Abraham Hicks: Esther Hicks, the Law of Attraction and the Emotional Guidance Scale

This is a quick-reference companion to the teachings of Abraham Hicks: the key terms in plain English, the complete Emotional Guidance Scale, all 22 processes from Ask and It Is Given, and the main ways to learn more, with current prices in US dollars. [1] [2]

Bookmark it and come back whenever a word or process comes up in a book, workshop or video and you want a fast reminder of what it means.

New to Abraham Hicks? Read our full Abraham Hicks expert profile for their life story, best videos, books and courses.

The teachings at a glance

Abraham is described by Esther and Jerry Hicks as “a group consciousness from the non-physical dimension.” The official synopsis of the teachings opens with these ideas: [1]

• You are a physical extension of that which is non-physical.
• The basis of your life is freedom; the purpose of your life is joy.
• You are a creator; you create with your every thought.
• As you are choosing your thoughts, your emotions are guiding you.

Three Universal Laws sit underneath everything: the Law of Attraction, the Law of Deliberate Creation and the Law of Allowing. Abraham describes the third as the one where “all of your personal power lies.” [3]

Glossary of key terms

These are the words you will meet most often in Abraham’s books and recordings.

• Law of Attraction: “That which is like unto itself is drawn.” It works like gravity, consistently and without needing practice. [3]
• Law of Deliberate Creation: by directing attention and thought toward the outcome you want, you can be, do or have what you choose. [3]
• Law of Allowing: letting in what you want by easing resistance, rather than pushing against what you don’t want. [3]
• Source Energy: the non-physical energy Abraham says you are an extension of, felt as love, joy and appreciation. [1]
• Alignment: the state in which you know you are free, powerful, good, loved and valued, and that “all is well.” [4]
• Vibration: the frequency your thoughts set; your emotions are indicators of it. [4]
• Point of attraction: what your current vibration is drawing to you. Abraham says your best chance to set it is when you first wake up. [5]
• Resistance: thoughts that hold you apart from what you want. Lower resistance feels better. [4]
• Contrast: life’s mix of wanted and unwanted, through which your preferences are born. [3]
• Well-stocked kitchen: Abraham’s image of a Universe with “every ingredient imaginable at your disposal.” [3]
• Vortex: shorthand for the state of alignment; the official store sells Getting Into the Vortex guided meditations. [5]

The complete Emotional Guidance Scale

Abraham compares the scale to a fuel gauge: the top is a full tank of connection, the bottom the emptiest. The 22 steps, excerpted from Ask and It Is Given, are: [4]

1. Joy, knowledge, empowerment, freedom, love, appreciation
2. Passion
3. Enthusiasm, eagerness, happiness
4. Positive expectation, belief
5. Optimism
6. Hopefulness
7. Contentment
8. Boredom
9. Pessimism
10. Frustration, irritation, impatience
11. “Overwhelment”
12. Disappointment
13. Doubt
14. Worry
15. Blame
16. Discouragement
17. Anger
18. Revenge
19. Hatred, rage
20. Jealousy
21. Insecurity, guilt, unworthiness
22. Fear, grief, depression, despair, powerlessness

The practice is to move up gradually, a step at a time, by choosing thoughts that bring relief. [4] This fits well with research suggesting positive emotions broaden thinking and build personal resources over time. [6]

All 22 processes from Ask and It Is Given

Part II of Ask and It Is Given offers 22 processes. Hay House describes them as a way to “improve your manifesting and help you feel more happiness now.” [2] Each suits a different place on the emotional scale; the earlier ones tend to work best when you already feel fairly good. [7]

