No More Wishing: How to Manifest with Strategy, Not Just Vibes

The Quantum Ballet of Beliefs and Action: Creating Your Reality by Manifesting with Strategy

Manifestation is one of the most misunderstood concepts in the self-development world. On one side, you have the toxic positivity crowd preaching that if you just think happy thoughts, you’ll magically attract your dream life.

On the other, there’s the Law of Assumption school of thought that insists that your thoughts alone create reality, often overlooking the nuances of perception, focus, and choice in shaping the timeline you experience.

This post isn’t about either extreme.

I believe manifestation isn’t just about mindset—it’s about understanding the mechanics of reality itself. We live in a holographic, malleable world where our beliefs don’t just shape our experiences; they determine which version of reality we step into. 

So let’s get into manifestation that actually works—no fluff, no “just think positive” nonsense, but real alignment between belief and action so you can move from wishing to manifesting with strategy.

Plus - we'll use your astrology chart to really make sure that you can take this information and apply it.

Wait… What Does Astrology Have to Do with Manifestation?

If you’re new here—hi, I’m an astrologer! But before you panic and think this is about star signs predicting your fate, let’s set the record straight: Astrology isn’t really about fixed destiny. It’s a tool for awareness, alignment, and timing.

You already know that timing matters in manifestation. Some seasons of life feel expansive and effortless, while others feel like climbing uphill in molasses. Astrology explains why that happens—and how to work with those cycles instead of fighting against them.

If you’re new to astrology, this might be the missing piece in your manifestation practice, check out this post on how astrology actually helps you. It’s a quick guide on using astrology for personal growth, relationships, and self-discovery—and how to apply it in real life.

Brand new to astrology and want more? Check out this collection blog geared toward you!

A woman with brunette hair and a white sheer body suit lays on a colorful blanket in the grass front of green lush plants with her left arm above her head, right arm on her chest, wearing luxurious emerald eye shadow.

By the end of this post, you’ll understand how to align your beliefs with intentional actions:

• Clarify what manifestation actually is and how it works so you can stop relying on wishful thinking and start using manifestation as an intentional tool.

• Identify what might be blocking your manifestations so you can adjust your mindset and actions to be in alignment with what you truly want.

• Use astrology to enhance your manifestation process so you can align your goals with cosmic timing and personal strengths.

• Understand when to take action versus when to trust the process so you can work with the flow of energy instead of forcing results.

• Create a structured approach to manifestation that actually works so you can see real, tangible shifts in your life.

  
  

From Ashleyy Dawnn on Facebook

Why Manifestation Feels Like It’s Not Working (And What to Do Instead)

If you’re frustrated with manifestation and thinking “Why isn’t this working for me?”—you’re already setting yourself up for failure. Why? Because that thought itself reinforces the lack.

Manifestation isn’t a waiting game. It’s not about constantly checking for signs that your desire is “on its way” like tracking a package. It’s about living as if it’s already a given—because in your chosen reality, it is.

Pitfall Number 1: Impatience and Misaligned Beliefs

If you’re focused on “Where is it?”, you’re actually confirming that it’s not here. If you’re constantly looking for proof that your manifestation is working, you’re reinforcing doubt instead of certainty.

Even more important than patience is awareness of your self-talk. Your internal dialogue is constantly shaping what you experience. If your belief system is wired to expect struggle, lack, or rejection, you will unconsciously act in ways that reinforce that reality.

Practical Manifestation Examples: Aligning Beliefs and Actions

What kinds of thoughts are running on repeat in your mind?

💡 Relationships:

• Old Belief: “No one values my time.”

• Shifted Action: Start setting small boundaries—politely decline plans that drain your energy. Watch how some friendships deepen while others fade.

💡 Career:

• Old Belief: “I’m not leadership material.”

• Shifted Action: Volunteer for a small leadership task—organizing a meeting, mentoring a colleague. Confidence builds through experience.

💡 Health:

• Old Belief: “I’m too busy for self-care.”

• Shifted Action: Add one 5-minute habit (stretching, a healthy snack). Small shifts reinforce the belief that you do have time.

👉 Tracking small wins reinforces belief shifts which changes identity. Note how your actions influence results over time.

💡 Personal Example:When Jeremy and I were planning to live in a bus, he pointed out a luxurious shower in a home improvement store. My automatic response? “We can’t afford that.”

Then it hit me—why did I say that? The real reason we "can’t" get the shower had nothing to do with money. It was because we were choosing a bus lifestyle. That gut reaction revealed my belief in limitation. Once I recognized it, I realized I had work to do in expanding my perception of availability.

