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The power of sacred silence

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“silence is the language of god,
all else is poor translation.” – Rumi

Inhale deeply.

Now release it.

Be present in this moment.

Silence is powerful.  What do you hear in the silence?  Take a moment to breathe this in.  Don’t reach for it, let it come to you.

When is the last time you unplugged from everything.  Turn the phone off.  Turn off the computer. Take a breath, and have a seat.

What does silence sound like?

“Silence is an empty space, space is the home of the awakened mind.” – Buddha

There is power in silence.  We are able to take in more of the landscape. Life slows down a bit. We are able to bring awareness to the present moment.  We are able to arrive.

Silence allows us to be okay with the chaos of life.  It is the space between each in breath, and out breath.

Words are not always necessary to convey the message of our soul. The next time you are with a friend, a lover, a family member, or every a companion animal–sit with them in deep silence.  Take them in.  Look deep into their eyes.  Let the heart and soul speak through the language of silence.  You’ll be surprised at how much more of that individual you see.

Now do this in the mirror.  The silence allows us to see, and to be seen.

If you are finding that you are more in distraction throughout your day, than in connection… take a silence break. Go outside, touch the earth, feel the sky above you, breath it all in.  No reactions, just observe.  Stay with the breath, return to the breath if you need to. Be present.

You. Are. Loved. 

Michael Brazell

www.michaelbrazell.com

www.facebook.com/mbrazell

www.blogtalkradio.com/michaelbrazell

www.youtube.com/soulinteraction

Stepping into 2015: Release, Power, and Love

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As 2014 draws to a close, I feel the call to set some intentions for 2015.  2014 was a year of release for me.  My intuition and my soul have been taking me deeper into my life, and onto my path.  This has been a year of release.  In order to move forward we often have to let go of the anchors that keep us bound to a past that is no longer ours.  Detoxing the mind, the body, and spirit allow us to have clarity without it being through the lens of our past.  There are still things I am working on releasing, but I’ve learned never to rush this process.  Moving with grace and kindness allows for deeper growth to occur.  When we are able to take ownership and responsibility for our lives in profound ways.  What do you need to release as you move into 2015?  What lens of your past are you filtering your present through?

I realized that by taking responsibility of my past, I am able to stand in power.  Owning my difficult parts as well as my beautiful parts allow me to be whole.  Journaling has really helped me to gain perspective on my life.  If you are not journaling, i would recommend that you set the intention to make journaling a part of 2015.  Journaling is tangible.  The journal becomes the altar deep-breathto our soul.  Write down whatever makes you shine from the inside out.  I love to include quotes, prayers, passages from sacred texts, pictures, and things that inspire me.  By carrying my journal with me, I feed it my life-force.  I give it life.  The journal is a living extension of my being.

Love is powerful.  Learning to love through the chaos of existence has not always been the easiest of tasks.  I’ve had my share of challenges this year.  Relationships and friendships were challenged, some survived, and others did not. I’ve learned to hold the pain and the joy in the space of love.  Even with people leave my life, I’ve never put the out of my heart.  Learning to hold even our enemies in the light of love is powerful. It releases us from the binds they might have over us, and it lets us be whole.  Taking responsibility for our lives is empowering.  This allows us to forgive ourselves.  When we can offer forgiveness to our past, to those that have brought us the lessons, and to the current moment we are able to be liberated.

As I move into 2015, I am setting some clear intentions and goals.  I feel it is time to make a lot of changes.  Making a public declaration of these intentions allows me to hold myself accountable to them.  What intentions are you setting for the new year?  What goals are you going to try to manifest for the upcoming year? Write them down, put them in your journal, and carry them with you, take them out often and look at them, breath them in, and live them.

