Ask And It Is Given: Learning To Manifest Your Desires

“Since we know who you are, we will easily help you remember who you are.”

The cryptic yet omniscient tone of this passage is characteristic of “Abraham’s” mode of speech, and the wording emphasizes the authors’ description of this intangible entity as an all-knowing, collective consciousness whose sole purpose is helping humans to reconnect with Source. Throughout the book, Abraham’s narrative voice speaks directly to the reader.

“You were born with the innate knowledge that you create your own reality.”

This quote highlights the idea that humans once knew the truth about the vibrational world but have become distracted by the sensations of the physical world. According to Abraham, each person begins life with the sole intention of manifesting a specific version of reality. The forcefully direct tone of the passage is designed to be emphatic but also borders on accusatory, putting pressure on the reader to embrace the philosophy being offered. However, the philosophy itself is presented as a series of unsupported assertions, without empirical evidence.

“You are an extension of Source Energy.”

Humans are described as discrete individuals who have forgotten their connection to the universal force known as Source Energy. At the same time, they are viewed as indistinguishable from Source Energy. The blunt wording of these introductory phrases is designed to stimulate thought and speculation on topics that will be explored in greater detail.

“By paying attention to the signals of your emotions, you can understand, with absolute precision, everything you are now living or have ever lived.”

This assertion is designed to empower people to sift through their own reactions and use their emotions to make sense of the world and create better outcomes for themselves. In fact, emotions are presented as the most important tool in manifesting desires. The authors contend that because emotions are familiar to all people and are constantly felt, they act as guideposts to gauge how aligned or misaligned one is with Source Energy.

“Even more than the material being that you have come to know as you—you are a Vibrational Being.”

The assertion that the universe is vibrational in nature stands as one of the central tenets of the book. To Abraham, all things ultimately consist of vibrations. In this view, material bodies and the physical world are simply concentrations of these vibrations that are then brought together by intention. (The description of the entity called Abraham also conforms to this definition, for Abraham claims to be a collective of non-physical consciousnesses brought together for the sole purpose of raising humans’ spiritual awareness.)

“The Universe is eternally expanding, and so are you.”

This idea underlies many of the theories in the book. In particular, it is used to argue that the universe is a place of abundance, and that unlimited abundance is available to every person as long as they know how to “allow” and access it. Although such concepts are meant to be reassuring and to give people the will to change their circumstances, the philosophy also downplays—and at times negates outright—the role that external factors may play in individual experiences.

“[T]his Universe is like a well-stocked kitchen with every ingredient imaginable at your disposal.”

Abraham uses this particular simile to illustrate the practical dynamics of their philosophy. In this section, they use an image of a cook baking a pie in a fully stocked kitchen in order to highlight the idea that one does not need to reject unwanted things, just as a cook would not throw away ingredients that are superfluous to a particular recipe.

“If you want to change to different things, you must think different thoughts.”

The simplicity of this advice is designed to resonate with readers from a wide range of backgrounds, as the value of positive thinking has already been thoroughly ingrained in many mainstream cultures around the world. Abraham contends that thinking differently about circumstances is the main process by which manifestation occurs. In this view, if an individual cannot adjust their thoughts toward positive outcomes, they will never manifest those outcomes.

“Now, occasionally someone will accuse us of teaching selfishness. And we agree.

In Abraham’s world, selfishness is not a negative trait. Because the universe is viewed as a zone of unlimited abundance, it follows that no one will be denied a resource because another person has it. This is one of the primary sources of criticism for the authors’ philosophy, given that long experience and empirical evidence have proven that resources on earth are indeed finite.

“You are free. You are powerful. You are good. You are love. You have value. You have purpose. All is well.”

This type of blunt, earnest repetition is a common feature of the book. Often, Abraham uses lists like this one at the beginning of chapters in order to serve as emphatic reminders and positive affirmations before delving into a specific process or a piece of advice.

“Often, from a very resistant vibration such as depression or fear, you will have already, instinctively, even unconsciously, discovered the pain-relieving thought of anger.”

As this passage suggests, anger is not viewed negatively in this book. Because the authors focus on Improving Personal Vibrations through the Emotional Guidance Scale, anger is depicted as being a step or two up from more negative emotions such as depression and fear. For those who are experiencing either of these, anger is viewed as an emotion that can influence them up the scale toward more positive actions and emotions. In this context, anger is also seen as an emotion of relative clarity.

