By Valeria Rae

I have noticed in my own thinking and in observing the process of others on the path of conscious creating, that there often arises a taboo against wanting. We have been instilled with the idea from family, religion, and past experience that there is something wrong with the act of wanting. Wanting is branded as selfishness, sinful, and the road to self-indulgence. And we have been sold on the idea that it is somehow shameful to have while others do not. So we put a limit on our wanting because of these social taboos and, also in an effort to thwart our own disappointment. We think, “If I keep my desires small, then I can be satisfied.”

Much of the bad rap that desire has acquired over the centuries is based on a belief in limitation. The idea that there is only so much stuff in the world, and we must all vie for our little portion. This is a false assumption, and is the root of so much hostility and strife. The universe is unlimited, infinitely creative, and wants only to fulfill our desires. Many great and wise teachers have stated this truth hundreds of different ways.

"There is a thinking stuff from which all things are made, and which, in its original state permeates, penetrates, and fills the inner spaces of the universe. A thought in this substance produces the thing that is imagined by the thought. A person can form things in his thought, and by impressing his thought upon formless substance, can cause the things he thinks to be created." –Wallace D. Wattles

"What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe in the receiving and then ye shall have them." –The Bible

When Jesus said, "Ask and it is granted unto you and light shall shine upon your path," he did not qualify it by saying, "But don't ask for too much."

When our wanting requests are accompanied by our belief in receiving, the Universe has an open door to bring into this time/space experience that which we have asked for. This occurs in everyone's life many times in every day. We are just unaware of what is actually happening. For instance, we are in a mall and think, "I am thirsty. I want something to drink." We turn a corner and there is a drinking fountain. We are driving on the freeway and realize our vehicle is low on gas. We think, "I want to stop and get some gas before I go much further." We look up and see an exit sign with several stations to choose from. We are in an office waiting room and sneeze. We think, "I want to blow my nose," and we then notice a box of tissues on a shelf.

We assume these are coincidences, but they are not. They are evidence of how the universe works. Every wanting that is paired with the uncompromised expectation of having is presented to us by the all-embracing loving universal consciousness.

Conversely, when we desire and our wanting is laced with guilt, doubt, confusion, or fear, the doorway of receiving is blocked. The message we offer the universe is clouded so that we either experience a distorted manifestation of our desire or the total lack of it.

Wanting is an integral part of our expansion. We live in an expanding universe and are the avatars of it. Evolutionary growth is our basic nature. And all that we desire draws us forward into greater beingness. We continually want. We cannot stop ourselves. To thwart our wanting due to imposed beliefs or the fear of disappointment serves only to flatter our experience, and to limit our options for living more fully.

The key to joyous expansion and conscious creating is to allow ourselves to believe we can receive. We do this by using discipline and practice in focusing our thoughts on the object of our desire, and by giving no attention or power to those taboos that say we "should not" or we "cannot" or we "are not worthy."

When we realize that all manifestation is a result of conceiving a desire plus believing in our having of it, and that our wanting comes naturally, then our only work is to let go of old assumptions and to retrain our thinking patterns, to trust in our innate worthiness, and to dispel the worn out ideas that we will be condemned if we embrace the heights our paths have inspired us to.

I have come to appreciate that settling for being poor, sick, unhappy, lost not only stunts our own growth, but it gives us no opportunities to uplift others. By being all we can be, as the Army slogan says, we embrace and celebrate the unlimited potential available to all of us, and we create a trail for others to follow.

Valeria Vata Rae M.A. is the author of The Body Beautiful Inspiration card deck. A professional organizer and amateur photographer, Valeria has 40 years of study, practice, and teaching of spiritual traditions and self-help techniques. Valeria can be reached at (425) 422-4950, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , www.thebodybeautifuldeck.com.