1. Rampage of Appreciation: build momentum with one good-feeling thought after another. [7]
2. The Magical Creation Box: collect pictures and clippings of what you want and browse them playfully. [7]
3. The Creative Workshop: list what you want in each area of life, and why. [7]
4. Virtual Reality: imagine a detailed, enjoyable scene. [7]
5. The Prosperity Game: spend an imaginary deposit that grows by $1,000 each day. [7]
6. The Process of Meditation: quiet the mind and focus on the breath. [7]
7. Evaluating Dreams: notice how your dreams felt as a clue to your dominant thoughts. [7]
8. The Book of Positive Aspects
9. Scripting
10. The Place Mat Process
11. Segment Intending: set your intention before each new part of the day. [8]
12. Wouldn’t It Be Nice If…?
13. Which Thought Feels Better?
14. Clearing Clutter for Clarity
15. The Wallet Process
16. Pivoting
17. The Focus Wheel Process
18. Finding the Feeling-Place
19. Releasing Resistance to Become Free of Debt
20. Turning It Over to the Manager
21. Reclaiming One’s Natural State of Health
22. Moving Up the Emotional Scale

The full instructions for each are in the book. [2] [7]

Which process for which mood

A practical rule of thumb from the book’s structure is to match the process to how you feel. [7]

• Feeling good already: try the Rampage of Appreciation, Virtual Reality or the Creative Workshop to build on the momentum. Gratitude-style practices have research support for improving how people feel about their lives. [9]
• Feeling neutral or a little flat: Segment Intending and the Book of Positive Aspects help you choose a direction for the day. [8]
• Feeling low: the later processes, especially Moving Up the Emotional Scale, are designed for reaching for relief one step at a time. [4]

Books, subscriptions and events

Books. Ask and It Is Given (Hay House, list price $18.99 in paperback) is the core text, and The Astonishing Power of Emotions is another New York Times bestseller. A new book, The Art of Allowing, is due on 8 December 2026. [2] [5] [10]

Subscriptions (official prices, in US dollars): [5]

• Monthly: one 74-minute recording of workshop highlights each month, $12.95 MP3 or $15 CD.
• Twice monthly: two recordings a month, $25.90 MP3 or $30 CD per month.
• Masters: the full audio of every in-person workshop, $50 online audio or $60 CD per workshop.

Events. Abraham NOW online broadcasts can be watched live from anywhere in the world, with sessions scheduled on 4 and 18 November 2026. In-person workshops are listed in Dallas, Austin, Phoenix, San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles and San Antonio between November 2026 and February 2027. [5]

Key quotes to remember

• “If you have the ability to imagine it, or even to think about it, this Universe has the ability and the resources to deliver it fully unto you.” [3]
• “Your emotions are indicators of your vibrational frequency.” [4]
• “You are free. You are powerful. You are good. You are love. You have value. You have purpose. All is well.” [4]
• “Your best opportunity to control it is when you first awaken each morning.” [5]

Frequently asked questions

What are the three Universal Laws in Abraham Hicks?

The Law of Attraction, the Law of Deliberate Creation and the Law of Allowing, which Abraham calls the place where your personal power lies.

How many steps are on the Emotional Guidance Scale?

22, from joy, knowledge, empowerment, freedom, love and appreciation at the top to fear, grief, depression, despair and powerlessness at the bottom.

How many processes are in Ask and It Is Given?

22, from the Rampage of Appreciation to Moving Up the Emotional Scale.

How much does an Abraham Hicks subscription cost?

The monthly programme is $12.95 for MP3 or $15 for CD; the Masters programme is $50 online or $60 on CD per workshop.

What is the new Abraham Hicks book?

The Art of Allowing, due on 8 December 2026.

Keep exploring

• Abraham Hicks: full expert profile
• Abraham Hicks: beginner’s guide
• Law of attraction guide
• Meditation guide

Sources

1. Abraham-Hicks: About Abraham-Hicks and a synopsis of the teachings
2. Hay House: Ask and It Is Given by Esther and Jerry Hicks
3. Abraham-Hicks: Ask and It Is Given, chapter 16 (book excerpt)
4. Abraham-Hicks: Emotional Guidance Scale (excerpt from Ask and It Is Given)
5. Abraham-Hicks Publications: official site, daily quote, subscriptions and workshops
6. Fredrickson, The Role of Positive Emotions in Positive Psychology: The Broaden-and-Build Theory, American Psychologist 2001
7. The Joy Within: The 22 Abraham Hicks processes from Ask and It Is Given
8. Abraham-Hicks: #5 The Process of Segment Intending
9. Emmons and McCullough, Counting Blessings Versus Burdens, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
10. Abraham-Hicks: The Art of Allowing (new book, 2026)

By Saj Ali, founder of Self Help Supermarket.