Here are my 2015 intentions:

  1. Its time to be a raw vegan.  I’ve done this in short spurts, but now it is time to make the transition.  Cleaning up my diet, my life, and my connection to the food I am putting into my body is necessary this year.
  2. 365 days of yoga and meditation.  I need to take my personal practice to a new level. I need to live my yoga this year in a new way.
  3. Finish my book.  I’ve stutter started and stopped this for way to long.  This is the year that the book comes to life.  Stay tuned.
  4. How I do my sessions is changing.  I am expanding and letting go.  Opening to new ways of doing things, and coming back to the reasons why I started this work in the first place.
  5. Im pulling back from social media.  I am making social media outlets a place to expand the soul, and open to deeper consciousness.  Rather than just sharing what others have done, I am going to make a conscious effort to transmit the words and works of my soul.
  6. Travel, travel, travel.  I am looking to make 2015 a year of getting out into the world to meet other seekers.  I want to visit ashrams, spiritual communities, and festivals.  Still planning things out, but as soon as things firm up, I’ll be posting them here.
  7. Youtube, blogtak, and this blog are going to blossoming this year.  I am going to engage my platform in new ways this year.  You’ll want to stay tuned.  I plan on doing weekly videos, weekly posts, and of course the radio show.  This is exciting and I look forward to brining this to all of you.
  8. 365 days of poetry.  The poet in me has been asleep for a while, and now I feel it’s time to process some of the life lessons through poetry.  I hope to release my chap book mid year.  I’ll be posting poems to this blog.

These are just a few of my intentions for the year.  There are others that are more personal, but these are just a few that I felt would be appropriate to share on this blog.  I’ve learned a lot about myself this past year, and I look forward to what 2015 brings.

What are your goals and intentions for 2015?

May you be blessed in light as you move forward.  May the light of your soul radiate like the sun.

You are loved. You are Beautiful. You are Divine.

Mike.

10 Ways to open to the current of your soul

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The soul is a powerful part of who we are.  It is the breath of God that breathes through us.  It is the voice that we hear in times of need.  It is the love that radiates from the limitless, into this sometimes limited space of existence.  Opening up to the current of your soul is a powerful way to help radiate light into all creation.  The more open we are to our soul, its guidance, and it’s presence the more able we will be to stay aligned with our life purpose.

There are many ways to connect to the Soul Current, so this list is by no means the end all be all, but having a place to jump-start the connection is always helpful.  The soul is always and in all ways with you.  It just takes a moment to connect.  Connecting to your soul allows you to engage your life, your health, your work situations, and life with greater clarity.  Take a few moments each day to consciously connect to your soul.  What messages does it have for you?

Here are a few of the ways to connect to your Soul Current:

  1. Slow down.  We are all moving so quickly these days.  We run through the day with barely any recollection of the important moments.  We extend ourselves so far out into the future, that we lose sight of what is right in front of us.  Take a moment to slow down, breathe, sit, and disconnect from the busy energy in your life for 15 min.
  2. Breathe.  The breath is our connection to the divine.  When we breath we are accepting an invitation to join the present.  To be present in our presence allows us to connect to the soul.  Conscious breathing nourishes us.  When we are present with the breath, we are present with the soul.
  3. Be kind.  Extend kindness in all directions.  When you are at the grocery store, say thank you to the person ringing up your groceries–use their names (they are wearing name tags for a reason).  Call a friend and tell them how much they mean to you.  Don’t forget to be kind to yourself.  We beat ourselves up all the time for silly things.  Take a breath, place your hand on your heart, and say “I Love You” to the beating heart.
  4. Journal.  The journal is the most powerful spiritual tool that we have.  It is a sacred space for us to have dialogue with our soul.  Making time each day to reflect on the various aspects of our life allow us to gain clarity.  In your journal you can write questions that you want to ask your soul.  You can write letters to God.  You can explore emotions and experiences that may be troubling you.  The journal is a great place for contemplation.
  5. Meditate. Meditation allows us to come into presence.  It allows for mindfulness and stillness, and in the stillness we can find our soul waiting for us.  There are many different ways to meditate, so I encourage you to explore and find what works best for you.  Inviting stillness into our mind, body and spirit allows us to slow down and rest in our presence.  An easy way to connect to your soul in meditation is to: sit, bring attention to the breath, and listen.
  6. Trust.  Learning to trust can be difficult. Many of us have been hurt at some point in our lives.  This causes us to lock down.  The pain is often a doorway that allows us to be softer, it allows us to learn more about who we are at the core of our being.  We often blame God or our intuition for taking us into the storm, but often we had the guidance to avoid the storm before we made the journey–hindsight is always 20/20.  Journaling and writing down the words of our soul help us to see the words, which in some cases helps us to trust it.  The more we engage our soul, the more we step into the current of our being.
  7. Move your body.  The body is the temple of the soul.  Moving the body allows us to bring all parts of self into communion with the soul.  We often store emotions in our body.  This can result in muscle pain and tightness.  Treat the body to exercise, massage, yoga or some other form of physical activity.  When we honor the temple, the soul is able to be more present.  Eating foods that nourish you is another way to keep the body’s energy clear and receptive.
  8. Read uplifting books. Read books that take you to a new level of consciousness. Take the information from what you read and apply it to your life.  I often see people get these really great spiritual books, but no one does any of the exercises.  Taking time to apply what you are learning to your life will help you become part of your evolution.  Reading about masters can offer insight into your own journey.
  9. Connect to community. You are not alone on the journey. Connect with like-minded individuals, join meetup groups, and if there isn’t anything in your area start something!  Connecting to community allows our soul to flower.  By opening up to the light of others, and by sharing our light, we raise the vibration of humanity.
  10. Love yourself unconditionally.  Learning to love yourself, without conditions, is the fullest expression of your soul’s light.  This is a hard step for many of us, but an important part of the journey.  Opening to a deeper sense of love, allows you to also become more receptive to a greater love from those around you.  Too often we shut ourselves down through judgement, through fear, or unresolved grief.  By doing many of the actions in this list, you are telling the soul that you are ready for a deeper connection to love.  Our soul is an expression of God’s love for us.  Place on hand on your heart, and the other on your solar plexus.  See the word LOVE in your mind’s eye. Inhale and align with LOVE. Exhale and expand LOVE.  Continue this cycle of intentional breath until you feel love moving through your being.

