10 tips on how to manifest 2023
January is the perfect time to manifest the New Year but there is something about the New Year, New You thing that never really resonates with me. Isn’t it a lot of pressure to re-invent myself after I have been in my pajamas for a week, over stimulated by parties and get togethers, and have a major sugar hangover? Sure is.
What manifestation has come to mean to me is:
How can I take myself to the next level?
How can I step more into my destiny?
How can I embody more of my highest self?
2 years ago I left a very cushy job, with a cushy paycheque as a music teacher and professional opera singer to fly into the unknown world of spiritual entrepreneurship with zero guaranteed income. Was it risky? You bet. Was is terrifying? 100% . But how did I do it?
I learned how to trust the universe.
Here is what I have learned along the way about manifesting and raising your vibration in order to take yourself to the next level:
“Manifesting is not about attracting what you want. Manifesting is an awareness and an understanding that you attract what you are. - Wayne Dyer”
1. REFLECT
Reflecting on what there is to celebrate from the previous year. What did you accomplish? What were you proud of? When we take the time month by month to review the highlights, we witness how much there is to be grateful for.
2. RELEASE
Releasing what didn’t serve you. What can you forgive yourself for? How did you sabotage yourself? We must let go of the past before we can move into the future.
3. GRATITUDE
Understanding the Law of Attraction- The Universe will never give you what you want if you are not grateful for what you already have. The universe does not support negative belief systems. So having a gratitude mindset, keeping a detailed journal of all that you have changes your internal system which allows you to express yourself externally. When the universe sees you are grateful for what you have, it will meet you there and give you more.
4. RAISE YOUR VIBRATION
Everything vibrates at a frequency, including us. When we live in fear, guilt or shame our vibration is low and that is what we attract more of. When we raise our vibration, things that are resonating at that higher level will meet us. Some of my favourite ways to raise vibration are:
Be grateful for what you have now in this moment
Be curious about what new belief systems you don't know about yet
Align yourself with like minded people
Connect to nature
Do things to nourish the mind, body and soul
Use scents, lighting, spiritual tools
Listen to your favourite music
5. BE AWARE OF NEGATIVE SELF TALK
When low vibrational thoughts intervene and get in the way, “ you can’t ask for that” or “ that will never happen”, notice them with awareness. No matter what you set your mind to, there will be resistance but that is where the lesson is.
Why did you say that to yourself? Is there another way you can word that? Noticing the negative is a powerful way to speak directly to it- “ I see you, and I don’t think like that anymore, I believe that the Universe is providing everything I need”.
6. YOU CANNOT MANIFEST ANYTHING YOU WANT
Unfortunately there are things like soul contracts and karma that get in the way of some of the wildest things we could imagine. If we are poor today we cannot assume we will be a millionaire by next year. But what we CAN manifest is :
Desiring higher
Purposefulness
Compassion
How to be of service
Be whole
How to heal
7. LISTEN TO YOUR HEART FOR WHAT YOU TRULY DESIRE
Sure the majority of people want exciting trips, toys, health, wealth but when we are still and listen to the core of our heart- what do we really want? To feel like we belong, To feel loved, to feel like we have purpose.
What are the things that you could list that reflect those core values for you? Perhaps, spending more quality time with your loved ones, less social media, time to workout, friendships…
Our relationship with the Universe is very much like a dance. We don’t make demands of it - we ask it to assist us and in return ask how we can serve it.
8. WRITE IT OUT AND SPEAK IT OUT
Putting an external visual to the abyss of our minds is a crucial element. When we write it out , our guides can see our thoughts in a different way. When we declare our desires in spoken word out loud - it is heard by our ancestors. Your soul hears it echoed back to you and the vibration of it resonates at a deeper level.
Making a list of your desires, declaring out loud, making a vision board, or a Canva video with visuals will create a feeling in your body as though it is already happening. As your feel it, your vibrations rises, and the Universe responds. To feel it, is to believe it.
Create a mantra for your year or post words of affirmations of your desires around your home. The more you say it, the more you feel it, your vibration rises, and the Universe responds.
