‘If you can see it in your mind, you can hold it in your hand’—we’ve all heard a variation of this phrase and if you manifest regularly, you know it’s true. It’s what makes our species so special; we dream and that through that, we are able to accomplish extraordinary feats. We can make anything our reality if we know how.
There’s a reason why manifestation is so attractive to us. Since the turn of the twentieth century, literature exploring the idea of exerting energetic influence on your life through thought has found its way on best-seller lists. You’ve likely seen titles like The Science of Getting Rich (1910), Think and Grow Rich (1937), The Power of Positive Thinking (1952), and The Secret (2006) on a coffee table or two, all of them centered around ‘manifestation’ (or the law of attraction).
While you might find these books helpful, they are not the only path to developing your manifestation abilities. My knowledge of manifestation derives from what I was taught during my initiation into the Akashic Records in 2020–which is that manifestation is a threefold act which first begins in the mind. People often stall at this first step, usually from a place of unawareness, which is okay! Manifesting is an art form and, like anything else, requires patience.
Think of it as a sort of balancing act between you and your ego. Human beings are not static creatures, our moods are constantly ebbing and flowing. There can be times when we feel inadequate, or our will is weak, and the act of manifestation can act as an exercise in claiming back your power. Alternatively, for the times when we can’t seem to get out of our own way, manifestation can act as an exercise in letting go—in remembering that you are working with the universe, the universe is not working for you.
Step 1: Visualization
Visualization can be a powerful first step in creating the life you deserve. However, as is the case with most spiritual practices, one size does not fit all. Visualization should be exercised in the manner most suited to the person.
For some, meditation can be a useful tool throughout the visualization step. Intentionally setting aside time to daydream can be a liberating experience, especially framed within the reality of a capitalistic culture which can, and often does, influence us to feel guilty when we’re not monetizing our free time.
For others–particularly those who struggle with meditation or who experience aphantasia–making a vision board might be a more feasible option. It doesn’t have to be a solemn affair, either! Invite some close friends over and host a vision board party; adult arts and crafts are a highly underrated and therapeutic pastime.
There is no wrong or right way to visualize your blessings–there is only what works for you. And the more specific the better, if only to recognize when your wishes are granted.
Step 2: Vocalization
Vocalization is a method meant to help bring your visualization into the material realm. Say your manifestations out loud. It doesn’t matter where it gets done: whether it’s in the shower, on your way to work, at night before bed. Itonly matters that it is done. It’s important, during this process, to pay attention to your body. What sort of feelings come up? How does it react?
Most often, the first feeling is shame. It can be a little embarrassing to talk to ourselves out loud. Usually, the second feeling is fear. It’s safer to stay in our minds because the devil we know (our inner critic) is comfortable there. But fear and faith can’t live in the same house, which is why the vocalization step is an opportunity to break down any limiting beliefs we have about ourselves.
This step is also meant to act as an authenticity check. Oftentimes, we can get swept up in wanting what our family or peers want for us. There is no shame in this; we’re tribal creatures, we crave connection–even at the cost of what conformity brings. Vocalization can be a reminder to return to a place of inner-authority.
Step 3: Venturing
Elizabeth Gilbert, in her famous novel Eat, Pray Love, popularized an Italian joke she heard while traveling abroad: it begins with a man who goes to church every day to pray to the statue of a great saint to bless him with “the grace to win the lottery.” It ends with that statue coming to life and begging the man to “Please, please, please… buy a ticket.”
Which is to say, all of the visualization and vocalization in the world won’t work if there is no action behind it. Newton’s laws of motion clearly state that a body at rest remains at rest–unless acted upon by an outside force. You are that outside force! You are the master of your own fate and the captain of your own soul. The universe does not respond to spiritual panhandling; it responds to leaps of faith.
So leap! And let yourself be surprised by the swiftness with which the universe will rise to meet you.