 

These are just a few ways that you can connect to your soul.  Opening up a little each day, and setting aside time to begin the process is all it takes.  The hardest part about spirituality and life is showing up.  Are you ready to show up to your journey?

 

You are Loved.  You are Beautiful.  You are Divine.

 

Michael Brazell

www.michaelbrazell.com

www.blogtalkradio.com/michaelbrazell

www.facebook.com/soulintuitive

The Gay Soul: Starting the Journey to Healing

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gay flagOver the past few weeks, my soul has been guiding me to direct energy and time to addressing many of the wounds in our community.  After meditating on this, I thought it would be great to begin a series of blog posts to address what I feel are topics that need attention in our community.  My soul has been nudging me, and here we begin the journey.  I thought I’d take a bit of time to address what this journey is going to look like, and some of the topics that I’ll be giving attention to.

 

There are deep wounds in our community.  Some of them are more overt, and many of them are subtle.  I hope that these posts will create dialog, and community conversation.  I am going to be addressing this a bit differently than I’ve seen in other blogs, books, and media.  Most of what I will be addressing will be channeled directly from my higher self.  I will post questions, and allow for the transmission of that information to be captured in the responses in these posts.  That being said, if you feel there are questions you’d like me to address in this blog, feel free to email them to me directly at Michael@michaelbrazell.com.

As a community we are making many changes, and those changes are happening at lightening speed.  Equality is at the forefront of many of our conversations and this is a beautiful thing.  As we move forward, we need to take a moment to address the deeper healing that is needed within ourselves and in our community at large.  We cannot let our move to gain acceptance cause us to lose that beautiful thing that makes us different.  Much of what I will address in these blog posts will pertain to men who love men.  I can only speak with honesty to the issues that I face as a gay man and the way that impacts my spiritual journey and vice versa.  This is not to minimize the fact that healing is needed in the other areas of LGBTQ culture, it is my hope that this series inspires others to also begin looking at their spiritual walks, and how those walks feed their spirituality as individuals and community.

I also intend to offer resources, and practical spiritual methods to address the various issues we come face to face with as men who love men.  Too often we get caught up in talking about our traumas, vices, and wounds without action steps to generate healing.  I am also going to offer book reviews, and resource lists to help move the conversation forward.

