HI Kim, thanks for your questions and I agree about the video, so much resonates. In terms of manifesting I have intentionally manifested things into my life, more through interest than any real requirement. However, I recall something Yogananda wrote about being sidetracked from the path by Siddhis. I think the belief that you can Control what you manifest to be ultimately erroneous.

To elaborate on my example... as my mind caught the edge of a fear based thought about the bird pooing on me I laughed immediately at the conditioning and the response from the Universe. My next thought was equally as spontaneous but, felt more authentic - I feel as if it was less about Me manifesting a bird to fly over head and more about me tapping into the flow and intuiting what was happening in that moment. Does this help?

On your second point I have practised various yoga Kriyas on and off for a few years now (about 20 lol) but about 3 years ago began practising Sodarshan Chakra Kriya. This Kriya acts directly on past Karma and as I became more adept I had to deal with the emotional turmoil that it resurrected. I am not a visual person; however, I am very kinaesthetic, so I struggled deeply with negative energy and emotion, to the extent that I do not habitually practice this anymore.

The shift into the heart chakra was obvious. Accompanied by spontaneous outpourings of empathy and tears (lots of tears) and then I began to feel significant shifts of consciousness over a sustained period during which I noticed that the tightenings in the abdomen had simply gone. I still have occasional contractions in intense situations (nr misses in the car, that sort of thing) but for the most part I am free of that energy. I will confront thoughts as they arise but they no longer arise through a tightening. There is a greater lightness in my energy body now. It just feels as if I have made space ...
<3 i hope this offers more understanding.. bless you