Manifesting

The ability to manifest our dreams transforms them from a wish or hope into something concrete and real. It moves our desires from something vague and ephemeral into something solid and tangible. Here’s an example of multi-level manifesting: “Not only did I hope for, maintain a positive mindset, and visualize getting this new job, but I did my homework. I researched the agency, verified that my skill set matched the job description, and made sure I got a good night’s sleep and stayed well hydrated before the interview. I remembered to speak more slowly than I usually do when I’m nervous or excited, and the next day I got the job!” This is an example of manifesting in action at multiple levels of being.

We start with the thought, idea, or dream we had last night, then incorporate the energetic level, the spiritual level, the emotional level, the dreaming level, the physical level, and ultimately the active, concrete level. The move from an idea or dream into a concrete action step makes the dream a reality. Manifesting can also refer more specifically to a spiritual practice rooted in the law of attraction, where you use focused thought, visualization, and positive affirmations to bring your desires into reality.

In other realms—dreamtime, seance, spiritualism, and connecting with departed relatives—manifesting refers to making a ghost or spirit appear. This can be moving and powerful, especially when you manifest a visit from a departed relative or friend. A recent Pew research study found that 53% of those who lost a loved one reported a visit of some form after the death. It can happen within the dreamscape itself and in “dream-adjacent waking experiences” like synchronicities, déjà vu, signs and symbols, and the near-sleep zones of the hypnopompic and hypnagogic states. Carl Jung identified these liminal zones as the states of being just before we fall into deep sleep and just before we’re fully awake at the other end.

In all practices of manifesting, intentionality is key. Henah Velez, author and editor at The Good Trade, says, “As I’d come to find out, the practice (of manifesting) combines both dreaming and doing. Manifestation takes an overarching goal and breaks it down into more digestible actions and fewer limiting beliefs.”

The Stages of Change behavioral paradigm supports this process. Also known as the transtheoretical model, it describes how personal and behavioral change moves through several steps: pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance. Some models include a sixth stage—termination. This aligns with our understanding of manifestation. The vague “maybe I’ll do or go or create something” is the germination seed of pre-contemplation—we’re thinking about thinking about it. To reach actualization, we need to move through the stages of change to actually manifest it in our world. After “thinking about thinking about it,” we really examine the idea; we consider and ponder it. Next, we research, prepare, and gather materials. Finally, we take the action we’ve been preparing for. Then, depending on the project, we either continue to amend and maintain it or bring it to an end.

We can also use our nighttime dreams to help manifest what we desire in life, as well as to ask questions, gain knowledge, get health advice, and spiritually connect. Dream incubation is an ancient practice that involves spending time before sleep to journal your question, hope, or what you want to manifest. Write a few sentences or a few pages, but end with a clear question. The clearer you are, the higher the chance that the dream will be easy to understand and won’t need as much interpretive work or unpeeling of layers. In ancient Greece, the Temple of Asclepius drew seekers from far and wide to sleep in the temple and have priests and priestesses interpret their dreams. The original practice involved releasing small non-venomous snakes to whisper the dream message in the seeker’s ear.

Luckily, modern dream incubation doesn’t involve snakes or trips to ancient temples. Make your incubation journaling the last thing you do before sleep, and keep your attention focused on your question as you drift off. In life and dreamwork alike, clarifying your goals and requests helps manifest them. Be specific—the more specific you are, the more likely you’ll actualize what you’re seeking. Then, in the morning (or in the middle of the night if you wake from a dream), write down the dream on the same page where you wrote your question. Spend some time with it. Dreams usually come veiled in symbol and metaphor. The gift of dreamwork is the gift of association. Let yourself associate freely with the images, symbols, and characters in your dream, and see what emerges as related to your question. Share the dream with others—two or more heads are often better than one when unpacking a dream.

If nothing seems clear enough, try again. This time, make your writing even clearer and more specific. Here’s an example:

I love to swim, but as I got older, the arthritis in my neck made turning my head to breathe really uncomfortable. I didn’t want to stop swimming—it’s my favorite all-over exercise—so I incubated a dream to find a way to continue swimming without pain or discomfort. The simple one-liner dream I got in response was, ”Swim like a fish.”

At first, it was a mystery to me, but I know dreams come in metaphor and symbolism, so I asked myself as I worked with the dream upon waking, “What does it mean—to me—to swim like a fish?” You need the personal if you want to manifest something for yourself, so I asked “for me,” not generically. I thought about fish, swimming, and when I’d swum with fish. It came to me—I’d swum with fish many times while snorkeling in the Caribbean, Florida, and Hawaii over the years. Without pain—because I wore a snorkel and mask each time and didn’t need to turn my head! That was it. Now, many years later, I still take my snorkel gear with me to every pool, pond, lake, and ocean I swim in, and it remains both a joy and my primary form of exercise.

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