Some of the issues that I’ll be addressing in the coming weeks in relation to men who love men and our community:

  • shame
  • vulnerability
  • sex
  • homophobia
  • masculine and feminine polarities
  • community wounds and traumas
  • individual wounds and traumas
  • leadership
  • love

These are just a few topics, and my soul has been clear on the necessity of getting this information out.  I am also going to be starting an online discussion group to facilitate community dialog regarding the topics I’ll be addressing.  If you’d like to join the group, feel free to send me a message via facebook: www.facebook.com/soulintuitive

 

You are all Loved.  You are all Beautiful. You are all Divine!

 

Michael A. Brazell

www.michaelbrazell.com

 

Weekly Soul Update (9/29/2014)

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Every Monday I’ll be doing a Soul Update for the week.  These will give me a chance to update you on all the fun happenings.   Be sure to follow the blog!

– I am currently having issues with Blogtalk.  Soul Empowerment Radio is going to be on a brief hiatus.  I am currently exploring new platforms and other methods of putting information out into the universe.  I am going to be posting more blog posts and YouTube videos.  Be sure to keep checking back!

– I have openings this week for Soma Pi and Reiki Healing sessions.  These can be done remotely or in person.  I also have availability for Soul Empowerment Sessions.  I am going to be offering a weekend special this upcoming weekend on my FaceBook page, be sure to check it later this week!  You can schedule a session via my website:  www.michaelbrazell.com

-Starting this Friday I am gong to be starting a special series of blog posts addressing the Gay Soul.  My soul has been directing me to do specific dialog and healing work with members of the men who love men community.  During these blog posts I’ll address topics various topics that affect our community: shame, homophobia, community engagement, overculture pressure, relationships, and more.  I am also going to be creating a Facebook group that will allow us to discuss some of the topics I’ll be addressing in the blog series.  If you are interested in joining the conversation you can email me at: michael@michaelbrazell.com, or message me via my facebook page: www.facebook.com/soulintuitive

-Mercury retrograde is upon us (Oct 4th – Oct 25th)!  Stay centered and be prepared.  As the years have progressed, the intensity of astrological alignments have increased.  It is vital to have patience, to center, and to stay aligned with your soul mission.  Even if you feel that these astrological alignments do not impact you directly, they may impact those that you deal with.  Pay attention to communication, plan ahead, and be prepared.

-The ripples from the global events are impacting all of us.  Many of us may feel helpless as the world moves through its upheaval cycle.  You are much more powerful than you think.  This is a time for us to step into deeper places of service.  Shine your gifts out into the world.  Shine your soul’s light into the darkness.  Engage in prayer, meditate, activate your healing modalities, and stay informed!  Many of us turn away from the news of world events, but just because you ignore it, doe not mean that it will not impact you.  Do your research!  Do not take things at face value.  Dig deeper and ask questions.  As we move forward my intuition is directing me to share more information and solutions. Each week I’ll post an intuitive geopolitical update, but also action steps that we can take to help increase awareness, and decrease the impact of these actions on our lives.  We will also look at how we as individuals can increase the energy of light in the world.

Soul Message:

Beloved,  KNOW that you are loved.  This is a time of change and transition.  Many of you are feeling the impact that upheaval and change usually brings.  Know that these changes are bringing you an opportunity to come into greater presence.  Many of you seek to escape your situations, but this is not possible.  Coming into presence allows you to coming into alignment with the power of your soul.  Trust the deep inner knowing, the deep stillness, trust that even in the chaos the divine hand is holding you in grace.  Do not fear as movement begins, this is a time of initiation.  Trust the process that your intuition is offering you, it is able to give you solutions to the problems you are facing.   Remember how deeply you are loved, hold this at your heart, and live it.

 

As always—-

 

You are loved.  You are Beautiful.  You are Divine.

Michael Brazell

www.michaelbrazell.com 

 

The Power of Structure

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I love fluidity in my spiritual work, but I’ve noticed that I have been a little too loosey goosey with things as of late.  I’ve seen this in a lot of friends and clients as well.  In the past few weeks I’ve had a lot of time to self-reflect.  I’ve been able to dive a bit deeper into my personal experience to see what I need to do to get myself back on track, to go deeper.  When there is structure, there is foundation.  Today, I sat with my intuition.  It told me that I need to be a bit more structured in how I approach my personal spiritual work.  I have a military background, so structure and discipline are nothing new to me, but it can be a bit tough to step back into those waters, but I feel that it is necessary.

