How Edison Understood The Power Of Subconscious Mind
By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
10 December 2025
The quote by the great American inventor Thomas Alva Edison, "Never go to bed/sleep without a request to your subconscious," has always intrigued me.
It alludes to the power of utilizing our subconscious mind to achieve our desires and goals. Edison suggests that before we retire for the day, we should consciously formulate a request or a question for our subconscious to ponder upon during sleep.
By doing so, we tap into the immense potential of our subconscious mind to work on these thoughts and seek solutions while we slumber. It is a reminder that by harnessing the force of our unconscious thoughts, we can enhance our creativity, problem-solving abilities, and overall well-being.
Although we may not always be aware of it, our subconscious mind continues to process information and work towards fulfilling our intentions, even when we are not consciously aware of it. Thus, by making a deliberate request to our subconscious before bed, we align ourselves with the untapped reserves of creativity and intuition, allowing our mind's power to work its magic while we rest.
Remember, most of our thinking takes place in the subconscious realm, and “Eureka” moments occur due to this continuous subconscious thinking.
This is very true. Edison was aware of the power of one's subconscious mind and its hidden potential. What Edison said and hinted is now today's Law of Attraction, popularised by Joseph Murphy in his book ' The Power of your subconscious mind ' (1963). The book teaches how to reprogram your subconscious mind for success, health, and happiness through affirmations, visualization, and belief, influencing life's outcomes.
Then came Neville Goddard's ' Feeling is the secret' and 'The Power of Awareness,' James Allen's ' As a man thinketh, ' Rhonda Byrne's extremely popular ' The Secret ' (2006), Wallace Wattles' ' The Science of Getting Rich' (1910), Esther Hicks' ' Ask and it's given: Learning to manifest your desires', Louise Hay's books on manifestations and affirmations and many more books belonging to the same genre.
This shows that the mind of a gifted person and creative genius transcends time and space and it envisions the future. The real power of the subconscious mind is indeed untapped and unexplored. Today's New Age Psychology has begun to study this phenomenon to understand how it works. All said and done, I still have reservations about how the Law of Attraction works and one's manifestations become realities. Is it pop psychology or does it indeed work? Being a psychiatrist, Dr Ghulam may throw light on this subject.
Here I must add that Jalaluddin Rumi and the Buddha were aware of the power of one's thoughts which could become realities. But they were certainly not aware of the states of the human mind: Conscious, Subconscious and Unconscious. Rumi says that what you really want comes from the soul, which is a part of the larger universe. And so what your soul wants, the universe wants you to have. So, listen to that inner calling, that inner voice that whispers to you at all times.
Make the craving of your soul your desire and take action. And you will see that the whole universe conspires to make that happen. Here the word 'Conspire' doesn't mean 'Saazish' in Persian or 'Shadyantra' in Sanskrit. It means Qafift (A Pahlavi word for concerted efforts). This is what he means by what you want also wants you. What you seek is seeking you. Synchronicities and coincidences start happening as if the whole universe is working on your behalf. One Urdu poet, Tahir Khairabadi, aptly wrote, " Jo maanga, woh paaya / Par tabhi paaya jab dil se maanga " (I got whatever I craved but I got only when I desired from the recesses of my heart / soul). Elsewhere, the same poet wrote, " Kainaat dene ko taiyaar hai/ Par tujhe maangne se inkaar hai " (The Universe is ready to give but you're reluctant to ask for anything).
Rumi wants us to listen to that innate wisdom, move forward on that path, and have a strong faith that the universe will support us, and everything will work out: As you start to walk on the way, the way appears.
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A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/edison-power-subconscious-mind/d/137954
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