Why I don't manifest by the moon, sun or stars anymore

Let me start off by saying I loveeeeee me some astro and really do resonate with astrology teachings. I truly respect the vastness + power of our universe and how we’re all interconnected . To give you some context, I’m a scorpio sun, virgo moon + aries rising and it MAKES SENSE. It very accurately describes the core of my personality + who I am on many levels. It’s scary accurate.

And, I also feel things so intensely to the point where I can sense if it’s a specific type moon just because of how my energy is heightened. So I don’t think that the astrology shifts + energy shifts aren’t real. I think they’re very real, and we’re meant to feel the shifts + be in different energies alongside the moon, the sun + the stars.

BUT……….. but but but. I think this idea of manifesting with portals, not manifesting on certain days, this retrograde, that retrograde… ugh - something about the amount of posts I see on it in the spiritual community just… doesn’t sit right anymore. Dare I say, it feels a bit tacky to me?!? 🙈

I believe astrology is real. I also believe we’ve turned it into another set of rules for manifesting, and I don’t think manifestation needs more rules.

I’ll be honest and the first to say it - it’s GREAT for engagement. It’s GREAT for marketing, getting views, getting people to listen. From a marketing psychology perspective (don’t mind my college marketing major thriving rn) but astrology directly speaks to the type of person (making people feel seen) via zodiac signs AND hits on the sense of urgency and scarcity when it has to do with specific dates/times such as the Lionsgate Portal or a mercury retrograde. So I do get the appeal + motivation for spiritual creators to double down on it. It’s true information, it’s resonant, and it’s landing well with a lot of people. What’s not to love!?

To me — the thing that doesn’t sit right with me is that the language around astrology meeting manifestation becomes restricting, a little fear or lack based and very rule-forward. That energy as a whole feels constricting. Which is the complete opposite of the energy of manifestation, which is that of playfulness + creativity.

When you zoom out and look at the principles of astrology versus the principles of manifestation — it’s a bit contradicting to think that manifestation “doesn’t work” on some days, and it works on other days.

The idea behind astrology impacting your energy, therefore impacting the energy you’re putting into your manifestation makes sense. But the thing is that not all of us experience astrology the same way, each time.

For example: full moons are “technically” moons to surrender, whereas new moons are “technically” moons to manifest. But what do you do if you feel SO inspired and it happens to be a full moon? Do you just not do anything? That’s where my hiccup is.

I think there’s many layers of truth around astrology + how it impacts our energies. But I think the way it’s explained, taught + posted about on social media has taken it out of context to become just another rule to follow.

Another “reason” your manifestations might not be coming, another “way” you may be manifesting wrong.

Now my perspective is that manifestation is a lifestyle. So, we’re always manifesting whether you want to or not. Whether you’re trying or not. So I don’t find it entirely accurate to say “don’t manifest during this day”. Because I believe our energies are always creating.

And poking another hole into this, what exactly is “manifesting?”. As someone who’s been practicing manifestation since she was 12, the act of manifesting is actually just managing your energy. Yes, I affirm and grab my journal because it grounds me. But, you can manifest with or without a vision board, with or without meditation, with or without affirmations even. Technically speaking, manifestation is a NATURALLY occurring process, we just sometimes are in our own way. So the act of manifesting isn’t actually anything. If anything, we’re spending alot of time unlearning, rewiring + reprogramming so that our natural ability to manifest goes in the direction we’re actually wanting. The manifestation “process” is a lot of allowing + surrendering in your real life.

So, if it’s the Lionsgate Portal and you “didn’t” manifest - does that mean you missed out? No. Because what if your energy didn’t feel right and it’s better that you just took care of yourself instead? I think that’s more powerful than a manifestation ritual on a specific date.

On the flip side, if you DO happen to believe that your energy is more potent on a certain date or LESS impactful during a certain season, then these manifestation rituals or restrictions will resonate with you and show you proof of truth. Because, through the natural principles of manifestation - your beliefs will be confirmed.

Yes, I know this can sound a bit contradicting, but it’s actually just the simple truth that whatever you CHOOSE to believe, you’ll begin to find evidence of. If you believe that you’re not as powerful on a given day because it’s Mercury Retrograde, you’ll receive evidence to confirm that. (That’s you manifesting, btw!). If you believe that regardless of what the stars, the moon and the sun are doing, that you’re in charge of your energy + get to meet yourself where you’re at — you’ll receive evidence to confirm that. This is also you manifesting!