One of my favourite Mantras is:
I call in my highest timeline now
I am aligned with my soul purpose and highest path now
I call in clarity and guidance from my spirit team
For the greatest good of all
And so it is
And so it be
9. MANIFEST WITH OTHERS
When we gather with like minded people, we are unstoppable. If you are surrounding yourself with people who do not support your visions, your goals or your aspirations it makes it so much easier to go back to the old way of thinking. Limiting people limit us. Are your friends and loved ones supporting you and affirming what you want for your life? If not, when we release those people, it makes way for the new people to enter that are here to assist you in your next chapter.
10. RELEASE THE OUTCOME
”The secret to everything in life is to release the outcome”- Gabby Bernstein
My favourite analogy of this is Amazon. When we order something we like, we click yes, pay and assume it will arrive the next day. It is the same thing with our desires - once we declare them, we trust that they are heard and will be arriving. If we add fear, anxiety, our own timeline, pressure, or control around it, it delays in arriving to you.
Other tools I love are:
Vision Board
Manifest Video you create or an inspirational youtube video to watch
Have inspirational wallpaper on your desktop or phone
Mantra placing around your house
Mirror Work
Meditation
Sometimes the most simple things are the ones that make the biggest impact . A heart full of gratitude for what you do have, listening to your heart, speaking it to the universe and allowing yourself to receive all that is meant for you.
Magic is already happening, can you feel it?
Here is a workbook you can work through to make this your most abundant year yet:
12 ways to honour your loved ones who have passed through the holidays
The holidays are not easy for everyone. For many, that empty chair at the table, the presents not bought, the food not made, the memories not shared are a hard reality to bear.
As I entered the second Christmas without my mom, I realized the first one felt like a haze, the grief was too close. This second one, her empty space felt more prominent. I also felt the pressure, as the eldest to also fill her huge shoes in hosting as she did, baking as she did and trying to create the magic she did. It was hard…and questionably successful.
I tried to think of ways to make her presence known to me and invite her into the space with me. This holiday, I compiled some things that brought a lot of peace to my heart.
Here are some ways you can explore to call your loved ones in to be a part of your holidays. What I have learned as a medium is that our loved ones are only a thought away. As soon as we ask for their presence, they are with us, just on the other side of the veil.
Speak their name& share their memories
In our society, we are expected to experience a death event, grieve quietly, and not talk about it again. But what I have learned, is that there is so much healing when we do speak their names and share their stories. When other people mention my mom and how amazing she was, I feel grateful that she is remembered. My own memories surface and a warm feeling comes over me.
When you are with your family speak about those that are not here.
“Remember when…”
“ My favourite was…..”
“ They loved…….”
By speaking their name, it keeps them alive and carries on to other generations.
2. put something on the tree
I have learned so many stories of how people have placed something on their tree to honour their loved one. It could be an ornament of theirs, a gift someone gave you in honour of them, their favourite bird or animal, an angel, stars, or even a picture. If we have something that makes us think of them in the heart of our home, they are with us.
3. Bring out their dishes
Their favourite coffee cup, their favourite stirring spoon, your grandmothers tea cup, that plate that was always for the pickles, that old tupperwear they always used for “those cookies”. Having the energetic imprint of something they used in life can give us a sense of comfort.
4. go to a place they loved or that reminds you of them
Taking a moment of silence in the hustle and bustle to experience connection is a powerful thing to connect you with your loved one. It could be there favourite restaurant, or their favourite place in nature.
5. watch their favourite movie
Every year we would watch Sound of Music ( the older I got, I was like, How long is this?) but it was tradition- my dad would yodel, my mom would cry. A beautiful way to re-live old memories is to put on their favourite movie you would watch in your new christmas pj’s.
6. Wear their jewelry
Jewelry, watches, or pins are an amazing piece of legacy and heirlooms. When we place something that once was on their body and then place it on ours- I believe it draws them closer.
7. play their music
Sing their favourite carols, or make a playlist of their favourite Christmas music. Music has such an amazing vibration that can affect every chemical in our body- use it as an opportunity to connect with your loved one- whether through tears or through laughter.
8. play their games
Bring on out an epic puzzle, card game or their favourite board game that makes you think of them. A little friendly competition can spark wonders in a grieving heart.