Troubleshooting Blocks: Why You Might Be Stuck

• You’re in a “waiting” mindset instead of an “already having” mindset.➡ Are you acting like someone who already has what they desire, or are you constantly checking for signs that it’s coming?

• Your daily actions contradict your manifestation.➡ Are you saying you want wealth, but avoiding managing your finances? Are you manifesting love but not making space for a partner in your life?

• Astrologically, this might not be the moment for results—just groundwork.➡ You might be in a phase of restructuring before the results can appear. Instead of focusing on the lack, ask yourself what foundations need to be in place first.

  • 💡 Fix: Identify what phase you’re in astrologically—are you in a time of growth, restructuring, or letting go? (Check out my post on Feeling Stuck? Astrology for Building Phases for more insight.)

💡 Real-Life Example: Someone manifesting financial abundance might say “I want more money”—but then immediately feel frustrated when it doesn’t appear instantly. They check their bank account, feel lack, and reinforce the belief that money isn’t flowing.

A better approach: Start living with the mindset that wealth is already available to you. This doesn’t mean reckless spending—it means aligning your thoughts, habits, and actions with someone who has financial stability.

Someone who has financial stability

• doesn't panic when an unexpected bill comes in

• buys groceries based on quality, not whats cheapest

• is completely in sync with their bank account and never fears it

• has financial literacy, and built that skill through active learning

• knows that they are more than just their financial figures

In the multiverse of infinite possibilities, there’s a version of you thriving and aligned—and one stuck in frustration, waiting for external change. Which one you experience depends on the beliefs and actions you reinforce right now.

Pitfall Number 2 Not Truly Acting As If

Many people say they believe in manifestation, but their actions contradict their expectations.

If you desire something, you have to make space for it. Not just wish for it—live as if it’s already yours.

Troubleshooting Blocks: Why You Might Be Stuck

• You haven’t created space—physically or mentally.➡ Are you asking for something while still structuring your life as if it isn't actually on the way?

• Your habits reinforce your current reality, not the one you’re manifesting.➡ If your daily routines don’t match the life you want, you’re signaling to the universe that you’re not ready for it.

• Astrologically, you might need to focus on the foundation first.➡ Check transits to your 4th and 6th houses—are they highlighting shifts in your environment or habits? If so, manifestation starts with creating a foundation before the results arrive.

💡 Real-Life Example: Someone manifesting a life partner but:

❌ Sleeps in the middle of the bed.

❌ Uses the entire closet.

❌ Parks in the center of the garage.

What’s the message here? "I don't actually expect someone else to be in my life."

✨ A better approach: Instead, create space—physically and energetically. Clear a drawer, leave room in the closet, move through life as if their presence is inevitable.

Pitfall Number 3: You’re Manifesting the Outcome, But Skipping the Foundations

This is the real reason most people think manifestation isn’t working.

They’re trying to manifest the result when they should be manifesting the structure that supports it.

If your manifestation isn’t coming through, the work might not be about the desire itself—but about becoming the person who can hold that reality.

Troubleshooting Blocks: Why You Might Be Stuck

• You’re focused on the result, not the process.➡ Are you trying to manifest the finished product without building the foundation it needs to exist?

• You haven’t become the person who naturally experiences this reality.➡ If your dream life landed in your lap tomorrow, would you actually know how to handle it—or would it slip away?

• Astrologically, you’re in a “building phase” rather than a receiving phase.➡ If planets are hitting key placements associated with the theme of your manifestation this could be a time for structure and discipline—not instant results. Instead of fixating on why your desire hasn’t arrived, focus on what’s being asked of you right now. 

💡 Example:If you’re manifesting your dream relationship, but it’s not showing up…

❌ The issue isn’t the relationship.

✅ The issue is becoming the version of yourself who’s truly ready for it.

Are you the ideal partner for your ideal partner?Have you seen Groundhog Day? Phil had to relive the same day for 30 years, slowly working on himself, before he became the kind of person Rita would actually want to be with.

Most people don’t want to hear this. They’ll roll their eyes and resist the idea that the work is on them. But clichés exist for a reason—because they’re true.

This is exactly what I talk about in my post on Feeling Stuck in a Building Phase. Instead of fixating on why your desire hasn’t arrived yet, shift your focus to building the foundations that will support it.

Use Astrology to Manifest and Make Sure It's Fulfilling

Now that we’ve covered what might be blocking your manifestations, let’s shift gears and talk about how to actually make it work. This isn’t about forcing outcomes or waiting around—it’s about aligning your beliefs, habits, and environment with the reality you want to step into with the proper timing.

