My Next Chapter: Learning About Manifestation
The Little Book of Manifestation
My first formal introduction to manifestation was through The Little Book of Manifestation by Astrid Carvel. The circumstances by which I came to purchase the book were curious, as I cannot recall anything beyond a moment of inspiration. This is perhaps one of the reasons I feel so connected to the practice, as I've grown to trust my instincts and gut feelings after many years of overanalyzing and overplanning.
I recall it so clearly - it was a regular day mid-December 2024, and I was finalising my Christmas shopping, when I said to myself - "I need to treat myself to something new for Christmas". As I walked around an arts and crafts shop picking up supplies, I stopped to see what books were on sale. This book stood out to me from the lowest shelf - it seemed silly that such a physically small book would be hidden so low down like that. The back of the book sold it to me - "bring your aspirations into being as you learn how to wield the power of positive energy". I picked it up that day as a treat to myself - who doesn't love the idea of wielding the power of positive energy?
I had heard of the concept of manifestation in media before, so while it wasn't a new concept, I had never spent time learning about it. This was a chance to dip my toe in and see what it was all about. However, it would be another 3 months before I would get around to reading it.
The book is quaint, fitting comfortably in one hand, and running a modest 127 pages. A quick flick through it reveals that pages of text are interspersed with quotes, tips, and lists, so it is not just paragraphs upon paragraphs of text. The chapter list reveals that 90 pages or so are dedicated to the practices and guides on how to apply manifestation in your daily life - I love a practical guide!
What is Manifestation?
Manifestation has different meanings to different people, which makes it a fluid and flexible tool. Each person who resonates with the practice would find definitions that they connect with the most. For me, it is simply a practice of bringing your aspirations into being through positive thoughts and positive energy. I also subscribe to the idea that it is a collaboration between you and the universe. You announce your desires and wait for the universe to give you the opportunities to act and bring those desires into reality. At the end of the day, manifestation is about finding happiness in your life.
While this may sound abstract and vague, it should become clear that manifestation can be thought of as a form of belief system with you at the centre. It allows you to abstract your desires in a way that guides you to building a positive mindset, helps you establish clear goals, and provides strategies for dealing with mental blockers.
At its core, manifestation is a form of subconscious reprogramming. Our brains are wired to find comfort, which is why we always go back to our comfort foods and cosy TV shows. Manifestation uses this instinct to help you train your subconscious to find comfort in new experiences, therefore giving you the strength to say yes to new opportunities.
Many celebrities believe in the power of manifestation. Now, I'm not saying that you should believe just because celebrities do, but it can be validating when someone you look up to expresses similar views. I was floored to learn that Lady Gaga is a huge believer in manifestation. As an avid fan of hers for over 16 years, I shouldn't be surprised by the way she talks about the world and the power of the human spirit. Oprah, Jim Carrey, and Maya Angelou are a few others named in The Little Book.
There are two very public stories I've witnessed in recent years that show me the power of manifestation. The first is for all the Gleeks out there who watched Rachel Berry put everything she had into dreaming about playing Fanny Bryce on stage in Funny Girl. Of course, Glee is a TV show; however, the character of Rachel was very much written with Lea Michele in mind - and lo and behold, she played Fanny Bryce in the 2022 revival of Funny Girl on Broadway! A similar story applies to Ariana Grande and her role as Glinda in the Wicked movie. Fans of Ariana will know that Glinda enthralled her as a child, and it has been a lifelong dream of hers to play Glinda one day - well, that day finally came in 2024!
What Manifestation is Not
Manifestation is not magic. It is not a wand-wavey solution to life's problems. It is a tool that requires care, practice, and belief. Manifestation works on positive energy, so if your desires are not rooted in positivity, the universe is unlikely to help.
As a collaboration between you and the universe, you need to trust that the universe has a better plan for you than you do. This can sometimes mean that it has other ideas for you beyond that promotion you've been chasing for years, or that romantic interest who seems to slip away. Take hints from the universe. If a new job opportunity comes up, perhaps that is the universe telling you that you need to change paths to reach that desired pay increase. That old friend who keeps reaching out but whom you never find the time to connect with, perhaps the universe is telling you that something they can offer would lead you in the right direction.