9. use things they made
Whether it is a blanket they quilted or mittens they crocheted, a board game, makrame, or a tea towel- you can use it this season. It is so special to use something they have gifted us, made with their hands.
10. Decorations
Any heirlooms of a stuffed santa, bears, bells, angels, tree toppers, garland, that has been handed down is a beautiful way to feel their presence in your home. I never had the opportunity to meet my Mother in Law, Lee but she loved bells. Every time she travelled she would collect one so at Christmas we just have a whole mantle of bells for her.
11. baking & Food
Making their favourite recipes and tasting that cookie recipe can conjure up feelings from your childhood and join others in delight of the taste of a memory.
12. light a candle for them
Light represents life. By lighting a candle and asking out loud “ Can you come close to me” they will see your intention and make their presence known to you- maybe through a memory, or a gift idea, or another sign. Have it lit while your in the kitchen or have one going in the living room where all the hustle is. When you call them to draw closer, they will be there.
reflection
As I head into this new chapter without my Mom, my son, and two angel babies that couldn’t join us this side, I have to re-evaluate who I will be and how I manage my grief at Christmas and during the holidays. I can’t take the place of my mom, and I don’t have a household of 4 children we had hoped, so what are the new traditions I can create? what can I begin for my family? what is important for us and our values? I guess, I will only learn year by year as we build new memories.
Life is messy and it seems the holidays can make it messier. Try and find the clarity friends, if only for a moment. And if you are missing someone- remember, they are just one thought away.
Happy Holidays from my Family to yours💖
what it takes to be wild
It all begins with an idea.
Where do you begin to sum up an experience that takes your soul out, washes it and then puts it back in? It has been a week since I attended She is Wild Fest in Nordegg, Ab and I am still processing my emotions as the chant of 60 women in circle with me still rings in my ears:
“The earth is my bones
The water my blood
The air is my breath
The fire is my spirit”
My intention when signing up for the She is Wild Fest, retreat this past weekend was very clear- to get connected to my body. I feel that treading heavily the last five years through miscarriage, weight gain, alcohol abuse, managing a wounded artists ego, giving birth to my still born son, Chase, ending my opera career, becoming a medium and losing my mom Marilyn- my mind and soul have been living outside my body. It’s been a big time.
I have rarely felt present in this human vessel that stores my fiery soul. It was time. Through dance, breathwork, ritual, ceremony and music- I wanted to find myself again.
Here’s some reflections on my experience and what I think it takes to be your wildest self.
Create an intention.
One of the most important things I have learned in spirituality is that intention is everything. Whether you are meditating, wanting to connect with a loved one or meet with your spirit guides, you have to have an intention to initiate. When we create a clear intention, it allows energy to match it. Whether it is “ What do I need to know right now?” or “ forgiveness” or “ calm” it brings a focal point for information to come to you. When we create this clarity for ourselves, it also creates clarity for our guides to communicate to us. When I set out an intention to connect to my body- there was an aspect of it in every single workshop and session for me to link to. I also knew by the end of the session/retreat if my intention was met or not.
2. Acknowledging your Ancestors - When you heal yourself, you heal them
Most of our ancestors were not given the tool set, skills, resources, or relationships to help them heal, reflect, and grow. I think a huge part of the work we do in therapy is to heal the carried ancestral wounds of our mothers, grand mothers and great grandmothers.They didn’t have the opportunity to do this work, and so it is up to us.
I knew the “ Healing the Motherwound” workshop was going to bring me to my knees, and it did. This weekend our amazing clinician Keli Carpenter asked - If your mom asked you “What has it been like to be my daughter? how would you answer her?” This ripped me open. To sum it up, I would say “ it was hard”. Then I wondered.. what would my mom have answered to her mother? “ it was hard.” and my grandmother to my great grandmother? “ it was hard”. How can I make sure that my son Max doesn’t have that same answer one day?
