Manifestation Decoded: A Journey of Miracles, Tests, and Self-Worth
So-called miracles have always fascinated me. What’s the secret spark that turns the impossible into reality? What does someone do, say, or feel to bring it to life? For as long as I can remember, I’ve been an observer of these moments, trying to decode the mystery.
In 2005, my mom gave me a book called Excuse Me, Your Life Is Waiting by Lynn Grabhorn (originally published in 1999). I was hooked. Grabhorn’s premise was that focusing on feelings—not just positive thoughts or logic—could lead to a miraculous life. I was obsessed. I turned my brand-new friend (soon to be bestie) onto it, and together, we became self-proclaimed "wizards." Around the same time, The Secret was released, and suddenly the world was on board too.
The techniques in that book helped me manifest all sorts of things over the years—some obvious miracles, others I only recognized in hindsight. I moved countries, met my love, and had countless serendipitous moments. One stands out: in 2019, my husband (who is not into the ‘woo woo’) and I struggled to rent out our house. On a long drive, we decided to "manifest" a tenant.. I may not have used that word to get him onboard. We got specific about what we wanted, let ourselves feel excited about the freedom it would bring, and sent it out to the universe. No joke—30 minutes later, our neighbor called, asking if the house was still for rent. Just like that, we found our tenant (and my husband became a little more convinced of miracles). It was the quickest manifestation I’ve consciously experienced.
The trickiest part for me has always been maintaining those “good feelings.” That’s where Lacy Phillips’ work entered the picture. I came across her method a few years ago, and it filled in the gaps. Lacy’s belief is that we manifest from our subconscious sense of worth. Essentially, you can only consistently attract what you deeply believe you deserve.
Her framework focuses on three pillars:
Unblocking limiting beliefs—identifying and clearing the internal roadblocks.
Expansion—seeing to believe. This involves finding examples of people with similar backgrounds or challenges achieving what you want.
Aligned action—taking steps toward your goal.
Lacy also created self-hypnosis meditations, which she calls DI’s (Daily Imaginings). They help shift limiting beliefs, strengthen self-worth, and rewire subconscious patterns. I’ve used her tools on and off for years, and my favorite part is how empowering they are. With some effort, I can dig into my own subconscious, no therapist or plant medicine required, and uncover beliefs holding me back.
One of Lacy’s most fascinating observations is that the universe often “tests” us during the manifestation process. Say you’re trying to manifest a partner. You might encounter what she calls a “shiny carrot”—someone who seems almost perfect but is missing key qualities you value. If you settle, you signal that you don’t truly believe you deserve what you’re calling in. If you hold out, you align with your worth, and your true desire comes closer.
She also talks about the “Magic Dark,” a phase where nothing seems to be happening. It’s a letting-go period—a test in itself—where the universe checks whether your worthiness holds firm.
Interestingly, this aligns with Kabbalistic teachings on manifestation. Kabbalists view life as full of tests, big and small, designed to nudge us toward growth. Reacting calmly to a challenge—be it stubbing your toe or getting an unexpected bill—creates an opportunity to shift into a better reality. Conversely, reacting impulsively keeps you stuck in cycles. It’s like quantum physics: your reactions determine which “parallel reality” you step into.
Looking back, I realize I used these steps to manifest my most transformative manifestation, my husband. I wrote down everything I wanted in a partner (including “elegant” but sadly not “handy”). The list. After some unsuccessful dating, I gave up. I decided I was done trying. I stopped caring about who might be at a party or whether I’d meet anyone. I just started enjoying life. Letting go. I did a Family Constellation workshop. Unblocking.
Then, out of nowhere (after the Magic Dark), a friend gave me a last-minute ticket to Burning Man. I’d never been but decided to go. On the second morning, at sunrise, a gorgeous man tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I wanted a hug (which, in Burning Man terms, isn’t weird). And the rest is history.