58 pages • 1-hour read
Ask And It Is Given: Learning To Manifest Your Desires
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Part 2, Chapters 1-11Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Part 2: “Processes to Help You Achieve What You Now Remember”
Part 2, Chapter 1 Summary: “The Rampage of Appreciation”
This process involves expressing appreciation for every positive thing that one encounters, no matter how small. The aim of this process is to help people to align with positive energy in a general sense. By focusing on how much there is to appreciate in life, people will naturally attract more things to appreciate. At the same time, finding things to appreciate even in undesirable settings aids in shifting emotional focus from negative emotions to positive ones. In general, this process is meant to be used when someone is already on the positive end of the emotional set point scale. If a person tries to use this tactic when their general emotional state is too negative, their efforts will feel forced and will therefore be ineffective.
Part 2, Chapter 2 Summary: “The Magical Creation Box”
Like the first process, the “Magical Creation Box” technique is meant to be used when a person is in a generally good mood (e.g., points 1-5 on the emotional set-point scale). The person is asked to gather a literal box and fill it with things that reflect their desires (e.g., magazine clippings of dream vacations, pictures of furniture they hope to own, etc.). Whenever a symbolic desire is dropped in the box, the person is told to say, “Whatever is contained in this box—IS!”
Abraham suggests this process for several reasons. By filling the box, the person will begin to focus on their desires. The less resistance they have when beginning the process, the more fully they will believe that the affirmation is true, and the more quickly they will begin to see their desires manifest. When things do begin to manifest, the box acts as a physical reminder of the asking process. The authors also state that the box-making process should be fun and creative, as it will help people to visualize their current desires and find new ones to focus on.
Part 2, Chapter 3 Summary: “The Creative Workshop”
The “Creative Workshop” process involves taking four pieces of paper and writing a heading at the top of each one: My Body, My Home, My Relationships, and My Work. Under each heading, the person must write their desires in that category without giving the process much conscious thought. Next, they must write why they desire each individual thing.
The goal of this process is to help focus on the subtle aspects of desires and to prioritize what is most important to manifest in the current moment. By thinking harder about the “why” than the “what,” the authors posit that the “what” itself will become clearer. Like the previous processes, this tactic is meant to be used when one is experiencing general positive emotions. It is primarily a tool to fine-tune the alignment process. Abraham suggests dedicating about 15 minutes per day to this task.
Part 2, Chapter 4 Summary: “Virtual Reality”
The “Virtual Reality” process can be used when one is feeling good, but it can also be a valuable tool for alleviating boredom. In essence, it is a reversal of the three-step manifestation process. Rather than asking for something and then matching one’s vibration to allow it, the person is told to imagine a scene in their mind. By imagining themselves in this new setting, the person will naturally tune themselves to a vibrational frequency of asking for that specific reality. Thus, the person will begin to feel that they are in the scene they have imagined.
Abraham suggests practicing this technique during states of boredom, such as when lying in bed or standing in line. When one is free of distractions, visualization becomes easier to achieve. Additionally, it can help pass the time when there is nothing interesting happening in the physical world. The chapter ends with a warning against letting the Virtual Reality process go too far. The text states that on one occasion, when Esther became overly excited about a new chip repair kit for her car and began thinking about using it, this focus immediately caused her to get a chip in her windshield.
Part 2, Chapter 5 Summary: “The Prosperity Game”
The Prosperity Game is presented as a fun and effective way to shift one’s vibration in order to attract financial abundance. The person is asked to imagine a bank and put in an imaginary $1,000 deposit on the first day, then continue making bigger and bigger deposits that increase by $1,000 each day.
They are then told to write down exactly how they would spend the money and to think deeply about each theoretical purchase. As the days progress, the growing imaginary bank balance will encourage them to think bigger and more creatively. According to Abraham, this consistent focus on abundance helps to overwrite scarcity thinking and trains the mind to expect financial ease. The emotional response to “spending” money in this way increases one’s attraction to real prosperity through vibrational alignment.
