Is Free Will An Illusion?

Years ago, a friend came over to my house and, as was our custom, we were playing around with a deck of my fortune-telling cards. When I looked at the cards she had chosen, I saw that she was about to experience some ill health. Nothing serious, probably a bad cold or something. I immediately gave her one of my Emergen-C packets and a couple of Wellness Formula tablets, in order to boost her immunity.
I asked her to draw cards again, and all the cards that were indicating health problems disappeared. We successfully altered her future for the better. She never did catch that cold!

More recently, I had the opportunity to interview the amazing and fascinating Dr. Manjir Samanta-Laughton. Dr. Manjir has made great discoveries regarding explaining how science and spirituality actually blend, and has been able to explain the actual meaning of black holes and their connection to our concept of time. In short, according to her (and many spiritual teachers & scientists), time does not really exist. We are experiencing a multitude of timelines all at once.
I told Dr. Manjir about my experience with my friend and how we helped her avoid catching that cold. She told me that we never really changed anything, and that everything that happened was already written into the timeline. We were supposed to see the “health prediction” in the cards and then avert that problem. Somehow it was meant to happen that way. It was a learning experience for us.

So… what is the point? Why would anyone bother to make an effort to do anything?
I thought a lot about this, and I think I understand how this works.

I think that we can alter our future (even major events), as long our higher self agrees to it. I believe that we have certain agreements and contracts to fulfill, and some of those agreements are pretty important to us.
When we successfully change something significant in our lives, I think we create another timeline and create a split.

What can we do now to change and improve our experience here in this reality?
To change and improve our lives for the better now, it is really helpful to look at world’s oldest cultures and their teachings. Certain mantras hold a lot of power to shift the energy and the vibration around you, which will alter your reality. Certain physical movements, like a chakra yoga practice, will also shift your energy and change your future. The condition of your chakras affects everything in your life – from health and vitality, to relationships and financial success.
Most importantly, to experience lasting changes, you must build up some good karma! Good deeds, service, and donations can create dramatic & positive changes in your life (and future lives!).