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Meditation classes, gurus, books and more have inundated the scene as a cure-all recipe for mindfulness and self-control. There must be something to it, right? It can seem a bit overwhelming to just jump right in when there appear to be so many different versions of how to do it the "right way." Something I found on my own inner journey is that the right way is what makes you feel most relaxed, uninhibited, comfortable and ready for the spectacular adventure that awaits when you're set to surrender. Once you start the path, you'll find more flow in your daily life as well as that voice in the back of your head that guides you intuitivetly along the way. It will grow louder and you'll be able to more easily identify what feels right for you as you act to fulfill your dreams and desires.  Your intuition will come bubbling forth like a babbling brook if you put some time into the practice evey day. Just like anything, practice makes perfect so commit to getting to know yourself in a deeper way and you'll be seeing signs everywhere before you know it. The following are a few tips on how to sharpen those skills and a bit of anecdotal seasoning to show you what's possible. 1. Start SmallAt the beginning of any new pratice, you can't go in expecting to be an automatic expert. Meditation is like learning any new skill. If you keep your approach simple and realistic from the beginning, you're more likely to stick to it. As you keep showing up to practice, you'll start noticing how much you've improved. Your natural state of mind will become more peaceful, your inner journeys will become more insightful and you will enjoy meditating for longer periods of time. The first time I meditated, my time limit was five minutes. That may almost not seem like it was worth it, but you wouldn't believe how slowly those minutes passed. I could barely sit still for five minutes in waking life, let alone carve out a corner to spend them in immobile silence. The entire first week, I kept the time limit to five minutes. By the end, I could say that during five consecutive days, I had managed to keep up the practice. The next week, a full 10-minute period of meditative silence was the goal. I confess, I stayed there for a couple of months before jumping up to the 15-minute mark. It's a process afterall, getting used to tuning everything out, merging with the stillness. As any skill, regular practice is needed to maintain the proficieny. In busier moments, sometimes I don't manage to set aside the time to meditate, but once I come back, I often need to revert to a prior developmental stage until I am again able to practice with ease. The point is, set a small goal first and work your way up to stick with it long enough to see the benefits everyone raves about. Bonus tip: Start with guided meditations to get used to relaxing into a state of stillness. A quick search for guided meditations will give you tons of options. Pick the one that resonates with you and don't be afraid to try a few until you find a guide and a vibe that make you comfortable. 2. Set Your IntentionsMeditation is a way to access an entire universe within. There is boundless knowledge you can tap into to guide you along your path. You can ask any question and you will receive an answer, but you must ask the question. While you can leave the experience open-ended, it becomes more difficult to apply what you've learned if you can't nail down what specifically the information is referring to. It can be a broad question, but you'll get the best results if you have some parameter for the experience, or intention. Your intention can be anything you want to manifest, understand more clearly, areas where you would like to grow, the universe is the limit. Write it down before you meditate to crystallize the intention, leaving it there while you clear your mind during the meditative practice. Aside from an intention, I usually write a line of gratitude as well. Any action involving the soul will be amplified when it's done with gratitude. An attitude of gratitude is also the quickest way to manifest more of that for which one is thankful. 
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The Tarot cards predict that by the end of 2020 we'll be able to recover some of the lost ground but maybe not in the way we think. We're finally halfway through the Twilight Zone episode that's turned our 2020 upside down. There are a few rays of light shining through to give us hope for what's still to come. We're not out of the woods yet, but the knocks to come may be necessary to finish transforming the way we see the world and our role in it. Let's take a look at what we'll be facing over the next six months!
Tarot Reading for 2020
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In this Tarot reading, the first thing to catch our eye are the suits present. We have plenty of Wands as well as Cups with a few Pentacles sprinkled throughout. The Wands are going to put a particular emphasis on entrepreneurs and small business owners. This suit is also related to legacy building and the passion we pour into projects that are dear to us. Combined with the Pentacles, we see that the financial challenges facing small business owners aren't letting up yet. Three months from now, we'll still be in the thick of it as we continue trying to reinvent ourselves and adapt to the global changes forced on us by the Coronavirus outbreak. Only from October onward will we see the winds finally begin to change as we are able to start moving forward again. Big businesses, while undoubtedly being affected, won't experience anywhere near the dire consequences that small and medium-sized organizations face.
