How manifesting led this Cork woman to create her dream life

'I once worked on construction sites, wearing a high-vis vest, a hard hat, and steel-capped boots. Now I focus my energy on art'

Orla Ó Regan.

If you’re looking for a Christmas tree decoration with extra-positive sparkle, check out the porcelain star “Manifest”.

You could say its maker Orla Ó Regan of Orla O Visual, based in North Cork, lives by the practice. 

The former construction programme manager says: “Just a few years ago, I went to work wearing a hard hat, steel-capped boots and a high-vis vest, to oversee construction sites. This is now a distant memory."

After being diagnosed with postnatal depression when she had her first-born, the mother-of-two turned her “entire world upside down and created a business out of my passion for art”.

Orla Ó Regan.

Orla credits the power of manifestation with helping her change focus. 

The artist's pièce de résistance for 2023 is this porcelain star. “It is a positive piece to remind ourselves that we are capable of anything through manifestation," says the artist.

Orla's 'Manifest' Christmas decoration.

Of course, 2023 is also a year during which self-development coach Roxie Nafousi — hailed by Forbes as the “queen of manifesting” — presented her way of thinking and setting intentions to the masses.

Nafousi describes manifesting as “a practice of empowerment” and healing.

Manifesting is about believing in something and using your mind to create the reality you experience, according to Nafousi who began manifesting at the age of 27 after suffering from addiction issues.

The mother-of-one listened to a podcast on the subject. It chimed with her and she has since become a bestselling author following the publication of her book Manifest: 7 Steps to Living Your Best Life (2022) and Manifest: Dive Deeper (2023).

Meanwhile, Orla, who is now well-known for her “words in porcelain”, believes she was manifesting even before the idea went mainstream.

"I totally believe in manifestation — and believe that it has given me amazing opportunities. Once you 'get' it,  it's just so easy to keep doing," says the artist. 

"I think I was manifesting my creative career for a long time without even knowing — and here I am now! But I can now see and understand how I was doing it — just magical!"

Orla enrolled in the National College of Art and Design (NCAD) in Dublin as a mature student in 2010, studying part-time at night, while working on construction projects at Dublin Airport during the day.

“I always envisioned that I would create a career in art for myself, and so the biggest turning point to date happened in 2015 after I had my little boy, Jonah," says Orla.

“For two years, when Jonah was very little, I focused my energies on my art, creating the life I was always leaning towards. I am so proud to say that through this darkness, came the light!” 

Relocating back to Cork from Dublin in 2015, Orla set up a studio, Orla O Visual, in the hen house on the family farm. “I feel like I am living my dream,” she says.

"My daily workday involves retreating to the farm, listening to birds singing, and getting to hang out with my parents. I love what I do, and this in turn means that I will put all that I possibly can into it.”

• Orla's Manifest star is priced at €20 and is available to buy on the artist’s website, see Orlaovisual.