Yes, It’s Possible To Manifest Something—Here Are 6 Methods To Try

Whether you know it as “lucky girl syndrome,” optimism, or manifestation, the belief that you are in control of your reality and you can attract your desires is one that’s permanently embedded in our culture. This is especially true now—when it feels like so much of the world is far beyond our control, the only thing we can control is ourselves. While manifestation doesn’t mean pushing past normal, human feelings like heartbreak or anger, focusing on the future and life that you want can be a powerful way to stay hopeful. And guess what? According to experts, manifestation can work. 

Contrary to what social media may have you believe, manifestation doesn’t just mean having good vibes or always keeping a positive attitude. You have to work towards your manifestations. If you’re simply waiting around for something to happen to you but all your actions and attitudes stay exactly the same… you’ll be waiting a long time. So, what can you do? Keep on reading to learn the manifestation methods, practices, and rituals that experts recommend—with step-by-step advice on how to do it. 

What is manifestation, exactly?

According to Sav Wilder, certified tarot master, astrologer, and spiritual coach, manifestation is the practice of creating your own reality. “It’s the process of attracting the things that you are meant to be attracted to,” she says. Thanks to the phenomenon that was Rhonda Byrne’s The Secret, many people might assume manifestation is the same thing as the Law of Attraction—but that’s not completely accurate. Manifestation is the goal, while the law of attraction (along with the other seven universal laws) is a method that can be used to achieve that. 

The concept of manifestation can be traced back all the way to ancient India, Egypt, and Greece, where scriptures and rituals suggest that ancient peoples believed a person’s thoughts and actions influenced reality.

Does manifestation work?

Short answer, yes. It really does—but not in the way you might think. Just like any complicated concept that goes viral online, the reality is a lot more nuanced than a three-minute Reel on Instagram. 

There are two ways to understand the theories behind how manifestation works: the science, and the spiritual component. Scientifically speaking, our brains have the Reticular Activating System (RAS), a bundle of nerves located in the brainstem that act like a filter. The RAS is a cognitive tool that helps quiet the mind from unnecessary noise at the moment of sleep, to create a smoother transition between waking and resting. 

Studies suggest this system also helps us process our reality. “It chooses how to filter information based on what we focus on and believe. When it comes to manifestation, the RAS is like a GPS, directing you to the people, opportunities, and resources that align with your focus,” says Juliette Kristine, a manifestation coach and intuitive healer. “This is part of the ‘how’ of manifestation, aligning your thoughts, beliefs, and actions with your desires.”

Spiritually, we bring in manifestations by vibrating at a higher frequency—and I don’t mean shaking your body at a rooftop party (although that sounds like fun). What this means is thinking, feeling, and moving through life with an intentionally hopeful, compassionate, and big-picture mindset. “By becoming the version of you who already has [something you want], your actions, energy, and mindset naturally align with your desired outcome,” says Laura Herde, a certified master mindset manifestation coach.

How to manifest something

Vision boards

A true classic. Vision boards are probably the most popular method of manifestation right now, and for good reason. Whether you’re hosting an official vision board workshop, making one at a craft night with friends, or in the habit of creating a new Pinterest board for every year, it’s the method we all know and love. It doesn’t matter if it’s physical or digital—a vision board helps you visually focus on your goals. “This clarity is essential because it provides you with concrete images to focus on, which makes other practices like visualization much easier,” Kristine says. 

To get started with a vision board, you need to know what you truly want, deep in your soul. “Don't just go for ego-based manifestations that can keep you stuck in a cycle of wanting more—dig deeper,” she says. Ditch surface-level requests, like more money or just any new job. Instead, ask yourself: How do I want to feel? What do I want to create or contribute to the world? The photos don’t have to be literal. Think creatively and choose images or words that represent you and your vision, even if other people don’t understand. 

Scripting

This method is perfect if, like me, you’re a writer—and it’s especially effective if you already have a journaling practice. Scripting is writing about your manifestations in the present or past tense, as if they were already yours. “Write a detailed page describing your life after your desire has manifested, including feelings, sensory details, and gratitude,” Herde suggests. Don’t be afraid to go into as many details as possible, even if it feels silly or illogical. Doubt will take over when you first start this practice, especially if you consider yourself a more practical person.

If you’re hesitating to get started, it can help to think about this as a creative writing exercise. Before you know it, it’ll feel completely natural, and help with your confidence, too. “What makes scripting so powerful is that it taps into the subconscious mind, reprogramming it to believe that your desires are already yours,” Kristine says. “The more vividly you write, the more your brain starts to align with those feelings, and it begins to work to make those desires a reality.”

The O-Method

This one might be a little niche, but the O-Method is definitely the sexiest manifestation practice out there. The ritual consists of thinking, visualizing, and speaking about your goals, wishes, and desires while you orgasm. This method is a personal favorite of Wilder’s. “It activates the nervous system, and for a moment, it aligns all of your chakras. And so, that connection of pleasure is not only physical, it's also spiritual,” she says. 

All that energy can be harnessed into a powerful manifestation ritual. But it’s not enough to simply think about your desires while you orgasm—there are other steps she recommends before laying down with your vibrator in hand (or between your legs). Cleanse your space; put on some background frequency sounds or affirmation music; then, set your intention, and decide what you desire before starting. As you're rising up and into the big O-moment, visualize and say out loud to yourself what you desire. 

Future-self visualization

If you’re looking for something more simple that's easy to do no matter where you are, the future-self visualization method is for you. This is exactly what it sounds like: You’re picturing yourself in your desired reality. “It uses the power of imagination to rewire your subconscious and energetically align with your desires,” Herde explains. In other words, you’re daydreaming. An important thing to remember, though, is not to use this method as a way to fully escape from your life and avoid doing the work. Living your life alongside this practice is what makes it special. 

To do this method, close your eyes, get relaxed, and visualize your future self living the life you’re trying to manifest. “Imagine the sights, sounds, feelings—the more sensory-rich, the better,” Herde says. She also recommends you practice this every day for five to ten minutes. This is excellent to do right before sleep, too, when you’re in that state where you’re not awake but you’re not fully asleep yet. It primes your mind to hopefully dream about these scenarios, making your visualizations even more powerful.

Moon phase method

I’m sure you’ve heard of manifesting according to the moon—whether it’s through an Instagram infographic or a TikTok reminding you of the moon’s current phase. According to popular wisdom, the new moon is for manifesting, while the full moon is for releasing. But did you know that this doesn’t actually work for most people? You should actually be manifesting under the moon phase you were born under, says Wilder.

The timeline for manifesting based on moon phases follows a structure: first, the manifestation phase where you plant a seed and plan your goals; second, the actionable phase where you make changes and take risks; third, celebrate what worked and see what didn’t; and lastly, release or let go of what didn’t work. 

When each phase will take place will depend on when you were born. For example, I was born under a waxing moon. That means the waxing phase period will be my manifesting moon, the full moon is my actionable phase, waning is reflecting on what did and didn’t work, and the new moon is my release phase. 

Embodiment practice

This method is the actionable part of the scripting practice. This is where you behave like the version of yourself you wrote about, the one that has everything you’ve always wanted. You’ve become them, and you’re acting accordingly. Think of this practice as “fake it ’til you make it”: You’ll slowly notice that you start attracting everything you desire and people will feel drawn to you. 

There’s no straightforward, step-by-step guide on how to do this one. But, in general, ask yourself how that version of yourself moves, speaks, makes decisions, and shows up. Where would they go? What would they do? What would they talk about? “Embody that energy in small ways—maybe by adjusting your posture, setting higher standards in dating, or making aligned investments,” Herde says. Then, everything else is practice until it feels natural. Because at the end of the day, it should. This is you, after all.