Another aspect of the Tarot reading that calls our attention is the distinct lack of Swords, with one exception (the Three of Swords, which we'll get into a little later). Swords would be related to the medical fallout, Coronavirus itself and the global healthcare system. Instead of Swords, we see Pentacles in the key positions of the Tarot spread. This tells us that the core of the problem and hardships people face have not been primarily medical in the grand scheme of things, but in the economic realm. The biggest harm done by the virus has not been to the healthcare system, but the financial repercussions of the decisions made by world leaders. Sure, who could have known how to deal with this situation appropriately mitigating the impact on the economy? But the cards leave one thing resoundingly clear, the consequences of the decisions made have weakened the global economy exposing the middle class and the attention given to the economic woes of populations all over the world have been negligent, at best. While it doesn't look like anybody will be coming to the rescue, the Tarot cards do tell us that it is within our power to start pulling ourselves out of the mess but it will require creativity.
Currently, the Ace of Pentacles is reversed which indicates that we've tried to adapt to the situation and have either modified the way we do business or have jumped into new ventures to hold us over for the time being. Unfortunately, and mostly in the case of entrepreneurs, the yields have been less than impressive. Change takes time to show results and we're not seeing much in the way of money flowing back to us at the moment. These new endeavors can even result in false starts. We've launched an idea but it didn't quite get off the ground in the way we had expected.
There's also another factor that is slowing our progress. The Tarot card that covers the reading and is the influence over this situation shows that in trying to reinvent ourselves and recover that lost income, we are being pulled in too many directions. We may have several different ideas on how to move forward, or maybe it's unclear to us what we really want now that we have the opporunity to usher in big changes. This lack of focus leads to our projects being unable to manifest consistently in the material world, so you end up dreaming of castles in the sky. Now is the time to choose the path and stick to it. You must know your limits, what's possible and what's not, clearly define your objectives and get to it before any more time transpires. If you continue mulling over 500 different ideas of what could be, you'll end up staying exactly where you are, and by the look of the cards, that's nowhere you want to be.
If we take a look back at the Tarot cards depicting Wands, it will give us an idea of the impact on our decisions given the difficult nature of the situation. The 10 reveals that our head is focused on navigating this oppressive state of affairs. We recognize that we have responsibilities but due to the environment, they become a heavy burden which make quick progress almost impossible. Under such pressure it's necessary to see where we can redistribute some of those responsibilities so we can find the focus to move forward. We may also need to go a little easy on ourselves. Given the circumstances, we're not going to handle everything perfectly or even as well as we would in a more "normal" atmosphere. Yes, we're a bit stuck, but we are masters of creation so think outside the box to see where you can beat a new path forward.
The other two Tarot cards in the suit of Wands are reversed, so that quick-moving nature that this suit normally represents is turned on it's head and is restricted from barrelling ahead as it would normally given its native proclivity. The feeling of lacking the strength to move on will finally ebb thoughout this second half of the year so we will see some movement forward. In the position of the short-term future, at around three months from now, we still won't be able to consider the transformation a victory. Our plans, especially regarding our home environment and small business adaptations will continue to be delayed. They may not yield any positive results at all at this point. Once we reach October we'll finally get a respite from the heaviness and chaos and we will be able to regroup at this point.
Moving on to the inner worlds of expectations and anxieties, we can see some of the currents that make us hesitate. In the position of our fears and anxieties, we see the card of change, especially when it comes to business and finances. We're afraid we'll be unable to juggle several things at once and we're reticent to implement major changes still. Well, now is definitely not the time to hesitate. Pick your path and start moving forward. Sure change is scary, but if you don't roll with it, you'll be hanging on to dead weight at this point.
It seems that those closest to us also have their doubts about whether we'll be able to get new ventures or modifications off the ground as well. These people feel that the sadness at what's been lost has become blinding and this is what makes our progress difficult. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, so you can take it or leave it. You can fulfill their prophecies or prove them wrong; it's up to you.
As for our expectations, we see the Three of Swords, or the card of Sorrow. Anytime Coronavirus has appeared in a reading since early February, at least in my readings, this is the card that's been associated with it. This shows that we expect the fallout from the virus to continue through the end of the year. No wonder we're feeling oppressed! Yes, of course the impacts will be lasting, but we can choose to use them to our advantage and move on or stay stuck in a rapidly changing world and be left behind.
Now for the final result! What will things look like at the end of 2020? The card of abundance awaits us at the end of the year! What's curious about this card is that it doesn't necessarily indicate material abundance, but an influx of creativity, inspiration, fulfillment, joy and even celebrations with those that have supported us along this difficult journey of transformation. The Three Graces are waiting at the finish line to receive us as we've been able to tap into our creative side to find a more fulfilling way to live our lives. We can look back on the challenges we've faced this year and appreciate how much we've grown, the beauty that has been brought forth in times of darkness and take a breather while we count our blessings and give ourselves a pat on the back.
