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Something that we use every day is our imagination, and it's the natural creative energy of the Universe in motion. We're always manifesting whether we realise it or not. But to manifest what we want, to make it real, we need to be intentional about where we're focusing our thoughts and our energy. And this is where creative visualisation comes in. I even used this method to manifest my dream wedding day! This is one of my favourite feel-good practices, and I hope it becomes one of your go-to tools as you build your dreams.
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Intro: Hi, it's Amy here, and welcome to The Prana + Patchouli Podcast. I'm a restorative yoga teacher and this is where I share my self-care tips, spiritual tools, breathwork and guided meditations to reduce stress and raise your vibration. If you haven't already, be sure to hit subscribe, so you never miss an episode.
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Let's talk about creative visualisation. We touched on this in last week's episode when we talked about visualising our spiritual practices and self-care rituals to make them a daily habit. So if you haven't listened to that episode yet, then do go and check it out. I’ve also created a special, downloadable audio meditation, so you can do your Creative Visualisation every single day and connect to your dreams. So be sure to download that. I’ll put the link below in the show notes for you.
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When you visualise, it's a really simple practice where you can sit comfortably and see yourself doing what you want to be doing, being who you want to be. Whatever you want to create, see yourself doing it and picture it in great detail.
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Picture everything going beautifully. Let your imagination flow. I think as adults we don't really give ourselves permission to daydream. But it's safe when you feel good about what it is that you're visualising. And if a negative thought pops up, just return to the visualisation that you want to create. I think that often we can easily imagine what could go wrong. Why is this? Maybe it's because we're stuck in an old pattern and it's kind of what we're used to, or maybe it's just easier to reach for that lower vibration because it's more believable, and it's harder to visualise what could go right. But if it's challenging for you to visualise your deepest dreams and desires coming true, you can simply visualise yourself taking a small, next right action.
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For example, if you're feeling wildly stressed about a situation that you're not entirely sure how to handle, maybe you imagine yourself sitting in meditation and asking a question, so that guidance can come through. Or, perhaps you say a prayer and then see yourself coming out of that meditation, feeling calm and clear on your next step, which will allow you to start to move through that challenge with grace.
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But whatever it is, once you've pictured in detail what it is that you want, the most important part is letting your visualisation take over emotionally, so you can feel a genuine connection to whatever it is that you're seeing. Let your mind wander and see yourself in what you desire. And then just let that feeling take over because that energy is what attracts your desires to you. It makes you a magnet and truly manifests your desires and your dreams into form.
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In the introduction I mentioned my wedding day, which was the week of Christmas last year, and every night when I was falling asleep, I would run through the entire day in my mind, just visualising every single detail. And I'd spent a couple of years binding it at that point so I knew what I wanted the flowers to look like, and the cake to look like, how I wanted to look and feel when I was putting on my dress, or seeing Jonathan for the first time walking down the aisle and being surrounded by all of our really close family and friends, dancing on the dance floor, just being filled with joy. I imagined the food that we’d eat, and the cocktails and the wine that we’d drink, and most importantly, just how I would feel moment to moment. For me it was feeling really calm in the morning as I was getting ready, just filled with excitement. And then just feeling so much love for all of our family and friends, and Jonathan, of course, and then just having fun feeling so much joy, especially after the last couple of years. Like I knew exactly how I wanted to feel, and I would just replay that in my mind every evening before I went to bed, so I fell asleep with all of these feelings flowing through my body and then I'd often dream about the wedding as well. So that was even more manifesting! And when the day came around, it flowed so beautifully, so perfectly. Everything happened with ease. And I had this feeling of - I've already been here, this has already happened - because I'd already visualised it, it played out exactly as it did in my mind, maybe even better. And I felt exactly how I imagined that I would feel from moment to moment. So you can see how incredibly powerful creative visualisation is in bringing your dreams to life. And that’s because our brains can’t tell the difference between what’s happening in reality and what’s happening in our minds.
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So when you want to visualise a dream that you want to bring into form, just take 5 to 20 minutes a day, perhaps, to sit comfortably with your eyes closed. And often our minds can wander, so just gently come back to what you're visualising. But really give yourself permission to fully feel with every cell of your being what it is that you want. As though it's already happening for you.
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Cultivating the feeling of what you decide is the key to manifesting it in reality, and I know that when I was manifesting my wedding, I was visualising it before bed, and even my Mum was doing the same thing as well and she had exactly the same experience. You could even take your journal and in as much detail as possible, describe what you saw in that visualisation and how you felt. And this is also another way to creatively visualise if you don't want to sit meditation or you can’t. Just simply writing out that vision in your journal is also another really powerful way to manifest. But when you creatively visualise through meditation, you calm down and relax your nervous system first. And that allows you to expand your vision of what's possible.
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So, let's practice together now. If you can, find somewhere comfortable to sit, with your feet planted firmly on the ground and your palms facing upwards, ready to receive love, energy and inspiration. Begin to connect with all of the energy that's within you and around you as you come into your breath and close your eyes. Breathe in. Breathe out. Allow your breath to deepen with every inhale and exhale. Allow your body to recalibrate and return to its natural state of peace. Allow your nervous system to calm down. And in this space, your mind can wander and your thoughts can shift. Relax your body from the crown of your head down to your toes, and allow yourself to relax into the visions you're about to create.
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With your eyes closed, in your mind's eye, visualise the things that you want to bring into your life. You don't have to wait until you've achieved your dreams to feel what it's like. You can transcend your reality and connect with that feeling every single day.
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Now contemplate these questions. How do you want to feel? Was there a time in the past when you felt this way? If you've experienced that feeling before, it's easier to connect with. And maybe it's in your own life or maybe you've seen it happen in someone else's. Breathe into the feelings these images create for you. If you notice any resistance, breathe into it and let it go.
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Guide your attention to images of how you want to feel - of a world and experience that you want to see and feel. See yourself doing what you've been dreaming of. See yourself stepping into your life as the highest version of yourself.
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With every breath connect more and more deeply. Connect with the feeling that is ignited by those images. Breathe and feel your way into the experience of your innermost dreams and desires. Let your mind wander and your emotions guide you. Let them inspire you and light your soul.
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Now take one more inhale, and release. And when you're ready, open your eyes to the room and let the light in.
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You can return to this meditation whenever you like and allow it to inspire, uplift and guide you throughout your week. When you align your energy with the inspiration behind your desire, you let go of all doubt. We often say we’ll believe it when we see it, but we've got it all wrong. Like Dr. Wayne Dyer said, “I'll see it when I believe it”. Use this as your mantra. Connect with those creative visions daily. And I can’t wait to see you bring your dreams to life.
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Don’t forget to download the Creative Visualisation audio that I made for you. You can find it in the show notes below.
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Outro: Thanks so much for listening. If you’re ready to go deeper, I have a free mini yoga retreat waiting for you over at pranapatchouli.com/retreat. It’ll help you find emotional ease, fill up your cup and follow the whispers of your soul. *Deep exhale*. All you have to do is head over there now and enter your name and email for instant access. I’ll be back next week with a brand new episode, so until then, from my heart to yours, Namaste.