Today is a good day for building a new foundation.  The sky is a bit overcast, and the temperatures are starting to cool.  Sitting outside in nature allows me to see how everything is just moving at a beautiful rhythm and pace, it has a structure… not one that limits, but one that allows for the deepest expression.  Over the past few weeks I’ve seen myself slowing purging from my life the things that are no longer serving my highest intent and purpose. Friendships have changed, evolved or fallen away.  What I choose to give my attention to has also changed.  I do feel the deep call of distraction from time to time.  Too often we feed our distractions, because to feed our points of power means that we have to change completely.  Now that I am aware of those distractions I’ve started the process of removing them.  I’ve deleted unnecessary apps from my phone, am limiting my time on social media, and am doing a deeply structured fast this week.

Structure shouldn’t be looked at as punishment, but if we are just floating through our experience and not engaging a deeper sense of purpose, we need to take a look at that.  Everything has intention behind it.  Even when we choose to step out of our light, that carries intention, and that ripples through all of creation.  For me, structure allows me to be more powerful, it allows me to be fluid with purpose.  It also helps to eliminate fear.

Starting this week, I am making even more changes with how I work with spirit, but also in some of the direction I take with engaging the world and my soul community at large.  I’ve seen other amazing people stand deep in their truth, bringing new perspectives to light, and opening their inner awareness.. these individuals have inspired me to no longer hold back.  For a long time I’ve preferred not to rock the boat, but sometimes you have to rock it to clean off the barnacles.  Having structure also allows us to be okay with whatever happens when we take those steps onto a new phase of our journey.  The things I’m going to be bringing forward are going to be new for me to talk about, but are things that I and my Soul feel are important to start sharing.

What would having more structure look like to you?  Where do you need more structure in your spiritual life?  What can you do right now to move towards deeper connection and commitment?

 

You are Loved.  You are Beautiful.  You are Divine.

 

Mike

Breathing in… Breathing out

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deep-breathI‘ve been sitting in front of a blank screen trying to decide what to write.  Life has been interesting the past few weeks.  It seems that “loss” is theme that I’ve had to deal with.  Don’t get me wrong, nothing too tragic has happened, but the small losses remind us of the bigger ones we have faced in life, and remind us of life’s ever-changing landscape.  I’m also noticing that we are all more reactive than usual.  There are a lot of unusual astrological events occurring that are making us a bit wonky, but since I’m not an astrologer I’m not going to be going too deeply into those.   The world is also moving from crisis to crisis, and we are all trying to hold onto a bit of sanity.

I’m finding myself going a bit more inward, and am hearing my intuition telling me that things are going to balance out soon.  I’m finding that in order to move forward with clarity, that I’m having to let go a bit more… and not a superficial letting go, but letting go from the core… deeply releasing elements of my past so that I can stand present in my presence.  My journal has become my sidekick, tho even at times I resist visiting it.  When we go through lots of rapid change it challenges our identity.  We come a bit unglued.  We see whats really beneath the surface, and this gives us an opportunity to ask ourselves the tougher questions.. “who am I”..  “what is my calling”.. and “where am I going”

 

I believe that God in its infinite wisdom knows that if we are shown the final destination on the map, that we would run away screaming as if tho we were just lit on fire.  So, we get small snippets of grace.  We move into and out of alignment so that we can learn a little more about ourselves, about the universe and about the people in our lives.  Over the past few weeks I’ve learned a lot about myself and what I want to create with my path.  My life is in a state of evolution, and that means that more changes are on the horizon in regards to my work, what I will be offering the world, and what I will be doing.  I feel that I need more authenticity in my personal walk with God, and I feel that as this opening continues to happen that it will be for the best.  When we are called to service, we are called to respond from the very core of our being.  It requires brutal honestly, and deep vulnerability.  I think that too often we are afraid to step onto our paths for fear of what we will lose by taking those first timid steps… and the answer is: everything.

Each breath is an invitation for us to join life, to step a little more deeply onto the path in front of us.  We don’t have to know where we are going, but we do need to show up.  Showing up allows us to begin.  What keeps you from showing up?

