The Magnetism Principle

In many ways, we go through life like a bunch of little magnets, bumping into and bouncing off each other, continuously attracting and repelling.

At times the attraction is instant, and just as quickly, it’s gone. Other times, it lasts a lifetime. Sometimes there’s a strange sense of déjà vu. Other times there’s something about someone that somehow repels us. You may not know what it is, but it triggers a kind of internal “swipe left.”

And so it goes, day in and day out, positive and negative energy spinning through us and between us.

This happens automatically whenever we meet someone new.

And it doesn’t just happen with people.

It happens with animals. With places, too.

Your cat who’s aloof with everyone except your plumber? Explain that.

That restaurant where you feel instantly at home? It’s giving you a vibe.

And that place you once vacationed — the one you can’t wait to visit again?

That’s on your frequency, too.

It all comes down to energy: the energy they give off, the energy you give off, and how the two mix together.

I have a shorthand for these encounters. Each is considered a meeting with an unsub — an unknown subject, for those of you who don’t watch Criminal Minds. I rank them somewhere on a scale of good-to-bad energy, on a spectrum that basically ranges from The Law of Attraction to Fatal Attraction. (Most people land somewhere in the middle, which is to say, neutral.)

The idea that humans give off energy is often dismissed as mystical. It isn’t. It’s measurable.

Ever walk into a room after an argument has taken place? Yeah, you feel it.

The biggest energy producer in the human body is the heart, which generates a strong electromagnetic field — strong enough to be detected several feet outside the body through biomagnetic measurements used in medical science.

Is that forcefield actually the aura of your soul? Some think so. Anecdotally, we know that when people point to themselves, they point to their heart. Think about that.

Physics adds another intriguing layer. One of its most fundamental principles is that energy cannot be created or destroyed — only transformed.

That fact gives comfort to those who believe that an afterlife does exist, and why they can feel love around them after someone has passed.

There is even a branch of astrology that offers another take on eternal life, equating your zodiac sign with the number of previous lives you’ve led. (Aries, the first sign of the zodiac, is a newborn. Keep that in mind when contemplating whether to forgive that famous temper of theirs. After all, baby Aries has yet to learn how to control it. Scorpio, on the other hand, has walked through seven previous lives, lending credence to the oft-quoted phrase that Scorpio simply “knows that he knows.”)

Human beings have long sensed that something unseen moves between us.

Long before modern instruments could measure electromagnetic fields, cultures around the world described a life force surrounding the human body — called qi in Chinese philosophy and prana in Hindu traditions.

Different language. Same observation.

We regard this magnetic effect as a vibe, and we take it seriously, because it influences us in many ways.

No matter how you look at it, it’s true that individually, we are forcefields. Once cognizant that energy is constantly moving between us, we begin to understand that attracting who and what we want really isn’t mysterious at all.

It’s mechanical.

It’s why certain people walk into a room and draw people into their orbit immediately. Opportunity, conversation, and invitations seem to effortlessly flow toward them. It happens because their forcefield is broadcasting the clearest signal in the room.

That’s magnetism.

(Some think it’s magic. Let them.)

Everyone’s magnetism is a bit different, because the energy you give off is made up of the experiences you’ve lived through and the meaning you’ve made from them.

That means your forcefield carries every joy you’ve ever known — and the hurts, disappointments, love gained and love lost.

Every moment leaves an imprint.

Joy expands you.
Stress tightens you.
Trust opens you.
Betrayal makes you cautious.

Over time those experiences shape how you move through the world — how you look at people, how quickly you react, how comfortable you are in your own skin.

All of that becomes your vibe.

There are basically five energy operating modes that you continuously move between, all of which impact the quality of your vibe. The thing to remember is that your vibe isn’t a fixed signal. It shifts depending on circumstance, emotion, and environment.

Your vibe is stable, and you are open and approachable.

Signals include:

• emotional equilibrium
• calm presence
• clarity

When you operate from baseline, your presence tends to feel grounded and consistent — which is why others often experience it as reassuring or quietly powerful.

Your vibe pulls inward and feels closed off to others.

Signals include:

• active listening / information processing
• quiet observation
• conserving energy

This mode gathers information and allows internal recalibration. It may leave you feeling “full” or even exhausted.

Your vibe expands outward.

Signals include:

• expressive communication
• social openness
• outward engagement

This mode creates new energy and drives connection. You may feel energized from the experience.

Your vibe becomes unreadable.

Signals include:

• quiet or invisible presence
• detached from the scene
• almost “out-of-body” observations

Stealth mode may cause others to feel ill at ease, as they cannot easily detect emotion, intention, or reaction. This can happen intentionally — if you know how to mask your signal or maintain emotional neutrality — or unintentionally if you are feeling unsafe or unsure. The result is a vibe that reveals very little.

Your vibe becomes reactive to surroundings.

Emotion spikes and your nervous system takes control.

Signals include:

• defensive reactions
• urgency to respond
• emotional escalation

This is where lineage patterns often surface most strongly. If you grew up in a house where anger was the coping method, your default trigger mode may be anger.

At any given time, your vibe is operating in one of these five modes. In order to change your mode, you first have to be aware of the mode you are in.

