new age spirituality and greed

Problems with Manifesting and Abundance?

manifesting and abundance

A couple of catch phrases in the New Age movement are manifesting and abundance, usually accompanied by the sentiment ‘because you’re worth it.’

One of my spiritual friends on Facebook put the question out there: ‘Are you having problems with manifesting and abundance?’

I thought that was a good question so I replied, ‘It’s a non-issue to me.’

Because it is.

The more I tried to focus on abundance in the past, the more I realised that I already had enough and that it was better (more relaxed) for me to keep on trusting that I would always have enough.

Now, I’m not a fundamentalist Christian but one of the things that stuck with me from my Bible studying days was the following passage and I’m sharing it not as gospel truth but as something that still resonates:

Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV)

Do Not Worry – Manifesting according to Jesus

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Lagom – Manifesting like a true Viking

And as for manifesting… What more could I desire to manifest than to be in flow with my Higher Self and the Holy Spirit? I continue to receive information when I’m meant to and rest when I’m meant to. I get the impetus to act when it is time to act and when it’s not, I can do as I please.

Why would I ever want more than this? I can’t wrap my head around constant striving… and I certainly do not care at all about the things that I can’t take with me when it’s time to cut the mortal coil.

Perhaps my lack of striving for ‘more’ harks back to my Swedish origins. In Sweden, we love the word ‘lagom’ which roughly translates into ‘just enough.’ The etymology of the word comes from ‘lag’ (team) and ‘om’ (round) and was used to make sure that everyone had just enough of a sip from the drinking horn to last once around the table. If there is enough to benefit everyone on my team, I’m more than happy.

“He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.”
― Socrates

Doubts

Of course, there are times (because I’m human) when I fail at trust and complete surrender. This is especially true when I start doubting my very right to exist. But to be perfectly honest, I’d rather keep those doubts than start acting all entitled and as if the Cosmos is my slot machine.

Full disclosure: Moon, Mars and North Node in Pisces

Love,

Lisa

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Comments 13

  1. I was raised in the Catholic church, although I am not Catholic. My oldest sister is and always believes the Lord will provide. It’s what we do with it that matters most

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  2. Preach on, Sister! I love this post and agree wholeheartedly! But it’s not just “new age” philosophy. A wise old woman that I once worked with, and btw, she was a Pentecostal, used to get very irritated with some of the mega – televangelists for what she called their “name it and claim it theology”. So I’m afraid greed is a shadow of human nature and runs the gamut of philosophies and religions.

    And if I remember correctly from my religion classes ages ago, the word “abundance” as used in the Bible is actually closer in meaning to the word “benevolence”. I find this a very interesting concept.

    And finally, I have this hanging in my house (no affiliation):

    http://www.michaelpodesta.com/Lilies-p110.html

    Thought it was appropriate here today.

    Light and blessings to you,
    Donna

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  3. I’m so with you on that Lisa. I was taught by a teacher I still treasure very much that we can truly trust that we will always have enough. We will have what we need, not necessarily what we want. And quite frankly in the ‘New Age’ movement, at least in some of it, there seems to be a better, higher, more attitude. This quite frankly baffles me. I thought it was supposed to be about going within, but all they seem to do is go without and try to keep up with ‘the Jones’s’.

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      Thanks Claudia. I think that part of the problem is that the New Age was popularised through shallow literature such as ‘The Secret’ which was very much about manifesting shit instead of going within. <3

      1. I see. I missed all those books because I was taught by a teacher who took us within. Well, I’m rather glad I missed all that, but it explains a lot. So many authors out there trying to make big bucks…

  4. I have always felt like what I think I want or need is irrelevant. I don’t believe I can manifest anything that isn’t truly meant for me. My intention needs to be pure. It has never felt authentic for me to try to manifest an abundance of anything. If tarot has taught me anything it’s that excess should be distributed. The only abundance I’m interested in having is of love and gratitude that I can in return share. There is nothing wrong with having goals….but when your goals aren’t in synchronizicity with the universe it’s something you need to meditate on. I love that you touched on this because it’s always felt “off” to me and I wasn’t sure if I was missing something. I try to follow where the energy pulls me and it’s never been to this ideology.

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  5. Lagom is definitely one of the best words invented by man 🙂 However I don’t see anything wrong with using a vision board. It can help you stay on track to reach whatever goal you have. But riches and abundance we already have plenty of. Just being able to eat everyday, fresh air to breath, a home, and clothes to wear is more than enough. Just being one of those who has never experienced a war makes us richer than most people in the world. Jesus himself has said that blessed are the ones who have nothing because they have nothing to worry about. Worth thinking about 🙂 It’s strange that humans never can be able to be satisfied and grateful for what they have, that they always want more. Money can definitely not buy true happiness and bliss. That you’ll only find when you’re whole and content within yourself. Great post as always Lisa <3

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  6. I’m with you! I detest those words and just see them as New Age greed. Honestly, if all it took was to ‘visualise’, there would be no starving people, or atrocities of war, because I’m pretty certain that those poor, poor souls would be visualising a nutritious meal, or a better and more peaceful life. They also preach about living in the present, but then tell you to have vision boards about the ‘abundance’ about what you wish to ‘manifest’? Hello, doesn’t that negate the whole ‘living in the present thing?’. Anyway, it’s not that I lack desire for things. I love shopping just as much as the next person, but I do try to be much more ‘means to an end’ and minimalist, and focus more on the experience within my day, my family, animals, spiritual connection yada yada.

    Full disclosure – Pisces 2nd House, Neptune in the 10th trine Mercury in the 6th House of service *curtsy*

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      Haha, love it – thanks Lilac Willow! And yes, it is just this kind of greed that laid the foundation to the kind of moral mess we see within a certain New Age publishing house right now…

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