Spiritually Fit: Simple workout routine (Playing Cards)

May 14, 2014 / soulinteraction / Leave a comment

The challenge for many people when it comes to getting into a fitness lifestyle is that it can be pretty overwhelming when we start on the journey. There are so many options on where to begin that it is easy to freeze in place rather than move forward. So, I thought it would be great to periodically post some of my personal workout routines and tips that keep me moving towards health and fitness. I go to the gym, and I love it. I love the environment, I love having access to equipment that I normally would not if I was at home, and I also realize that the gym is not for everyone. The difficulty with at home training is that it requires a bit more motivation to get up and do the workout. The idea is to keep your home training as simple as possible, but to also make it fun. “Working out” should be all work. It is a chance to dive into the sacred temple that is your body.

For this routine all you need is a deck of playing cards.

If it is a new deck you want to be sure to shuffle it up pretty good. If you want a longer workout you can take two decks and combine them into one massive stack.

The next thing that you will need to do is assign an exercise to each suit:

clubs= push-ups
hearts= sit-ups
spades=squats
diamonds=diamond push-ups
non suit cards= 30 second rest

You can really use any combination of exercises that works for your level of fitness and enjoyment. I recommend staying with your choices for about a week or so, and then switching to another exercise for each suit.

Now the fun part. Place the deck face down, draw a card, and you are going to do the exercise for that suit and your rep count will be whatever number is on the card.

Using the above example: If you draw the 10 of clubs, you will do 10 push-ups. If you draw a face card, or an ace you can call these “11” , and aces can be “1” rep… or you can assign your own numbers to those cards.

This is a fun way to dive into a home routine. The exercises cycle through, and it becomes a randomized circuit training session. You can pause however long you want between each card draw. If you are just starting out I’d recommend giving it 45-60 seconds between cards, more advanced can do 15-30 seconds between the draw.

I feel that engaging the body is as important as engaging spirit. When we are able to connect to the body, achieve greater states of health and well-being, we are allowing for greater alignment in all areas of life.

Before starting any workout routine, be sure to check with your doctor. Do what you can, and remember it is not a competition. It is you getting in touch with you. Keep a journal of your progress and how you are feeling before and after you workouts. You can do this 3-5 days a week and you don’t have to cycle through the entire deck in one sitting. I use to do 1/2 the deck in the morning, and the other 1/2 in the evening. Have fun with fitness!

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

Mike Brazell CFT CSN MAT PAT

www.michaelbrazell.com

michael@michaelbrazell.com

Soul Interaction Weekly Update 4/28/2014

April 28, 2014 / soulinteraction / 1 Comment

“Today I stand in Power and Presence. I am whole.”

Good morning!

Today let’s make the commitment to commit to our lives more fully. Stand in your power. Stand in your presence. When is the last time you truly focused on the act of breathing? Take a moment now to just breath. Bring your hand to your chest. Feel your heartbeat. Feel the rise and fall of your body as you inhale and exhale. Be with the breath. This is the essence of standing in presence and power. Do this a few times a day. This is a very simple act of “in the moment” meditation that you can do.

Here are some updates and announcements for the week:

I’m offering discounted sessions this week! Here are a run down of the prices:

This week all readings will be offered at a discount! So if you want to schedule a reading, drop me a line and we can set it up.

These prices are only valid through 5/3/2014

15 min session 45.00 (25.00)
30 min session 70.00 (35.00)
45 min session 90.00 (45.00)
60 min session 110.00 (90.00)
75 min session 130.00 (110.00)
90 min session 150.00 (125.00)

All distance healing session with email or phone followup 50.00 (25.00)

Email readings will be donation only

You do not have to book the session right away. As long as you purchase the reading while in the window for the reduced rates, you’ll have up to 30 days to schedule your session. This is a great opportunity to get in a session, gain some direction and step more fully into your soul purpose.