Ready to take it deeper? Let’s get into how astrology can refine your manifestation process.

Step 1: Get Clear on Your Desire—But Make Sure It’s Yours

Not everything we think we want is actually in alignment with who we are. This is where astrology can help refine your manifestations.

Astrology Integration:

• Check your Sun, Moon, and Rising: Are you manifesting something because society tells you it’s desirable, or because it’s actually aligned with your core self?

• Look at your Venus placement: What brings you joy, fulfillment, and a sense of abundance? Venus highlights the quality of experiences you truly crave—not just the ones that sound good on paper.

• Analyze your North Node: This points toward growth areas—manifestations aligned with your North Node will often require stretching past comfort zones, but they lead to true evolution.

• If you’re unsure whether what you’re manifesting is actually aligned with who you are, astrology can help clarify this. Your Sun, Moon, and Rising signs reveal your core identity, emotional needs, and how you interact with the world—which are all essential for shaping meaningful goals. If you’ve never explored this before, start here: Find Your True Self with Astrology.

Example: If you have a Capricorn Venus, but Sagittarius Sun you might think you want wild spontaneity (because of the Sagittarius energy) in love, but your deeper fulfillment in partnership actually comes from stability, trust, and long-term commitment. Aligning with your Venus makes your manifestations more satisfying and sustainable.

Step 2: Identify Challenges & Blocks (Saturn Shows Where Work is Required)

Many people think resistance means a manifestation isn’t meant for them. In reality, resistance is part of the process. Every manifestation requires work—and Saturn shows exactly what that work is.

Astrology Integration:

• Where is Saturn transiting in your chart right now? This shows the area where you're being asked to build structure and discipline.

• Look at your natal Saturn placement. The sign and house placement reveal your biggest long-term lessons—themes that show up repeatedly in your life.

  • ✅Example: If Saturn is transiting your 7th house, your manifestations around relationships might be delayed because you need to develop stronger relationship boundaries first.

💡 Key Shift: Instead of seeing obstacles as signs that “manifestation isn’t working,” view them as steps in preparation.

Step 3: Shift Your Perception—Are You Preparing for the Reality or Just Daydreaming?

A lot of people stay stuck in daydream mode—visualizing their desires but never making room for them. If your daily habits, behaviors, and self-perception don’t reflect the version of you who has your manifestation, there’s an energetic mismatch.

Astrology Integration:

• Look at your Mercury placement. Mercury represents thought patterns and communication. It’s the internal voice shaping your beliefs—so if your manifestation isn’t unfolding, check in with how you’re thinking about it. Are your thoughts reinforcing success, or subtly sabotaging your progress?

  • ✅Example: If Mercury is in Taurus you're probably steady, grounded, and practical—sometimes to a fault. You prefer slow, tangible progress and might struggle with believing in results before they physically appear. Instead of needing visible proof before you believe your manifestation is working, practice embodying certainty.

  • ✅Example: If Mercury is in Scorpio you're probably deep, investigative, and even skeptical. You want full control of the process, and if things don’t go exactly as expected, you might assume they’re not working at all. Instead, lean into adaptability and use shadow work or journaling to uncover subconscious fears.

  
  

• Check your Mars placement. Mars shows how you take action. Are you actually moving in alignment with what you want, or waiting for the universe to drop it in your lap?

  • ✅Example: If Mars is in Pisces, your natural way of taking action is intuitive and fluid, not rigid. Instead of forcing a hyper-structured approach, lean into visualization, creative rituals, and inspired action.

  • ✅Example: If Mars is in Libra, your natural way of taking action is through partnership, balance, and aesthetic alignment— not solo grind. Instead of forcing an independent, go-it-alone approach, lean into collaboration, strategic networking, and environments that inspire you.

  • ✅Example: If Mars is in Sagittarius, your natural way of taking action is through exploration, adventure, and belief expansion. Instead of using repetitive affirmations or sitting still in meditation, engage with new ideas, travel, and open yourself to fresh perspectives.

🛑 Wait—That’s Not Manifesting! That’s Just Working!

I hear you. Isn’t manifestation supposed to mean things just happen for you? That you think about it, visualize it, maybe script it a little—and poof! It appears?

Here’s the truth: Manifestation isn’t about avoiding effort. It’s about becoming the kind of person who doesn’t have to struggle for the results they want.

