Creative Visualization and the Law of Attraction
Julia Jablonski, 1998


Part I: Optimism and Pessimism


"Most people live, whether physically, intellectually or morally, in a very
restricted circle of their potential being. They make use of a very small
portion
of their possible consciousness, and of their soul's resources in general, much
like a man who, out of his whole bodily organism, should get into a habit
of using
and moving only his little finger. Great emergencies and crises show us how
much
greater our vital resources are than we had supposed." -William James-


Would you like to be able to create whatever you want in your life? Imagine
for a
moment that you have a magic genie in a bottle, or a magic potion or wand that,
like some charming children's movie, gives you the power to zap into being
anything you wish. It also gives you the power, as so often happens in such
movies, to "mess up" and create chaos and things you don't want also. These
whimsical movies reflect in a gross way the universal reality that our
thoughts do
create our experiences. That which we give our attention to, we attract. "Where
thoughts go, energy flows."


This means, of course, that optimists are confirmed in their optimism, and
pessimists are confirmed in their habits of thought also. An optimist expects
things to work out somehow, and because they give their attention to what
they do
want with expectancy, this is what manifests in their experience. The
pessimist,
on the other hand, generally also creates what they habitually worry about. Of
course, the Universe is a benevolent place, and everything does work out in the
end. Often what this means, however, is that eventually, through difficult
experiences, pessimists learn how to alter their expectations and beliefs
to more
deliberately create what they are wanting in life.


This dynamic is supported by quantum theory , which has shown that there is no
such thing as an "objective" experience, even when supposed controls are
applied.
It's been proven that the outcome of an experiment is influenced by the
expectation of observers. There are no fixed laws, even when dealing with
"physical" reality.


-*-
Part II: Thoughts are as Real as Actions and Things


"Great men are they who see that spiritual is stronger than any material force,
that thoughts rule the world." -Emerson-


It is my understanding that everything we experience in "reality" has its
beginnings in the non-physical. Every thought we think is a seed. Every time we
think the same thought over again, we water that seed. When we think such a
thought with emotion, we fertilize it. The more intense our desire or fear
regarding such a thought, the more likely it is to come into our
experience, and
the faster it will manifest.


Thoughts are just as real as actions, but exist at a much higher and faster
frequency. We may have a thought about wanting to kiss a companion, for
example.
This thought erupts from pure spirit or consciousness, like a spark. As we
think
it, it begins to slow, moving into the vibrational realm of feelings. We
think the
thought, then we have a feeling about it. We might feel excited or nervous.
Depending on our feelings about it, we then have more thoughts and more
feelings,
while deciding what to do. As this process unfolds, the vibrations slow, and we
eventually move into the realm of action (or no action, if that is the decided
course of action). The same is true of things. We think of a butterfly, and
eventually that thought slows until we experience/perceive/attract butterflies.


This can be compared to water, which at a high rate of vibration is steam, but
which, as it cools, condenses into water, which we can perceive with our
physical
senses, and as it cools further, becomes apparently solid. Water is a great
metaphor for all aspects of "physical" versus "non-physical." It is
difficult to
communicate about anything spiritual or "psychic" without using the terms
"physical" and "non-physical." Here, "non-physical" refers to that which
cannot be
experienced through the five physical senses (sight, hearing, touch, taste and
smell). The "physical" in this case represents that which is made manifest
(appears to the senses) on this vibrational plane of reality. When we are
alive,
we are like water (or perhaps some of us are like ice) but when we pass into
spirit, we become like steam. We may then re-emerge into the physical
(reincarnate) through a slowing of our vibration into another physical
incarnation.


There is only one main law that must mastered in order to create what we
want in
our lives. It sounds simple, but it requires more conscious awareness of our
thoughts than is ordinary. Of course, the more conscious and deliberate we
are in
choosing our thoughts, the more we are able to focus our experiences in desired
directions. This is generally referred to as the Law of Attraction. I'm
indebted
to the Abraham Hicks material for the expansion of my understanding of the
law of
attraction the past few years, though I've found the same law and principles in
diverse teachings.


(For further information, explore the works of Florence Scovel Shin, the
six book
series The Lives and Teachings of the Masters of the Far East by Spalding,
Creative Visualization by Gawain, The Conversation with God books by
Walsch, and
quantum theory. If one pays attention, this same law or principle can be
found in
perhaps all spiritual or esoteric teachings such as the Bible and Eastern
philosophies.)