BlogTalk Radio Schedule for the Week:

Monday 4/28 11pm EST- Let’s talk meditation and Free on air mini soul sessions

Tuesday 4/29 11pm EST- Soul Meditation (30min Live Guided meditation)

If you haven’t like my Facebook page yet you should! Here are my social media links so you can stay in touch and follow along on my Soul Adventures.

http://www.facebook.com/soulintuitive

http://www.instagram.com/mikebrazell

http://www.youtube.com/soulinteraction (I’m in the process now of getting some videos up and running. Def be sure that you subscribe)

http://www.twitter.com/mikebrazell

That’s it for now! I hope you all have a beautiful week. I’ll be posting more blogs through the week. Be sure to share the blog, comment, tune in and be part of this expanding soul community!

You are Love. You are Beautiful. You are Divine.

Namaste.

Mike-

The Cleanse: Hitting the Spiritual Reset Button

March 27, 2014 / soulinteraction / Leave a comment

I want to start off this post by saying that the cleanse I am posting here is my journey. Some of you may like it, others may not. I only share it because we can all learn from each others trip along the soul highway. I often find myself called to do a cleanse when I feel it is time to do a reset. My spirituality is my life, my profession, and my passion. Having come through a big transition, I feel that I am still carrying some old resistance, habits, and patterns. Doing deep, and honest self inquiry allows us to go into a cleanse with clear intention. I am also feeling that things are shifting for me spiritually. I am starting to work deeper in the intuitive space, communing with my guides, my angels, and higher vibration beings. When engaging these higher energies, I find it of value to detox and purify the body as much as possible. It is also important to have a plan of action in place for going into your cleanse. This helps keep you focused and aligned with your intention. I am hoping to do a daily video post for this as well, and you can check out my YouTube page here. If I do the videos I’ll also try to post them here as well.

So, for this cleanse and detox I am starting with 10 days. I am starting with a 3 day master cleanse and then going into 7 days of water only. Each water day is going to be dedicated to a particular chakra. I bought 7 jugs of distilled water. On each of the jugs I am going to draw the sacred symbols associated with each chakra, and will charge the water by chanting/toning the chakra sounds into the water. I also have some wonderful chakra incense that I’ll be using for my morning meditations. This cleanse is a bit more intensive than other things I have done in the past, but I feel that this is what I need to do right now to clear out some stagnation. I am also structuring my reading time, online time, and yoga practice to support this adventure. I’ll end the 10 days by doing 3 days of green/raw protein shakes, and I’ll allow my intuition to tell me what comes after that. I am cutting gluten, sugar, soy, and processed foods out of my diet moving forward. I have been receiving a lot of clear messages from my guides to start doing this, so I am.

When stepping off the ledge and into something like a cleanse, or detox be sure that you allow yourself time to prepare to go into it, but also be kind and gentle with yourself as you exit the cycle. The most important part of a cleanse is your journal. What emotions are coming up? What body reactions are you having to the cleanse? Write down your weight at the start, and track it throughout to be sure you are not losing too quickly. What are your dreams telling you during this time? I find that a cleanse usually brings up much more than our dependence on certain foods and additives. Remember also, that cleanses and detoxes do not need to be food centered. Taking a break from the computer, TV, the bar scene, clubs, or even pulling away from certain people might be a good thing.

For me, this is also a chance to reset parts of my life. To come back to center, to bring my power home. I do lots of energy work, self-healing, self-reflection, readings on myself, and this allows me to also be of service to my clients, friends, and soul family. It also allows me to work more closely with this new and wonderful energy that is coming in. I’ve had a lot of resistance stepping more deeply onto my path, and this process helps to clear away some of that muck. I am also going to be working on cleansing and balancing the energies in my physical space. Lots of work ahead, and lots of great things that I’ll be sharing here in the next few days.

What in you is calling you forward? What in you needs to be cleansed right now? Are you able to pause now for a moment, and bring awareness to that area of your being?

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

Mike Brazell CFT CSN MAT PAT

www.michaelbrazell.com

www.yogawitch.com

www.facebook.com/soulintutive

www.blogtalkradio.com/michaelbrazell

It is Time to Wake Up.

