You’ve probably seen the sleek purple cover or heard someone at a coffee shop buzzing about "manifesting" their dream car. It’s everywhere. But honestly, most of the "manifestation" talk on TikTok today is a watered-down version of what started in a motorhome back in the 1980s. When we talk about the law of attraction book esther hicks published, we are usually talking about the 2006 classic The Law of Attraction: The Basics of the Teachings of Abraham.
It is a weird book. I’ll be the first to admit it.
The premise is that Esther Hicks isn't even the one writing it; she’s "translating" a collective of non-physical entities called Abraham. If that sounds like "voodoo" or some sci-fi plot to you, you aren't alone. Even Jerry Hicks, Esther’s late husband, was a total skeptic at first. He was a successful Amway guy who just wanted answers to life’s big questions. What they ended up creating became the blueprint for the modern self-help movement, including the massive hit The Secret.
The Core Concept: It’s Not Just "Positive Thinking"
Most people think the Law of Attraction is just about smiling until a check appears in the mail. That’s not what the book says. Basically, the core law is: That which is like unto itself is drawn. Everything is vibration. Your thoughts, your chair, your dog—everything.
According to Esther (and Abraham), you are a walking magnet. If you’re constantly complaining about being broke, you are vibrating at a "broke" frequency. The universe, being a literal machine in this philosophy, just gives you more things to complain about. It doesn’t judge; it just matches.
The Emotional Guidance Scale
This is probably the most practical part of the book. Most of us try to jump from "depressed" to "joyful" in one second. It never works. You just feel like a liar.
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The Hicks’ book introduces a scale. If you’re at the bottom (fear/despair), you can’t get to joy. But you can get to anger. Anger feels better than despair because it has more energy. From anger, you can move to frustration, then to boredom, then to hopefulness. It’s about reaching for the "next best-feeling thought."
- Joy/Appreciation/Empowerment (The Top)
- Passion
- Enthusiasm
- Optimism
- Hopefulness
- Contentment (The Tipping Point)
- Boredom
- Frustration/Irritation
- Disappointment
- Fear/Grief/Despair (The Bottom)
Why Everyone Talks About "The Vortex"
You’ve likely heard the term "The Vortex" tossed around in spiritual circles. In the world of the law of attraction book esther hicks fans love, the Vortex is a "vibrational reality."
Think of it as a cosmic waiting room.
Every time you feel a "contrast" (like someone cutting you off in traffic or a bill you can't pay), you instinctively desire the opposite (smooth traffic, financial abundance). The book claims that the moment you have that desire, the "vibrational version" of it is created and held in this Vortex. Your only job is to get your mood high enough to match it.
It sounds a bit out there, right? But the psychological takeaway is actually pretty sound: you notice opportunities more when you aren't stuck in a spiral of negativity.
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The Drama With "The Secret"
Here is a bit of tea that most people forget. Esther Hicks was actually the star of the original version of the movie The Secret. She was the one narrating it. But after a massive fallout with the producer, Rhonda Byrne, Esther’s footage was edited out of the "Extended Edition."
The dispute was mostly about money and royalties, but it changed the trajectory of the Law of Attraction's popularity. While The Secret went mainstream and made it sound like you just need to put a picture of a Ferrari on your wall, the Esther Hicks books are way more focused on the internal feeling rather than the external "stuff."
Is It Scientifically Backed?
Kinda... but mostly no.
If you're looking for hard physics, you won't find it here. Critics, like those mentioned in various skeptical journals and the Skeptical Inquirer, point out that "vibration" in spiritual terms doesn't match "vibration" in physics. It’s more of a metaphor.
However, there is a concept called the Reticular Activating System (RAS) in your brain. This is a real bundle of nerves that filters information. If you decide you want a blue car, you start seeing blue cars everywhere. Your brain is now tuned to that "frequency." The Hicks’ teachings basically use spiritual language to hack this neurological filter.
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How to Actually Use the Teachings
If you want to try this out without feeling like you've joined a cult, start small.
Segment Intending is one of the best tools in the book. Before you start a new part of your day—like getting in your car or starting a meeting—you pause for ten seconds. You say, "In this segment, I want to feel calm and efficient." That's it. You're just setting a tiny goal for your mood.
The Rampage of Appreciation is another one. It’s basically gratitude on steroids. You just start listing things you like. "I like my coffee. I like that the sun is out. I like these shoes." You keep going until your mood shifts. It’s hard to stay pissed off when you’re actively looking for things that don't suck.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest mistake? Trying to "manifest" from a place of lack.
If you're saying "I want more money" but you feel "I am poor," the Law of Attraction (per Hicks) responds to the feeling, not the words. You're just attracting more "wanting." To change it, you have to find a way to feel "abundant" now—even if it's just being grateful for the five dollars in your pocket.
Actionable Next Steps
If you want to dive into the law of attraction book esther hicks has made famous, don't just read it like a novel.
- Pick one "Process": The book Ask and It Is Given (which is the sister book to the main LOA text) has 22 different processes. Choose one, like the "Placebo Process" or "The Focus Wheel," and try it for 30 days.
- Audit your "Contrast": Spend a day noticing what you don't want. Instead of dwelling on it, immediately ask: "Okay, if I don't want this, what do I want?"
- Check your "Vibrational Tipping Point": Spend 17 seconds (a specific number Abraham mentions constantly) focusing on a pure, positive thought. If you can hold it for 68 seconds, the book claims the manifestation process truly begins to gain momentum.
Start by simply observing your mood without judging it. If you’re grumpy, you’re grumpy. Acknowledge it, and then see if you can find one thought that feels slightly better. That's the real "secret" to the whole thing.