If you are new to Abraham Hicks, the sheer amount of material can feel overwhelming: more than three decades of workshops, a shelf of bestselling books, thousands of video clips and a vocabulary all of its own. The good news is that the teachings themselves are simple, and you can start with just a few minutes a day. [1] [2]

Our full profile covers who Esther and Jerry Hicks are and the three Universal Laws at the heart of the teachings. This beginner’s guide is a practical starting path instead: what to read first, what the key words mean, and a simple 30-day plan for trying the ideas in your own life.

New to Abraham Hicks? Read our full Abraham Hicks expert profile for their life story, best videos, books and courses.

The whole message in one sentence

If you remember only one thing, make it this: according to Abraham, the basis of your life is freedom and the purpose of your life is joy. The official synopsis of the teachings adds that you are a creator who creates with every thought, and that “as you are choosing your thoughts, your emotions are guiding you.” [1]

Everything else builds on that idea. Abraham teaches that the better you feel, the more you are allowing what you want into your life, so the main daily task is simply to reach for thoughts that feel a little better. [3]

Esther and Jerry’s own advice to newcomers is refreshingly relaxed: check Abraham out for yourself, and if the words feel good to you, you are in the right place. Jerry, who called himself “Mr Practical,” put it plainly: “I don’t know what they are and I don’t care what they are. I’m just using them for the good it will do for myself and others.” [1]

Six words every beginner should know

The teachings use a handful of terms again and again. Knowing them makes every book and video easier to follow.

• Law of Attraction. “That which is like unto itself is drawn.” Abraham compares it to gravity: it works consistently, whether or not you know about it. [4]
• Deliberate Creation. The second law: by deliberately directing your attention and thoughts toward the outcome you want, you can be, do or have what you choose. [4]
• Allowing. The third law, which Abraham calls the place “where all of your personal power lies.” It means letting in what you want rather than pushing against what you don’t. [4]
• Source Energy. The non-physical part of you. Abraham describes moments of love, joy and bliss as feeling that energy flowing. [1]
• Emotional Guidance. Your emotions are “indicators of your vibrational frequency,” showing how aligned you are with what you want. [3]
• Contrast. Life’s mix of wanted and unwanted. Abraham teaches that knowing what you don’t want is how your preferences are born. [4]

Where to start reading

The most popular first book is Ask and It Is Given by Esther and Jerry Hicks, published by Hay House. It brings together the first 20 years of the teachings, covers the basics of the Law of Attraction and includes 22 practical processes for feeling better and improving your point of attraction. The paperback lists at $18.99 in the US and is widely available in the UK, Canada, Australia, India and beyond. [2]

A good way to read it is in two passes. Read Part I slowly for the ideas, then dip into Part II and choose one process that suits how you feel right now, rather than trying to do all 22. Louise Hay praised exactly this flexibility: “No matter where we are, there’s a process that can make our lives better.” [2]

If you prefer to listen, the official site offers monthly workshop highlight recordings and online broadcasts, and a new book, The Art of Allowing, is due on 8 December 2026. [5] [6]

Find where you are on the scale

The single most useful tool for beginners is the Emotional Guidance Scale. It lists 22 emotional states, from joy, appreciation and love at the top, through optimism, contentment and boredom, down to fear, grief and powerlessness at the bottom. [3]

The key beginner insight is that you don’t have to jump from the bottom to the top. Abraham describes the scale like a fuel gauge on a car: the aim is simply to move up a notch or two by finding a thought that brings a little relief. [3] Frustration feels better than overwhelm; hopefulness feels better than pessimism. Each small step counts.

Try it now. Name how you feel, find it on the scale, then ask: “What is a thought about this that feels just slightly better?” Our law of attraction guide has more ways to practise this.

