The mainstreaming of New Age and pagan beliefs has benefited social-media-savvy self-help gurus and spiritual teachers, whose followers rush to them for advice on manifesting, crystals, reiki, and other non-traditional treatment options. While some people just like reading relaxing or uplifting words in their feeds, others will pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars on coaching sessions aimed at bringing them inner peace or enlightenment.
Before You Continue...
Do you know what is your soul number? Take this quick quiz to find out! Get a personalized numerology report, and discover how you can unlock your fullest spiritual potential. Start the quiz now!
Taylor Simpson is one such coach, albeit her work is known by a different name. Her Instagram handle is “Priestess of Light,” and she has more than 100,000 followers. Simpson has taught over 1,800 individuals what she refers to as “divine feminine mystic manifestation” through courses ($79/month) and “masterclasses” ($999) aimed at helping women attract money, love, and happiness.
A short glance at her Instagram and website reveals a number of esoteric spiritual phrases, which I asked her to describe. “Someone who is so firmly aligned with their truth came here on earth to be able to help,” she adds of a lightworker. There are references to transitioning from “3D to 5D,” which could be linked to the red and blue tablets from The Matrix. “Polarity is 3D. She explained, “It's this or that, right or wrong, up or down, awful or good.” “The fourth dimension is where individuals awaken.” We enter 5D, where everything that exists is love. There is no such thing as right or wrong. It's a matter of neutrality.”
There's also “awake” against “asleep”: People are “doing the nine to five, the white picket fence” while they are sleeping. They believe their actions are dictated by their circumstances. They're always the ones who get the short end of the stick. They refuse to accept responsibility.” Frequencies are frequently discussed (lower frequencies are made of guilt and shame, higher ones of love and peace).
Her clients frequently come for a more material reason: they wish to materialize money or a soulmate, for example. Simpson's method looks a lot like therapy, at least on the surface: She strives to figure out why her clients want what they want and why they believe they are undeserving of receiving it. Simpson, on the other hand, feels that once her clients are perfectly linked within themselves, they would be able to materialize everything they desire.
She utilized the stereotype of the “mad ex-girlfriend” to describe how manifestation works, in which a woman's hunger for love pushes men away, while women who keep their cool unknowingly draw their ex-boyfriends back in. This makes sense on some levels, but I'm curious if the same idea might be applied to someone who genuinely wants a beautiful car but has no emotional capability and is unaffected by psychological tactics.
“You're in the frequency that the car is on,” she explains. “While it lacks sentiments, it is something that your future self, who already possesses the car and has completed the inner work necessary to get there, has. If you embody the version of yourself who owns that car, you'll eventually find yourself in a position where you have the money or the chance to meet your future self in that car.”
No, manifesting doesn't actually work
It's acceptable to believe this, of course. However, there are limitations. One difficulty psychologists have with manifesting ideas is that it ignores those who have inherently negative beliefs, such as those with anxiety, depression, or other mental health conditions.
Overestimating one's thoughts' power, which is a symptom of OCD and many other disorders, “could be very dangerous to people who already have anxiety disorders, but potentially, it might even be enough to start those symptoms happening in someone who doesn't,” according to cognitive neuroscientist Rhiannon Jones. Someone suffering from depression who believes that no one actually loves them, for example, can believe that simply because a notion enters their mind, it must be true.
Even if manifesting isn't a significant mental health issue, it's worth noting that good thought alone will not transform your tangible circumstances, and may even work against you. Positive thinking, according to decades of scientific research and dozens of studies, frequently makes us more complacent and hence less inclined to exert the work necessary to achieve our goals.
Why is manifesting someone bad?
This reason is simply a more developed version of number two. However, being aware of it is just as crucial if not more so because the consequences can and will be far more serious.
If you successfully create a person who isn't suited for you, you may find yourself in a poisonous relationship from which you must immediately escape.
Toxic relationships, as many of us are aware, are never enjoyable and can even be harmful. So I wouldn't recommend “playing” with these items.
