The 'Real' Secret -

Fate, Destiny, and the Law of Attraction

-Robert Ohotto
As many of you know I am currently in the final stages of finishing up my book titled
Transforming Fate into Destiny - A New Dialogue with Your Soul. I found it quite
synchronistic that as I was finishing up a chapter in which I address Fate, Destiny,
and the law of attraction; this phenomenon called 'The Secret' (for those of you who
don't know what this is - it's a book/DVD on the law of attraction) created quite a
media buzz. And thank God for the timing as it allowed me to take deep look at
something stirring within the collective that is in dire need of balance.

Thus when it came time to do another article for Myss.com, I couldn't pass up the
opportunity to speak to what I feel to be a very myopic understanding of what the
law of attraction is; how it can be used; its obvious limits; and how it relates to our
Fate and Destiny. Are you ready for the real secret? Here we go!

Fate, Destiny, and the Law of Attraction

First of all, let's define some terms for this article. I mean what the heck is Fate? I
don't know about you, but I hear people mixing up the terms Fate and Destiny all
the time as if they are the same thing-which to me they are not.

I did an article for Myss.com years ago titled 'Fate vs. Free Will' in which I explored
Fate. For the purposes of this article, I will define Fate as: that which has been
predetermined and written into our life's contract before we were born, which is
facilitated into our life, manifesting on many levels and in many different forms, but
primarily serves as the vessel and structure through which our Destiny is fulfilled and
contained.

In other words, Fate is a blueprint of sorts, a Divine design of certain limits that the
soul agrees to before birth. Within the first few years of working as an intuitive and
astrologer, the idea of our soul making an agreement with Fate became very real to
me. In fact, I began to sense that before we are born, we meet with certain Earth
Guardians who interface with our Spiritual Guides (I call them your Team) and our
soul in order to devise a plan for our creative journey on this planet. During this
process, amongst other things, a body, family, culture, and archetypes are selected.
This means that the agreement made with Fate and these Earth Guardians is both
mortal and psychic.

Mortal Fate deals with our soul's agreement with the many limitations we each must
negotiate as human beings: genetics, ethnicity, race, gender, appearance, and our
final Fate-death. Many of these things we can't change, but must simply work within
as part of our mortal experience. The terms of our Mortal Fate are pretty morbid, I
know, but none of us on Earth are getting out of here alive!

Psychic Fate deals with the archetypal patterns we've agreed to create with and
negotiate on this planet. For we are not only fated to our bodies, we are also fated to
an archetypal architecture housed within our psyche. It's in understanding this Fate
that my favorite intuitive tool-astrology-becomes an incredibly useful guide. For
when I intuitively pick up data on clients and read their soul, I yoke that information
to the astrological birth chart; which is a symbolic map of what patterns your soul
fused with when you incarnated into this dimension of time and space.

You see, when you agreed to journey onto this planet, you also agreed to have your
soul's personal archetypal structure be shaped by the archetypal processes already
managing creation on this planet; this is what astrology so brilliantly elucidates
through its symbolism. The planets are not just balls of gas and ice; rather they are
living archetypal symbols. And they mirror back to us, through the synchronicity of
their movements, the cyclical, collective, and archetypal creation of reality.

As these collective archetypal energies manifest through us, they individuate and
seek expression through the unique way we decide to work with them-but we can't
work with them until we know what they are and what's already in our own soul!

Therefore, working with your Psychic Fate means identifying your archetypal patterns
and understanding their relationship to time, cycles, and the maturation process of
the psyche. This is at the heart of what I do for clients via a reading; and what
Caroline's work with Sacred Contracts is all about. This kind of work is important to
understand because what is going on at the psychic level of reality patterns energy
into form.

Thus there is a dance between our Mortal Fate and Psychic Fate-both of which speak
to the intentions of our soul to create with the Earth's soul. And understanding the
core inscription which was written on our soul and the world's soul is the first key to
our Destiny.

That said, what's Destiny, and what does the law of attraction have to do with all of
this?

Destiny

The word Destiny is derived from the Latin verb destino from which we derive our
English words: destination, design, destine, determine, intend, and even the word
'choose'. Destiny is learning to work with our life challenges, our Fate, so that we can
be who and what we truly are because there is simply nothing else we can be, and
then, yoking this "being" into service to the collective/others around us.

