law of attraction

Recently I caught the classic 1956 movie, Moby Dick, based on the famous book by Herman Melville, starring Gregory Peck, directed by John Huston, screenplay by Ray Bradbury. I was reminded of how hypnotic and meaningful the movie is, with symbols about Divinity and messages about the Law of Attraction, and more. I loved it. Always have.

You probably know the Melville book is an American classic first published in 1851. You probably also never read it. At least not all of it. Even Ray Bradbury admitted he could never get through the thing.

I have read it. I’m a fan of the book. I read everything by Melville when I was in college in the 1970s, including Billy Budd, Typee, and The Confidence Man, and even his overlooked poetry, such as Clarel.

But I wouldn’t read Moby Dick today.

Instead, I’d watch the 1956 movie.

Here’s why:

Moby Dick is actually a story about the war between ego and, well, let’s say it: God. Captain Ahab is out to kill God. Yes, the great white whale is a symbol. But everything in life is. In this case, the whale represents the Divine. And Ahab wants it on a stick. Or at least a harpoon.

As Pip says in the movie, “That ain’t no whale; that a great white god.”

But why does Ahab hate God/Whale?

The movie cuts to the chase and tells the story best. Ahab went fishing one day, ran into God in the appearance of a huge white whale, and God/whale challenged him. Ahab lost a leg. Got a facial scar. And was royally upset. He devoted the rest of his life to revenge. Of course, trying to blame God for your life is a losing battle. After all, God’s in control, not you.

And this is Ahab’s problem.

Ahab thinks he can find and destroy God/whale. He bribes his crew with a Spanish gold coin to find the whale. He uses maps and math to help pinpoint the next appearance of the great white.

Along the way Ahab ignores another ship in need of help. Ignores his crew who needs to work. Ignores Starbuck, his first in command, trying to warn him of his choices. And ignores his own mission: to hunt for whales so the world has light from burning their fat.

Listen as Ahab declares how he would “strike out the sun” if it insulted him:

“Speak not to me of blasphemy, man; I’d strike the sun if it insulted me. Look ye, Starbuck, all visible objects are but as pasteboard masks. Some inscrutable yet reasoning thing puts forth the molding of their features. The white whale tasks me; he heaps me. Yet he is but a mask. ‘Tis the thing behind the mask I chiefly hate; the malignant thing that has plagued mankind since time began; the thing that maws and mutilates our race, not killing us outright but letting us live on, with half a heart and half a lung.”

Ahab is pure ego.

He’s hypnotic, as most madmen are.

He’s obsessed, as most madmen are.

And he’s going to fail, as most hypnotic, obsessed, madmen do.

He’s not going to be able to kill “the thing behind the mask” because that thing is God/Divine/Life.

How do we know Ahab failed?

The only reason we know of the story at all is that there was a lone survivor. Ishmael, played by actor Richard Basehart in the movie, is a detached observer. He’s a witness. He’s a reporter of the event. He lives to report the lesson back to us.

Why?

Because you and I need reminded that there is God and there is our ego. When you battle God/Divine/Life/Whale, you lose.

Here’s the lesson as I see it (with apologies to Melville, Bradbury, et al): Accept what happens to you in life as a gift, learn from it, turn it around if need be, and then get on with your life mission.

Feeling resentful, angry, unforgiving and driven by revenge is only going to do one thing: sink your ship.

The secret to living a happy life is to go with the flow. That doesn’t mean roll over and play dead. Put up your sails to use the God-given winds to get you where you want to go, but don’t blame God/Divine/Whale when you hit any bumps in the road. You attracted them as an unconscious dance of energies with life. Just adjust your sails and get back on track. Life goes on.

Beware The Ahab Syndrome.

It’s self-sabotage at the extreme.

What whale have you been fighting, anyway?

Ao Akua,

Joe

PS — Here’s sci-fi legend Ray Bradbury giving a misleading (it wasn’t as easy as he claims in this clip) but fun account of how he wrote the screenplay to Moby Dick for egocentric director John Huston by becoming author Herman Melville:

The famous self-improvement company, Nightingale-Conant, just released it’s fourth product by me. I’m proud beyond words and had to share the news with you. The fourth program is The Awakening Course. Here’s the ad in their latest catalog showing my first three programs:

You can order by calling 1-800-525-9000 or by FAX at 1-800-647-9198 or online right here.

I just returned from my third visit to Poland. I love the country. The people are warm, generous, loving and lovable. They are into the Law of Attraction, the movie The Secret, and of course The Secret to Attracting Money. Here are some photos to give you a feel for the place. I’ll go back again in a heartbeat.