Your desires play a big part in how effective manifestation is for you. Your goals should be possible to achieve, and your practices are a ceremony to invite the universe in. Not everyone who wishes to be rich can manifest it. But not everyone needs to be rich to be happy - perhaps there is a magical middle ground of wealth that the universe sees for you. If you put your efforts into manifesting what makes you happy, you'll find more success.
Principles of Manifestation
The universe is made up of energy. We all know that opposites attract, and that is true when it comes to electromagnetism. However, when it comes to manifestation, the opposite is true. Positivity breeds positivity, and negativity breeds negativity. I'm sure you've heard of a doom spiral - where your negative thoughts build upon each other until suddenly it seems like there is nothing but darkness in the world. Well, flip that on its head and you have manifestation!
The Law of Attraction is a core principle of manifestation. It states that we attract into our lives whatever we focus our energy on. If we focus on drawing in positive experiences, we will receive positive experiences. This can be extended to exploring the idea of frequency and resonance. As you raise your vibrational frequency through positive thoughts, you attract similar frequencies from other people, experiences, and the universe.
I can hear the sceptics among you asking - what is the science behind this? The Law of Attraction seems counter to what we learn in science class. The notion of vibrational frequencies for our thoughts seems nonsensical. However, these are but words and metaphors - the real science is in training your subconscious to pursue action that brings you closer towards your desires. Instead of your mind choosing comfort in the now, it begins to seek out your desires.
The practices that make up manifestation are countless, and as you learn more about it, you will see that you can create your own rituals. All you need is an affirmation, and a glimmer - a spark to remind you of your affirmation. The more you think about, recite, or write down your affirmation, the more your subconscious believes it - and therefore you do!
Why I Connect With Manifestation
As an overthinker, I'm constantly looking ahead to what's coming next and how best to prepare for it. It's why I keep so much in my head all the time and seem to have an uncanny memory for unnecessary detail. I spent so many years worrying about the potential negative outcomes that I often forgot about, or didn't even acknowledge, the positive ones. It took a lot of self-care and mental gymnastics to overcome that anxiety, and while I've come a long way, I still recognise I have a long way to go. This is why I find manifestation so powerful, because it is a constant reminder to focus on the positive!
It has also made me question my use of "I don't know" - those three words that protected me from commitment. "I don't know" was always a crutch I would use when presented with an opportunity that I was apprehensive about. As my mom would say, if I said "I don't know", then it meant "no". Since learning more about manifestation, I have stopped thinking of "I don't know" as a complete answer. Instead, I sit with the feelings about the new experience and consider - is there some happiness I can find in this experience? So far, the answer has been yes! My personal angle here is that every new experience is an opportunity to learn. I may not like the new sport, or band, or TV show - but if I never give it a try, how will I know for sure?
What I'm Excited For Next
Writing is how I process my thoughts, feelings, worries, and fears. It's difficult to say when exactly I started to write, but my earliest memory of it being a cathartic exercise is in secondary school when I began to keep a regular journal. This was more than just a retelling of my day hour by hour, but a peek into my brain to see the muddled confusion of feelings and anxieties. Over the years, I developed new habits, curious projects, and sometimes inexplicable obsessions that all helped me to find happiness and comfort. I felt a whirlwind of emotions when I found many of my eccentric practices mirrored in the pages of The Little Book. Granted, I lacked some key direction towards true manifestation, but the core principle of drawing positive experiences towards me was evident.
As I continue to develop Kiki Dreams Big, I am bringing more structure to my hopes and dreams by using the practices detailed in The Little Book. I'm excited to share these with you in my final issue of this triptych. I also look forward to sharing details of specific practices anybody can introduce to their day-to-day, which I hope will be fruitful in your journey towards happiness.
Happiness should be your journey, not your destination.
Kiki <3
