My Next Chapter: Applying the Principles of Manifestation
The Basics of Manifestation
There are many ways to implement manifestation, and as you get more adept at the practice, the more complex your rituals can become. Most practices can be broken down into the following steps:
Choose what you want to manifest
Visualise and/or script your desires
Identify and remove obstacles
Take action
Acknowledge and be grateful
To really understand the practices I am going to share, you must understand the terminology associated with manifestation. Visualising is a technique that requires you to imagine your manifestation and focus on the feelings, sensations, and images related to achieving your goal. Scripting is a technique that involves writing down your manifestations. It requires only that you write in the present or past tense, as if you have already achieved your goal. Affirmations are short, positive mantras that you repeat to yourself to reprogram your subconscious and change your mindset. Manifestation Blocks refer to anything that prevents or obstructs you from manifesting successfully. It can include negative thoughts, bad timing, bad habits, toxic people, or bad relationships. They can block you from taking action. They may also stop you from really believing the affirmations you are using.
Positivity is the leading virtue within manifestation, but positivity alone is not enough. You need belief, patience, and willingness to conduct a well-rounded and successful manifestation. You must believe in the process! This is fundamental. If you don't believe in the process, the universe isn't going to take you seriously. Patience is also important, as big changes need time. Finally, you must be willing to act. You must make efforts towards your dreams - it's not enough to expect the universe to do all the work for you. If you don't try to take notice of the signs around you, you'll miss all of the work the universe is doing!
Putting Together a Manifestation
Trying to decide what to manifest can be very hard. The good news is - you can manifest many things at the same time! You don't need to be picky and get bogged down in trying to be perfect. However, a word of warning, not all affirmations are created equally. Those linked to material gain can be fickle. Affirmations that negatively impact others will largely go ignored or come at a cost. The principles behind manifestation rely on positivity attracting positivity, so choosing something positive that can shift your perspective is always a good start.
If you're unsure what to manifest, consider the following prompts:
What would you want to do if money were no object?
What big dreams do you have?
What qualities do you see in other people that you would like to possess?
Visualising and scripting come next, and these are perhaps the most functional steps. This is the process of creating and repeating the affirmation. To generate a powerful affirmation, it is important to feel the feelings associated with achieving the results of the affirmation. Of course, it can be tricky to find the right verbiage - but that's ok! Start with a simple sentence, then refine it as you visualise your empowered self. Soon enough, you will have an affirmation that you resonate with. Let's take an example - feel free to copy this one, or use your own:
"I am a confident person, and I find it easy to talk to new people and create meaningful friendships."
Close your eyes and recite the affirmation to yourself. Think of the images that come with those words. A group of people laughing together with you, perhaps. A chance encounter at a coffee shop followed by a deep, meaningful conversation about a topic you are currently interested in. A friendly conversation with a stranger sitting next to you at the theatre. Give it a try - see what comes to mind!
Now, how do you feel about this new image? Focus on the positive feelings of confidence, comfort, security, excitement, and so on. Let those feelings fill you up. Congratulations! You have your affirmation visualised - now it's time to repeat it to train your subconscious to believe it!
Manifestation Techniques
You have your feelings, you have your affirmation, the next step is to repeat it. Most practices follow the line that writing is your ritual for repetition, and that's perfectly fine! There are other ways too, such as using sound, images, smells, touch, and even taste! The important thing is to build an association.
Let's start with scripting. Scripting is simply a fancy word for writing. There are simple strategies you can follow when starting - the important thing is to treat the manifestation practice as a ritual. Repeat your visualisation and scripting for as long as necessary until your affirmation comes true.
Don't forget to choose actions during your day that support your affirmation. For the affirmation above, you could say hello to a stranger, ask a shop worker how their day is going, or call a loved one for a quick catch-up. You train yourself to lean into action that supports your affirmation because you can already feel the positive feelings associated with the affirmation coming true. That gives you a sense of safety in the unknown. It helps you to open doors you wouldn’t think of even approaching.