Though Destiny demands the actualization of our potential and the fullest expression
of our essence, Destiny is never completed because it is the transitive verb of life,
whereas Fate acts as the noun. In other words, Destiny is the doing, Fate is the
being and both dance together in our lives, forming the sentences, paragraphs, and
stories of our experience as human beings.

You may have heard it said before that Fate is the hand of cards that life deals you,
and Destiny is how you play that hand out through your intentions and choices. This
means that you have the opportunity to transform your Fate into something more life
affirming; thus leaving this world a better place by your having lived on the planet.
Destiny is your capacity to live out the threads of your Fate in a unique way that only
you can do, while leaving a positive vibrational impact on the world's energy and
soul.

In simpler terms, Destiny is that which we create within the boundaries of the Fate
we are given. I sense that our soul really makes two agreements before birth: one
with Fate, and the other with Destiny. But our Destiny issues forth from the Fate that
was written on our soul before we incarnated, and matures into this world through
the journey of our lives as we become who were born to be, learning how to manage
the powers of creation at our disposal-one of which is the law of attraction. What
exactly is this law, and how can we use it to fulfill our Destiny?

The Law of Attraction

I have been involved in the study of metaphysics for nearly sixteen years, and
remember when I discovered the law of attraction right at the very beginning of my
studies. I remember feeling like "Yippie, the key to everything I want!" Boy was I
headed for a crash and burn…not unlike many of those out there who are currently
buying into the law of attraction as if it were the only law in the universe.

Nonetheless, the law of attraction is indeed real. It is a universal law of creation that
posits like energy attracts like energy in this universe. And as we all, in essence, are
energetic beings pulsating at certain frequencies; the law of attraction causes your
personal vibratory frequency (which is a by-product of what you do, focus on,
believe, and think about) to attract to you people, situations, events, and
opportunities that are a match.

In their book based on channeling the teachings of Abraham, The Amazing Power of
Deliberate Intent (Hay House, 2006), Esther and Jerry Hicks write this about the law
of attraction:

In the same way that the law of gravity consistently responds to all of the physical
matter of your planet, the Law of Attraction consistently responds to all vibrations.
Every projection of thought, whether you are focused into the past, present, or
future, is vibration and has attraction power. Each thought offers a signal, similar to
a radio signal, that the Law of Attraction recognizes and matches. This powerful,
consistent Law of Attraction (that which is like unto itself is drawn) offers consistent
results in response to the vibrations that you offer.

So the law of attraction is about consciously aligning ourselves vibrationally to

thoughts and intentions that carry frequencies which hold the most affirming creative
potential in any circumstance. To use the law of attraction we must learn to manage
our thoughts, engage our imagination, and master our perception of reality.
Essentially we learn via the law of attraction that what we focus on is empowered
and animated, attracting to us a quality of energy and informing how we experience
events.

The power of the law of attraction can't be denied. How many times have you woken
up in a bad mood that you couldn't shake off? The next thing you know, your day
just keeps getting worse as you draw to yourself one accident and frustrating
scenario after another! Heck, this just happened to me the other day as I had a car
accident, which led to a bad mood…I then watched as I attracted more accidents and
frustration the whole day long!
That said, how many times have you woken up with a smile on your face; only to be
greeted by the smiles of others and positive happenstance at each turn of the day's
corners? I am still waiting for that to take hold of my day! lol!

So alright, we can all relate to this law, but just how powerful is this law, and what
are its limitations? After watching 'The Secret' DVD you'd wonder if there even were
any limits at all. Yet to say that it has no limits of operation absolutely negates our
own experiences here on this Earth.

For example: what do you tell the parents of a one year old that has leukemia? That
their child or they as parents attracted the disease because of the law of attraction?
Or if they just focus on positive thoughts without counter-intending with negative
ones that their child is guaranteed to heal?

What about those who died in the massive tsunami in Indonesia a couple years ago?
What do we say to them about the law of attraction? Come on now folks, things
happen in life because of other laws; and sometimes because of a law like Fate.

I must suggest that we embrace the law of attraction in a more mature way by
integrating what's often missing in our understanding of this law, which is something
very crucial regarding our soul's agreement with Fate: The law of attraction can
only be effective, both in positive and negative ways, within certain
limitations of our soul's agreements with Fate and Destiny. Therefore it has
limits of operation within our life's purpose, and can only transform Fate
into Destiny when it is connected to the intentions of our soul and the
Divine.