If you want financial wealth and security, you’ll have to start acting like someone who already has that. Not just in affirmations and self talk, but in how you make decisions, manage resources, and navigate opportunities.

What you’re really seeking isn’t just money. You’re seeking to become the kind of person for whom financial wealth and security are natural byproducts of how they live.

There’s no benefit to being someone who wins the lottery and loses it. If you manifest "the thing" but don’t become the version of yourself who can sustain it, it will disappear just as fast.

🔥 Manifestation works best when you align your beliefs, actions, and identity. It’s not about waiting—it’s about embodying the reality you want to experience.

💡 Key Shift: Start asking yourself, How does someone who already has this act? Then, start embodying (not pretending by keeping the same self-talk, routines and actions!) that version of yourself now.

Step 4: Align Your Environment and Routines (Make Space for It)

Manifestation isn’t just about mindset—it’s also about logistics. If you’re manifesting something big, your life needs to have the space to receive it.

Astrology Integration:

• Check your 2nd and 6th house placements. The 2nd house represents material security, and the 6th house represents daily habits and routines. Do your habits support the life you want, or are they reinforcing your current reality?

  • ✅ Example: If you’re manifesting financial success, but you treat money with avoidance or scarcity (ignoring bank statements, fearing tax season, never checking your accounts), your habits aren’t aligned with wealth.

• Check your 4th and 10th house placements. The 4th house represents your home, emotional foundation, and sense of belonging, while the 10th house rules career, reputation, and long-term goals.

  • ✅ Example: Does your environment reflect what you're calling in? If you want success but your home is chaotic, it might be blocking clarity. If you want a thriving career but dread your workspace, it could be disrupting momentum.

  • ✅ Example: Are you being seen in the right way? If your manifestation requires recognition—whether in your career, creative pursuits, or leadership—are you actually putting yourself in spaces where that can happen? If you spend all your time in the background, avoiding the spotlight, or working behind the scenes when you need to be front and center, your manifestation has nowhere to land.

💡 Key Shift: Small, consistent environmental and behavioral changes help anchor the frequency of your manifestation into your reality.

Step 5: Take Inspired Action & Trust the Timing

You don’t need to control how your manifestation unfolds—but you do need to engage with the opportunities that show up.

Astrology Integration:

• Check Jupiter and Uranus transits. Jupiter expands opportunities, and Uranus brings unexpected shifts. If a Jupiter transit is hitting your career sector, this is an optimal time to take bold action toward a career goal.

  • ✅ Example: If Jupiter is transiting your 10th house (career & public image), you might receive unexpected job offers or networking opportunities. Instead of brushing them off, recognize them as part of your manifestation unfolding.

• Watch for Retrogrades. If Mercury or Venus is retrograde, it might be a time to refine and reflect rather than initiate brand-new manifestations.

• Pay attention to Eclipses. Eclipses are cosmic resets—massive turning points that shift your path in ways you may not have planned for. 

  • ✅ Example: Unlike other transits, eclipses often bring events beyond your control, requiring surrender, trust, and adaptability. If something exits your life during an eclipse season, let it go. If a door opens, walk through it. Manifestation during eclipse periods isn’t about force—it’s about responding to the shifts that are already in motion.

• Watch for Neptune Transits. Neptune can blur reality, making it easy to confuse dreams with concrete progress. Under a strong Neptune influence, manifestation may feel abstract or uncertain—but that doesn’t mean it isn’t working.

  Instead of getting lost in wishful thinking, use this time to:

  • Strengthen your intuitive connection to your manifestation rather than overanalyzing the "how."

  • Lean into creative and spiritual practices to embody the feeling of your desire. Idealism is a natural byproduct of Neptune so use that to your benefit and trust that the manifestation is on its way.

  • Trust that alignment happens in unseen ways—just because you don’t see immediate proof doesn’t mean the process isn’t unfolding.

  Neptune asks us to flow through the process rather than force clarity. Stay present, stay receptive, and let your manifestations flow rather than trying to control every step.

💡 Key Shift: The universe works through you, not just for you. You don’t need to force manifestations, but you do need to meet them halfway.

Final Thoughts: Bringing It All Together

✨ Get clear on what you truly want (your chart helps confirm alignment).

✨ Identify what Saturn is teaching you (obstacles = preparation).

✨ Shift from passive desire to embodied belief.

✨ Make space for your manifestation in the real world.

✨ Take inspired action & trust that the right timeline is unfolding.