Part 2, Chapter 6 Summary: “The Process of Meditation”
The process of meditation is process is presented as a simple yet powerful practice that can be carried out at any point on the Emotional Guidance Scale. The person is encouraged to set aside 15 to 20 minutes daily to sit quietly and focus on something neutral, such as their breathing, a sound, or something in their field of vision. This focus is intended to clear the mind of unconscious thoughts. The purpose is not to control thoughts entirely, but to slow the momentum of negative thinking. As resistant thoughts subside, clarity and a sense of connection should emerge. Abraham asserts that regular meditation helps people to align their vibration with Source Energy. In turn, this should make it easier to receive inspired ideas and accept their natural state of emotional well-being.
Part 2, Chapter 7 Summary: “Evaluating Dreams”
Evaluating Dreams is a process that aims to help individuals understand their vibrational patterns by paying attention to the content and tone of their dreams. In the text’s worldview, dreams are believed to be indicators of the dominant thoughts and feelings that each person holds. This is especially true of thoughts that exist outside of conscious awareness.
Upon waking, the individual is encouraged to record any dreams they remember and reflect on how they felt during and after the dream. This insight should help them to recognize whether they are moving toward or away from alignment. By identifying recurring themes, they can identify what they are thinking about most on a subconscious level. This will aid them in identifying destructive thought patterns in waking life as well as true desires that have been suppressed.
Part 2, Chapter 8 Summary: “Book of Positive Aspects”
The Book of Positive Aspects is a written exercise that trains the mind to focus on what is good, valuable, and uplifting in their own daily life. The individual selects any subject (e.g., a person, feeling, or experience) and then writes down everything that they appreciate about this topic (e.g., (the traits they admire in a person, the benefits of a job, or the qualities of a place they enjoy). This process is intended to activate the vibration of appreciation, which Abraham considers to be among the highest emotional frequencies. When writing down the positive aspects of things becomes a daily habit, the process will begin attracting more situations that match the writer’s improved outlook.
Part 2, Chapter 9 Summary: “Scripting”
In the scripting process, the person is asked to write a narrative of their future life as if it has already unfolded exactly as they desire. They are encouraged to describe events, emotions, and details in the present or past tense, as though recalling a wonderful memory. This imaginative writing practice helps align thoughts and emotions with the vibrational frequency of the person’s desire. By immersing themselves in the feeling of having their desires fulfilled, they begin to close the gap between wanting and receiving. According to Abraham, scripting fosters positive expectations and helps people to achieve creative clarity as the authors of their own experiences.
Part 2, Chapter 10 Summary: “Place Mat Process”
The Place Mat Process is a technique for reestablishing trust in the universe’s ability to handle life’s details. Trusting the universe to provide what is needed is a core tenet of Abraham’s philosophy. To carry out this process, the person is asked to draw a line down the center of a page. On one side, they write tasks that they intend to complete that day. On the other, they list responsibilities for which they will let the universe lead the way. This symbolic delegation allows them to focus their energy on the things with which they truly hope to align, while trusting that unseen forces will handle the rest. This process is meant to encourage emotional relief and a greater sense of cooperation with Source.
Part 2, Chapter 11 Summary: “Segment Intending”
To practice Segment Intending, the person is told to pause before each new activity or event and to set a clear intention for what they want to feel or experience during that time. Each change of setting is considered the beginning of a new “segment.” Examples include starting a meeting, driving to a location, or entering a room. By becoming deliberate in their focus on a small, immediate scale, the person will begin to align their energy with their desired outcomes in advance. Segment Intending aims to help individuals live more consciously and deliberately.
Part 2, Chapters 1-11 Analysis
The first 11 processes in Ask and It Is Given present a series of systems for emotional and vibrational self-regulation, rooted in the central premise of The Law of Attraction as the Main Universal Truth. These initial processes are not meant to be isolated techniques; instead, they are framed as interrelated tools that develop self-awareness, emotional guidance, and deliberate creation. Like the rest of the book, they reflect a broader metaphysical and psychological framework that blends elements of New Thought philosophy, cognitive reframing, and mindfulness-based practices. The Hicks philosophy finds its inspiration in a wide range of different metaphysical and psychological schools of thought.