In other words, the law of attraction is a creative power of the soul and simply can't
be used to acquire what the ego wants if the soul is not on board, for better or for
worse. And positively speaking, the law of attraction can only magnetize the greatest
potential that your life was designed to hold per your life's purpose. It can only bring
to you that which can be contained within the fated limits put in place to support
your Destiny.

Having said that, I hope you can begin to grasp the enormous importance of
discerning the Divinely designed circumference within which the law of attraction can
magnetize your potential.

For example, I have met many people in workshops who have approached me and
asked, "Robert, I'm using the law of attraction, and still I can't seem to get what I
(ego) want, what am I doing wrong, am I 'counter-intending' against what I am
trying to manifest?"

I have often given them a quick intuitive once over and had to tell them that they
are pursuing the manifestation of something that was not intended for them this
lifetime. Rather, their ego, often driven by a cultural spell to want something, is
chasing something the soul is not on board with - and if the soul is not on board, the
law of attraction can't blow wind into their sails and move the boat of their life
forward toward the next shore.
In addition I have also been asked, "If I can't stop focusing on my desire to see harm
visits someone that I am angry at, will that attract to them or myself disaster?"

To which I have often said, "You're not quite that powerful that you can change the
course of someone's life negatively simply because you are mad at them, and if your
soul's contract demands otherwise."

Can we send others funky negative vibes, or constructive positive vibes, and does
that have an affect on them? Absolutely! But there are certain limits that protect us
when it comes to how we can use the law of attraction to achieve both what seem to
be positive and negative ends. And please be clear that I am not speaking here to
Divine interventions resulting from the power of prayer…that's a whole other alchemy
completely. Moreover, I am addressing how we use our own personal power to affect
each other through the law of attraction.

Yet still, I find it poignant that most people only think of using the law of attraction
for material gain or ego based agendas-which makes sense as that is the primary
focus of much that has been put out there in the media and books regarding this law.
Let's face it, you don't hear of many folks using the law of attraction to simply be
closer to God, but why?

Law of Attraction and Western Capitalism

To get a grasp of how we can truly use this wonderful universal law of creation, we
must take a much needed cultural assessment of how we are interpreting it through
our Western mindset. Though many spiritual teachers and motivational speakers
today stress the importance of using the law of attraction through positive thinking,
visualization, and affirmations to manifest abundance; unfortunately, I have noticed
that quite often one is taught to focus on using this powerful law via a capitalist drive
for attracting more stuff. This is not surprising as we are in a capitalist culture after
all, and are bound to first interpret life through that filter.

Thus, many people begin visualizing financial abundance, new cars, homes, or
perhaps soul mates, and healing of illnesses (often exclusively defined as the result
of negatively mismanaging their thoughts.) To be sure, what we focus on is
expanded via that focus and the thoughts we empower, and the healing of certain
illnesses can be aided (and often healed) by positivism.

But what about the illness that comes as a necessity to the soul's awakening? What
about the creative depression that must be experienced as an initiation into the
unlived life inside of us? What about the financial straits that must be endured in
order to squeeze choice out of our lives, not allowing us to choose out of the ego's
pride-ensuring that the soul's journey is kept on course?

Can the law of attraction take away these necessary situations intended to grow our
soul into our life? Does visualizing and acting 'as if' these situations of necessity are
as our ego would like them to be always objectively change them? Does simply
deciding to see them differently make them go away? No. They are sometimes there
for a very important reason per our Fate that is integral to our Destiny and must be
accepted as such.
In other words, there is a difference between the denial of reality-such as having one
hundred dollars in your bank account, though you keep visualizing a million and
acting 'as if' it's there, while nothing changes-and the reorientation towards events
and experiences in our lives as affirming and meaningful, such that we can empower
ourselves to co-create reality through our inner response to them.

Thus, though you may want a million dollars, maybe you're simply not meant to have
a million dollars this lifetime, but you can still see your life as abundant regardless of
your outer wealth. So how then should we use this law? It's in choosing to see
every situation as being infused with meaning, guidance, and grace that the
law of attraction is really meant to be applied.

Which means the best way to access this fantastic law is quite simply through 'an
attitude of gratitude'. In this way the law of attraction is always effective in activating
the highest potential of our lives, and will bring to us the greatest abundance our
lives are designed to hold-yet this abundance means nothing if it's not transformed
into service which gives back to humanity. That said, I can't say I've heard to much
talk, if any at all, of service within the material out there about this law. But that's
not the only thing that's not talked about!