So what’s the point of me sharing this anyway, because now it sounds like I’m saying both perspectives are true?

I believe that astrology can be an incredible tool, without becoming a rule you must follow. I think astrology is incredibly helpful when it's used as a language for understanding yourself, rather than becoming another authority outside of yourself telling you what you are and aren’t allowed to do.

The point is that I never want anyone to feel like they “missed out” on an opportunity if they missed doing a manifestation ritual on a certain date, just because it was a portal or eclipse or 11/11.

I don’t want you to feel pressured in your manifestation journey, when there’s already enough self-doubt along the way.

I don’t want you to feel any ounce of lack, fear or restriction in your manifestation journey because you really can have it all. You’re capable of your wildest dreams and beyond + if you missed the Lionsgate portal, you’re not doomed.

Your beliefs, even your beliefs about astrology + the moon, create your reality. If you wanted to believe that Mercury Retrogrades make your technology work BETTER even though it’s commonly known that technology goes haywire - you can.

I’m not saying this in the lens of “we defy all laws”, but I’m saying this through the lens of “we have the capacity to form beliefs and receive evidence in our realities that confirm those beliefs”. It’s not to negate or disregard astrology. It’s to choose how astrology impacts your energy, your journey, and your manifestation practices.

You’re not meant to feel good all the time, so I’m not saying this to bypass any hardships, challenges or tough emotions - that’s part of the process. I’m sharing this to skip over the fear-mongering + pressure that can come and the impact that may have on your own belief system around whether or not you’re manifesting right.

The choice is ALWAYS yours + that’s the one superpower you have that no one can take away from you. The power of what you choose to believe. You get to choose to believe what serves you. If manifesting by the moon makes you feel whimsical and excited and gives you a good rhythm - BY ALL MEANSSSS do it. If manifesting by the moon makes you feel panicked, like you’re against the clock and that you may “miss your chance” - then reevaluate what energy you’re putting out there + how you can shift it.

Here’s how I approach my manifestations now:

1. I check my energy before I check the calendar. I check in whether I’m feeling inspired today, or need some uplifting. I adjust what I do accordingly.

2. I use astrology as information, rather than instruction. I can be aware of potential heaviness due to a certain moon or eclipse, but also be open to it not even impacting me.

3. I never manifest out of fear, urgency or lack. If a portal makes me feel like I’m on a 24 hour timer to get my vision board put together or lose my chances of manifesting my dream - I’m out.

4. I let rituals be rituals, rather than rules. If making moon water feels magical, I do it. But I also know that the magic can exist whether or not the moon is full.

5. I trust myself, even if it looks different each time. I can be aware of the cosmic energies, in tune with them and even impacted by them. But, I don’t outsource all of my authority to it, because ultimately, my energy comes down to me.

You don’t need to stop loving astrology to stop giving it your power.

I still love knowing what’s happening astrologically. I love the moon, the rituals, the symbolism, the energy shifts, all of it. But I don’t want a calendar to have more power or control over my energy than I do.

It can sometimes feel like we have to know when the energy is right before we can decide what to do. New moon? Set intentions. Full moon? Release. Mercury retrograde? Don’t make big decisions. Portal? Manifest till you drop.

But what happens when I wake up on a random Tuesday feeling wildly inspired to start something new, make a decision, write a new script, have a conversation, or go after something I want? I’m not checking whether the moon approves first.

And if everyone online is talking about how powerful a certain portal is and I feel like doing absolutely nothing? I’m allowed to do absolutely nothing.

I can honor the energy without obeying it.

I can notice Mercury is retrograde without deciding everything is going to go wrong. I can feel the intensity of a full moon without assuming I need to release something. I can use a new moon as a beautiful moment to set intentions without believing it’s the only moment those intentions will work.

Astrology can give me an understanding for what I may experience, but it doesn’t have to dictate my capacity to create my reality.

Because I think this is where manifestation becomes really fun again. Instead of constantly checking the astrology, I get to constantly check in with myself. I get to ask what feels right to me?

There is no cosmic deadline on the life you’re creating.

The moon can influence you. The stars can teach you. The sun can recharge you. The energy can move through you. But you still get to decide what you do with it.

And maybe that’s the most powerful thing you can do “to manifest”: trust yourself enough to know that you don’t need to catch the right portal, wait for the right moon, or do the right ritual.

Trust that you cannot miss the magic in the air, because you are the magic.

Xoxo,

Payal

P.S. would love to hear your thoughts/comments/questions!