“I am going to reach for more relief, more relief, more relief.”

This repetitive quote takes on the tone of a mantra and highlights the positive outlook of the book. Although much of the text focuses on how to feel better if one is already feeling good, Abraham says that even those in low emotional states should constantly strive to achieve small measures of relief. Even if one’s emotional set point remains on the low end of the scale, moving progressively upward will help them gain more upward momentum.

“You now remember that you are free (in fact, you are so free that you could choose bondage), and that everything that comes to you is in response to what you are thinking.”

The concept of personal choice is an important aspect of Abraham’s teachings. The authors contend that people who remain in undesirable emotional or physical states are thought to be there because of their own actions. The authors teach that in most cases, negative actions are the result of unconsciously asking for the opposite of what is desired.

“Life is not about tomorrow, it is about right now. Life is about how you are currently molding the Energy!”

In the second half of the book, Abraham begins to emphasize that life is not about achieving specific goals or arriving at a desired end game. Instead, people should embrace the journey itself as the purpose. In this view, once certain goals are achieved, they will only open up more goals to strive for.

“Welcome, Little One, to Planet Earth. There is nothing that you cannot be, do, or have.”

This passage stands as a prime example of Abraham’s habit of quoting a theoretical earlier version of themselves. In this passage, they say that they wish they were able to visit every human at the moment of birth, so that each human would immediately remember their connection to Source and be able to manifest throughout their entire life.

“Many teachers, and we among them, teach Meditation as a very good process for raising vibration.”

In the authors’ narrative about their own spiritual experiences, they claim that meditation was the first practice that allowed Esther to become a vessel for Abraham. In the main body of the text, the practice of meditation is rarely mentioned, but it does appear at the end as one of the processes by which people can achieve greater clarity.

“When you sleep, you reemerge back into the Energy of the Non-Physical, and you have conversations (not conversations in words, but vibrational ones).”

Sleep and dreaming are depicted as powerful tools for connecting with Source Energy. The authors assert that the ideas and feelings that emerge in dreams are to be taken literally and should be interpreted as windows into an individual’s truest, deepest self.

“You do not have to keep telling the Universe what you want; you only have to tell the Universe once.”

This assertion highlights the idea that manifestation is ultimately easy and immediate, as long as resistance does not get in the way. Abraham says that once a person makes an ask, the ask is automatically granted. The person does not have to beg or pine for it. If the desire is not granted, the authors place the blame on the individual, claiming that they must have introduced a sense of resistance that prevented the universe from granting the request. While this assertion fits the internal logic of the authors’ philosophy, it is also highly problematic, for it is designed to defy any and all criticism by claiming that only those who fail to believe the authors’ premises will have no success with the Law of Attraction.

“You are living in a wonderful physical time.”

Abraham often mentions that the physical world is difficult and distracting. However, this passage contradicts that thought because the speaker acknowledges that modern technology and other conveniences are tools that can be used for good, as long as people remember to focus primarily upon their natural alignment with Source rather than introducing physical forms of resistance.

“Think about it: Which thought feels better?”

This is an example of one of the simple processes introduced in the second half of the book. When a person finds themselves having negative thoughts, they are instructed to find a perspective that has a more positive energetic association. Even though they may consciously believe that the better perspective is unrealistic, they will still feel better, and as a result, they will become better aligned with more constructive vibrations.

“Physical Beings have a habit of gathering stuff around them.”

In one sense, physical “stuff” acts as a metaphor for mental and emotional clutter, but the image is also to be taken literally. Abraham states that de-cluttering one’s physical life is useful in several ways. It can help the person focus on what they really care about, and it can also create a comfortable space in which manifestation can more easily occur.

“Do not try to save the world, save yourself.”

Throughout the book, the authors highlight that the Law of Attraction can only be used directly. One should never try to use it to shape another person’s reality. Doing so would be ineffective because other people have their own ability to manifest. The authors claim that if another person is in a bad situation, it is due to their own resistance to the universal Law of Attraction. The authors place full responsibility upon the individual to change their own circumstances, regardless of external factors.

“Physical pain is just an extension of emotion.”

Throughout the text, physical, mental, and emotional health are viewed as synonymous. Many physical problems, especially pain, are redefined as a direct result of poorly regulated emotions. Other manifestations of pain, such as disease itself, are claimed to be the result of resisting proper alignment with Source Energy.