You could be astonished at how toxic they are in a relationship if you visualize a certain individual and successfully attract them into your life. People are tough to predict, even if you've known them for a long time.
Is manifesting proven?
The term “manifestation” refers to the process of transforming a concept into reality. We usually desire to materialize things that will make us happier and healthier (take this well-being quiz to check your current level of well-being). People commonly refer to manifestation as the process of bringing something into existence via the use of ideas, feelings, and beliefs, but given the science underlying manifestation, it seems vital to add actions as a key component of the process.
What does manifestation really mean?
Books like The Secret and The Law of Attraction have popularized manifestation. Unfortunately, most psychological scientists would tell you that these books are founded on pseudosciencethat is, they purport to be scientific and true, but they aren't.
As a result, I can't endorse these books with good conscience as a psychologist. When it comes to the concept of “manifestation,” however, I believe many psychologists throw out the baby with the bathwater. It's often referred to as “junk science.” But, I argue, if we couldn't manifest great outcomes in our lives, what would be the use of therapy, wellness treatments, or any of the other tools we use to assist people?
So, what exactly does science have to say about manifestation? How do we make a goal or an idea that we have in our heads a reality?
What is the science behind manifestation?
The concept of manifestationthat is, turning an idea into a physical realityis based on science. Here are some research topics and how they contribute to manifestation:
Why does the law of attraction work?
Your thoughts have the potential to manifest in your life, according to the law of attraction. If you think positively and envision yourself having enough money to live comfortably, for example, you will attract possibilities that will allow you to realize your dreams.
If you focus on the things of your life that you dislike, on the other hand, you will continue to attract unpleasant outcomes and experiences.
What is the 3 6 9 manifestation method?
Writing down what you want to materialize three times in the morning, six times during the day, and nine times in the evening is part of the 369 method.
This method gained traction on TikTok (of course), with videos using the hashtag “369method” accumulating over 165 million views. It's not difficult to discover people on the app who claim the approach has helped them manifest new relationships, significant sums of money, and other things.
Nikola Tesla, a renowned inventor, was the first to believe that the numbers three, six, and nine were potent numbers for manifesting in the twentieth century. “He believed these sacred numbers were the key to opening the universe,” spiritual adviser Diana Zalucky tells mbg.
Aside from the numbers, the 369 practice follows the law of attraction, which holds that we attract what we focus on.
Shauna Cummins, a hypnotist and author of Wishcraft, adds that focusing on what you want, especially on a regular basis, may help your brain “discover what it's looking for, and thus more likely to magnetize your desires into action.”
Is it OK to manifest a specific person?
Is it possible to manifest a certain person? Yes! Using the Law of Attraction, you can materialize ANYTHING. But in this essay and video, I'd like to discuss why you shouldn't manifest a specific individual. It's because I believe you can achieve even better outcomes by manifesting your soulmate in a different way! Of course, this is just my view, and if you truly desire someone in particular, I say go for it!
What does 555 mean in law of attraction?
The 5×55 method of writing a specific affirmation desire 55 times for 5 days in a row in a manifestation diary – Manifest Yo, a book by Box Dog Publishing and Terry Barnes.
Is Law of Attraction true?
There is no tangible evidence that the law of attraction exists from a scientific standpoint.
The law of attraction, according to proponents, is supported by quantum physics theories that claim this “law” includes an energy and vibrational component.
“It's the ‘like attracts like' notion.” Because everything, including ideas and feelings, carries a vibration, we get back what we send out into the cosmos,” explains Emma Halley, a spiritual wellness coach.
“By believing that we've already accomplished, we send out a similar frequency and vibration into the cosmos, which attracts it to us.”
There are no scientific studies that definitively confirm the law of attraction's existence.
According to a 2005 study, those who have positive affect are more likely to have higher levels of enjoyment and success.
Visualizing your desires increases the likelihood of them becoming a reality, according to a 2010 study.
Despite the lack of scientific evidence, many people around the world believe in and employ the law of attraction in their daily lives.
