Very interesting read. I do think (at the risk of sounding negative) that this sort of philosophy is akin to putting a band-aid on a slit wrist. Notice how it presumes to be the "concept behind... Law of Attraction, prayer, spells, rituals, positive thinking, thought forms, etc." This negates the need to ask the question of what these things are in the first place. For example, if one's state of being is determined solely by producing positive thoughts that evoke strong emotions which produce a good feeling, then there is essentially no difference between prayers, spells, or mental exercise. All these things are just tools we use to fool our brains into releasing endorphins. Therefore, we don't bother to ask the truly important questions such as what is the difference, if any, between prayer and spells? Or, more specifically, what is prayer? What are spells?

If we can define a spell as any action or actions performed specifically to manipulate the forces of nature as a means to achieve some end, then the practical application of esotericism is a spell in and of itself. If energy is the sole force that determines our state of mind and/or sense of being, then prayer as we know it is irrelevant. This leaves positive thinking as the comprehensive ointment to heal any and all undesirable feelings. And the assumption that our sense of well being, peace and happiness is determined by our "feelings" if the fatal flaw in the whole idea since feelings come and go as the wind blows.

In the end it's all just a smokescreen. You have written, "And if I can try to remain detached enough to know that everything will eventually be OK when the inevitable storms of life do happen..." I must point out that as poetic and comforting this statement may be, it is far from being true. No, the truth is that everything will not be ok eventually. The only thing we all have to look forward to is suffering and death. No amount of positive thoughts or strong emotions will ever produce enough energy to change this absolute fact of life.

Depressing, right? Not really. It's just a matter of perspective. You see, the ability to manufacture positive feelings isn't nearly as important as the ability to maintain a positive outlook on life, and a positive attitude towards others regardless of how terrible we may feel. This ability demonstrates ones inner strength, and emotional maturity. Inner strength requires exercising our free will by intentionally deciding to not lash out at others when we are angry or hurt. It requires us to also exercise our intellect by training our logic center to take control when emotions threaten to overwhelm us. Once we have developed these skills, we are no longer preoccupied with our feelings. This frees us to pursue the answers to the metaphysical and existential questions that hold the key to true inner peace. This true peace is what will drive us to grow as persons, and prevent us from falling into despair if tragedy should befall us. But to have inner peace, we must seek truth.

If we sincerely desire truth, we must first accept the fact that sometimes the best medicine is the most bitter. Without this realization, we can never truly look into the mirror, and looking into the mirror is always the first step. It's also the most difficult since the truth about ourselves is often the most painful of all to accept. Abused people everywhere can testify to the grave consequences that can occur when we refuse to acknowledge and take responsibility for our own faults and failures. Medical psychology has finally confirmed what sages have been saying for millennium; that forgiveness of the past is a requirement if we desire peace in the future. Forgiveness, like most everything else, also begins in the mirror.

The good news is that those of us who make it over this first obstacle will understand for the first time what it means to experience ontological change. See, this giant first step requires one to be completely honest with oneself, about oneself. This is the most painful honesty a person will have experienced up to this point. Once a person can be completely honest about oneself, it becomes second nature to be honest about everything else. An honest person is a transparent person. A transparent person naturally abandons the desire to maintain an image since there is nothing more to hide. She has now experienced her first taste of true freedom. The freedom to simply exist, perfectly content within herself, and by herself. This self contentment opens the door to developing relationships more intimate than she ever knew was possible. This is because she no longer needs anyone else, and the people in her life are there by choice rather than to fill some undefinable void. Finally, she begins to understand what it means to have that peace of mind that esoteric methods promise, but can't deliver for the long term. She is now free to focus on helping others since she has been freed from herself. This is when a person's real life begins.

These are some of many conclusions I've come to and experienced over the years and I haven't had any reason to doubt them. Sorry for being long winded. I at least try to be substantial.