Here I am with Andrea Kulcsar, who wants to translate my book Attract Money Now into Swedish and Hungarian:

Here I am with my dear friend Andrzej Batko, NLP and hypnosis master and author of a bestselling book in Polish on The Secret:

It’s not all work in Poland.

Here Nerissa and I pose for caricatures at the Baltic Sea:

I’m presenting in Warsaw to a hungry crowd:

On a grounded Russian airplane turned into a diner outside of Warsaw:

Nerissa is taking a photo of her Polish food while I take a photo of her taking a photo of it and a friend takes a photo of me taking a photo of her:

Ao Akua,

Joe

PS — People in Poland, Russia, Italy, and Peru all want Miracles Coaching. Find out why by getting your free 30-minute taste of it at Miracles Coaching.

Guy Monroe is my singing coach. I love working with him. He’s plugged in, tapped in, turned on, and a wizard at teaching vocal mastery.

Recently we were enjoying his magic coffee before my singing lesson began when he asked about my activities. I rattled off a few things I was doing that week —

– released my 51st book 1,800 Conversion Secrets

– appeared in my 15th movie The Meta-Secret

– did back to back radio shows

– negotiated deals for new audio products

– set up a radio campaign for Attract Money Now

– did a two hour photo shoot with my new car

– prepared for Unseminar 8.

– prepped for overseas travel to speak in Poland

– continued guitar lessons with Mathew Dixon

– found time to read new books

– found time to write new blog posts

– did Miracles Coaching call

– dealt with my mom going in the hospital, an elderly kitty slowly dying, etc.

That’s just some of the things I was doing that week.

Of course, I added that I made time for meditation, reflection, cigar smoking, hot tubbing, masterminding, and more.

Guy’s eyes looked HUGE as he took in my inventory of activities.

“What’s the secret to getting all these results?” he asked.

“I don’t do all of this at the same time,” I explained.

“Right now I’m talking to you and having coffee,” I added. “That’s what this moment calls for. In the next moment I’ll be in your sound booth and singing. After that I’ll drive my space-ship Spyker home. When I get home, there will be something in that moment to do. By living in each moment, things get done.”

Guy nodded. He’s a brilliant teacher and a high-energy dynamo, so I knew he understood.

I added, “It’s when you think about all the stuff you want to do that it gets overwhelming. When you stop and breathe and relax and just do what’s in this moment to do, all is well.”

What’s in this moment for you to do?

Ao Akua,

Joe

PS – If you really want to know my Secret of Productivity click right here.

As I wrote about in my book, The Attractor Factor, one of my fundamental beliefs is “There is always a way.”

I don’t care what the problem or challenge happens to be. Either a solution, cure or healing exists, or one can be created. That empowering belief helps me use the Law of Attraction to attract a solution.

I have used that underlying premise for decades now. It’s helped me handle cancer scares, IRS audits, weight loss, pet health issues and more.

For now, let’s talk about pet health issues.

I love animals. I’ve had pets my entire life. At one point I owned eleven cats. Yes, eleven.

Cats age and often get ill, just like humans. Yes, I’m surprised, too.

Recently one of our senior citizens, Chelsea, couldn’t move her back legs.  She would hop to food.  She couldn’t walk, so she mostly dragged herself. It was sad to see, and scary. We didn’t want to think of losing her, or her suffering.

I took her to the local vet. They took x-rays.  They came back with the results: Chelsea’s spine was fusing at the base. She needed surgery, but at her age (fourteen) it wasn’t a good idea.

The vet offered no hope.

I didn’t accept surgery or ‘nothing’ as our options.

I knew, “There is always a way.”

I jumped online. I Googled “cure cat spine problems.” One of the top results was about acupuncture for pets.

Acupuncture for animals?

I’ve done acupuncture. I don’t like needles any more than you do, but I have to admit it worked for me.

Would it work for Chelsea?

Was it possible?

I searched my area and found a local Austin, Texas vet who did chiropractic work and acupuncture on cats and dogs.

I drove Chelsea there. Here she is getting her first acupuncture treatment:

Chelsea didn’t mind the needles. In fact, she calmed down and relaxed. She was quiet and seemed meditative. Here’s another photo of her…

Did this treatment work?

Was it worth the drive, cost and effort?

The very next day Chelsea was walking.

She is not perfectly normal yet, but she moves her back legs, walks with a limp rather than a hop or a drag, and looks happy and healthy.

Again, if you come from the empowering belief that “There is always a way,” you open your mind to seeing new possibilities.

Here’s a video of Chelsea getting her second acupuncture treatment: