Most people have heard of the Law of Attraction thanks to The Secret, the books and movies based on this ancient way of thinking. As interesting and as informative as they are there is so much more to the Law of Attraction than the franchise could possibly cover.
Put simply, the Law of Attraction is utilizing the Universe/God/Goddess/Earth - whatever higher power you believe in – to bring you whatever you want. It sounds far-fetched, doesn’t it?
That is, in a nutshell, what the LoA can and will do. This article will introduce you to the LoA and give you some ways you can apply it in your daily practice.
Is the Law of Attraction Magic?
It’s not magic. But it is magical.
The Law of Attraction actually has its roots in science. As Albert Einstein said “Everything is energy and that’s all there is to it. Match the frequency of the reality you want and you cannot help but get that reality. It can be no other way. This is not philosophy. This is physics.”
But what does that mean? Well, it has long been proven that we, and everything else in the Universe, are made up of energy, and energy cannot be destroyed, it can only change.
In order to bring something into your life, you need to match its energy, or its ‘frequency’.
Everything in the universe vibrates. Nothing rests.
Looking at it in simple terms of emotions; smiling is infectious, right? By vibrating on a happy frequency we bring happiness to others.
That is the Law of Attraction.
“It’s the thoughts that you think, that control the vibration (or frequency) you’re in, that dictates what you attract. ”
How Does The Law of Attraction Apply To Magic?
The LOA doesn’t just apply to moods or emotions. You can, with practice, command whatever you want from life by invoking this incredible power, even material things.
Take a new house, for instance. You need to think and behave as if the new house is already yours. Buy new things for the house, visualize yourself in your new house, even book viewings of your dream house, and simply believe that the new house is already yours.
By sending those vibrations out into the Universe, you will attract those exact same vibrations back.
The thing is, the Law of Attraction is not a genie in a bottle. You can’t sit back and simply wait for your prize to fall in your lap.
You have to take steps to attract what you want. Practical steps.
We often describe magic as the focused attention that brings about a desired result. After all every spell has an end goal.
We use magic to tune into the energy to attain that goal.
Lisa Chamberlain states that the Law of Attraction is certainly part of the larger framework, and once you have a clear grasp of “like attracts like,” your magic is bound to become more effective.
With the above example, because you are thinking about it and feeling it, you will start looking at real estate listings, you’ll start saving more for a deposit, you will maybe search for a better paid job to help you on your way. When you decide to use the Law of Attraction, your entire mindset shifts, and it’s an awe-inspiring way to live.
But perhaps the best way to explain the Law of Attraction is these three little words; Thoughts Become Things.
What is the Rule of Three?
Whatever path you follow, you will undoubtedly have come across the Rule of Three. Also known as The Threefold Law, or The Law of Return.
The Rule of Three states that whatever you put out into the Universe will come back to you threefold.
NeoWiccan beliefs have intended to discourage newly initiated Wiccans from casting baneful magic, the Rule of Three is, in effect, the LoA in action.
Those who have studied quantum physics (which is where the Law of Attraction has its origin) do not believe that things – good or bad – will come back magnified by three. They feel you will simply attract that which you have extended into the ether.
Looking in the mirror each day and giving yourself a love pep talk can do wonders to manifest your desires. Photo by Paige Cody
So is the Law of Attraction the Same as Karma?
Karma means different things to different people. Divine retribution for bad deeds, punishment, and an evening of the score are some of the most commonly held beliefs, but the truth is much simpler; Karma = action.
Karma is a Universal Law, and the Universe doesn’t recognize ‘good’ or ‘bad’. It only recognizes deeds and vibrations; energy, as we mentioned above.
Karma is a useful tool. Whereas the Law of Attraction can be almost instantaneous such as choosing to be in a good mood resulting in a good day.
Karma is thought to be a more long-haul cause-and-effect concept. What we do in this life affects us in our next, and our experiences in our present existence have been created through what we’ve done in a previous incarnation.
This should not be used as a tool for berating others, however; in fact, Karma is a wonderful way to learn how to live more mindfully, bearing in mind that how we choose to live our present lives will shape our future selves.
Pagans in particular believe (or at least many do) that we live through many lifetimes, that when our physical bodies expire, our souls return in another.
Energy cannot be destroyed, it merely changes form. So by living a ‘good’ life now, our souls will have a happy life in the next. Norse pagans often stress living your “best life”.
By the same token, we could live a life that is less than kind, and shape our future existence in the same mold.
Learning about Karma and applying the principles to our lives stops the blame game; we can no longer apportion culpability to others for our own misfortunes, but rather accept that we sculpt our own lives. It’s actually incredibly liberating!
So while the Law of Attraction and Karma are both Universal Laws, the LoA relates to thoughts, whereas Karma relates to deeds.
How Can I Apply the Law of Attraction to My Practice?
There are three principles that apply to the Law of Attraction; Gratitude, Affirmation, and Visualization
Gratitude. In paganism, whether you are a witch casting a spell or a pagan simply reaching for better things, gratitude is the act of appreciating what you have and what you are aiming for and being thankful for the outcome before it has even happened.
Affirmation. A spell or incantation is another form of affirmation, as is a prayer; powerful words that bring the desired objective into sharp focus and cement it in the practitioner’s mind that it already ‘is’.
Visualization. With any form of manifesting, whether magical or not, a strong ability to see the result as if it has already happened is essential. Crucially, you should allow yourself to really feel the result, the excitement, the triumph, and the relief…whatever emotion you associate with that manifestation should be felt without reservation.
Pagans appreciate connection with the natual world. As a Green Witch I need to connect with nature daily for mental helth benefits and my practice. Photo by Ame Vanorio
There are many ways to incorporate the LoA into your pagan practice and you will find the ones that suit you the most over time, but these exercises are a great way to get started:
Keep a Gratitude Journal. Every night before you go to sleep, write down at least one thing from your day that you are grateful for. Even if you’ve had a really bad day, find something and write it down. Ruminate on it for a few minutes and you will go to sleep having raised your energy frequency.
Switch it Up. Start to pay attention to your thoughts throughout the day, and if you notice a negative thought coming through, get rid of it. Make a conscious effort to remove that thought from your head, and you will make space for more positive thoughts to come in.
Reframe. This is slightly different from switching your thoughts because reframing means taking a thought and literally looking at it from a different angle. If your house is a mess because the kids just can’t put their own stuff away, for example, instead of tearing your hair out, reframe that thought to ‘okay, the house is a mess, but it’s a mess because I have my kids with me and that is a blessing’.
Be Grateful. We’ve covered keeping a journal in the first point, but actually incorporating it into everything you do is a different thing. As pagans we revere nature, but when was the last time you actually went out into nature and really saw it? Start to notice the beauty of nature, the weather, the trees, the grass, the butterflies…take note of what is going on around you in the natural world and say thank you, either silently or out loud, and see how your life changes.
Applying the Law of Attraction to your practice is simply the act of putting positive thoughts, feelings, and beliefs out into the ether and attracting that positivity back to you. The Universe encompasses all deities and higher powers and will work the same way for all paths. By beginning your journey today, your tomorrows will change beyond all recognition.
Author, Katherine Fox is our editor and one of our writers. She is currently raising a pagan husband and three children. They love getting outside and exploring the natural world.
This spell is to help us rid ourselves of negative energy and bring in positive energy. A little bit of self-love when you are in a time of change, or you just need to refocus yourself.
Times of stress and changes in our lives allow negative energies to build up in us. We carry around that negative energy and it starts to affect our whole attitude.