The takeaways? This isn't over, but it's time to focus, get creative, and move through the delays with resilience as fulfillment awaits us on the other side of all of this.
What is Manifestation?
Manifestation is consciously creating your reality by aligning your vibrations and intentions with your thoughts, words, actions and most importantly, feelings. If it sounds like a mix of esoterism, behavioral and cognitive psychology, you're not far off. Essentially we're combining the subtle world and quantum physics with the physical, material world that surrounds us. Whether you realize it or not, you are already manifesting! It just so happens that most of us are manifesting unconsciously because we are not fully aware of the frantic carousel of thoughts running through our minds, not to mention the roller coaster of emotions we experience on a daily basis. Through a little self-discovery and daily practice, you'll be on the fast-track to consciously manifesting the life of your dreams.
How to Use Manifestation?
Manifestation can be used in a limitless variety of scenarios. You can manifest material desires, such as a car or a house. You can use it to manifest experiences like traveling the world, furthering your education or reaching a personal goal. You can even use it to open yourself up and attract fulfilling relationships and overcome personal challenges. Keep your head and your heart in a positive place to make sure you're manifesting a reality that serves your higher self to tap into your own growth and development. The goal can be something concrete or abstract, but there are particular details to have in mind so that your endeavor is successful. Let's take a look!
Tips for Manifestation: Essential checklist
It's not enough to imagine your dream in some vague sense and then put it on the backburner while you cross your fingers and wait for fate to deliver. As you venture down the rabbit hole of manifestation, you'll find lots of technical information as well as anecdotal examples to lead you in the right direction (I've included some sources at the end of the post) and while it's generally helpful, it can get overwhelming. Below you'll find the six things I found most helpful in expediting my manifestation journey and I hope they work for you, too!
1. You have to truly believe that what you are manifesting is possible
Many times we set lofty goals which is a great way to get into high gear, but they serve a more motivational purpose instead of being defined to be attained. Instead of lowering your goals, it's time to change the way you think about yourself. Easier said than done, right? There's a hack to shortcut those feelings of being undeserving or that while the feat may be possible for others, it's out of reach for you. Instead of focusing on your end result directly (because you may inherently believe you can never get it), side step that to focus on the by-products of attaining your goal. Here's an example, let's say I want to manifest financial independence but perhaps I'm saddled with debt, a low-paying job and with my expenses I'm living check to check. In this case, I would imagine a scenario where I'm in a boutique trying on designer dresses to buy, I'm traveling to an exotic beach destination, or I went to the market, loaded up my cart and checked out without needing to look at the bill. In each of these imagined scenarios, I would concentrate on the details and focus on what it FEELS like to be doing all of those things and the relaxed, carefree state I would be in while enjoying my time that way. Those are all scenarios that I can imagine and dive into without my subconscious giving me a reality check and they would all be by-products of financial independence.
2. It's not enough to manifest from your mind, you have to emotionally engage
We all daydream from time to time and the fluid nature of our imagination keeps our brains active. Manifestation however, apart from the creativity needed to define your goals, requires you to feel the emotions associated with the outcome. Science has made great strides in proving that we are more than just the biological and chemical physical processes that we can observe with our five senses. Thoughts are a creative activity that emit waves, vibrations, which is one of the first components for things and events to manifest physically. Emotions further condense the matter and speed up the process of becoming. It's not enough to hold the object in your mind, you have to feel it, sense it and interact with it on an emotional level to bring it into being.
3. Act as if it were true NOW
When you dig in to that emotional side, the relationship you create with the object of your manifestation should be as if it existed in your life now. Through this perspective of the present moment, it is in the now that we adjust our vibrations to attract that which we desire. Like attracts like. Going back to the example of financial independence, if you imagine what it feels like to live that way now and act, think and speak as if it were true, you are showing the universe who you are and how you vibrate so that in the natural order of things, that which is the same will be drawn to you. If you believe that you are wealthy and behave in such a way (albeit, responsibly) you will attract just that, more wealth. If you continue in the subconscious stupor of poverty out of habit, you will be telling the universe that is what your are, and you will attract just that, more poverty. Fake it 'til you make it and the universe will make sure that you're no fake.