Our Cultural Fate Phobia

Let's face it folks, we in the West do not like limits. The way the law of attraction has
primarily been embraced by the masses in our culture is a clear symptom of our Fate
phobia. We say here in America that we can become anything we want to be, right?
Well, not exactly…we can become what our Fate and Destiny will allow, but not
anything we want to be, no matter where we live.

For example: Can I just decide that I'm going to use the law of attraction to be the
next American Idol? I'm an ok singer, but believe me, that's not within my Destiny
and ain't gonna happen! Or better yet, can I use it to live forever or change my race?

But don't take my word for it, look at your own experience…extrapolate something
from this for yourself that's less obvious - where do you falsely believe you can use
this law to change what your soul is growing toward?

I actually find it ironic that the law of attraction is actually one of the most powerful
tools we can use in transforming our Fate into Destiny; yet we can't even begin to
use it to that end as we are so fate phobic that we can't even look our Fate in the
eyes and greet it!

Nevertheless, because using the law of attraction means that we become responsible
for the ways we choose to see our Fate; it can be used to energize the gifts (the
Destiny) inherent within our Fate. This is indeed done through what we choose to
focus on-making each challenge an opportunity to bring forth the best of who we are
and can be.

And though we may want a limitless life regarding our desire for earthly things-
whether that be financial wealth, a new house, a new car, to be married, or a healthy
body-in my experience its best to first ask the soul/God what's possible within our
life's design.
I mean, who among us hasn't wanted to erect a manifestation board and paste on it
our wish list? But we must really be clear on what part of us is doing the wishing, our
ego or soul? Surely you have heard of the saying, "Want to know how to make God
laugh? Tell God your plans!"

Please don't get me wrong. I'm all for going after the best life you can on all levels-
including earthly abundance (Bring it on! You know what I'm sayin'?) But, when we
try to be or have something other that what our inner design dictates, then we fate
ourselves to the exact opposite-an unfilled life, a life of suffering; an idea that I
greatly explore in my upcoming book.

In closing; after all these years and hundreds of readings, I have realized that what I
primarily do as an intuitive and astrologer is function as an interpreter of Fate and
Destiny. In addition, I feel my greatest service to clients is to offer helpful guidance
on how they can best participate with the contract they have with Fate. Once the
contract is understood and worked with consciously, Fate can become Destiny; and
once that alchemy is in place, Fate and Destiny join forces in sustaining the motion of
your life-cutting down all obstacles on your path like noble warriors so that you can
fulfill your purpose.

The law of attraction is meant to help that process along, not negate it. It simply
can't change that which was written into your soul before you came here that must
be lived out as part of your purpose. And if you could see your life with your soul's
eyes, you wouldn't really want it any other way.

Whether your Fate shows up as conditions and events that happen to you that are
out of your control for better of for worse (it could be Fate to win the lottery too ya
know!), or unconscious archetypal allies that sabotage you because you have yet to
befriend them; if it was ordained as your Fate and chosen by your soul as necessary
experiences of spiritual awakening, then it must be.

I think the 'real' secret is that the law of attraction can be quite seductive to the ego,
yet is rendered impotent without a connection to the soul's plan and a higher source.
An ego lacking in humility is rendered vulnerable to this seduction because it often
experiences the choices of the soul as a defeat, and must continually wrestle with
the dualism of Earth.

Initially it can be quite painful for the ego to absorb that the soul likes to awaken the
personality to its presence through the contrast that polarities like pain and pleasure
offer. Therefore to fully appreciate the intentions of our soul and its contract with
Fate, we must be willing to relinquish our allegiance to the dualistic ideas of the ego
such as, fair/unfair, pain/pleasure, right/wrong, and good/evil. Furthermore, we must
approach the law of attraction as a powerful ally, but not as the only law in the
universe, so that we can unleash our Destiny.

Suffering and duality, as the Buddha taught, are part of the agreement that Fate
often brings to our soul's incarnate journey in this world, and until we include them
in our understanding of consciousness, we are not complete. Rather, we are chained
to the suffering that polarizing into opposites produces.
I must admit, it's quite tempting to adopt the law of attraction as yet another ego
defense against our necessary, purposeful limits and mortal suffering; but to do so is
not only ineffective, but does a great disservice to our own humanity.

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