February 22, 2013February 22, 2013 / soulinteraction / Leave a comment

The time to wake up is now.

I recently received an email from my wonderful teacher and spiritual mother Susan Zummo and this was what the text in the email said:

More changes and movement taking place. Viewed as isolated events they have little meaning. When you connect the dots, as look at these events as a series of symptoms, it’s easy to see that we are in the middle of a transition period.

Don’t be afraid and hide in the ignorance is bliss model. Be prepared to help others if something happens where you live.
It’s foolish to pretend these things could never happen near us, when we can see that they are happening every day with greater frequency.

Preparation, faith and service to others eliminate fear and doubt.

At first I sat with this, and then decided to take this deeper into meditation. I know that I personally have been going through this world only giving partial attention to the events moving around me. I move through my spiritual paradigm and do the practice, do the healing, do the work, read books and do my writing. I go to work, teach my yoga, and work with my clients. All along there is a vast world that is moving around me. There are forces that are at work that do not have our best interest in mind. There are movements of love and light, but there are also those that walk in the shadows. Recently a good friend of mine turned me on to Alex Jones and a show called Infowars. I’ve tuned into this show in the past. I’ve also tuned into David Icke, and David Wilcock and have in the past appreciated the information they give regarding the hidden world around us. I think too often in the New Age paradigm we get too caught up in our processes and our own illusions to want to see the world around us. The Old Age paradigms are also not immune to this. We get caught up in celebrating the seasons and the earth, but do not see (or care to see) what is happening in this world. I think that often we use our spirituality to escape reality, and we need to shift that–We need to bring our spirituality into our reality. I am not one for conspiracy theories, but there are things that are happening in this reality that we can no longer ignore.

Of course each of the people I mentioned above go deep into their own paradigms. Everyone has an agenda, but we have to start tuning in. Ignorance is NOT bliss. We might not want to turn on our televisions, listen to the news, or tune into this third dimensional space, but you’re not turning on the TV does not stop the world from moving. If you do not know about the disaster how will you activate and send your prayers and healing? If you are not aware of the laws and governmental changes that could impact you negatively how can you effectively use your protection and grounding work? I feel we have a duty as psychic, channels, intuitives witches, and people living this beautiful experience to be aware of how this world is moving, and our place in it. Politics, government, conspiracy, etc can be heavy to sift through. Using discernment is a lost art that is becoming new again. Are you getting caught in the illusion of the distractions around you? How much time do we spend on Facebook? How often to we each foods that damage us?

I know I’m ranting a bit, but I feel that it is time for us to wake up. One of the big things I saw coming into this year was a sense of complacency. People felt things were getting easy at the onset of the year, and in some ways this was true. What I saw in the New Year’s eve psychic fair was that we were being given a reprieve. 2012 for many was difficult. It was not an easy year, and for many it was filled with much upheaval. January hit, and things seemed lighter. I warned many of my clients, students and friends to not get caught in the trap of complacency. Stay with your spiritual practices, reconnect and recommit to them, evolve your connection to spirit, but stay the course. We can easily get caught in the glamour of our own experience. As February opened, so did the chaos that was behind the curtain. Just like ignoring the news does not make it go away, ignoring our shadows do not make them go away.

This part of Susan’s email really struck a chord:

“More changes and movement taking place. Viewed as isolated events they have little meaning. When you connect the dots, as look at these events as a series of symptoms, it’s easy to see that we are in the middle of a transition period.”

I’ve been contemplating where my path is moving, and what I am being called to do. As I tune into these various news and information sources I am hearing each of them holding pieces to a bigger picture. I am going to start bringing together, and bringing forward information. I am going to be starting a new blog soon for this purpose. I am going to comb through different sources, pull videos, review documentaries, and offer my own intuitive connection to the information. One of the thing I often see is a lot of information about how the government is doing x,y,z and how we are screwed… or, this is a holographic space and xyz… The aliens are coming and xyz, Nutrition is killing us and xyz…

We get glimpses of truth, but the distractions grab us and we get lost in our own illusions. This is how it is designed. I cannot count how many times this year I have heard “I feel like something big is going to happen soon”… Just like the birds know before the storm, we too have an intuition that is activating and sounding the alarm.