Here are some strategies you can use, arranged from low intensity to high intensity:
The Pillow Method
Intensity: Low; requires writing one time
Timing: Long; continue the exercise for as long as required
Usage: For very detailed affirmations
Gather a pen and a piece of paper. Write your affirmation on the paper - you can be as descriptive as you like, because you will only write this down once. When you next go to bed and are ready to sleep, read what you have just written, then place it under your pillow and sleep on it. The next morning, take it out and read it again. Set aside the paper so you can repeat this the next night, and so on until your affirmation comes true.
This technique reinforces your affirmation by ensuring it is the first thing you see in the morning and the last thing you think about at night. Since your text can be long and detailed, this method may take longer to come true.
The 3-6-9 Method
Intensity: Medium; requires writing 3 times per day
Timing: Medium; the exercise is completed over 33 days
Usage: For affirmations achievable within a month
This technique requires more writing, so grab a fresh notebook and a pen. It is prudent to use a dedicated notebook for your affirmations, so it is easy to track your progress throughout the exercise. Determine your affirmation, and write it in the notebook 3 times in the morning, 6 times in the afternoon, and 9 times just before bed. The numbers 3, 6, and 9 are said to be spiritually significant and hold power in the universe. Repeat this exercise for 33 days, and by then your affirmation should have come true.
Don't be discouraged if it doesn't - the universe may need some more time. You can continue for longer, or change your affirmation. These rituals are blueprints, and you are encouraged to make alterations to suit your beliefs. As before, ensure you follow up this exercise with positive action - even if it is small.
The 55 x 5 Method
Intensity: High; requires a dedicated timeslot during your day
Timing: Short; the exercise is completed over 5 days
Usage: For simple affirmations and quick results
Similar to the 3-6-9 method, you will be writing frequently. This method aims to be more intense but cover a shorter number of days, so I can be powerful if you need help from the universe quickly. Be sure to make reasonable requests with your affirmations. After all, these should be something that can be delivered in just 5 days! Set out a time during your day to sit down and write your affirmation out 55 times. It is helpful to use lined paper, indicating the 55th line, so you focus on the writing instead of the counting.
Repeat this for 5 days, and profit!
How to use Glimmers
A glimmer is a reminder for your manifestation. I like to use the word glimmer because it avoids the negative connotations of the word "trigger". The writing techniques above are forms of glimmers, as you have dedicated moments during your day to focus on your affirmation. A glimmer is anything that reminds you to focus on your affirmation. As you explore manifestation, you can introduce other forms of glimmers such as sound, smell, or touch. For example, using a specific scented candle while scripting can associate your affirmation with the smell. If you smell that scent while out in the world, you will be reminded of your affirmation. Playing a particular song during your manifestation practice also achieves the same goal. The possibilities are endless!
Is That All?
Far from it! Your manifestation ritual can become more complex by combining techniques. You can also work on several manifestations concurrently using different methods. Be wary of trying too much too fast, it can be overwhelming. And yes, there are other strategies besides just writing the same sentence repeatedly. To name a few:
Vision Board - A collection of images, text, and reminders of your affirmation. Decorate a large piece of card and prop it up somewhere you will see it frequently. It's a visual glimmer!
Manifestation Box - A box containing collections of pictures, quotes, trinkets, magazine clippings - you name it! The box is a physical representation of your affirmation. It's like a vision board you can hold in your hands.
A Letter from Future You - Visualise your goal and let it take you over as you imagine your life during a time when you've achieved your goal. Write about how it feels, and what you did to get there. Use this to write your past self a letter. Viola! Now you possess a letter from your future explaining how to achieve your dream!
Of course, there are many more strategies out there. I am sharing a few to show you the breadth of options available. If you try these strategies out and want to explore some more, there are many resources available online. For one, you can peruse my blog and social media to learn more. My recommendation would be The Little Book of Manifestation. It talks about far more than I’ve shared here, so it would be a good starting point if you enjoyed learning about (or trying) the techniques I have shared above.
It is important to learn to be patient with the universe and tackle the negative energy that hampers your progress - so-called manifestation blocks. A common blocker, especially for those new to the practice, is a lack of belief. The good thing is that I have two simple techniques to share to help get over this blocker if you find yourself questioning the process. Pair these together for a strong defence against negative thoughts affecting your rituals.