At their core, these processes are intended to serve a single function: helping people to achieve emotional alignment with Source. In the Hicks framework, “Source” is synonymous with one’s higher self or spiritual essence, and it is always in a state of unconditional love, abundance, and joy. The Hicks claim that although the physical body acts as a vessel for Source Energy, it can also introduce resistance that can draw the individual away from these highest levels of emotion. The Processes are meant to gently shift the user’s focus away from resistance and toward alignment. Unlike traditional goal-setting, which emphasizes effort and conscious action, these methods emphasize maintaining emotional awareness and focus as prerequisites for change. In this way, the authors recommend embracing The Practice of Deliberate Thought and “Allowing.”
By introducing a series of easily applicable daily practices, the authors provide people with a practical framework and actionable steps for experimenting with the broader, more abstract ideas that “Abraham” presents. The primary purpose of these first processes is emotional tuning. For example, the so-called “Rampage of Appreciation” is a momentum-building practice that uses a strong focus on gratitude to raise an individual’s emotional set point. Similarly, the practices titled “Which Thought Feels Better?” and “Wouldn’t It Be Nice If…?” emphasize the importance of relative emotional improvement, applied step by step. These techniques collectively suggest that a person’s emotional state—not external validation or immediate outcomes—is the true measure of their spiritual progress. The Hicks believe that over time, these process can bring any individual into a divine state of alignment. It is important to note that their descriptions of this state closely echo Abraham Maslow’s concept of the peak experience: an overwhelming sense of indescribable joy and fulfillment.
Additionally, a defining characteristic of these processes is their use of imagination as a transformational tool. Exercises such as the “Creative Workshop,” “Virtual Reality,” and “Scripting” use visualization as a type of rehearsal for manifestation. The Hicks approach states that these imagined acts are not just mental exercises, but vibrational waves that summon matching experiences through the Law of Attraction. Similarly, processes like the “Magical Creation Box” and the “Place Mat Process” reinforce the importance of surrendering to the wisdom of Source during the creation cycle. The Creation Box externalizes desire, clarifying intentions while encouraging a kind of ritualized “letting go.” This approach is similar to the common spiritual practice of writing down wishes and releasing them. Finally, the “Place Mat Process” urges people to distinguish between those things that are their responsibility and those that are better left to the universe. This idea echoes the concept of surrendering to divine will, which is found in many spiritual traditions, including Christian mysticism.
Another unifying theme involves teaching people to focus their attention on their desires, especially the positive emotions surrounding these desires. Each process encourages users to become highly conscious of where their mental focus lies and to deliberately redirect it if necessary. “Segment Intending,” for instance, teaches people to guide their experience by setting specific intentions. This method suggests that in Abraham’s view, life is not one continuous stream of experience but a series of discrete “segments,” with each new experience being an opportunity to realign one’s energy. “Evaluating Dreams” similarly encourages introspection, using dreams’ content and symbolism as indicators of vibrational patterns. The underlying message is that emotional awareness is always available, even during sleep, and should be used as a tool for conscious alignment.
As a whole, these processes (while largely unverified) encourage people to undergo a shift in their outlook from reactive to creative. This approach highlights the reversal of causality that is central to the Abraham philosophy. In this view, people do not feel better because of external life changes; they instead must cause these changes by feeling better. This inversion of cause-and-effect directly challenges most materialist schools of thought but aligns with metaphysical traditions such as New Thought, which stress the idea that inner alignment is the cause of outer transformation.
From a psychological standpoint, many of these processes can be viewed as basic emotional regulation tools. They allow people to adjust their emotional state through focus, imagination, intention, and gratitude. Like the rest of the book, the processes do not claim to demand immediate perfection or forced positivity. Instead, they endorse incremental improvement, compassion for the self, and emotional awareness. Even those who do not subscribe to the metaphysical worldview of the Law of Attraction may find value in these methods, using them as structured ways to improve emotional resilience and improve positive thinking.
Abraham emphasizes that every process is more effective when practiced consistently and with a spirit of curiosity rather than obligation. The text emphasizes that feeling good is not a reward for achieving good things; instead, it is a path that itself defines the meaning of life. In this way, the first 11 processes form a foundation not just for manifestation but for daily living. While some may see the Law of Attraction as simplistic or overly idealistic, the underlying principles of the Hickses’ worldview reflect the core elements of many spiritual traditions and modern psychological processes.
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