Manifestos

People like slogans, mantras. People like affirmations, statements of purpose, core values, principles of unity. They like to set goals. Ever since I found out that the prime directive of consciousness is to sort through all incoming sensory information in order to decide what will become conscious - usually choosing what is expected - I understand why manifestos work. If you set a goal and create a sentence to describe that, and especially if you repeat that sentence every day, then your mind will automatically begin to scan for anything that might support the idea. That's why, when you buy a car for instance, you suddenly notice how many other people drive the same model, or when you get a dog, a whole new society of dog people becomes visible.

Prayer is a wonderful form of manifesto because prayers almost always include gratitude, thereby generating the ability of human consciousness to perceive blessings and gifts. Donald Engstrom-Reese, a friend and ex-cohort, has been creating strings of "prayer beads" for decades now, assigning one sentence prayers to each bead, kind of like a Pagan version of the rosary, which is itself a very powerful manifesto.

Another friend likes to say "Believe me." I think this is her form of manifesto - short and to the point. I believe she is speaking to herself as much as to anyone else. I like it. And I tend to believe her, too!

Recently a friend who is also a life coach guided me through a session to determine my life's path, and though the exercise itself didn't really work, it did get me thinking. Eventually I came up with the following sentence: I remember and embrace my legacy as healer. After saying it a few times, I realized that this is not only my life's purpose, but an affirmation. Very cool.

Affirmations are a manifesto form that has never worked well for me, because if it's something that isn't already manifested, I feel like a liar saying it out loud. At least that's the story I'm accustomed to telling myself.

But I might be wrong about affirmations. This week a friend shared his daily affirmation with me - wow! It's so powerful, it would get anyone's butt up and out the door in the morning. When he says it, he speaks quickly - sincerely, yes, but not with any particular emotion. He is so convincing. Wow.

Below is a bit of my friend's manifesto, not too much since it's very personal, but enough to give you the idea of its potency.

I am light, light, full of light. I am radiant and energized, kind, gentle, and sweet, and only sweetness comes from my mouth.

Today I remember my kind word, my smile, my uplifting gesture, all through the day. When negativity arises, I remember the voice of God calling me to count my blessings and shine a light in the world.

I am strong and fearless, patient and calm, unhurried and unworried, poised and confident. I walk in glory with my head held high and fear no evil.

Today I make my space my own and I take my time.

I am wealthy now. I have everything I need. Everything I want is attracted to me.

I am healthy now. My colon is clear, my heart is strong, my chi is flowing freely in all my parts. I am whole and complete and happy now. I am a joyful light in this world.

Amen, brother!