I’ve started making personal changes to my nutrition, my spiritual practice and how I am gathering information. I’ll be posting on this in the near future. It is time for us to open our eyes to this reality, how else are we to create the changes we want?

I am also going to be setting up an email address for submissions, guest posts, and am going to be dedicating a night/couple nights a week to a radio show to bring the discussion to a live and archived format. I think it is the activist in me awakening again. It is frustrating seeing so many people not in realization of their birth right…. to be Gods, Goddesses, to stand in their power.

I’ve been contemplating this over the past few days and have been researching directions and what I want to do with this. I’ll still be posting here and to my yogawitch.com page.

The new website/blog is going to focus on:

new science/consciousness
spiritual nutrition/engaging the physical body
local/national/global/cosmic news and updates on items of interest
local/national/global/cosmic weather events
research/experimentation/and integration of practical spirituality
conspiracy discussions
actions to help you open to reality and to create changes
bringing forward information from various websites that I feel helpful to readers and listeners.
local/national/global/cosmic politics
channeled information
prophetic information and predictions from different sources
book and documentary reviews

I am going to cover topics that will not be popular, and I am not going to be pushing a viewpoint. I hope that by presenting information in a unified way that we can start getting a look at the big picture. It is also my hope that we can engage in discussion that will help us to peel back the layers of this onion. We might shed a few tears in the process, but the soup tastes better for it.

I’ve also been receiving some interesting channeled downloads and dreams that I will be offering on this new site. I am also going to be teaching developmental on-line workshops to help connect those interested to their intuition, nutrition, and body mechanics.

I am also going to be inviting psychics, channels, mediums, witches, healers, yogis, and spiritual practitioners to offer opinions, thoughts and perspectives, debate, and to guest post.

I did not expect to write so much, but spirit compelled me to do so. It is time to connect the dots, to live in our purpose and stand in our power.

If you want to help with this project feel free to email me: michael@michaelbrazell.com

Thank you for taking the time to listen, to share and to be on this journey with me.

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

Michael A. Brazell CFT CSN MAT PAT

www.michaelbrazell.com

www.yogawitch.com

www.blogtalkradio.com/michaelbrazell

www.facebook.com/yogawitch

Mastering the Master Cleanse

October 11, 2012 / soulinteraction / Leave a comment

Ahhh.. delicious… Lemons, cayenne pepper, molasses and water.

This is the basis for the Master Cleanse. I’m not going to go into a bunch of history on why this cleanse is in existence, but I will share my own personal dealing with it so that you can have a new perspective on an old technique.

The energy this year has been heavy and in many ways chaotic. Many of us are feeling this shifting force hitting us in magnitude. We are experience a variety of new emotions, changes (both external and internal), and energies as we align with our higher purpose. Taking charge of what we are putting into our bodies is vital as we come into this new alignment.

The Master Cleanse is an easy reset button. Sometimes we come to a point where we know we are not in alignment. We’ve reached out for the wrong foods, or we might be more aware of the foods that are limiting us. I do not however follow the traditional mixture. I have found a concoction that works for me, and it does the trick.

I usually get one of the large bottles (1.5L) of smart water or Whole Foods Brand H2O. I use 3 Lemons, and I prefer agave nectar over molasses. Molasses costs a lot more, and agave nectar has a bit few calories and sugar. I do a couple of pinches of cayenne pepper, and Ta-Da a delicious drink for the day. I get up early so that I have time to make my drink, and it typically lasts me through the day.

Leading up to “Lemonade Only”
So, being the realist that I am, I know that if I jump straight into the mixture on its own right away that I’ll throw my body into “Craving every piece of cake in a 50 mile radius” mode. I typically do not change my diet for a few days, but add the lemonade mixture. This gives your stomach a chance to get use to the pepper and lemons, and it also provides a mild detox. The idea is also introduced into your consciousness that a cleanse is on the way. It’s like buying the cleaning supplies and keeping them in your messy room. I usually do this for a couple of days, and then slowly begin cutting out different food items, until it’s just me and the lemonade.