-*-
Part III: How to Pray


"Ask and ye shall receive" is a truth. We ask with our desire, with what we
give
our attention to. Our thoughts and feelings are magnetic, drawing that which is
focused upon into our lives. Jack may really want a particular job that would
involve a promotion at work, for example. He may say to himself (or the
Universe),
"Oh, I would really love to have that job. I hope I get that job." While he's
thinking this, he's picturing himself in that position, happy, fulfilled. He's
imagining the new office, sitting at the new desk, performing the new
tasks. This
is a powerful way to create what he's seeking. The Universe responds to his
desire
impersonally, for it's not about whether or not he deserves it, it's about what
he's in harmony with receiving. The All That Is of pure potentiality
responds to
the energy of him wanting that job, and being happy and fulfilled in that
job. By
visualizing himself in that job, he is already in the process of creating
this in
his experience. He has only to allow his thoughts and imaginings to filter
down to
manifest into the "reality" of this plane.


The specifics of the job are also not as important as the feeling state he is
desiring to create in his life. In his visualization, he is bringing
himself into
harmony with the feeling state he desires. He achieves the feeling literally in
the moment of visualization simply through picturing himself gaining what he
desires, and feeling happy in that position. By becoming it in his fantasy,
he is
led to the creation of more of the same feeling state in the future.


By contrast, Joe may desire the same job and promotion. He may say to himself,
"Oh, I really want that job, but I'm worried I won't get it. It would be so
great
to get it (he sees himself in the job), and if I don't get it, I don't know
what
I'll do (pictures himself depressed and worrying over a stack of unpaid
bills). If
Jack gets it, (pictures Jack in the job), I'll be so mad! I'm way more
qualified
than he is. Those yahoos upstairs don't appreciate all the energy I put into my
work, and my experience and skills. (Pictures a superior or set of superiors at
work with anger). This creates conflicted energy. He both summons desire
for the
job, and resistance to not getting it. Therefore, he sends a small amount of
energy toward getting the job, but more energy toward creating depression,
stress
over bills, and anger between himself and superiors at work. He also sends
energy
toward Jack getting the job instead. Joe focuses on feeling unappreciated,
and is
likely to attract experiences that confirm this expectation.


Some people naturally speak and think in ways that are effective, others have a
habit of thinking in ineffective ways. One can often detect how deliberate a
creator someone is by the way they express themselves. For example:


"I hope the weather stays nice like this. It's so beautiful out!" (This is
effective for it leads to more beautiful weather)"I hope it doesn't rain! That
would be a bummer!" (This is ineffective, for it leads to rain and feelings
that
are not wanted.)


"I want to create harmony and happiness in this relationship. I know we can
do it
if we try." (This is effective, for it leads to harmony, happiness and
empowerment.)


"I don't want to fight with you. I hate it when we fight. I can't take this
anymore, this has to change!" (This is ineffective, leading to more
fighting and
frustration.)


"I've decided to move to San Francisco. There are lots and lots of people
who have
done this. There must be an infinite number of options for how I can make this
happen. Let's see, I could..." (This is effective, leading to positive
visualization and creative problem solving.)


"I wish I could move to move to San Francisco, but I hear it's so expensive out
there. The job market is tight, and a tiny apartment costs what a nice
house costs
here. And what about those earth quakes?" (Clearly, this is ineffective, unless
one is trying to talk oneself out of it! This train of thought leads to
negative,
pessimistic feelings, and if the move is undertaken, undesirable
experiences with
finances and perhaps even earth quakes.)


In this last example, the effective person thinking or speaking has opened
themselves not only to creative problem solving, but to the limitless
resources of
the Universe. Their thoughts are "in line" with their desires. The ineffective
thinker, however, sends energy in direct opposition to what is expressed as
desired. Note also the difference in feeling between saying, "I wish...,"
which is
weak and implies it's unlikely to happen, and "I've decided." Saying "I've
decided" sets things strongly into motion.


This leads us to the most effective way to pray. Many of us are taught that
"God"
is an angry, "jealous" paternal being whom we must beg for favors, and who will
grant them to us if we are "good." While this may be true of some human folks
(especially parents), God is not limited by the ego issues of "man." When
we pray
in supplication, we come from a place of lack. What we really say when we pray,
"Please, please, God, let me find the money to pay my rent" is "I don't
have the
money! Help! I don't have the money!" We tell the Universe we don't have the
money, and we get more of not having the money in our experience.