I’m going to be more personal on this blog.  I am also going to be dong a lot more teaching centered work.  My goal is to empower others to stand in grace, to claim their power, and to create community.

Stay tuned for the changes.  🙂   I appreciate each and every person that reads and follows this blog.

You are Loved.  You are Beautiful. You are Divine.

 

I don’t need you in my life, I want you there

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relationshipsOver the years, I’ve done a LOT of relationship readings.  They are my least favorite type of reading to do.  I do feel that there is value in asking for guidance in our romantic connections, but many of the questions I am asked could be answered if couples learned to communicate more.  I’m going to share here a few insights that I have received through these sessions.  This it by no means a full list, but an invitation to take a look at your experience.  Each day, we are able to step more fully into our connections.  Not everyday is going to be wonderful, but there are things that we can to do connect, to be present and to love more deeply.

  • You should not “need” your partner in your life, you should “want” them there.  Too often we surrender out our personal power to our loved ones. We make them responsible for our happiness, our security, and sometimes a sense of self-worth.  When we need them as if they are the air we breath (which may sound romantic) we are placing a dangerous responsibility on them.  Wanting someone to be in your life with you is an invitation.  When you want to share that space of love and connection with them, you are allowing them to be who they are, and you are not making them a necessity, but a part of the tapestry.
  • Communication is vital.  To me, communication is as important as fidelity.  If you are not talking to the person you are sharing your life with, then you lose connection.  In the age of technology we often count our email, Face Book, or texts as communication, but sadly it is not.  E-communication is great for sending quick notes, reminders, etc.. but you should not have arguments, discuss big issues, or crisis using e-communication.  When you sit in the presence of your loved one, you are there with them.  When you show up to communication offer them your full attention. Life is full of distractions, don’t invite them into your relationship.  Set aside time where you talk about your dreams, your ideas, your needs, your desires, your fears, issues within the relationship, things you are grateful for, etc.  Allow communication to be something that is ALWAYS welcomed.   When there is an open invitation to talk to one another, and it is actively engaged, true growth is able to happen.
  • Love unconditionally.  Too often I see clients comparing and contrasting current relationships with old relationships.  Let the person you are with be who they are.  We all have broken pieces.  We all have baggage.  Of course we have to respect our personal boundaries in a relationship, and if communication is open and active discussion about such things becomes possible.  Love the person you are with by truly being there with them.  Don’t just put your cell phones aside, turn them off.  Keep some memories for yourself. Don’t live your relationships online, live it in the world.
  • Be spontaneous.  Life is too short to not have adventure and play.  Stagnation brings negativity.  Shake things up a bit, show the person you are with that you love them.  Leave notes for them around the house, leave a list in their pocket telling them how grateful you are for them, play board games, have great sex, don’t plan life out so much, leave room for play.
  • Relationships end.  “Till death do us part” still means that at some point it is going to end.  Too often we forget how finite time is.  We are not guaranteed any tomorrows,  or even our next breath.  I do say this so that you will live in fear, but more so that you will live in gratitude. At the end of a relationship we often regret not talking things out more clearly, we regret not being more spontaneous, we regret not showing up for fully.  The realization that death exists allows us to be more purposeful with our time.  Say I love you more.  Hold your lovers hand.  Kiss them frequently.  Look into their eyes and really see them, breathe in each moment fully.  If/when it does end, you’ll have countless beautiful memories to look back on in gratitude instead of regret.

 

I still do relationship readings if necessary.  I will usually only answer questions that will help my client improve themselves within the framework for the relationship.  Taking responsibility for who YOU are allows you to show up more fully, to be more present, and to love more fully.

 

You can also join me this Thursday on Soul Empowerment Radio (8/147/2014) as I take this conversation a bit deeper.  If you are reading this beyond the show’s air date, all the shows are archived so you can still listen in.

 

You are Loved.  You are Beautiful.  You are Divine.