You also need to be able to read the mode of the person you are interacting with.

When two forcefields meet, the energy shifts. Often, the result of an extrovert meeting an introvert will be attraction (“I would like this person as a friend.” “This person would make a good hire for our culture.”) since they balance each other. Conversely, if both people are operating in extrovert mode, the overall effect may be overwhelming to the senses, or suddenly competitive. Sometimes people pass by each other with muted signals, either in stealth mode or introvert mode, without leaving much of a trace. That may be a missed opportunity.

But the interaction is always there. And each one imprints on your personal forcefield, changing your vibe in new and interesting ways for you to manage and capitalize on.

That’s the mechanics of magnetism.

To raise awareness of your vibe and natural energy mode, start with your element. Pay attention to how your energy changes throughout the day — and with whom. Adapting your vibe to the moment increases your magnetic appeal.

Aries · Leo · Sagittarius

Fire energy moves quickly and visibly. It ignites easily and burns brightly.

In Baseline Mode, fire feels charismatic and motivating. Others experience it as enthusiasm and forward momentum.

In Extrovert Mode, fire is an energetic leader. Conversation, leadership, and excitement naturally gather around it.

In Introvert Mode, fire withdraws to rebuild its spark. The energy may feel impatient or restless, but it is actually recalibrating.

In Stealth Mode, fire is rarely comfortable. Fire energy tends to leak through the cracks, making it difficult to remain truly invisible.

In Trigger Mode, fire reacts instantly. Emotion rises quickly and may burn out just as fast once the moment passes.

Fire Power Move
Pause before ignition. Fire becomes most magnetic when its energy is directed, not scattered.

Taurus · Virgo · Capricorn

Earth energy moves slowly and deliberately. It stabilizes rather than accelerates.

In Baseline Mode, earth feels calm and dependable. Others experience it as grounding and reassuring.

In Extrovert Mode, earth energy becomes supportive and practical. It focuses on building, organizing, and sustaining what is happening around it.

In Introvert Mode, earth withdraws to evaluate and strengthen its footing. This often appears as patience or quiet observation.

In Stealth Mode, earth blends easily into the environment. Its energy becomes nearly invisible while it observes what is happening.

In Trigger Mode, earth resists. Instead of reacting explosively, it digs in and becomes immovable.

Earth Power Move
Stay flexible. Earth’s strength is stability, but magnetism increases when it allows movement.

Gemini · Libra · Aquarius

Air energy moves through ideas, language, and connection.

In Baseline Mode, air feels curious and mentally agile. It invites conversation and exchange.

In Extrovert Mode, air becomes highly social. Ideas circulate quickly and communication flows easily.

In Introvert Mode, air retreats into analysis. The energy turns inward toward thinking, processing, and connecting patterns.

In Stealth Mode, air detaches. The person may appear present but mentally elsewhere, quietly observing the dynamics around them.

In Trigger Mode, air argues. Instead of emotional escalation, the reaction often appears as debate, questioning, or verbal sparring.

Air Power Move
Listen before responding. Air becomes most magnetic when curiosity replaces commentary.

Cancer · Scorpio · Pisces

Water energy is deeply responsive to emotional environments.

In Baseline Mode, water feels empathetic and intuitive. Others experience it as warmth and emotional understanding.

In Extrovert Mode, water becomes expressive and relational, creating strong emotional connections.

In Introvert Mode, water retreats into feeling. The energy processes internally and may appear quiet or withdrawn.

In Stealth Mode, water absorbs the atmosphere without revealing much in return. The person becomes highly perceptive but difficult to read.

In Trigger Mode, water floods. Emotion rises quickly and can overwhelm both the person experiencing it and those around them.

Water Power Move
Create boundaries. Water’s magnetism strengthens when empathy doesn’t turn into absorption.

Once you start noticing these patterns, everyday interactions begin to make more sense.

That coworker who debates every disagreement? Likely air in Trigger Mode.

The friend who disappears to “think about things”? Possibly air or earth in Introvert Mode.

The person who energizes every room they enter? Fire operating comfortably in Extrovert Mode.

And the one who instinctively understands what everyone else is feeling? Water in Baseline Mode.

None of these patterns are good or bad. They simply describe how energy moves.

Magnetism begins to make sense when you realize that every interaction is really a meeting between two forcefields, each moving through its own mode and element.

Once you understand how magnetism works, you start noticing it everywhere.

Every interaction is a small exchange of energy — your vibe meeting the vibe around you.

The trick isn’t controlling it. The trick is paying attention to it.

A simple way to do that is through a quick four-step check.

Start with your own forcefield.
What mode are you in right now? Baseline? Introvert? Extrovert? Trigger? Stealth?
Your vibe always arrives before your words do.

Next, notice the energy around you.
Is the room calm or tense? Curious or guarded? Expansive or closed off?

Then watch what happens when the energies between people meet.
Do they click? Do they stall? Do they repel?
That interaction tells you where the moment is naturally heading.

If the energy is working, stay with it.
If it isn’t, simply adjust your field.

The more attention you give to the energy around you, the easier it becomes to navigate.

Always use your vibe to move the moment forward.

That’s the key to magnetism.

In Truth & Stardust,