I typically do the cleanse for 3-7 days, and the go into a raw food eating mode for about a week (or longer). Set a timeline that you know will work for you.

Set an intention for your cleanse.

“As I take in this cleansing liquid so does clarity flow through me”.

Personalize the cleanse and make it yours. Allow yourself to be fluid with it. If you feel like doing the lemonade along with raw foods– Great. If you feel like just adding the lemonade and changing nothing–Great. The idea here is that you are also including the intention that you are cleansing. Cleaning happens and a multitude of levels.

Just a quick breakdown of the ingredients. You want to use purified water if possible. The agave nectar gives you calories to burn. The cayenne pepper ups your metabolism and immune system, and the lemons are great cleansers. Lemon is a natural diuretic, which will help you flush your system

I recommend light activity during the cleansing cycle. Yoga is a perfect match for the master cleanse. Yoga allows you to dive deep into the muscles and joints to facilitate release of toxins and limitations.

Trust yourself, and give the body what it needs. If you need calories, eat. If you need to modify, modify.

Have fun with the cleanse, open up to intention, and share the journey with those around you.
Michael A. Brazell CFT CSN MAT PAT

www.michaelbrazell.com

www.blogtalkradio.com/michaelbrazell

Michael@michaelbrazell.com

The Pagan obesity discussion… and debate

July 19, 2012 / soulinteraction / Leave a comment

The interwebs is alive with discussion regarding obesity and the nature of it being a taboo topic within pagan circles. Peter Dybing recently posted an article on his blog Pagan in Paradise regarding this oh-so-taboo of topics. I applaud Peter for taking a step in creating space to have a discussion regarding health within out spiritual communities.

To start off, Obesity is not a “body image issue”, it is a health issue. Many have lashed out with the thought that this is going to create polarization within the community, that judgment will occur due to body size, etc. Rather than taking this as an opportunity to discuss creating positive change for health within our pagan circles, we have taken it as an opportunity to attack and tear down each other… see anything hypocritical about this?

Obesity is a global issue, to think that we as magical culture are exempt from the issues that plague society is a narrowing viewpoint. What I do feel however is that we as a magical community have the power to effect change globally by taking a deeper acceptance of where we are in our pursuit of health.

Before the attacks begin, let me give you a bit of my back story:

I have been on a yo-yo existence with my weight ever since childhood. I was healthy, but I did not feel satisfied with the extra weight. Weight even now, is a struggle. I’ve also had the opportunity to see this issue from multiple perspectives. I am a certified personal trainer, nutritionist, and yoga instructor. I am vegan. I’ve worked for PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), and have worked in gyms and studios across the east coast. It was also my responsibility while in the Navy to be a fitness instructor for the Special Warfare candidates. I have competed in bodybuilding competitions and I have also suffered through struggles with being overweight.

There is a reason why the fitness industry makes over 8 billion dollars a year, and an its the same reason that the pharmaceutical industry makes even more… we surrender our power away to others rather than taking responsibility for where we are.

If we look at the body as a temple. The soul as the energy that moves through us, it is important for us to improve that temple by whatever means necessary.

Now, lets step this away from a body image issue. This is not about body image… again, let me stay… this is NOT about body image.

The problem that I have seem as a fitness professional that is also a member of greater spiritual community is surrender to non-health. I think that we should absolutely love ourselves no matter what size we are… big, small, and everything in between… However I do not agree with surrendering to poor states of health, poor habits, and poor lifestyle choices.

As members of spiritual community we have a responsibility to our divine work to be part of this experience for as long as possible. We cannot use our spirituality as a shield to the reality we face as a community. Obesity as a health issue is an epidemic. We can pull facts, stats, etc and we can argue both directions. We begin feeding into a greater illusion that being overweight does not have a damaging effect on the body. Carrying excess weight not only puts excess stress on the joints, spine, and hormonal system, but it may limit how we engage the world around us. I agree, greater society does at time make this more about body image than health… why are we feeding into this same illusion? Are we, as spiritual individuals not able to see through this to the core of what we are supposed to be engaging?