 

Michael A. Brazell

www.michaelbrazell.com

www.facebook.com/soulintuitive

www.blogtalkradio.com/michaelbrazell

michael@michaelbrazell.com

 

 

 

Technology… The Good, The Bad, and What do we do when it Disappears

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So, I’ve been combing through a bunch of my old blogs…  many are no longer active, but there are still some nuggets and gems.  One of the things I’ve found myself doing is going back and looking at my spiritual foundations.  I’ll be re-posting some of the nuggets here.  🙂

Originally posted November 4th, 2009

 

payphone

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(This is a payphone, in case you’ve forgotten what they look like)

We live in a time where at the blink of an eye we can communicate with everyone we’ve ever met. With the click of one button, the world can know where I am, what I am doing, and what all of my likes and dislikes are. The big question is: how much of ourselves are we going to give away to the technological world. With every application in the world available at a tap, we get further away from connecting to one another. I can remember a time where people actually walked up to one another and said “Hi, my name is….”, now the first question is: “Do you have Facebook, myspace or twitter?”

We have become so reliant on these little gadgets and devices. I noticed a funny icon on my phone the other day. It asked me if it wasOK that Google collected information on my searches, location, etc so that it could provide better quality as far as searches. Google (and many cell phone providers) have been known to collect and build profiles on users–and more along the Big Brother lines than helping me find the best vegan pizza joint in town. We really have to be careful where we give away our information, we have to use our intuition to decide if it is necessary to venture down these techno highways. They are great for the service they provide… but, does anyone remember how to use a map or even know what an Atlas is? GPS has stolen away the necessity to learn how to read basic maps, we can even have our books read to us by our IPODs, there are programs that slow brainwaves down for meditation, there are neat applications that just suck us right into a world of dependence.

Last night it seems that TMOBILE also crashed. I can still remember how angry I was getting that I could not check my email, send a text, or make a call. I also then realized how attached I was to this phone. It was a wake call… pun intended.

What do we do if all this technology disappears tomorrow? Do you know the actual phone number of the 3 top people you call the most? With a click of a button, a call is made. If I had to walk up to a payphone, I am sure that my speed dial or top 5 will not be programmed in (pay phone? What in the world is that?).

Take time each day to put away the techno-toys. Detach completely. Go a day without using them, detach from email. Send a letter (pen and paper) to a friend. Go a day without texting. Write down all the important numbers in your phone. Ask yourself “If there were no way of using electronic means of communication, what would I do?” This is an extremely valid question, and its another insight that popped up during the TMOBILE outage. I’ve been fortunate to have been introduced to a telepathy technique which is very effective. We have to look outside of ourselves and the techno boxes we’ve put ourselves into.

Much love to you all,

Mike Brazell

xoxo

Monday Reflections: Own this moment fully

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Life is a constant ebb and flow.  It is movement.  Sometimes we get smashed across the rocks, and sometimes we land on the shore with ease and grace.  I hear a lot of people getting stuck in the “why me” mode of thinking.  Then binding to the moment as if it will never end.  When we take ownership of the struggle as much as we take ownership of the joy, we open a door to the experience.  We are not longer distancing, or holding onto.. but acknowledging what is happening.  Sometimes when we are eating, the food goes “down the wrong pipe”… we panic, grab for our water, slow our breathing, and calm begins to present itself.  Life is like that at times.  We struggle, but calm follows the storm.  We have to be careful to not bind to victimization.  We have the power to move through our situations, and this process opens up when we learn to trust our intuition.  When we are able to take a step forward into the struggle we are able to move through it.  We also have to be careful how tightly we hold to joy.  Holding onto joy can often ignite comparison.  “That cupcake is the absolute best cupcake in the world, it brought me so much joy… no other cupcake will ever compare”.  We do this in relationships, situations, and even in friendships.  This robs the moment of presence and binds us to the past.  It is important to acknowledge those moments that have built us into who we are, but we can’t hold so tightly that we do not allow new experiences to be experienced fully.  If we were to hold onto the love of our lives, who may now be an ex, and then do not let anyone else have access to our hearts or compare all those that enter into our lives as less than.. we are denying ourselves the beauty of a new experience.

Take this moment to offer thanks to the joy and the struggle.  Each are teachers that will present themselves to us, how long we stay with them is often up to us.

And remember You are loved.  You are Beautiful. You are Divine.

 

Mike