Your Beliefs Shape Your Reality—In Life, Love, and Beyond

In A Happy Pocket Full of Money, the idea that all possibilities exist simultaneously is central to manifestation. Your beliefs, thoughts, and actions determine which version of reality you experience. But this isn’t just a theory—it plays out in real life, especially in relationships.

For years, I carried a fear of abandonment that shaped my friendships. Without realizing it, I had built the belief that I wasn’t lovable just as I was. To compensate, I tried to prove my worth—keeping a mental tally of everything I did for my friends, subconsciously hoping it justified why they should like me but more importantly never leave me.

On the surface, I thought I was being a good friend, but in reality, I was manipulating the relationship. I wasn’t showing up authentically—I was acting out of fear. And my friendships suffered because of it.

Eventually, they pulled away, and I was left wondering why my efforts weren’t enough. But the truth was, I had been creating the very reality I feared. My belief that people would abandon me—and the actions I took based on that fear—manifested exactly that outcome.

Once I recognized the pattern, I knew I could change it. I worked on my sense of worth, shifting my focus from proving myself to simply showing up as a whole, aligned version of me. Instead of controlling friendships, I trusted that the right connections would form naturally.

And they did.

This is manifestation in action. It’s not just about positive thinking—it’s about the version of yourself you show up as. Each choice you make affirms the reality you are stepping into.

Life only happens in the present moment. Your past only holds power if you let it dictate your beliefs and actions now. The future is shaped by what you do today. If you want a new reality, show up for it—now.

Closing Thoughts on Manifesting Your Dream Life and Identifying Your True Goals

Manifestation isn’t about magic or waiting for circumstances to align—it’s about stepping into your power as the co-creator of your life. When your beliefs and actions align, you’re no longer just watching life unfold; you’re actively shaping it.

Start today. Identify a belief that’s been holding you back, set a clear intention, and take one small action in alignment with it. It doesn’t need to be perfect or dramatic—it just needs to move you closer to the reality you want to experience.

P.S. Have You Really Tried Everything?

Feel like you’ve done all the right things but something still isn’t clicking? Like there’s a puzzle piece hiding under the table that you just can’t find?

Sometimes, the biggest block to manifestation isn’t strategy or effort—it’s what’s lurking beneath the surface. You might unconsciously resist what you say you want because it challenges deep-seated fears, identity patterns, or unexamined beliefs.

🤡 "Yeah okay Shanae, like I'm really "afraid" of having a hot sex life, lots of money, and good attention in my career, yeah, OKAY. Seriously. 🙄

👉 If you suspect something deeper is holding you back, check out my post on Astrology and Shadow Work. Your birth chart can reveal the hidden motivators shaping your reality—so you can stop working against yourself and start moving forward with clarity.

Ready to Align Your Manifestations with Astrology?

Manifestation isn’t just about wanting something—it’s about aligning your beliefs, actions, and timing. My 5-Day Mini Course: Setting Aligned Goals That Work for You helps you use astrology to set goals that actually stick, so you can create real, tangible results. You’re not a passive participant in this world. The universe is always responding to your beliefs, actions, and energy. When you choose alignment, you open the door to growth, transformation, and a life that reflects your highest potential.

Astrology is a tool for clarity, not restriction. If you’re struggling to align your manifestations with your deeper truth, your birth chart reveals your natural strengths, challenges, and the cycles supporting your growth.

Want to know the best times to take action in your life? A one-on-one astrology consultation can help you understand your chart’s natural cycles so you can manifest with strategy, not just wishful thinking.

➡️ Check out the Mini Course Here

➡️ Book a Consultation Here

Let’s dive into your chart together. Book an individual live consultation here.

📍 Explore my full suite of consultations and services here.

 Key Takeaways

• Manifestation is about alignment, not just positive thinking. Your beliefs shape your experience, but action and structure are required to bring them into reality.

• Your chart reveals your natural approach to action. Your Mars sign influences how you take action, and your Mercury sign shapes how you process manifestation mentally. Aligning with these energies makes manifestation feel more natural.

• The houses show where manifestation energy flows best. The 2nd and 6th houses relate to material support, the 4th house connects to environment and stability, and the 10th house reflects how you're seen in the world. If you’re struggling to manifest something, check where these houses are activated

• Divine timing matters. Jupiter and Uranus transits bring expansion and sudden shifts, while eclipses and retrogrades ask us to reflect and adjust. Working with these energies rather than resisting them can remove frustration.

• Troubleshooting blocks can help shift your reality. Common pitfalls—like impatience, misaligned actions, and skipping foundational work—can prevent manifestation from coming through. Identifying and correcting these patterns makes all the difference.