Three easy processes to begin with

Ask and It Is Given contains 22 processes, but three are especially friendly for beginners. [2]

1. The Rampage of Appreciation. Speak or write a thought that feels good, notice the feeling, then find one that feels even better, letting the momentum build. It works best from a neutral or good mood. [7]
2. Segment Intending. Before each new part of your day, such as a drive, a meeting or a meal, pause and decide how you would like it to go. Abraham’s starter set describes it this way: “We are literally creating our future life as we direct our thoughts of this moment into the future.” [8]
3. The Creative Workshop. List what you want in a few areas of life, such as health, money and relationships, then write down why you want each one. [7]

All three are free and take five to ten minutes. Research on positive emotion offers a helpful backdrop: positive emotions are thought to broaden attention and build personal resources over time. [9]

A simple 30-day starter plan

The teachings stress that your best moment to set your point of attraction is when you first wake up. The official site’s daily quote puts it this way: “20 or 30 or 40 or 50 days of waking up in nonresistance and then deliberately focusing to maintain your state of lesser and lesser resistance will make a big difference in how you feel.” [5] With that in mind, here is a gentle month to try:

• Week 1: Notice. Each evening, note where you spent most of the day on the Emotional Guidance Scale. No judgment, just awareness. [3]
• Week 2: Mornings. Before you check your phone, spend five minutes on a Rampage of Appreciation. [7]
• Week 3: Segments. Add Segment Intending before three parts of each day. [8]
• Week 4: Reach. Whenever you feel a dip, reach for the next better-feeling thought on the scale. [3]

Appreciation sits at the very top of the scale, and gratitude research supports making it a habit: people who regularly noted things they were grateful for felt better about their lives. [10]

Going further

When you are ready for more, there are three easy ways to experience Abraham, according to the official site: in-person workshops (currently scheduled across Texas, Arizona and California into early 2027), live online Abraham NOW broadcasts you can watch from anywhere in the world, and recordings of past workshops. [5]

Subscriptions are another option. The monthly programme sends one 74-minute recording of workshop highlights each month, at $12.95 for MP3 or $15 for CD. [5]

Above all, keep it light. One of Abraham’s best-known messages, printed on the official journal, is that “Life is Supposed to be Fun.” [5]

Frequently asked questions

Where should a beginner start with Abraham Hicks?

With Ask and It Is Given by Esther and Jerry Hicks, which covers the basics of the Law of Attraction and includes 22 practical processes.

What is the main message of Abraham Hicks?

That the basis of life is freedom and its purpose is joy, and that your emotions guide you as you choose your thoughts.

What is the Emotional Guidance Scale?

A list of 22 emotions, from joy and appreciation at the top to fear and powerlessness at the bottom, used to find where you are and reach for a slightly better-feeling thought.

Which Abraham Hicks process is best for beginners?

The Rampage of Appreciation, Segment Intending and the Creative Workshop are simple, free and take only a few minutes.

Do I need to believe in channelling to use the teachings?

No. Jerry Hicks said he simply used the teachings for the good they did, and the official site invites you to keep whatever feels good to you.

Keep exploring

• Abraham Hicks: full expert profile
• Abraham Hicks: complete reference
• Law of attraction guide
• Motivation guide

Sources

1. Abraham-Hicks: About Abraham-Hicks and a synopsis of the teachings
2. Hay House: Ask and It Is Given by Esther and Jerry Hicks
3. Abraham-Hicks: Emotional Guidance Scale (excerpt from Ask and It Is Given)
4. Abraham-Hicks: Ask and It Is Given, chapter 16 (book excerpt)
5. Abraham-Hicks Publications: official site, daily quote, subscriptions and workshops
6. Abraham-Hicks: The Art of Allowing (new book, 2026)
7. The Joy Within: The 22 Abraham Hicks processes from Ask and It Is Given
8. Abraham-Hicks: #5 The Process of Segment Intending
9. Fredrickson, The Role of Positive Emotions in Positive Psychology: The Broaden-and-Build Theory, American Psychologist 2001
10. Emmons and McCullough, Counting Blessings Versus Burdens, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003

By Saj Ali, founder of Self Help Supermarket.