Recently, we’ve been noticing the frequent use of the words “manifest” and “visioning.” Many different industries are adopting these terms to encourage motivation in the workplace. But is manifestation legitimate? Let’s explore what these two terms mean, and how they relate to each other and share some visioning exercises and techniques that may bring intentional abundance into your life.
Visioning and Manifestation
The word “manifestation” means to turn something mentally intangible, like an idea, thought, or feeling, into reality. Manifesting starts in the mind, and although it may sound simple, it takes much intentional mindfulness and dedication.
Visioning is a tool that supports manifestation. It’s defined as “the development of a plan, goal, or vision for the future” and is a crucial part of the manifestation process.
Visioning exercises and practices are the preliminary steps toward creating the reality you wish to live. Some visioning exercises and practices have become trendy for reaching goals in the business world; however, they aren’t limited to one industry. These tools can be used anywhere anytime, as long as you feel supported and safe.
Tools for Visioning Exercises + Manifestation
At the core of visioning exercises and manifestation is the law of attraction. This law states that “like attracts like.” You’ve likely heard the phrase, “energy goes where attention flows” – whatever you focus your energy on, you will attract into your life. So what are the principal tools for focusing your energy? Below are some of the main tools we use when engaging in a visioning exercise.
- Remain present
- Feel and act like your vision is already a reality
- Put intention into what you want
- Clear away expectations
In a world full of “has been” and “could be,” it’s easy to get caught up in the past and future. When you remain present, you’re focusing on bringing your vision into the present moment. Since your attention is here and now it will create a clear message to the universe about your manifestation.
Imagining your vision as reality raises your vibrations to your manifestation’s level. Energy is merely waves or frequencies, so if you think and act like you’ve already manifested your vision, that energy will attract a similar energy to you. This must come with intention. Spending time in your day to intentionally feel what it would be like to manifest your desire(s) may make or break your manifestation. The more specific energy you pour out into the world, the more you’ll receive.
Lastly, it’s essential to clear away expectations. Removing all attachments to the outcome keeps us anchored in the present moment. When we dwell on and become attached to the outcome, fear, anxiety, and worry may arise and throw off our vibrations. Simply raise your vibrations to your manifestation level, intentionally feel it, then let it go. Once you repeat it a couple of times, it will start to come naturally, and repetition will come easier.
A Step-by-Step Visioning Exercise
Visioning exercises are some of the best ways to encourage intention around your manifestations. Let’s go over a simple visioning exercise that incorporates the above techniques and can be included in your daily routine.
Visioning exercises are some of the best ways to encourage intention around your manifestations. Let’s go over a simple visioning exercise that incorporates the above techniques and can be included in your daily routine.
Step 1: Set the stage
Setting the stage may look like journaling, meditating, or even daydreaming! The most effective way to achieve your manifestation is to be specific when setting the stage. You can write down all your visions or focus on one at a time. We find that intentionally honing in on a specific core vision produces the best results.
For example: I am excelling as a folk herbalist and constantly improving my skills. I am surrounded by supportive and inspiring herbalist friends who push me to be my best self every day.
Notice the present tense and the vision’s specificity. When you’re clear and concise, there is no question about what you’ll receive from the universe.
Step 2: Envision your vision
While you write, meditate, or daydream on the above vision, imagine what it looks and feels like. Mentally pull up images of you working with herbs in a supportive space. Try to be as specific as possible.
Where are you? Are you at home, in the garden, or wildcrafting in your area? What do you feel? Who is with you? How do you imagine the plants feel in your hands? How are you expressing gratitude?
Curating your vision lifts you to the energetic level of your manifestation. Once you get all the details down, you can pull up this vision at any time of the day, continuously expressing the energy of your reality.
Step 3: Engage daily
Repetition is key to reap the benefits of visioning exercises. If you truly desire something, showing that you’re committed to your vision is important. Engaging with your vision daily will keep you motivated and highly-inspired, reminding you of your true goals.
If you choose to journal, write down your core vision word-for-word at least (10) times. You can add more specific details if you’d like, but it’s important to highlight your core vision so you can fuel specific energy. For a meditation, use your core vision as a mantra. Breathe in – core vision mantra – breathe out. If other details come up, acknowledge them, express gratitude, and let them go. This will keep your focus and intention on your core vision and stoke the elevated energy necessary for manifestation.
Techniques that Support Visioning
Besides the visioning exercises above, we love using supportive techniques that help raise our vibrations. Some of these techniques include creating a vision board, microdosing, and engaging in a hapé ceremony.
A vision board is the visual representation of your core vision and all the details that go into it. Vision boards can be digital or physical, and if you’re a big fan of collaging this would be perfect for you! We like to keep the core vision (in word or picture form) right in the center with the supporting images surrounding it. When you’ve completed your board, be sure to hang it where you’ll see it multiple times throughout the day. This will remind you to express your core vision and invite in that elevating manifestation energy.
Psilocybin mushrooms are a beautiful tool for recognizing true self and can genuinely bring out the desires of your soul. While large doses tend to encourage a deeper, more psychedelic journey into self, small doses, or microdoses, gently bring in subtle energies around our true desires and sole purpose. Microdosing delicately smooths out the sharp edges that sometimes come with mentally spending time in the past and future, and guides us into the present moment.
When engaging in visioning exercises with microdoses, offering gratitude is an essential part of our practice.
Since this plant is giving us raw insight into our soul, its important to be gracious so you’re giving as well as receiving. This recognizes the mushroom as more than just a physical entity, cultivating a deeper, more profound relationship, and supporting the continuation of balance.
Our final technique for supporting vision exercises is called a hapé ceremony, which we had the honor of participating in at our first Make & Mary in-person retreat. This ceremony is sacred to Amazonian tribes as hapé is considered a powerful shamanic medicine. The hapé blend itself consists of botanicals, roots, herbs and tree ash mixed with highly potent tobacco, Nicotina rusticana (not commercial tobacco). During the ceremony, participants and a facilitator work with the hapé spirit (each blend has a different spirit) and intentions are set. Afterwards the blend is administered (through the nostril with a Tepi pipe). Working with the hapé spirit may support your vision by:
- Balancing and realigning your energy
- Clearing out physical, mental, or spiritual energetic barriers
- Helping you feel grounded
- Promoting compassion for yourself and others
- Invoking the magic of calm
- Connecting you with your true self
Due to its cultural origins, it’s highly important to honor the ceremony’s traditions and only engage in this ritual with the guidance of an experienced facilitator.
In Closing
You have the power to manifest anything you desire. Visioning exercises and rituals are inspirational and supportive tools for practicing manifestation and may help you discover the core visions of your reality. Since visioning exercises can be intense, it’s always beneficial to start slow, be gentle, and show yourself love along the way.
If you’re interested in experiencing the power of your true self and would like to feel supported by like-minded individuals, we welcome you to join us for an Intimate Women’s Retreat To Awaken Your Inner Fire on May 5-7, 2023! Learn more here.
