Ask And It Is Given: Learning To Manifest Your Desires

Ask and It Is Given is a 2004 self-help book by Esther and Jerry Hicks. The book is presented as a channeled message from a collective consciousness named Abraham, who “speaks” through Esther to transmit knowledge to humanity. Although the legitimacy of this premise has never been confirmed by objective scientific studies, the primary aim of the text is to offer a practical guide to using the “Law of Attraction” to manifest desires and goals. The first half of the book offers an explanation of why manifestation works, as well as how physical reality is guided by the non-physical collective consciousness. The second part offers 22 processes through which manifestation can be practiced.

This guide is based on the 2004 edition published by Hay House, Inc. The audiobook of the same edition, which includes short additional interjections by Jerry Hicks, is also used as a reference.

Summary

Ask and It Is Given is a major text in the contemporary spiritual self-help genre. The text is presented as being the words of a collective consciousness known as Abraham, channeled through Esther Hicks and written down by Jerry Hicks. The book presents a metaphysical worldview in which each individual is a powerful beacon of Source Energy (or Source) and a creator of their own reality, operating within the framework of the Law of Attraction. This law states “that which is like unto itself is drawn” (29), reflecting the belief that people attract experiences and other people who match the frequency of their dominant thoughts and emotions.

At its core, the book is a step-by-step guide to becoming a “deliberate creator.” It argues that life is supposed to feel good, and that the natural state of every person is “Well-Being.” (Throughout the book, important words are intentionally capitalized for reasons that will be discussed later in this guide, and this style is duplicated in the guide when relevant). The text also contends that suffering, poverty, and discontent arise not from external circumstances, but from resistance to the infinite satisfaction that can be gained by aligning with one’s Source Energy.

The book is divided into two main sections. The first section lays out the philosophical groundwork, explaining “Abraham’s” view of the universe, human nature, and the mechanics of manifestation. The second section is a practical guide that presents 22 distinct processes for improving emotional states and achieving greater vibrational alignment.

The central idea of the book is what Abraham refers to as the Three Steps of Manifestation. Step one is “the Ask”; through life experience and exposure to wanted and unwanted things, individuals automatically identify their desires. This step happens naturally and continually. Step two is “It Is Given”; once a desire is identified and thought about, it is instantly acknowledged and answered by the universe and exists vibrationally as Source Energy. All desires can be manifested if the person is willing to move on to step three, “Allow.” This is presented as the most challenging but most important step. To receive what has been requested, individuals must align vibrationally with their desires by thinking positive thoughts and releasing resistance.

The authors emphasize that desires do not need to be justified or earned; they are inherently valid and are a natural part of the universe’s ongoing expansion. Asking and giving are presented as constant and impossible to avoid. In order to move on to allowance, the individual must accept that the universe is abundant and that their desires are not selfish.

In order to move on to the point of allowing desires to manifest, people must use their emotions as guidance. The authors present the Emotional Guidance Scale: a list of 22 emotional “set points” that manifesters can use to gauge how closely their thoughts align with the natural vibrations of Source. Positive emotions create alignment, while negative emotions create misalignment. Within this framework, the goal is not to suppress negative feelings but to replace them with positive emotions, thereby closing the “vibrational gap” between alignment and misalignment.

The Emotional Guidance Scale is depicted as a hierarchy of emotional states. Joy is at the top, along with similar feelings like empowerment and love. Near the center are emotions such as hopefulness and frustration, which are described as imperfect but useful in that they indicate potential movement. The bottom of the scale includes emotions like anger, fear, grief, and ultimately despair, which the book presents as the emotional opposite of joy. This scale is presented as a way to help individuals identify their own emotional state and begin improving it. The writers warn against attempting to skip through the scale in large leaps; instead, people should aim to improve their position on the scale incrementally.

Most of the 22 processes that comprise Part 2 of the book are meant to be carried out at specific emotional set points. The second half of Ask and It Is Given presents a practical toolkit for achieving emotional and vibrational alignment. Each process is supposed to help users shift their focus, re-frame their thoughts, and make their way toward vibrational alignment, which the authors claim will allow manifestation to occur. The authors insist that the reader should have fun while practicing their alignment skills, and they offer many positive, lighthearted processes, such as the Magical Creation Box or the Prosperity Game. Other methods, such as the Focus Wheel and Segment Intending, are more introspective and are often meant for people who are currently low on the Emotional Guidance Scale. The authors emphasize ease, emotional movement, and creative power in their descriptions of all of the processes, discouraging forced positivity, self-criticism, and doubt. The processes are meant to be repeatable, and the authors recommend using them as a resource no matter where one sits on the Emotional Guidance Scale.