Like Attracts Like
If you hang around in spiritual circles long enough, you’ll soon discover that there is a pervasive interest in the Law of Attraction.
If you’re not familiar with the LOA, it’s the idea that like attracts like and what you focus on expands. If you think positive thoughts and cultivate ‘positive’ emotions, you will attract positive circumstances.
The Law of Attraction is one of many Universal Laws, but it has garnered considerably more fanfare and interest than any of the others.
Why is that? I have a feeling it’s because of something I learned in my coaching course…
People are most motivated to buy a product that promises one of the following:
- Money
- Love or Sex
- Weight loss
Knowing this, is it any surprise that the LOA is so popular? The Law of Attraction basically states that if you raise your frequency by thinking positive, experiencing higher emotions and believing it’s possible for you, that you can become a vibrational match for anything you want to manifest on the physical plane. Thoughts are things, after all.
Welcome to the Dark Side
The shadow side of the Law of Attraction is something I’ve been contemplating a lot lately. I find it strange that people who are aspiring to embody spiritual ideals are getting caught up in the materialism trap.
They are attempting to use this Universal Law to manifest Ferraris, designer handbags, $10K months, Rolexes, a second home in Bali, become wildly famous, etc.
At the end of the day, what are those going to add to your life? Most of the time, they are an attempt to fill a hole or temporarily relieve a sensation of emptiness.
The reality is that all of these material trappings are the desire of the ego, not the soul. The soul could not care less about all of this stuff.
Now, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with wanting nice things, or enjoying a certain quality of life. Denying yourself worldly pleasure and suppressing your desires will only serve to push a different aspect of the self into the shadow.
I’m a Taurus Sun- I love my creature comforts and I don’t think it makes a person any less spiritual. I don’t think you need to renounce everything you own to be an evolved or ‘good’ person. That implies some kind of moral imperative.
What I am suggesting is twofold:
1. Get really clear on what’s important to you. There’s a pretty good chance that this could take time to figure out as you peel away the layers of falsehood, programming and persona to reach the resplendent truth of your authentic self. Discerning what is mine vs what is not mine is an unfolding process.
In order to understand what you want and what’s important to you, first you must discover who you are. Oftentimes, this is the central journey of a lifetime. Are you trying to manifest a sports car because that’s what you want deep down? Or is that an Instagram influencer’s measure of success? Maybe a cabin in the woods with your partner, pup and some art supplies are enough.
2. Consider putting whatever it is that you want to manifest under the microscope. Is it an ego desire or is it truly aligned with your higher self?
Do I believe that the Law of Attraction works? Yes, but I think it has become misunderstood and perverted in the mainstream. Many people seem to be using it as a method of exerting their will on the Universe- almost playing God.
Isn’t it a little presumptuous to believe that we know what’s best for us? The only one who knows that is our higher self. Maybe it’s not in our soul contract or karmic cards to be a millionaire or an olympic athlete or President in this lifetime.
Your Highest Good
Look back on some of the most challenging times in your life. Did they help shape you into who you are today?
Most of us would not have willingly chosen the circumstances we were dealt, but there’s no denying that they were instrumental to our growth. For example, growing up as the black sheep in the family is no picnic. Feeling alone and different can be incredibly isolating. But maybe there’s a lesson there in developing independence.
I certainly didn’t enjoy the dysfunctional relationship I had with my atheist ex-boyfriend, but I wouldn’t change it for anything because our mismatched values taught me how much spirituality meant to me.
Before striving to manifest something, choose to be very intentional about it. Pray that you receive it only if it’s in service to your highest good.
A New Perspective
Now I’d like to share wisdom from some of my favorite teachers whose views transformed by perspective on manifestation forever.
Maryam Hasnaa:
“We all have our own soul curriculum. I don’t want to manifest anything that my soul doesn’t desire to experience… I want whatever God wants for me. I don’t want to create anything that’s false or an illusion.”
“A healthy way to be about money is neutral. You want to have a definition of abundance that goes far beyond money, but that allows money in. That allows those blessings to come in any form.”
“This is about deep listening. What is my dream right now? What is my highest wish right now? What is going to give me that ultimate fulfillment right now? Especially above and beyond external accomplishments. Check in with yourself.”
Deborah Hanekamp:
“Connecting with the element of water will help you to open to your receptivity so that you can allow instead of pushing and forcing. If you’re in the desert and you’re the watering hole, you don’t have to go out and find the elephants and the lions. Everybody is coming to you. All the trees. Everyone is trying to find their way to you. It’s a very unique approach to work with.”
She views masculine energy as, “The sun that creates the reflection on the water and the sun that’s the guiding light towards the water rather than trying to chase the sun.”
Amoda Maa:
“The attempt to have something in order to feel abundant is a byproduct of the unilluminated mind. It’s not really about the amount in your bank balance, the size of your house or the number of trophies you have. It’s about feeling worthy. For the majority of humanity, which functions in an ego consciousness, having more (especially money) is a sign of one’s worth. While this is true on a literal level, it is absolute nonsense from a psychological or spiritual perspective.”
“A surprising number of people, especially in today’s materially oriented world, experience a lack of self worth. There’s a common belief, even in spiritual circles, that not having enough money is a sign of unworthiness. This usually translates into, ‘I am unable to receive,’ ‘I don’t love myself,’ or ‘I’m not good enough.’ What often follows is an attempt to improve self-worth in order to attract more money in order to feel abundant, and therefore to believe yourself to be worthy.”
“In discovering your true nature as abundance, it does not matter what material things you have or don’t have or whether you have everything you want or none of it at all. Abundance is everywhere. It’s in the innumerable shades of green when the breeze blows through the grass… It’s in the millions of stars clustered in the night sky. It’s in the unrelenting rain of a stormy day, in a gushing river on its way to the sea, in the frolicking of a newborn foal in the spring and in the exuberance of morning birdsong. Abundance is the natural state of everything that’s alive.”
Inner Alchemy
Overzealous devotees of The Secret make it seem like you can hack the system if you believe hard enough. But no amount of spiritual bypassing is going to magically materialize a supermodel boyfriend and matching yacht.
I think the Law of Attraction describes an alchemical process that happens naturally. As we do the inner work, we gradually prune away beliefs that no longer serve us, learn how to control the flow of our thoughts and transmute our emotions in a healthy way.
Consequently, our consciousness ascends and our vibration (or frequency) rises to meet it. There are no shortcuts in life. These skills are the result of discipline, mental mastery and the courage to go within. Do you have what it takes?
