How Manifestation Really Works: A Practical, No-BS Witch’s Guide

Practical Manifestation

You’ve probably heard people say:

"Want a dream job? A perfect partner? More money? Manifest it, baby!”

But what does manifestation really mean? How does it actually work beyond Instagram quotes and Pinterest vision boards?

This is your practical, no-BS guide to manifestation. No woo woo, no magic wands - just real witchcraft for real results.

We’ll break down how to combine a powerful mindset with real-world action so you can actually make your dreams happen.

The Power of Magical Thinking

What do you daydream about? Is there an imagined “better” version of your life that you find yourself lost in from time to time?

I like to imagine a world where I’ve paid off my credit cards, have a solid savings account and pension, and am building a healthy ISA for my son’s future.

I picture a cute flat in Glasgow - a stable home for my family - but one where we travel regularly, and importantly, escape somewhere warm in winter.

In this version of my life, I have a thriving online business and work from wherever I am in the world, earning enough to support great homeschooling, a nice wardrobe, and childcare for whenever me and my husband want to go out for a fancy meal.

What does your dream life look like?

Belief vs Opinion

Ten years ago, I worked full-time in a call centre and had a boyfriend who didn’t treat me very nicely. I dreamed of meeting someone who truly saw me, building a family and a life together, and supporting us by teaching music full-time.

This is the exact life I am living now.

If, at 22, I had believed my then-boyfriend when he told me I’d never have a stable career in the arts, and that chasing it would only leave me with “more free time than I needed, and no money to spend in it,” I might still be working in that call centre.

It’s important to recognise the difference between a fact and an opinion, even when it’s a belief we hold about ourselves.

That’s trickier than it sounds. In my example, it’s easy to say,

“His opinion of me was wrong.”

But what if that belief had come from my parents while I was growing up?

What if I’d absorbed it so deeply that I didn’t even realise it was an opinion at all?

It’s far harder to spot a belief masquerading as fact when it comes from inside.

What if I hadn’t even dared to dream of an arts career in the first place?

Living in Possibility

Magical thinking is about living in possibility.

The truth is that possibility is infinite. Even your wildest, most ridiculous, implausible dreams are just a tiny fraction of what’s possible in your life.

So dare to dream big!

And by the way, that doesn’t mean ignoring reality.

You probably have LOADS of reasons why you’re not living your dream life right now.

Magical thinking doesn’t erase circumstances, it works with them, and in many ways, despite them.

Action: The Missing Ingredient

TikTok will tell you: “Believe it and it will happen.”

And in some ways, that’s true.

Every goal you “manifest” starts with a thought, and that thought needs to become a belief to come true.

If you want to become a millionaire, you first have to believe you can become a millionaire.

Saying “I want to be a millionaire” while quietly thinking “I’d quite like to be a millionaire - but that will never happen for me” won’t bring you £1 million.

What this TikTok mantra misses is the action. Belief alone isn’t enough.

Once you believe something is possible, you can change your behaviour to match that belief.

When your belief is “I will never be a millionaire,” you’re free to work a low-paying job or spend all your money on nights out and fancy lattes.

When your belief is “I can be a millionaire,” or even better, “I’m already a millionaire - I just haven’t made my first million yet”, your reality shifts. Suddenly that minimum wage job wont do any more - or your savings become more important than your nights out.

My Manifestation

I'm using the millionaire example because I think it's a common throwaway number to mark success. Who hasn't played the: What would you do if you were handed £1million tomorrow? game?

But let's look at this in my real life. In order to become a fully self-employed music teacher with a nice family, I had to take these massive actions:

• Firstly go part time at the call centre, and then eventually take the huge risk of quitting my stable job completely to build my business.

• Leave my ex - which actually made me temporarily homeless in a city I'd only lived in for one year, where I had no family, and only a few (great) friends (who let me stay with them until I sorted my shit out!) T

• hen, ofc, I had to build an entire business from scratch - and meet a nice guy, and have a baby etc.

  
  

I love the life I've built for myself, and I'm so proud of what I've achieved.

But I also recognise that as I've gotten older - the things I want have grown too.

I'm now not only thinking about what I want for myself - but what I want for my whole family. And if I want to work from a beach in the middle December (which I believe is totally possible for me), I'll have to take the terrifying action to change up the career I've been lovingly building for myself over the past 10 years too.

Manifestation = Belief + Action

So, how do you actually do it?

1. Get clear on what you want

Be specific. “I want more money” is vague. “I want to earn an extra £500 a month through my art” gives you something tangible to aim for.

2. Check your beliefs

Do you actually believe this is possible? Identify internalised “facts” that are really opinions, and rewrite them.

3. Visualise the outcome

Spend a few minutes each day imagining how it feels to have already achieved your goal. This isn't just magical thinking, it trains your brain to recognise opportunities and act on them.

4. Break it into actions

List literal steps. Want to sell more art? Set up a shop, post on social media, email stockists.

5. Take consistent action

This is SO IMPORTANT. Do something every day that moves you closer. Small, repeated steps compound over time.

6. Keep your eyes open

Opportunities rarely come with a flashing sign. Follow leads, experiment, and step out of your comfort zone.

7. Adjust, don’t quit

If something isn’t working, tweak it. Change your approach instead of abandoning your goal.

Manifest It, Baby!

Manifestation isn’t wishful thinking or waiting for miracles. It’s about aligning mindset with deliberate, consistent action to turn your ideas into reality.

If you want extra support turning your intentions into action, my 1:1 Tarot Clarity & Action Session uses the Tarot to give you clear insight and practical steps for your next moves. No fluff, just results.

For a simpler, everyday boost for you and your family, my Witchy Family Rhythm Guidebook (£4) offers practical exercises to focus your energy and make progress in small, manageable ways.

Manifestation isn’t magic without effort, but with the right mindset, tools, and guidance, you can make your goals happen.