When my Bubbe (grandmother) was in her early 40s, she was still single and had no children. It was revolutionary in the 1960s for a woman to be living for herself and herself only. But everybody craves love, even those who deny it. And so, one night, my Grandpa appeared on her doorstep, literally.
That is the actual story, minus the boring details. She didn’t like him at first, but she didn’t take much convincing. Though she’s no longer alive to tell the story, I still have so many unanswered questions, primarily wondering whether she asked the universe for this to happen. Bubbe was spiritual. She believed in astrology, signs, and gut feelings. But she also turned down two marriage proposals before his, because she lived on her own terms. So, what about my Grandpa felt right? Was this the love story she had been manifesting her whole life?
What is manifestation?
A manifestation in general is a result of something. Spiritually, however, manifestation is the belief that we can think something to be true. It is idealistic, positive, and has existed as a ‘power’ for centuries. It works on the basis that we as individuals can materialize our beliefs into reality. Manifestation comes in various forms, some of which sound more realistic than others. Some of them work, and some really don’t. It can also toy the line with witchcraft, which I won’t be delving into due to my real lack of knowledge on the topic.
The Law of Assumption
The Law of Assumption contends that people have no free will, which is a huge philosophical debate that I have no answer to. It states that you are the creator of your own reality and that no one else can influence this. So by this logic, I can claim that I have my dream job, and since I’ve assumed that I do, it is my truth, even if I haven’t had an interview or actually applied. But here’s where I start to question it. I can assume that everyone around me thinks I’m a good person, but is that actually true if I’m not taking the steps towards being one? Or am I being egotistical? If you ask the universe for money and then find a wallet on the street and keep it, that’s not the universe giving you money. That’s you stealing someone’s wallet. Yes, you’ll have the money you’ve assumed you have. But ultimately, your character and morals are taking a major hit. Alternatively, you could find the wallet’s owner and become richer in both perspective and kindness.
Thought Transmission
Thought Transmission is similar to the Law of Assumption, working on the basis that your thoughts can be programmed into other people’s brains. Now, I’m not a psychologist or a neuroscientist, but I find this very hard to believe. For example, if I sing “You Oughta Know” by Alanis Morrisette at karaoke (which I frequently do), does that mean someone I once loved will have the universe remind them that they broke my heart? Quite frankly, I’m more focused on getting the lyrics right than anything else! Does that then mean I’ll appear in the mind of Alanis Morrisette? Thoughts are powerful when minds are intertwined, but usually, they’re simply not. Funnily enough, the best way to get someone to think about you is to interact with them!
Dreams
Now, dreams definitely do mean something. Dreams are hard to control; they are connected to our subconscious thoughts and can often tell us things about ourselves. I can’t remember many of my dreams, but the ones I do are significant and usually leave me questioning why they played the way they did. Sometimes I’ll look for indicators in life, like a text message. Manifestation coaches claim that if you dream about someone, then it’s because they’re dreaming about you simultaneously. Maybe this is true. But if I dream about someone random, I’m certainly not asking them if they’ve also dreamt about me that same day!
The Law of Detachment
Have you ever really wanted something, and the second you decide you don’t want it anymore is when you finally get it? This is the Law of Detachment. It works on the premise of detaching from emotions or outcomes in order to focus on self-development. Once detached, the law claims that you will receive what you want. To me, however, this is just a fancy way of telling someone to get over something. Take, for example, a relationship. To detach from your emotions in this context is to move on. If you stop focusing so much on the “what if” and “what could have been,” then you’ll be okay. There’s no guarantee that the person will come back, as this law suggests, but if they do, you’ll be more emotionally equipped to handle it than not by at least putting in the steps to move forward.
Manifestation and the Universe
Call me crazy, but I believe in the universe. It gives us what we need, when we need it, even if the timing doesn’t seem right. There are plenty of people who have impacted my life in ways they don’t even know because I happened to meet them when I did. Have I ever manifested things consciously? No, I haven’t. I’ve hoped and wished for things to come true, and they have, but not always when I’ve expected them. That’s the beauty of the universe, though: the unplanned and the surprises.
So, is manifestation real? Can I simply believe that I have a large sum of money, live in a mansion, and have the world’s greatest lover in order to make those things appear? Some manifestation coaches would argue yes. I can certainly act like I do and maybe I’ll end up successful like many other people who believe deeply in manifestation. In reality, however, they’re not going to fall into my lap overnight, unless I put work in myself. If you don’t buy a lottery ticket, you can’t win the lottery. And, like my Bubbe, if you don’t open your door, how will you ever know what’s on your doorstep?