Turn the blocker on its head and use affirmations to reprogram your thinking. Try this:
“The universe is ready and willing to give me what I desire.”
This affirmation can help you as it starts to build trust in the process. As you start to feel the negative thoughts get quieter while you practice, you begin to see the power behind these rituals. As you work on this affirmation, take a look at your other affirmations and start to keep track of any signs or clues you might notice linked to your manifestations. For example, if you are manifesting money, note down any ads you see or comments made by friends. They might be small and innocuous, but at some point, you will come across something that saves you money or gives you an unexpected windfall.
My Experience with Manifestation
As I read The Little Book of Manifestation for the first time, several techniques stood out that I was shocked to realise I had already participated in!
I follow a similar practice to the Pillow Method, except I store my affirmations on a note widget on my phone’s home screen. Every time I unlock my phone, I see an affirmation written there. Where better to place one! The first affirmation I wrote was, "Be Intentional", and I live by that now. Every choice I make should have intention behind it. It is my way of saying, "Don't let habits rule your time!". Just because something is comfortable and safe doesn't mean I should always choose that option.
Expanding on this idea, I started to add more to my list. These are short phrases that I noted in my writing. As a collection, they resemble a digital manifestation box. When I'm feeling lost, I flick through my list and see if any of them spark me to pursue a positive course of action. This process of looking for guidance is akin to the manifestation tool called an Affirmation Station. An affirmation station is a collection of short affirmations you can pull out whenever you need a pick-me-up, like a cup of positivity.
I love to use touch as a glimmer. I am currently wearing a small bracelet upon which I bestowed an affirmation. Every time I see it or think of it, I touch it between my fingers and am reminded to think of my affirmation. I plan on making new bracelets upon which to bestow other affirmations. I can introduce these glimmers to my wardrobe every day.
In January 2025, I started a habit of journaling every day. I've gone through periods of journaling over the years, but now I use an app on my phone that integrates a mood tracker. I keep up with this every day - I take a few minutes each night to document what happened during the day, and click the emoticons for my mood and emotions. The more I followed this practice, I noticed that my writing evolved into writing longer passages about my hopes for tomorrow and the coming weeks. This aligned me with another technique in the book - scripting your day. This works by taking a few minutes in your morning to write out your accomplishments for the day, as if you have already completed them. It sets you up for success by conditioning you to feel good about already finishing the day.
One final practice that I will mention is my dream journal. I started it the week I decided to read The Little Book. I intended to write in the notebook once per week, about what I was feeling that day and what I planned to achieve in the coming week. The text is focused just on positive movements. If I don't complete something I set out to do last week, that's alright, things change. Instead, I focus on the goals for next week. I always look forward to what progresses me, rather than linger on what I failed to do. It forces a change in the way that I perceive failure. Now I can see the incremental actions I take each week and where those small steps take me. In a previous life, I would obsess over not doing everything I set out to do. That kind of thinking isn’t helpful as it drowns out the actual progress I did make.
Combining my practices, I've realised that not all manifestations are equal. Sometimes I get it wrong by seriously underestimating the time needed for the manifestation to come true. Others are just right and help me navigate the tough times. My affirmation of "be intentional" means that I can always trust I did the best thing for myself in that moment. That means when the end of the week comes and I notice a goal that has gone unaccomplished, I give myself grace and understanding that circumstances changed, and that's ok! I still made some progress that week by showing up and continuing to follow my rituals.
Takeaways From This Series
I've presented a lot of information to you, and am conscious that I have the benefit of full context behind all that I have written. If you are intrigued by the subtle art of manifestation and want to try it out - go for it! You'll find what works for you eventually. I was fortunate enough to realise I already have little habits that coincide with manifestation so naturally. I trust this process. If you want to formalise your starting point, I suggest investing in yourself and buying a detailed guide such as The Little Book of Manifestation.
I will leave you with these 5 takeaways:
Manifestation is a collaboration between you and the universe.
The law of attraction states that we attract into our lives whatever we focus our energy on.
Manifestation is a shift in mindset and requires positive action, and is compatible with other belief systems
Different practices work in different ways. Find which ones suit you and your purpose.
Invest in yourself!
Stay positive!
Kiki <3