Each of us holds weight differently. Each of us has a unique beauty.

This is an opportunity for us to have dialogue to create opportunities to engage health in a new and fun way. Locally we have monthly Pagan Centered Fitness gatherings.

Having these discussions are moments for us to engage in expansion instead of limitation. We are a spiritual family, and it our responsibility to reach out with compassion and acceptance. Size is not always an indicator of health, but by the same token, size does add some restriction especially when it is coupled with poor eating, lifestyle, and fitness habits.

Where are you within your body now?

What changes would you like to make to improve overall health and well-being?

How do you feel in this moment?

Where are you giving power away in regards to food?

***This last question is one way we can bring the spiritual aspects into how we relate to food. Food is a powerful way for us to connect as community. It brings us together. Does our spread reflect healthy connections to food? Do we surrender to certain foods because of emotional attachments?

I am going to do a series of posts on this topic, as I feel this needs to be an ongoing discussion. Perhaps we can even facilitate an open discussion on conference call to bring actual voices to this issue.

If we don’t talk about issues of health, how are we supposed to engage our communities towards positive evolution?

Michael Brazell, CFT CSN MAT PAT

Coming into alignment with my life: Fasting, Contemplation, and Yoga

July 19, 2012July 19, 2012 / soulinteraction / Leave a comment

Today I kicked off a new direction. A new re-engagement of my path. I am choosing to live a more whole-hearted existence. Even as someone that engages a more direct spiritual path, I sometimes find myself at odds with what I truly want from life and from my path. I feel at times we really get caught in the actions of giving, and we do not take time for receiving. I am now going into a place of balance.

When I feel the world around in flux, I move into the internal landscapes. I am about to engage on a new path, and its time to cleanse and take responsibility for all that is in my life.

So it begins. I am starting a 40 day (maybe longer) fast. Now, to some this sounds like an impossibility and/or perhaps a bit loony. Well, of course! Taking full ownership of what we put into our bodies is a radical idea. Food is a source of power and potential. Its is energy. It gives us fuel, but we often surrender power away to our food choices.

When I engage in a fast, I go hardcore. So here are my eating parameters:

I am only drinking water
I am only eating simple non-processed raw foods
I am only going to purchase foods with minimal/no packaging
I will eat a balance of carbohydrates/fats/proteins
I will be kind to myself and those around me while in the detox phase of this dietary transition.

Ok, so why line number 5? Well, I am starting this in the middle of a Mercury and Uranus retrograde, after being bombarded by solar flares… So, I have to be sure that I am kind to myself, but more so those around me. When we detox the body starts to purge away toxins stored in the organs, the muscles and fatty tissues. This can make us initially feel sluggish, weak, and for lack of a scientific term.. BLAH. We tend to lash out at those that are closest to us in these times, so we have to watch where our actions may be taking us within this space of cleanse.

**Also a special note to loved ones of those engaging in a fast/cleanse: Be kind to those engaging in this spiritual pursuit. It’s not easy aligning the body, mind, and spirit through relinquishment of our favorite food stuffs. Don’t tempt us away from the journey by offering us things that are not in alignment with our goals, support us in our journey towards alignment, and be part of the process through actions of love.

Along with the food parameters I am also adding some lifestyle changes that to this process, as well as some daily tasking that I am to take on:

I am going to do 1 creative thing a day. Draw, paint, write a poem, sketch, write a story, etc. I’ll be posting those on this blog.
I am to reduce my ecological footprint as much as possible. (I’ll discuss this in a bit)
I am to reduce the amount of stuff that I am holding onto. This is to include clothing, books, ritual items, etc that is no longer serving me towards my goals of alignment.
I am to live a more simple life. In action and words. (more on this in a few)
I am to hand make one or two outfits by hand (this is something I’ve always wanted to do.. I’m going very yogaish… and this is gearing me up towards creating the clothing line for the website launch).
I am only to travel with minimal stuff. I tend to overpack, and carry too much. I love my books, and instead of taking 4 books with me on one single journey.. I’m making a resolution to take each book I pick up from start to finish.
Daily personal yoga practice/meditation/contemplation of sacred text
I am to start my day at 4:30 am daily to make full time for spiritual practice.

