For some reason not at all clear to me, the words manifest and Manifest Destiny have danced around in my head this morning. In pursuit of just what this might mean in a larger sense, I think of what they mean to me first.
The term manifest means to make it obvious, or to show it. We do manifest our daily lives based on our thoughts and perceptions, our actions and our words. I believe this. I know if I awaken to a tumultuous feeling regarding what I do not like in my world, I simply need to go within to sort things out and change the thinking patterns in order to create the space for a more positive approach to appear. When that positive energy inhabits the area, good things will happen. Often the shift is as easy as replacing a knee-jerk response of “Crap!” with “Thank you universe for allowing me the chance to grow with this new challenge.”
The term Manifest Destiny sounded to me like a piece of literature so I quickly thought that I might need to read it. Then when I looked for it, I realized it was a time in history instead. It had to do with U.S. expansion of territory during the 19th century.
Then I consulted Webster about manifest and found what I believe is somewhat relevant … apparent to the senses … evident, obvious, clear, plain … reveal … as a noun it means the listing of the contents of cargo or passengers. Then I went to manifestation and found “a form in which a being manifests itself or is thought to manifest itself, esp. the material or bodily form of a spirit.”
Well, isn’t this interesting? I have of late been attracted to the Neale Donald Walsch books because they show how God manifests himself in us and we manifest him through our thoughts. My own book (currently in publication entitled: Journal to the Center of the Soul) is how the manifestation of Death in a physical form acted as a teacher to a seeking woman named Lila. And the name Lila actually means “the play of the goddess Shakti that creates the world out of sheer delight … creation or emanation of worlds … outcome of creative play activities of God and his devotees.” And can’t we use manifest and create interchangeably in some cases? Nice.
I don’t believe it takes rocket science-knowledge to see this connection or to know why it is I was moved to write the words manifest or manifest destiny at the top of this page.
My understanding of what many call “God” is so much larger than any religion has ever been able to define it. I was turned off by the roles he played, the commands he gave, the fear people held in response to his threats of damnation. I never bought into it all. I understand the symbolism of the word God throughout all the ages, all the traditions, all religions, and all of history. I would offer the definition here of the word God as that which is beyond the appropriate reach for accurate definition but which, being genderless, is present as energy within anything that lives. That’s the Laurie-definition.
For today with my urge or nudge to write manifest upon this computer screen, I feel a push by that same God-force (I am uncomfortable still, to this day, calling it God) or the universe, to explore. Only through writing can I properly explore. Let me rephrase this as well: Only through writing can I properly allow the space for the universe to push the words through me and onto the paper. Times like this, I cannot say exactly where the words come from. There is no exact place. I do not sit and ponder what will come from the end of my hands next, or from my mind, I simply begin, and the words appear.
And this takes me back to manifest. Is there a certain amount of trust and faith required to manifest anything? Do we need to know where we are going in order to arrive there? Or do we begin the journey and allow the path to manifest before us? Do we take the step and have the platform manifest itself? Do we jump and the parachute manifests itself in response to our courage to move?
And conversely, do those of us who are petrified of doing anything that would cause any discomfort to anyone manifest more discomforts simply because they are petrified?
So all of that leads me to this: Can you manifest your destiny? Can I manifest my destiny? Will all people manifest their own destinies in this world?
If we are ruled by the media and we buy into their fear-based tactics of relaying news, if we watch the garbage available on television and allow ourselves and more frighteningly, our children, to think that what is shown there is completely acceptable, and if we continue to buy into the materialism of this society, then isn’t it scary to see the future we are all collectively manifesting for humanity?
But what if we will stop when we get a flicker of a word, like manifest, and spend some time on it? What if we allow the space for the universe to communicate through us what the word could mean? What if we take a minute of our precious day to look up a word that comes to us as an admirer and sits across the room watching us? Will we dare to acknowledge its presence? Do we have the courage to approach it to see why it sits there? What kind of world would we, could we, create if we but allow these moments of God to manifest into an essay, a piece of music, a creation of art, a new recipe, or anything else that arises from what we, just moments before, thought was nothing?
We are at a critical time in our lives as inhabitants on this earth. We are at a critical time for the hope of the children. We no longer allow for silence where the words of the eternal spirit—call it what you want—can speak to us. We cannot stand a moment alone in quiet thought. We refuse to get to know our thoughts; we are unable to discern the voice of our highest self from those tapes that were recorded through endless hours of filling spaces with violence, mistrust, fear, and hatred that comes through the media, the movies, the music, and the television. Where are we headed if this is what we are pulling from in order to manifest our destiny?
Yes, today is a new day; a day that is going to be whatever I manifest for me. And what if, just what if, I am manifesting love, compassion and generosity? How will that change your day if you are manifesting more fear? Will my destiny be affected by your desire for your own destiny? Can those of us like me, who choose to manifest a destiny of peace, create enough peace to alter the energy around you? That I do not know.
What I do know is that I commit from this day forward to allow the space, the time, the nudge, from wherever it comes, in the form of a dream, a thought, a random word floating around in my consciousness, to manifest itself. I will allow the soul, the highest expression of who I could ever be, to guide the way because it is my soul that is connected with the eternal spirit, the universe, and yes, to God. I will manifest my destiny. And as many are also evolving at the same rate as I, together we will manifest a destiny that will reach so much higher and appeal to so many more people than what is currently manifesting all around us. My shift will cause a shift in someone, somewhere.
Let’s manifest a destiny of love, peace, compassion, and kindness and let fall away the destiny of fear that holds so many people shackled prisoners to life.
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