The Master Key System Chapter 7 Summary
The Master Key System Chapter 7 deals with the idealization and visualization processes.
It shows us a way of ensuring the mental images in our mind become firm realities.
The process requires work and hence is neglected by the masses.
Those who persist will be rewarded greatly, they will have a directorial role in their lives.
Charles Haanel begins by explaining something you likely have taken for granted.
The notion that there are no limitations in the mental world.
When you visualize, you are not encumbered by the laws of physics, cost of materials, or any other restrictions from your physical world.
To most people this freedom means nothing.
They don’t understand the latent power which comes from creating mental images.
Haanel explains how creating with your mind is a three-step process.
How To Visualize – The Master Key System Chapter 7 Insights
Step One: Idealization
“First the general plan will be dim, but it will take shape, the outline will take form, then the details, and you will gradually develop the power by which you will be enabled to formulate plans which will eventually materialize in the objective world”
Idealization is the process through which your initial idea begins to take form in your mind.
Perhaps you are walking in the park and are hit with a potential business idea.
You begin to think about what you will sell, the name of the business, and other considerations.
At first, the picture is not fully developed, but with time more and more details will emerge.
This is the process that creates everything in the world.
Someone first has an idea which becomes the template of the creation.
Step Two: Visualization
“You must see the picture more and more complete, see the detail, and, as the details begin to unfold the ways and means for bringing it into manifestation will develop.”
When you visualize, you refine your ideal.
This process takes mental energy and is by no means passive.
You think in greater detail about what you want.
The image becomes more vivid and tangible in your mind.
Haanel explains how this is the process great inventors like Tesla use for their creations.
“My method is different. I do not rush into actual work. When I get an idea I start at once building it up in my imagination. I change the construction, make improvements, and operate the device entirely in my mind.”
— Nikola Tesla
Tesla was known for having powerful visualization skills.
He claims his ability to construct and test devices never failed him.
“Invariably my device works as I conceived it should; in twenty years there has not been a single exception.”
Tesla was a master at using his subconscious mind.
Step Three: Act on Opportunities
As you work on your visualizations, you will notice a myriad of interesting opportunities appearing in your world. Your task is to act on this gift.
There are many ways of realizing your ideal, but they all require work in the physical world.
The mental initiated the process, but you still need to take action.
There is both mental work and physical work required in manifestation.
The mental work sets the foundation through creating an intention.
You increase your chances of success by first thinking about what you would like.
The physical work finishes the sequence.
If you rush into physical work without having a good understanding of what you want, you will find you waste a lot of energy.
You will self-sabotage and likely won’t achieve the end you desire.
Why does this process work?
New thought teachings are largely based on Hermetic concepts.
The first Hermetic principle as explained in the Kybalion is ‘Mentalism’.
“The All is mind, the universe is mental.”
What Haanel calls The Universal Mind, or what religions call God or The Infinite is mental.
The fabric which created our universe is thought to be based on a higher consciousness which thinks things into existence.
It is also believed we all have a spark of this Universal Mind.
“It is the same mind operating through the individual. There is no difference in kind or quality, the only difference is one of degree.”
Hence, we are able to set forth creation on our plane of causation through changing how we think.
Charles Haanel’s Advice – Focus on Ideals
When creating you must focus on ideals.
Ignore the evidence of the senses which will take time to reflect your inner world.
Your job is to hold the ideal firmly in your mind through repetition and practice.
People fail at this because they get discouraged by outer conditions and regress back to negative thinking.
Focus on lack brings forth more lack.
Focusing on abundance brings forth abundance.
“How do you forget about pink elephants? Simple… Think about blue elephants.”
The masses believe in their outer world being a fixed reality.
New ideas which conflict with current reality are often deemed ‘impossible’.
Remember that majorities are always led, they never lead. It was the majority that fought, tooth and nail, against the steam engine, the power loom, and every other advance or improvement ever suggested.
— Charles Haanel
Have faith in your vision despite what others might say.
The Master Key System Chapter 7 Exercise
For your exercise this week, visualize your friend. See him exactly as you last saw him. See the room, the furniture, recall the conversation. Now see his face, see it distinctly. Now talk to him about some subject of mutual interest; see his expression change, watch him smile. Can you do this? All right, you can; then arouse his interest, tell him a story of adventure, see his eyes light up with the spirit of fun or excitement. Can you do all of this? If so, your imagination is good, you are making excellent progress.
This week’s exercise is a continuation of the foundations set in the previous exercises.
By now you have learned to sit still, and you have also learned to concentrate your mind on a static image.
Now you bring images alive through creating mental movies.
This exercise shows you the incredible power of visualization.
You can have mental conversations with your friend, and they will behave much like your real friend in reality.
If you want to spook yourself out, tell your mental friend a story and see how they react, then go do the same thing with your real friend.
Compare the reactions.
Do this, and I promise you will be one step closer to living and dying well.