The Bible says we are made "in the image of God." This means we too are
creators.
God gives us free will in how we choose to create. It is said that God
helps those
who help themselves. We must learn how to create what we desire by developing
faith (applied optimism) and focused thought. The best way to pray then, is to
visualize what we desire as already having happened, and to give thanks in our
knowing that what we need and desire is already coming to us. To pray is to
appreciate. It is to express an attitude of gratitude. The more we count our
blessings, the more blessings come to us. The more we worry and pray for
help due
to some suffering, fear or lack, the more suffering, lack and fearful
experiences
we will draw to us.


-*-
Part IV: Becoming a more Deliberate Creator


"The highest possible stage in moral culture is when we recognize that we
ought to
control our thoughts." Charles Darwin


Following are some exercises or things to keep in mind as you begin to take
more
responsibility and control over what you attract into your life.
Pay attention to your fantasies. Daydreams (and night dreams) and the
themes that
run through our minds are like the trailers to movies. They show us what
we're in
the process of manifesting. If we're daydreaming about how we're afraid we're
going to not make our sales quota, or how we may lose that important case in
court, it's time to begin to shift gears and begin imagining ourselves creating
what we do want. If we're daydreaming about choking our neighbor because
her dog
barks all night long, and because when we request help with the matter
she's rude,
it's wise to know that we're likely to experience more negativity from that
neighbor, even if we're polite on the surface. Thoughts are things!


Listen to yourself. Pay attention to your language. Especially watch
yourself for
phrases such as "I hope," "I wish," and "I've decided." Also, watch for "buts."
The word "but" is used to contradict what was just expressed. Pay attention
to how
often you are talking about what you want, versus what you don't want. Let
go of
what you don't want, and shift to focusing on what you do.


Try starting small. Imagine a small thing that you'd like to come to you.
You're
far less likely to have resistance to creating this in your experience, and
your
beliefs are likely to be less challenged by a smaller desire. As you get
good at
this, you can aim higher and higher, for your belief in your ability to
create in
your own experience will expand.
You might try playing with this a bit by choosing something whimsical. Over the
years, as I've played a lot with manifesting, I've had some funny and amazing
experiences. A really enjoyable thing to try to manifest is friendly
people. After
a surprisingly negative experience with a Canadian customs official at the
beginning of a trip, my girlfriend who is also a very conscious creator and I
decided to manifest happy people from there on out. The two of us together
created
some intense synergy. The rest of our trip was almost like the Twilight Zone.
People were literally hysterically friendly. Wherever we went, strangers joked
with us, went out of their ways to help us, and practically rolled out red
carpets. It was in no way subtle or mistakable. We found ourselves bursting out
laughing time after time.


Try drawing a picture of what you're wanting in your life. Really allow
yourself
to get into the flow of picturing yourself in the future with everything as you
want it to be. Or you might try writing a story about how you got from
where you
now are to where you want to be, as if it's already happened. The more you can
suspend disbelief or resistance, the better. Writing and drawing allow us
to get
out of what is "practical" and dream our way into what we want. Remember
that the
potential is unlimited. Your well-being does not come at the expense of others.
Just as there is not a limited amount of "happiness" or "health" on the planet,
there is no need to worry that you'll attract more than your share of anything.
Your being happy does not mean someone else must be depressed to balance things
out. In fact, your being healthy, wealthy and wise makes it easier for
others to
follow in your footsteps.


It's important to appreciate those things in our experiences that we don't
want,
as well as the blessings we already have. Just as without darkness, we
would not
know light, so it is with contrast. When we experience something and we know we
don't like it, we suddenly know what we do want. Thank the contrast, and pivot
away from it with grace. Shoving away from it tends to ricochet us right
back into
it, for then we think of it with intense emotion. The more we can find
peace with
what we don't want, the easier it is to flow with intense desire toward what is
wanted.


Also, it's good to embrace wanting. Desire is what keeps us alive. Without
desire,
we wouldn't be here. It's all about wanting to live, wanting to experience,
wanting, wanting, wanting (not necessarily having, having, having!) Perhaps
we're
very altruistic, and all we want to do is give, but this is still
satisfying some
desire in ourselves to give. I'm not saying we should do whatever we want
without
regard to others. I'm saying that if we are in harmony with our inner being's
desires, we will naturally want to do what is best for us, and this will
naturally
be what is also best for others. Sometimes, others may not see that at the
time.
We may want to end a relationship that another wants us to stay in. From a
greater
perspective, when we act in harmony with our own heart's desire to move toward
something else, we afford that other person the opportunity to work through
their
own fears and dependencies.


To want is a beautiful thing. It is wanting that birthed this world, and desire
that draws us together to create new life, both physically and metaphysically.


"One must not lose desires. They are mighty stimulants to creativeness, to love
and to long life." -Alexander Bogomoletz-