4. Be specific
In order for manifestation to work expeditiously, not to mention effectively, you're going to want to be as specific as possibe. Get a clear idea of what exactly it is that you want. A lot of times we roll around in an unneccesary state of angst that comes down to a lack of clarity in who we are and what our goals are. If you're vague, you don't know what you may end up with on your plate. Think about what you want, when you want it, what it would mean to you and get after it!
5. Stop changing your mind and be consistent
We can be so fickle. When the Sun is out and shining brightly we enjoy it for a bit before our mind wanders off and we're fantasizing about a little rainstorm. In the midst of a drizzle, we attune temporarily to the soft grey of the skies before we start pleading for the Sun to come out again. One day we're set on mastering a new language and the next we're looking up how-to tutorials to learn programming. Everytime we change our direction, the universe picks up those vibes and prepares to send what you've been asking for but if we're constantly changing our minds you may never manifest your desires to begin with, or end up with some mediocre representation of your grandest dreams. Decide what it is you want to manifest and stick with it, see it through until you're living that reality. The more you commit, the faster it can take shape.
6. Don't become attached to one specific way your desire could manifest
The universe will always respond to what we're creating, however sometimes we're so fixated on what we think the final result should look like that we don't recognize it when it does eventually show up. You must be specific about the desire, but open-minded when it comes to the result. Why? Because the universe knows you better than you know yourself and the result will be the version of what you were manifesting that is tailored best for you in the grander scheme of your life mission. For example, as a child I constantly imagined myself as an adult living in a high-rise in New York City as a bigshot lawyer, cooking dinner with my husband with wine in hand and some good jazz music on in the background. I can remember imagining that scenario even 20+ years later. What I remember most is how that fantasy felt, the ease of the moment, the loving banter, the beauty that surrounded us. Well the universe absolutely delivered far beyond what I could have ever imagined and that is my reality, but I'm not in New York and I'm not a lawyer. Instead I'm living that reality in a bustling South American metropolis, which is much more my pace than New York, and working in a profession that I find immensely more fulfilling for me than law would have been. When I was younger was I disappointed that things didn't lead me to that ultimate dream? Sure, but the feeling of that future image stayed with me and the forces at work kept pushing me down my path, even when I put up resistance, because I held on to that image and trusted that it would work out. And it did, just not in the way I had origanlly imagined, but it became something far greater than I could have dreamed. The results may not always look how we thought, but if we go with the flow and stay open, we'll find we get exactly what we were manifesting in a way that's perfect for us.
1. You have to truly believe that what you are manifesting is possible
Many times we set lofty goals which is a great way to get into high gear, but they serve a more motivational purpose instead of being defined to be attained. Instead of lowering your goals, it's time to change the way you think about yourself. Easier said than done, right? There's a hack to shortcut those feelings of being undeserving or that while the feat may be possible for others, it's out of reach for you. Instead of focusing on your end result directly (because you may inherently believe you can never get it), side step that to focus on the by-products of attaining your goal. Here's an example, let's say I want to manifest financial independence but perhaps I'm saddled with debt, a low-paying job and with my expenses I'm living check to check. In this case, I would imagine a scenario where I'm in a boutique trying on designer dresses to buy, I'm traveling to an exotic beach destination, or I went to the market, loaded up my cart and checked out without needing to look at the bill. In each of these imagined scenarios, I would concentrate on the details and focus on what it FEELS like to be doing all of those things and the relaxed, carefree state I would be in while enjoying my time that way. Those are all scenarios that I can imagine and dive into without my subconscious giving me a reality check and they would all be by-products of financial independence.
2. It's not enough to manifest from your mind, you have to emotionally engage
We all daydream from time to time and the fluid nature of our imagination keeps our brains active. Manifestation however, apart from the creativity needed to define your goals, requires you to feel the emotions associated with the outcome. Science has made great strides in proving that we are more than just the biological and chemical physical processes that we can observe with our five senses. Thoughts are a creative activity that emit waves, vibrations, which is one of the first components for things and events to manifest physically. Emotions further condense the matter and speed up the process of becoming. It's not enough to hold the object in your mind, you have to feel it, sense it and interact with it on an emotional level to bring it into being.
3. Act as if it were true NOW
When you dig in to that emotional side, the relationship you create with the object of your manifestation should be as if it existed in your life now. Through this perspective of the present moment, it is in the now that we adjust our vibrations to attract that which we desire. Like attracts like. Going back to the example of financial independence, if you imagine what it feels like to live that way now and act, think and speak as if it were true, you are showing the universe who you are and how you vibrate so that in the natural order of things, that which is the same will be drawn to you. If you believe that you are wealthy and behave in such a way (albeit, responsibly) you will attract just that, more wealth. If you continue in the subconscious stupor of poverty out of habit, you will be telling the universe that is what your are, and you will attract just that, more poverty. Fake it 'til you make it and the universe will make sure that you're no fake.
