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Originally Posted by torilink  as a matter of fact, yes. it would be the first chakra work - releasing the past - or the Christian belief of being "Saved" - both are symbolic of the acceptance that all that has come before this moment is gone, and has no effect (except what we give it). We accept, release, and forgive.
For some it is easiest to just see that the past isn't real - it doesn't exist now, a memory isn't real now - so you just forgive the past and let it go.
Others who've had very negative life experiences my have a more difficult time and have more negative beliefs to release. In such a case the Christian concept of being completely forgiven and forgiving others for everything that's happened is a good exercise. In AA they make out a list of all they've wronged and then go through it and ask for forgiveness - this isn't necessary but for some who harbor deep guilt it is effective for release.
Regardless of how you approach it, it boils down to bringing yourself into the present moment, focusing on now and what you desire now. The pivotal point in manifestation is to stop looking backward. |
This is an excellent point. It was recommended elsewhere in the IM forum about looking for the common ground amongst all the authors/practitioners because that's where the real power is. Perhaps everything else, that people are always discussing as far as the "how-to" of IM, is personal style. Some behaviors work better for certain people than other behaviors.
It's like that thread about negative affirmations, which typically are not recommended, because they are supposed to be ineffectual, or they keep the person dwelling on that quality he or she wants to change. But if the person actually has stepped into the now and left behind the past, then a negative affirmation should be just as effective. I mentioned my friend BJ, who quit smoking and put what was left of the carton of cigarettes on top of the fridge, and everytime he walked by it, he said out loud, "I don't smoke." He told me that's the only way he could have quit smoking. This is totally opposite of what's usually recommended, but one day he quit and never went back. He became a non-smoker.
This would also answer why for some people at some times it works better to have intense focus, and why sometimes we hear how a complete non-attachment works, and other times an action without a strong desire, and other times an action with drive and motivation, and other times visualization, and so on. I can see how attachment (especially very strong attachment) can be more in regard to the past than to the now.
This also explains why one very common ground amongst, I think, every LoA/IM/personal development author I've ever read, is the importance of meditation. This would be because meditation quiets down all that chatter, and gets you really into Now.
Today I had an interesting experience. I went rummage sale-ing as usual, and was thinking before I left the house that I needed to stop by Fleet Farm to get a water filter. I live a couple miles out of town and my well water is awful. Without a carbon filter and softener, the water has excessive iron and it also smells lousy. Because of the financial issues, I haven't bought a new filter in quite some time, but next week I'll be having company and want the water to be nice for showers and stuff.
But while roaming around The City, I got to thinking that buying this water filter doesn't fit into my spending plan. I'm writing down every single cent I spend and watching the way I do things, and it has been really great for keeping me in line and not spending money too frivolously. It's only $8 for a two-pack, but it's still $8. And it's not a necessity. Oh well, I thought. I guess people can live with stinky showers for a night or two.
Within about an hour, I went to a rummage sale and there on the grass was a two-pack of carbon filters. I stood there looking at this, just looking at it for a few seconds, because I never once in the probably 800,000 rummage sales I've gone to over the past five years have ever seen any carbon filters for sale. I know this, because I would have bought them. It's just not the sort of thing people buy and then don't use. But this woman was moving, so she probably doesn't need them at her new place. She only wanted 50 cents for the two-pack.
It was so weird. I hadn't expressed any intention or done any visualizing or affirmations or anything at all. I had just decided to stick with my spending plan, and it's like the universe said "Well done" and provided the filters.