This sounds like a lot, but it really is just about coming into alignment on a deeper level with a lot of things that are currently in my experience.

I am also taking this time to engage a higher level of responsibility for the world around me. I’m reading a pretty amazing book called: “Radical Simplicity by Jim Merkel”. The book helps takes you through a process of acknowledging what your eco footprint is and how you can start to reduce that by leaps and bounds.

I am also taking this time to journal more. To engage introspection on a deeper level. Daily readings, predictions, channeling and being in spirits energy.

I am also moving towards aligning myself with my community more, which is another reason for the new website. This will have its own post soon, and its going to be pretty amazing.. so stay tuned!

I am also going to move towards living my yoga completely. I at one point thought about the possibility of taking my initiated yoga name as my legal name, I’ve been in contemplation of this for a few days now… I am going to realign with that name energetically as I feel it helps me to integrate my spiritual self into my mundane life.

There are a few of you that have expressed coming on this journey with me. This is a great time for alignment. Fasting, centering, and breathing are great ways to begin this process.

What are you willing to part with, and for how long? Fasting can take many forms, and not always food. You can fast from Facebook, talking, sugar, coffee, etc. The idea is to regain your power, to hold onto center and to be in alignment with what you want from this experience.

Set a time limit, and remember–there is no failure. We start, and then we stop. If we stop before we reach the finish line, it gives us a chance to see where we still may be in limitation… this will allow you to come into alignment with actions of expansion. When we are aware of where we are, we have the power to move forward.

I am also going to be more cautious with the things that I say. So, if I appear quiet, it is not that something is wrong, or that I am upset, or that I am ignoring you. It is me, absorbing the beauty of each experience, and then reaching out through that energy with words that are filled with spirit instead of just reacting and giving power to things that do not deserve it.

There are lots of positive changes just on the horizon. What are you doing to engage your path? What are you doing to be more in the body?

Stay tuned, much, much more to come!

Mahayogi Das, CFT CSN MAT PAT

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/michaelbrazell

The Changing Face of Spirituality

June 14, 2012June 14, 2012 / soulinteraction / Leave a comment

One of the beautiful things about my job is that I get a front row seat to the world of spirituality. Managing a book store gives me access to not only what is entering the world, but what people are seeking.

“I’m spiritual, just not religious” is a common phase that is tossed around a lot these days. I am seeing more and more people coming into a greater state of alignment with their own vibrations and this is causing them to question old patterns, ideas, and concepts. Questioning the world around us is powerful. It is common ground that we can all reside in. The beauty of life is all the unknown. Even in debate and disagreement we are able to grow. If we only sit at the table with people who share the same ideas and beliefs as us we only get more of the same. It doesn’t mean we have to accept someone else’s reality, but it allows me to at least share in a moment. Challenge is good. Challenge allows for us to move through resistance.

For me, spirituality is about expansion and not limitation. I am seeing so many people reaching across the aisle to connect with others. We still have a lot of disruptive energy in the world around us and communities are coming together to respond to these shifts in consciousness.

We are becoming more active in our spirituality. Yoga, Qi-gong, breath work, and nutrition have been areas I’ve seen a lot of people starting to come into alignment with. We must honor the temple the soul resides in. New energy is coming in constantly, and we need to be able to hold and channel that energy out to be of the highest service.

The new generation of light workers are awakening to their purpose. We all are. Latent healing and intuitive gifts are activating in everyone. Many of us have felt some resistance in the shift. Resistance is not always bad, but let your resistance open you to expansion and not limitation. Do not let your fears get the best of you.

I’ve noticed many drifting into old places. Others are drifting into the future. We only truly have the singularity of one breath in any given moment. Don’t take it for granted. The past shapes us, and the future helps to guide us… remember that the destination is the road beneath us.