As I wept on all fours, sounds I can’t remember ever coming out of me wailed through the air, snot and tears flowing onto the yoga mat- I felt as though the grief and pain coming out of me was like a type of labour. As I breathed through the discomfort of being so vulnerable in front of strangers, I reminded myself that I was here for me and no one else. As I forgave myself, and as I forgave my mother for more things that came to the surface I know it also gave her opportunity to heal and forgive her mother who could then forgive her mother.
What I’ve seen of the other side is that, our soul still grows and heals on the other side. As I heal, they heal too.
3. When you lean into discomfort, release can happen-
Living the life as an extroverted opera singer for years slowly ate away at my soul as I had to “ turn it on” for audiences, sponsors, and colleagues. The truth is, I am actually quite introverted. I prefer being on my own. Nothing exposes my reserved nature more than playing games and dancing- there was such resistance. But as I danced with my whole body, growled like a tiger and played stella ella ola again- I remembered, there is fun in freedom. As I embraced the withdrawing feelings and forced myself through the discomfort- I felt like I was breathing, and laughing freely…. I felt like singing. Why is so hard to go there? Inhibited, not judging yourself, just expressing.
4. There is transformation when you connect to nature
On the final day there was a torrential thunderstorm. The food tent was a good 10 minute walk through the woods from the gathering tent where we had our final ceremony. The land that we were on was at Ram River Tours , a beautifully epic place of Alberta where they had horses wandering free and offered trail rides . But to say there was a lot of horse shit would be an understatement. As the rain poured over the trails, the horse shit and dirt melded into one giant soup of a trail. I looked at the downward hill I had to walk down and looked at my new gold Birkenstocks ( no amount of spirituality can dim this diva) and realized I had to embrace the moment fully barefoot or ruin my cute sandals. As I stood alone without worry of judgment from others, I took a moment to observe myself. Would it really be that bad to walk barefoot through this poop mud? Will I fall down this hill? Will I ruin my shoes if I walk through with these sandals?
A flood of answers came to mind of how other people may think “Michelle Minke” would handle the situation:
“ Michelle couldn’t handle that. She’ll cry. She’s too prissy for this. She’s not going to do it.” I thought of my beautiful husband who would do anything to take discomfort from me and would most likely say…” I’ll go get the car, or here, you can wear my boots,”.
Then I took a deep breath and wondered what I actually felt in that moment and in that moment - I didn’t care. I became one with the horse shit. I held my Birkenstocks in hand and walked joyfully down the path of horse excretion. I felt free. I felt liberated. I felt by this one decision it summed up the transformation in me, the understanding of who I am becoming, who I actually am and who I always was that had been hidden by my perception of others opinions of me. I love being barefoot. Mud doesn’t bother me. Horseshit doesn’t bother me. Being soaking wet doesn’t bother me.
Perhaps it is the simplest lessons in nature that can make us go, hmmmmm?
What if I handle other paths in my life with this same reflection. Maybe this isn’t hard for me? Maybe this is easy. Maybe I’ll enjoy it.
Final Reflection
There were other wild things that one would assume at a wild weekend which I highly recommend- topless body painting, naked rain bathing, sensually connecting your body to the earth and other spectacularly wild moments that stay with those strangers and I. I feel grateful to all the souls who shared that space with me and honour their intentions and expressions shared.
I let my boobs hang out and howled like a wolf, came home with feathers weaved into my hair, a million misquito bites, mud in my toes, a desire to sing again- and yes, a little bit wilder.
This was a time of ritual, reflection, discomfort, and healing but how I can sum it up best was, a divine surrendering. Surrendering versions of myself. Surrendering my body. Surrendering my grief.
I actually believe that in the surrendering, there was a remembering. A remembering who I was, who I am and who I will be.
This song, Divine Surrendering by artist Doe Paoro, was played throughout the weekend and it’s message is just this. I invite you to place your hand on your heart, take a deep breath and see what comes up for you.
Oh, give up control again
It’s ok not to know again
Feeling in the dark
Crawling till I walk
Each time that I fall –
Divine Remembering
Holding on too tight
Trying till I might
Tire from the fight –
Divine Surrendering
Safe to surrender now
I release what is not meant for me
I believe what’s meant for me will be for me
Feeling in the dark
Crawling till I walk
Each time that I fall –
Divine Remembering