Letter from a manifestation girlie 💌
Manifestation has become another one of those things that get associated with womanhood, and are thus looked down upon. It’s constantly misinterpreted, judged, and dismissed as a ‘silly girly thing’. Some people have genuine critiques of the technique too, stating valid points about privilege and systematic barriers. So let’s do a deep dive into what manifestation really means.
✦ What is manifesting?
If I had to define it, I’d simply say it’s creating your reality by understanding and shifting your beliefs about your reality. This is backed by ✨neuro-science✨ but it raises many philosophical, spiritual, and even socio-economic questions.
What manifesting isn’t is wishful thinking or making a wish. Wishing and manifesting are the opposite of each other. Wishing assumes you don’t have something (therefore you’re wishing for it) while manifesting believes you already have it. In the process of manifesting, you realize what beliefs you have internalised, and how they are unconsciously or subconsciously driving your life. This process helps you seamlessly shift those beliefs so you can actually hold your dream life without sabotaging it.
Manifestation appeals to the ego, and it is that same ego that repulses someone from manifesting. The idea that you can control your reality makes you feel powerful. But if you have the power to create, you also have the power to destroy. And that feels intimidating. But accepting your power is itself a deeply spiritual AND mundane process. You are already exercising your power to choose how you spend your time, what you eat, who you keep in your life, and what you engage with. Manifestation makes you aware of something you’ve always been doing. And awareness is a gift!
✦ The Role of Privilege
Your subconscious mind is always creating your reality. Your reality reflects the beliefs you hold, but it also reflects other people’s beliefs. We don’t exist in isolation. The collective reality and individual reality merge and diverge at different points. Systematic issues are very real and privilege plays a huge role. Of course it’ll be easier to manifest money when you already come from a rich family (because you have a safety net and your nervous system feels safe manifesting money.)
Manifesting doesn’t attempt to gloss-over these concerns. You don’t need to turn into a spiritually bypassing person who ignores the grim reality of the world. You DO need to reclaim your power whenever and wherever you can. Awareness of the corrupt systems of the world shouldn’t lead to a sense of helplessness. That doesn’t benefit you or any other marginalised person. (It does benefit the people who are already in power though!)
Manifesting helps you embody the power you already have. It helps you add more magic to your life, and in the process you realize that you are the magic. We all deserve that.
✦ Manifestation is instant
The moment you manifest something, it’s already done. Let’s say Point A is you affirming that you’re living your dream life. Point B is you realizing: ‘I AM living my dream life’. Thenthe path that would take you from point A to B is created the moment you affirm. That path is called the ‘bridge of events’. This can be a straightforward path, or a weird curvy path. But that part is none of your business. It’s the Universe’s job.
A good analogy is how a plane’s trajectory is decided before it ever takes off. Think of the flight path as the bridge of events, and the pilot as the Universe. Surrendering to the Universe is a big part of manifestation. So in a beautiful way you’re appealing to your ego while also telling it to calm down. And as humans, we have blind spots. The Universe doesn’t. You get your desire in that way that’s most aligned and beneficial for you.
✦ Manifestation and Astrology
The manifestation community seems to have an issue with astrology, because they think astrology limits you. We all know that’s not true. Astrology doesn’t limit you, and manifestation doesn’t give you 100% unlimited control.
Astrology reflects everything. If you’re manifesting something, astrology will reflect that too! Neither exist to bound you because energy is simply a reflection, not a cage. Astrology can also show you the timing of the previously mentioned bridge of events!
How perfectly the two merge <3
✦ What to do if you’re manifesting but it’s not working?
Trick question! Manifestation always works, whether you see proof of it or not. This is where the delusion optimism comes in. It comes more naturally to some, usually Jupiterians lol. The secret is believing that it’s all working out even if you can’t see it (because it is!) It helps to cultivate an understanding of spiritual processes. For example: you are manifesting your dream life. What would that require? For your current life to shift towards that dream life. And that process canbe messy. If your new dream life has to exist, the old one may have to crumble (depending on what your current life looks like.) This can look like a break-up, losing friends, losing a job, or things seemingly not working out. But once you realize how these things work, you start to notice when the supposed bad thing is clearing the path for the good thing.
✦ How does manifestation play into the fatedness of things?
That’s a philosophical question, and before you rush to find an answer, try to realize that ‘finding’ the answer is the answer! But if you really need an answer, consider this: what if everything is fated, including the fact that you’ll manifest something?
✦ Two (fun) techniques to manifest
Affirmations: My favourite one because it always works. You repeat whatever you’d like to be true: either out loud while looking in a mirror, or in your head right when you’re about to fall asleep. This is essentially rewiring your subconscious mind. Robotic affirming is repeating the same thing over and over in your head, anytime and as much as you can. This floods your subconscious mind. Soon enough, your reality reflects whatever you’re manifesting.
Vision boards and scripting: Vision boards add a visual element to manifesting and it’s almost easier for the subconscious to work with that. We all know what vision boards are: use them! Scripting is writing out whatever you want to be true in present (or past) tense, as if it has already happend or is currently happening. You’re supposed to be very specific and add as many details as possible. And if nothing else, it helps you realize what you truly want in life and that’s a great start!
Lastly, manifestation is not a one-time ritual. It’s something you’re doing all the time. Manifestation asks you: What beliefs do you hold about your life? The answer isn’t always something obvious. Manifestation is a commitment to yourself, it’s genuinely one of the highest acts of self love ♥︎
Do you want magic to be real? Well it is. Get out of your own way and embody it !!!