Find joy and appreciation in all that you do. Even if you do not like your job, appreciate it. The resistance you feel from going in to that place day after day will only inspire you to grow into new opportunity. Everything can be “good” if you find the gift it is bringing you. Upheaval is a state of cleansing. The more we tune into our intuition daily the more we come into greater alignment with that divine flow.

What are you moving yourself into? Where are the waters of the divine taking you? What is your resistance?

Michaell A. Brazell CFT CSN MAT PAT
www.michaelbrazell.com
www.deviantyogi.com (yoga blog)
www.soulinteraction.com (spirituality blog)
www.blogtalkradio.com/michaelbrazell (radio show)

PBP2012: “F”- Fasting for Spiritual Growth

March 23, 2012March 23, 2012 / soulinteraction / 7 Comments

Fasting is an important aspect of coming into alignment with our spirituality. Fasting allows us to come into alignment and to see where our personal power might have been surrendered to situations, things, food, or people. Fasting takes a bit of planning as well. One of the things that I like to do with my fasting is to take a few days to really plan it out. What do I hope to gain? What will I be giving up? How long do I want to fast? Being sure of our reasons for fasting and where we hope to go with it is an important aspect of the entire process.

Fasting also does not have to just be about food. We are constantly facing distractions, and there are a lot of things that deplete us of our energy. Fasting from the internet, cell phones, or even talking for a day can bring us back into alignment with the world around us. Fasting from food can show us where we might be reaching out through our emotions towards foods that might be harming us. Set a spiritual goal for your fasting cycle. Allowing yourself to find a deeper connection with your divine self. Pick a favorite book, some new chants, or even a physical practice like sacred dance/yoga. Set a schedule for your fast, and stick to it. Showing up is one of the hardest things to do in our spiritual practice.

Remember, there is no such thing as failure. I set a time parameter for my fasting cycle, but if I do not reach the entire goal I consider the time I showed up a success. If I didn’t make it to the end, I sit with that and I see where my stumbling stones might have been. I journal a lot during my fasting period. I look at my emotions, I go deeper into my divination practice, and check in with my emotions constantly. If I am removing something from my experience checking in with my emotions it allows me to see what power I might have given away.

Take a few moments and think about how you can deepen your spiritual practice by allowing something in your experience to sit on a shelf for a while. What is something you feel you can’t do without? That is where you start.

M. Brazell CFT CSN MAT PAT

www.michaelbrazell.com

michael@michaelbrazell.com

Tuesday Spiritual Fitness and Nutrition Tip 03/6/12

March 6, 2012 / soulinteraction / Leave a comment

Here are your Tuesday Spiritual Fitness and Nutrition Tips!

Fitness: Start small. Like anything, if we make the fitness process complicated or overwhelming, we are going to be less likely to do it. Start small and easy. As soon as your feet hit the floor do 1 lunge, 1 push up, or one 10 second plank. If then you feel like adding a little extra you can, even if you only do the one, you at least showed up to your fitness practice. Sometimes getting the energy going can be the hardest part, and showing up is essential. Just being present and fully conscious in that first push up of the day can make a big difference in how the rest of your day will go. Start today!

Nutrition: Plan ahead. My theory on planning is simple: If you have time to tweet, email, or Facebook–you have time to schedule your meals for the week. Many of us live busy lives, and being busy causes us to reach out in convenience. If you did not plan ahead and forgot to bring your healthy snacks, then that bag of chips becomes that much more attractive. It only takes a few moments to pack some veggies, nuts or even to decide where you will go. Busy lives also do not always sneak up on us. We know when we can expect things to typically go haywire. If Tuesdays are always crazy for you, then especially plan to be more mindful on that day. Stress also causes us to reach out in convenience. Knowing you have a healthy option at arm’s length can also help to reduce guilt, stress, and anxiety associated with not taking care of yourself.

Post, share, comment, and be present!

Michael Brazell CFT CSN MAT PAT

www.michaelbrazell.com

michael@michaelbrazell.com