicted to the kind of life I have right now, I must be profoundly sicker than I thought.

Or you have a good sense of humor .

Life is kind of like a video game. Once you've played it through a few times on the easy level where you get the prize with no problem, it becomes boring. So you make it more interesting and increase the difficulty level.

Just to stroke some egos around here a bit, I think that people who are really into magick/alchemy/manifesting/CYOR are master creators to begin with. They put themselves in a life that is kind of f***ed up so that they would go and seek to improve their reality creating skills.

[mercuryrising]

Originally Posted by pj567

Hi MercuryRising

Thanks for the mention of the Manual for Messiahs. I'll definitely look out for it too. You're a true wealth of information

I'll comment some more later on what you've said, but I wanted to say thanks.
We're all teachers and students. We already know everything... the best any of us can do for each other is reveal what we know.

I had an interesting synchronicity earlier. I went to the bookstore just to get out of the house and I asked this bookseller if she could point me to the Richard Bach books. I thought I'd check out that manual.

She immediately quoted a line from Jonathan Livingston Seagull. Something about flying into rocks. Anyway, she directed me to the shelf and left me to look. Then a moment later she reappeared and asked if I recommended any of his books. Well, you know what I told her. She was visibly excited at the thought of reading a new book by him. She took Illusions with her.

They didn't have the book I was looking for and I didn't feel the need to hang out there any longer. I got the feeling like I had gone to the bookstore at that moment just to hand that lady a copy of Illusions.

[pj567]

I think they have the Messiah's handbook at amazon.com, if you have a credit card (or know someone who has).

Otherwise, I suppose you could pretend for a moment that you are Donald Shimoba himself and leave it up to the universe to come up with its own way of bringing the book to you

[Wax Frog]

Originally Posted by mercuryrising

They put themselves in a life that is kind of f***ed up so that they would go and seek to improve their reality creating skills.

I've had more than a few folks in the past call me an "old soul". Perhaps a jaded one at that...

And, BTW, I happen to have the Messiah's Handbook... Surprised?

[mercuryrising]

Originally Posted by Wax Frog

I've had more than a few folks in the past call me an "old soul". Perhaps a jaded one at that...

And, BTW, I happen to have the Messiah's Handbook... Surprised?

Ha! We synchronize more than choreographers. Sheesh. What's next?

I've had a lot of the same comments. The avatar I happen to be running around in isn't all that smart... pretty ordinary in fact. It's this strong connection to the essence that I am that sets me apart.

See if this material here gives you any sparks.


Namaste

[Acting Like Godot]

Some books I recommend:

1. "The Intention Experiment" - Good for those who want to understand what science has got to say about consciousness affecting any aspect of reality.

2. "Creative Visualisation", by Shakti Gawain. Very good stuff, Shakti really knows her LOA. This is a spiritual yet very practical book. It's all about how to live better in this life, and at the same time it retains an emphasis on love, peace, goodness etc which many feel is quite lacking in "The Secret".

3. "The Law of Attraction", by Jerry & Esther Hicks. This is their first book, and IMO, still the best one around, for answering the Really Big Questions like whether victims really attract their own tragedies; what happens after you die; and so on.

4. "Ask, and It Is Given", by Jerry & Esther Hicks. This book explains very well the role of emotions in the LOA process. It's pretty handy, because it contains 22 specific techniques for using LOA.

I suspect that this book works best for individuals who are more emotionally volatile (that is, within one week, there will be days when they feel happy / sad / irritated / angry).

Personally my temperament is quite even - I spend lots of my time just in an amiable mood; it takes a lot to make me feel angry; it also takes a lot to get me all excited and enthusiastic too. I like AAIG, but it has limited use for me.

5. "The Nature of Personal Reality", by Jane Roberts. An extremely powerful book. Again, a very practical one. However, if you cannot bring yourself to accept that non-physical entities exist, please give this book a skip. It is a channeled text, the words come verbatim, almost entirely from a spirit named "Seth".

The Seth books, by the way, were what Jerry and Esther Hicks were reading, before they found their own non-physical entity, Abraham.

6. Modern Magick, by Donald Michael Kraig. If you feel you've gotten the hang of LOA, after applying the techniques and advice from books like "The Secret", "Think & Grow Rich" .... and you wonder what else there is, try this book. It is a book about witchcraft, essentially. The word may have some negative connotations for you; but hey, it's just a book, it won't bite. Once you understand that will and intention are the driving forces in magick, you'll understand that LOA and magick are all the same stuff, at their core.

7. "The Amazing Laws of Cosmic Mind Power", by Joseph Murphy. Recommended for Christians, because it's written by a pastor, based on his experiences with many Christians who came to him for advice / guidance on a huge range of different problems. Murphy's advice is for them to pray, and how to pray, is what Murphy's book is about. Don't be surprised to discover that Murphy's prayer methods turn out to be extremely LOA-ish, involving visualisation; deep belief; emotions etc.

Although I am not a Christian, I like this book because of the wide range of anecdotes it has. It is a good reminder of the many, many kinds of different issues that we can tackle, with LOA.

8. "Hidden Depths", by Robin Waterfield. This is not a "How to Use the LOA" book. This is not even a "how-to" book. It is actually a fairly scholarly book detailing the history of hypnosis (including all the research) from the 19th century, up to modern times.

The book will be of great interest to the more-advanced student of the LOA, because there is a significant amount of material in the book which examines quite paranormal-sounding things that the mind can do, when under hypnosis.
Folks like Jane Roberts and JZ Knight even get a few brief mentions here.

[pj567]

For anyone who is interested in more of Richard Bach's books but for some reason is unable to get them, I found this site that may be of use:

Donald Shimoda