When I saw the Secret in 2007, the otherworldly vibe was, well, otherworldly. The Opus movie promises to be different.

In The Secret, a woman visualizes diamond necklace. Diamond necklace materializes round her neck. Kid visualizes bicycle. Bicycle is beamed to his doorstep. Man visualizes a clear path through snarled traffic, and — well, you saw it — a way opens for him. It turned out that whatever you wanted was within your reach: just believe.

I began to wonder if The Universe was a much easier mark than Santa Claus.

Want a check in the mail? Visualize it. Want a soulmate? Squint your eyes and visualize. Want a new Mercedes? Just believe you have ALREADY received it. Then start making calls to GEICO because you’ll need a deal on insurance, too.

Visualize and the Universe’s Law of Attraction would attract it to you. Whatever it is.

Sadly, even with some half-hearted practice, I couldn’t believe it. And I got my punishment: I didn’t get any of the Universe’s Christmas loot.

But I have hope for a new “Secret,” a new DVD called The Opus. It has been unleashed upon the legions of believers and wannabe believers. I’m on it. Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, those chefs who whipped up endless servings of Chicken Soup for the Soul, are in the kitchen.

And are accompanied by a good couple dozen of others. Hey, the slogan looks good: “Vision. Plan. Performance.” Visualization is in the recipe, and so is Planning and Performance.

Author: David Wimberley