Discussion Topic #11: "The Secret" -- What is your view of this movie/book? Do you believe in the "Law of Attraction"?

I have the book and have read most of it. I do believe in the law of attraction to an extent. yes, positive thinging works, but attracting things to you, by your own thought, I'm not so sure. I worked on doing that for quit sometime and nothing happened, but I do think positively, so maybe it'll still happen.

haven't seen this movie or read the book

I too haven't read nor seen the movie, But you have we wondering so off to blockbuster I go to see it.
Thanks
10*
God Bless

I have not either and I suspect that if it is a big seller it is only because of Oprah's hype of it ... I sure wish she would read my book and promote it, it would do so much more good for our world than just more NewAge hyping of repackaged metaphysical findings.

Yes, like attracts like, it is the law of the universe, so there is most likely 'some' truth in the book so it may well be useful to get people interested in the supernatural, but if they do not seek the very highest truths only they may well go nowhere with it. IMnsHO.

Hi Jerry! Yes, it is a law in the Universe-I do not believe in it, I know it. It is not positive thinking-it is well beyond that. besides, JESUS TAUGHT IT, TOO...!

I'm thinking.

I have not read the book nor seen the movie.

I'm one of those "skeptical agreement" people. My logical mind says, if this is so true then why am I where I am... However, my newly developing metaphysical/gifted side says just try it and you'll see. I'm empathic and have not figured out completely how to protect myself from other people's thoughts and emotions. On Tuesday of this week, I came home and was in an incredibly good mood. But, when I got home my boyfriend wasn't in a good mood because we received a disconnect notice on our door for our lights. I've been out of a job for about a month but have just started working. I sunk to his mental state immediately... started grabbing stuff to pawn and crying about having to be in the same situation over and over again. Then, I went to a different room, started listening to my mp3 player full of new age music and meditation and started reading "The Science of Getting Rich" which was mentioned in The Secret. The next morning, I put all of my stuff to sell away and kept repeating "I am a money magnet. Money flows to me with no obstruction." Over and over and over... I still had NO idea what I was going to do but I did have a peacefulness that it would be ok. I called the electric company and they said to call the economic council. At first, I was a little bit "put off" by seeking help from the welfare system. But, when my 6 year old said, "Mommy, you can sell my princess TV if you need to." I decided enough was enough and went to the council... very scared and very intimidated.

Because I have no income as of yet, they paid $300 on my light bill (which was exactly what I needed to keep it from being disconnected that day.) They also are going to give me $500 to take some classes at the technical school here. We got to the name/birthday section and this loud, gossipy, obnoxious lady started crying. I had NO idea what was going on. She looked at me and said, "My daddy sent you here. He died 6 years ago in March but his birthday is the same day in October as yours. I wasn't supposed to legally move you to the front of the list but something made me do it." Turns out... her dad, who shared my birthday, passed away on the day that my daughter was born.

Do I believe in the Secret... Absolutely. My spirit has it mastered, it's my humanity and my inability to let go of the control that I think I have that holds me back.

Wow, Shanelle!

I temper my work on material manifestation with all kinds of astrological and numerological explorations, digging through my subconscious patterns to see what new blocks I can release or transform.

There's also, it seems to me, a soul timing - there are periods when manifestation is what we're supposed to be doing - it's the name of the game, according to astrological transits. There are also periods when that ability is blocked, and the creative focus has to express in other directions.

Hi! Carla, great question. I saw the movie on pay-view, I feel it instills in me the "good old basic rules --with a slight twist." Be grateful for what you have and now have comes the twist...reflect, pray, mediate on where you want to be...reinforces the power of postive thinking and prayer. But, we now can & should include ourselves. thx. mo-zy

carolion, just brought up a very interest thought...Perhaps, we may want to disucuss her very asuste comment. thanks, carolinn!! ~m0-zy

I do agree carolion... As I said, my humanity blocks some things... the whole but that's not what I want to do right now. It's funny, or ironic, but that exact thing was FINALLY put into words that I felt in my soul. Sometimes, you meditate and see your path and see that you're going to walk down the sidewalk and Spirit has you walking down the one where you'll break your ankle... However, had you went down the path that YOU chose, you'd have been run over by a car and killed... broken ankle... killed?!?! Sometimes, the path you're on isn't the easiest and your manifestations may NOT come when you want them to (or demand them as I'm apt to do in those situations but I'm working on that! lol) But, there is still a Universe/Spirit/God/GUS (Great Universal Spirit) behind the ropes that sees all and you just have to trust that what you want/need will come when it's supposed to and when YOU are ready to receive it but not before...

The last couple of months, my life has taken some very unexpected turns that had ~*~I~*~ been in control would NEVER have happened but I put out that I want to be "happy, healthy, thin, and wealthy" right after I read the Secret... I've lost 30 pounds, I'm healing my inner child and finding my future self, my blood pressure is under control without medication, and as last week proved I am able to manifest money when I need to but I have to also put aside pride.

Tis a WONDERFUL world here... even when you are standing on a corner and a car hits a puddle of rain/mud and you get soaked... still a lesson in there and still better than stepping off the curb and getting smashed :o)~

Philip and Shanelle, thank you for sharing that the Law of Attraction has worked for you. Shanelle, your story in particular should be an inspiration to others.

I, too, have seen it work in my life. And yes, Jesus did teach this principle, although he did not refer to it as the Law of Attraction.

Hi, Dan. I've heard of the book "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" but haven't read it. It has been around a long time. Maybe you could do an article on it for the group.

Dan, in order to publish it to the group (Spirituality Explorers) you'll need to join first. Keep that in mind. I hope you'll decide to do the article. You've got me intrigued now.

Adam... I don't think your efforts are futile and I'm a little confused by your posting. Was it not Jesus that healed the sick? Were not the sick people praying and praying to be well? So, in my way of thinking, isn't that the same thing? Ask and believe and you will receive?

Also... just as a side note... I do realize this is a public forum and all thoughts are welcome, isn't being judgemental against Christianity? Would'nt that be the same as judging others for their beliefs and points of view?

Adam seems to know it not shown by his denial as to whether it is himself or the other that has the log in the eye ... objectivity is about logs and subjectivity would be about the mote ... the differences between the macro and the micro ... Adam, you deal in the literal world of the orthodox literal and materialistic objective, the exoteric. There things are either logical or not to you ... the subjective, mystical, esoteric and occult scare you silly ... admit it.

I have not read the book but I am interested. I do believe in the law of attraction.

Isn't it funny how a person's essence can sometimes flare from the pages and in my case, cause me to want to be less than kind. I do think that is the law of attraction or the law of unnattaction. Adam, do you have a nasal voice? kind of the facial constriction of anal retention? ok ok, i would love to go on, however...I did see the movie the secret. Also I never read the maintence of motorcycles tho it was around when I first began my troubled search for higher ground. But I do in some ways think they are similar, but not. Am I profound! Does not God give riches to the idiots? Anyway, another movie that fits with the secret is what the bleep do we know. I watched that because my son keep pummeling me with it. It is much deeper, a thinker, than the secret...but the true beginning of joining science and religion (spirit). Another words, we have more impact on our enviroment than we ever thought. The other thing I think of is Jungs belief in the greater or collected consciousness. That whatever is going on with our world we all are connected and influence it by our thought which do not go unheard. Meanwhile I am stuck in Kirkegards' turning point called 'Fear and Trembling'. It's a bitch, but I do believe it is an essential part of growing spiritually. There, and I didn't get totally unhinged by distasteful vibrations.

This is something I have thought about since I saw the movie and read the book. I'm not entirely convinced that the "Law of Attraction", as the authors like to refer to it, is factual. I do believe that: good attracts good; and we are responsible for our actions. There is such a thing as intellect and reason; and we have the power to choose between right and wrong.

What a great discussion! My husband and I discovered The Secret a few months ago and WOW! The way our thinking and our lives have changed is astronomical! We test the law of attraction on a daily basis with little things, just to make sure it works...LOL! And it does! We visualize on a daily basis, and it's just astounding how focusing and thinking on what you want really does attract it into your life. I was struggling with some health issues and high anxiety when we watched The Secret for the first time...I'm amazed that changing my wording from "I don't want to hurt anymore" to "I'm so grateful for my healing" TRULY healed me and I no longer suffer from the pain or the anxiety. I don't know why anyone would be anti-The Secret...doesn't everyone want to be happy, healthy and wealthy? The Secret gives you the tools to make those things happen...I highly recommend Chicken Soup for the Soul: Living Your Dreams edition...Jack Canfield was a major contributor to the Secret and this book goes hand in hand with it.


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Peggy Ann, I agree that "What the Bleep" was a great movie. It's one that I would like to see again.

As for the teachings of Jesus and the Law of Attraction...Jesus knew that the Spirit in man is a miracle-working power, but man has always doubted it, much because of the talk of original sin and our wretchedness which is still preached by Christian fundamentalists. Jesus tried to uplift his followers saying that if we believe then all things are possible. It is as Paul says that we are transformed by the renewing of our minds (thoughts). Jesus told many people that had been healed that it was because of their faith that they were healed. They had the thought/belief that they could be healed and so they were. The disciples were told that they had the power to heal as well and to do the things that Jesus did, but they doubted this power.

"Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them and you will have them," Jesus said. Again, he affirmed the power of our thoughts and beliefs.

We prove the power of our thoughts/beliefs in our lives every day. Doctors have seen this power proven in their studies with patients. Those who have positive thoughts and expectations of healing consistently do better.

Thanks for sharing your experience, Jerrica. I think stories such as yours are proof that there is a definite connection between our thougths/beliefs and our experience.

Carla, I love your views on Jesus and his teachings. Long ago, I left the "church" for many reasons. It's actually The Secret that has made me more open to accepting the idea of Jesus - do I believe he is the Savior? Not really...but I believe he was a man who understood the power of the mind and used it for good. Many of the Christians in my life see the Secret as "making yourself your own god"...this is great stuff for my arguments to the contrary. We have been given by God, or the Universe, whatever you choose to call it, amazing minds and yet many of us doubt and thereby squander our abilities. Thanks again for this amazing discussion!

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i find no separation from any of this. Christ came here and said we are free. to chose. to believe. in fact, he told us to believe in light, in love, in life everlasting. He was the first spiritualist, in that, if he didn't see ghosts or hear voices of a celestrial manner, who did? Ego is what puts the clamp on any one spiritual sprout to bring it around to resemble the ego, not the God that first inspired the light or idea. 'If they are not against us, then they are for us.' Power in words, this is one that gets to me. That was what jesus said, when the deciples were up set because people where throwing out demons without the name of jesus, and jesus said, 'if they are not against us they are for us' I find that a positive take on things. I have heard fundalmentalists change that to, "if they are not with us, then they are against us.' that last sentence is a shut door or a proclamation for war. I go with the first interpretation. Oh, let me go on.....

Jerrica, I'm going to recommend a church that I think you will resonate with. Unity. I am a Unity minister myself and there are two Unity churches in NY. The first is Unity Center of Practical Christianity at 213 W. 58th St. Their services are at 9:30 and 11:00. The minister there was one of my professors. The other one is Unity Church of New York. They meet at 2537 Broadway at 95th St. (Symphony Space). Their service is at 11:00. The music at that church is great! I've heard their choir.

Thanks for the recommendations, Carla. We used to belong to a Universalist chuch that we loved, but my hubby works on Sundays, so we don't get to go...I would go without him, but it's one of those things that I just don't want to do without him...but perhaps we'll try the first one you mentioned...it's not far from his work and the 9:30 would work fine. Thanks so much!


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I am going to go with my gut on the whole Adam thing... take the high road and realize that in doing so I am honoring the SPIRIT and GOD in me.

Now, for those of you that have not seen The Secret... Here is a link of it that is a free flash player version of it. Just click on it and there you are :o) Should really liven up this conversation EVEN MORE!!!

http://www.universallawstoday.com/secret.html

It's about halfway down the main front page...

Jerrica... I belong to a Unity Church and LOVE it... My significant other also works on Sunday but I take my daughter and we enjoy it so much that it really just sets our week off to a great start!

Another book that I've recently read that is helping me fully integrate the Secret into my life is The Four Agreements. It's a Toltec Wisdom book...

1) Be impeccable with your word
2) Don't take anything personally
3) Don't assume anything
4) Always do your best... whatever it is at that moment

I have to remind myself of number 1 whenever I come across people who like to stumble around spirituality but not into spirituality. Makes it easier to make a solid case when I speak from fact and not emotion!

Thanks for your input, Shanelle, and I commend your decision to take the high road.

I, too, thought The Four Agreements was a wonderful book and it's teachings are certainly applicable to life. And thanks for the link to the The Secret. I look forward to more conversation when people see the movie.

Liz, you are right. Christ said, "It is done unto you as you believe." That is the message of The Secret. The Secret presents this idea with the help of many well-known speakers and teachers who share how the principle of "Law of Attraction" has worked in their lives.

Adam is a fundamentalist Christian and he has very strong views against any teachings other than the Bible, which he takes literally. He sees other teachings as a threat to Christianity.

Good topic Carla, I have not read the book or seen the movie. I know the concept though. I am a very positive person. I am able in many occasions to use mind over matter to acheive my goal.

The Secret. I've read the book and saw the movie before Oprah did her promo of it and for some reason I actually was home to watch her show that day. Which is probably the 3rd or 4th Oprah show I've ever seen.

It was such a surprise for me, personally, that all these concepts are considered NEW! LOL!

There is nothing in The Secret - book or movie - that hasn't been around for centuries. So what does it say of us that are so impressed and surprised?

And what hope does it provide for those that are facing life issues greater than we can imagine?

When we feel disempowered and disconnected from our Source (God), then life feels difficult to manage. The Secret, in its own way, teaches us that the Source is alive and active within us and as we align ourselves with this awareness and stay focused on God/Good, then we will move more in the direction of our dreams and desires. And yes, this message has been around for centuries. Sometimes it takes awhile for us to catch on...

The Law of Attraction is, as others have noted, not new -- nor is it the only spiritual law. In fact, it is part of the Law of Mind Action -- that your thoughts determine your reality. If the Law of Attraction does not seem to work for you, perhaps you need to see where the focus of your life is. I heard of a man who prayed a formal prayer twice daily, 15 minutes each time, to be cured of his lung cancer. However the other 23 1/2 hours he continued to smoke, despite his doctor's advice. He died bitter that his prayers had not been answered -- though I think in reality they were.
I read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance when it first came out, but not since. Mention of it has got me wondering too how it would read today. It must be more than 30 years since its first publication.

Some time ago I collected a number of Spiritual Laws -- from hither and yon -- and partly through a Yahoo Group. I am sure there are others.
Attraction and Repulsion: We attract what we focus upon, repel what we resist. See Mind Action.
Balance and Harmony: Always in control, God is balance and harmony. Positive forces forever counter-balance negative ones.
Cause and Effect: (Karma) Every action causes an effect, or reaction. As you sow, so you will reap.
Compensation: God compensates us far beyond whatever we have given, if we have given according to God's laws.
Creation: God creates via divinely ordered principles and procedures. We co-create with God.
Equality: God essence is equal in all. God loves and sustains all equally.
Example: All life learns via the example of those who are more evolved in expressing divine qualities.
Free Will: Endowed by God, all life has freedom of choice. Choosing God's will is the truest freedom.
Give and Take: We receive first from God. Exchanging with all life, we give and take equally.
Growth and Evolution: All life is evolving to higher expression of God. We are responsible for our growth.
Individuality: Each creation is unique
Integration: God's oneness is maintained constantly by the integrating activity of all life.
Life: God is life. All creation, down to the smallest atom, expresses God life. There is no death.
Love: God is Love. Life's purpose is to love God and one another.
Mind Action: Thoughts held in mind produce after their kind. See Attraction and Repulsion.
Noninterference: None may interfere with another's freewill expression without uniting karmically with him.
Non-personality: God is no respecter of personalities — Divine Laws apply equally to all.
Oneness: God is one with us and with all life
Order: God is order. Only divine laws, which are the source of order, are preconceived by Spirit.
Perfection: Only God and divine laws are perfect. Our perfection is being God-like. Error is temporary.
Polarity: God's nature or being and thus all life, expresses through positive-negative polarity.
Reincarnation: We express in varied planes, dimensions and planets to complete our mission and karma.
Reversibility: A cause and effect may be reversed. If a physical fact causes a psychological state, then entering into that psychological state can cause the physical fact.
Righteousness: Right use of God's laws results in right manifestation for the good of each and all.
Sacrifice (or Service): We reach our highest God expression in devoting ourselves to the spiritual well-being of a person, creation, group or cause outside ourselves.
Transmutation: All life is changing, transforming, transmuting into new forms and expressions.
Seven Hermetic Principles:
1. Mentalism: Everything first exists as an idea, like "in the beginning was the word."
2. Polarity: There are two views/aspects of every phenomenon (destructive/constructive).
3. Correspondence: The same fundamental rules apply at all levels (as above, so below).
4. Vibration: All elements of the cosmos are in constant motion (ideas, emotions, physics).
5. Rhythm: Everything has its own cycles/patterns (there is a season for all things).
6. Gender: Yin/yang (female/male), receptivity/activity exist in all particles, waves and beings.
7. Cause and Effect: All things are interactively connected in our singular universe.

I have watched discussions concerning this book on television, and based on that limited knowledge, the law of attraction sounds like The Power of Positive Thinking, by Norman Vincent Peale. Anyway, I believe a positive frame of mind is always helpful in accomplishing goals. However, you do need more than a positive frame of mind. Intelligence, resources and good old hard work makes for a successful person.

A great list Lynn. Kay, I agree with you, it helps a lot to have a positive frame of mind, but the most positive overall is that which recognizes things for the way they REALLY are, the TRUTH of the matter ... and THEN deals as positive as one can with those truths.

In other words, you will run into nothing but problems IF you insist that black is white and it will be just by the insisting.