How do I start manifesting?
To be more precise, you receive what you think about most. Any favorable or negative thinking. My colleague used to start every prayer by asking for the “highest and best,” as if you could ask for the “lowest and worse” by accident. That used to make me laugh. It is undoubtedly a stage of the manifestation process to be able to articulate your objectives preciselybut it is also critical to recognize that things do not grow any worse than they are; you may simply not be perceiving them as they are.
Energy flow determines your ability to produce the life you desirehow readily you receive and how quickly you let go of what doesn't serve you. Allowing conscious ebb and flow of energy in relation to the things you want is a talent that takes time to develop; for example, you'd think that letting go of a job that doesn't pay well, makes you sad, and doesn't make you feel good about yourself for doing it would be simple.
There is a grieving process that must be followed. We are often attached to things because of our beliefs and philosophies, rather than the object of our attachmentfor example, being a lawyer because you believe it is prestigious. Consciously embracing flow in your life also necessitates that you have all of your receivers cranked up to eleven; that you are ready, willing, and able to accept and manage the things you claim to desire.
We maintain a constant state of preparedness as human beings, which means we always work with what we have while waiting for what we want…ultimately with grace and thankfulness. Here are some pointers to get you started.
Start where you are.
As I previously stated, things may appear to worse before improving; nevertheless, you simply did not see how awful things were. Self-honesty is the first step toward achieving your goals.
For instance, if you want money, work hard with the money you already have. Are your objectives in line with your resources? Do you stick to your budget? Do you treat your money with respect? Do you desire money because you believe you are lacking in other areas? Taking stock of your motive for the object of your inquiry can go a long way toward assisting you in obtaining it.
You can't get what you want, if you don't know what you want.
After you've investigated your motive, you may begin to comprehend why you're in this situation and devise a plan to fix it. This stage will require some creativity, as well as thinking outside the box about what you desire.
Write down your top five desires first. Then come up with five persons you know or don't know who own these items. Choose the next logical level of acquisition for yourself if you have a financial goal, and focus on persons you know or people in the public view who have the amount you want to generate for yourself. Then, do your homeworklearn everything you can about these people's behaviors.
Leave it to the Universe to figure out how to acquire it. Keep in mind that in its logical evolution, anything is possible.
Manage what you have and you'll get more.
When you concentrate on how to achieve something, you become process-oriented, which is useful if you want to teach someone else or explain how you did it. If that isn't your objective, concentrate on making the best of what you have.
If you want more love in your life, concentrate on receiving it well and giving it to others. If you want to save money, pay your bills on time, put money in your savings account, and only buy goods you genuinely desire (or, better yet, need)…no frivolous spending. It's the Universe's natural alignment to amplify what you're already doing for yourself.
The Universe responds to actions first, then thoughts.
The manifestation train comes to a halt in the physical world. It's where concepts come to life, are torn down, or are reborn. Because the physical world moves at a slower pace than the other creative levels, an idea must be in sync with other aspects of your life in order to manifest.
If all you think about is desiring love in your life, feeling lonely, and isolating yourself from others and judging them, the Universe interprets this as “I'd rather be alone, thank you.” Which, in turn, attracts selfish, judgmental, or wary people who you don't trust or want to be around in your life.
Your thoughts create your actions.
This is where your thoughts start to matter; they guide you through every move you take.
It goes like this: images and patterns in your spirit lead to your thinking. The more you become conscious of your ideas, the more profoundly you will be engaged in your emotional expression of your thinking patterns, which will lead to your choices, and finally manifestation.
We have the ability to nourish, change, or erase what is already there at every level in between. Whether we are conscious of it or not, we do it every minute of every day. As a result, as you become more aware of your thoughts and feelings (but not allowing them to drive your decisions), you will see clear benefits.
Having said that, when it comes to figuring out what you want, getting it, and living with it, patience and self-acceptance are your best friends. When you embrace each level of manifestation, it becomes a lovely experience.