4. Be specific
In order for manifestation to work expeditiously, not to mention effectively, you're going to want to be as specific as possibe. Get a clear idea of what exactly it is that you want. A lot of times we roll around in an unneccesary state of angst that comes down to a lack of clarity in who we are and what our goals are. If you're vague, you don't know what you may end up with on your plate. Think about what you want, when you want it, what it would mean to you and get after it!
5. Stop changing your mind and be consistent
We can be so fickle. When the Sun is out and shining brightly we enjoy it for a bit before our mind wanders off and we're fantasizing about a little rainstorm. In the midst of a drizzle, we attune temporarily to the soft grey of the skies before we start pleading for the Sun to come out again. One day we're set on mastering a new language and the next we're looking up how-to tutorials to learn programming. Everytime we change our direction, the universe picks up those vibes and prepares to send what you've been asking for but if we're constantly changing our minds you may never manifest your desires to begin with, or end up with some mediocre representation of your grandest dreams. Decide what it is you want to manifest and stick with it, see it through until you're living that reality. The more you commit, the faster it can take shape.
6. Don't become attached to one specific way your desire could manifest
The universe will always respond to what we're creating, however sometimes we're so fixated on what we think the final result should look like that we don't recognize it when it does eventually show up. You must be specific about the desire, but open-minded when it comes to the result. Why? Because the universe knows you better than you know yourself and the result will be the version of what you were manifesting that is tailored best for you in the grander scheme of your life mission. For example, as a child I constantly imagined myself as an adult living in a high-rise in New York City as a bigshot lawyer, cooking dinner with my husband with wine in hand and some good jazz music on in the background. I can remember imagining that scenario even 20+ years later. What I remember most is how that fantasy felt, the ease of the moment, the loving banter, the beauty that surrounded us. Well the universe absolutely delivered far beyond what I could have ever imagined and that is my reality, but I'm not in New York and I'm not a lawyer. Instead I'm living that reality in a bustling South American metropolis, which is much more my pace than New York, and working in a profession that I find immensely more fulfilling for me than law would have been. When I was younger was I disappointed that things didn't lead me to that ultimate dream? Sure, but the feeling of that future image stayed with me and the forces at work kept pushing me down my path, even when I put up resistance, because I held on to that image and trusted that it would work out. And it did, just not in the way I had origanlly imagined, but it became something far greater than I could have dreamed. The results may not always look how we thought, but if we go with the flow and stay open, we'll find we get exactly what we were manifesting in a way that's perfect for us.
Manifestation and Tarot
Tarot is a beautiful tool for understanding ourselves and all of the vital energy that goes into our experience. The Magician in Tarot has perfected the art of manifestation and brings us some great advice as per the characteristics and qualites we can sharpen to be effective at manifesting. Inner balance and harmony are supreme. This means uniting the intellectual, emotional, intuitive and sensory aspects of ourselves so that they may work together toward achieving our goals. We frequently hear instances where the heart and mind are in two different places, but bringing them into alignment is an exercise that can bring much peace and clarity into precisely who we are and what we want. Operate from the mental side, be analytical, seek out knowledge. Work from an intuitive side and get in touch with the small voice inside that is always guiding us. Enjoy the experience of being in your body by being fully present and taking in all of the physical stimuli and sensory output of the world. Get your feelings involved and observe how they ebb and flow until you begin to recognize patterns and become aware of what's going on within you on a deeper level. The work to progress in self-awareness is the greatest gift you could give yourself and from there, manifesting becomes second nature.
Now you're armed with some tips and at least a general idea of where to start. If you would like to check out some books on the topic, I recommend:
The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra
The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Soygal Rinpoche
Conversations with God by Neale Donald Walsh
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
Let your Mystic Revolution begin!
Now you're armed with some tips and at least a general idea of where to start. If you would like to check out some books on the topic, I recommend:
The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra
The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Soygal Rinpoche
Conversations with God by Neale Donald Walsh
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
Let your Mystic Revolution begin!
Samantha Lewis
Tarot readings are a fantastic tool to examine your life and all of the influences at work. With this knowledge of self and setting you can consciously move toward the path of greatest growth and self-realization. Here we explore recurring themes in the human experience and practices to promote self-care. In becoming more attuned to our own vibes we can consciously create a better space that benefits everyone.
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