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Is it Possible to be Too Awake?

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This past weekend I had an awakening of sorts.   I immersed myself in documentaries, blogs, podcasts, and deep reading. There are moments when information hits you, and it stops you in your tracks.   These are moments where reality as you know it ceases to exist and then you have to shift your thoughts, actions, and senses to accept the new reality that is unfolding.  One reality is fractured and then we begin to align to the new reality.  For many of us that do spiritual work, we have had these experiences.   When we are first time mediums, and we have that first experience of ectoplasm or physical interaction with the spiritual world that we can no longer go back to what was before.

I could feel the world around me shifting, and my perception of reality over the weekend has changed.  I could feel myself in the process of awakening, and was aware of everything that was happening in that space.  When we start tuning in to the forces that are working beyond the veil, when we see the interconnectedness of cosmic/local/global events, the words that are heard even when they are not said.   We start moving through the web of illusions and into truth, reality, and a different kind of connection.

I’ll be sharing a lot of the information that I am being shown by my higher self, guides, and what I am learning through an expansion of my research soon. I am doing more to capture my experience, journaling, recording, and documenting so that I can deepen the process of being able to reflect .

There were moments when the expansion grabbed me so intensely that I had to lay on my yoga mat and ground… Then a thought came in– Is it possible to be too awake?

We live in a society that teaches “Ignorance is Bliss”.  Many of us would rather not see than see, but once the veil is pulled back we can not un-see what is seen.  When we start opening our eyes we can try to deny what we are perceiving but once the illusion is shattered all past, present and future events begin to restructure around the new perception.  An example is Santa.  Once we learn that this was actually our parents placing Santa’s name on gifts it takes away all the past “santa presents” and it no longer allows us to see Santa presents in the future as the same.

Society is shifting and changing rapidly.  We can choose to focus on memes of cats, birds, and positive statements or we can choose to engage some of the deeper darker stuff.  Understanding where the pain is allows us to direct healing towards it.

We can do this in a structured way.  Choose to start waking up.  Pick an area of your life that you want to bring attention and awareness towards.  Food is one place to start.  We start looking at how our food affects us.  How are your purchasing choices impacting the world, where do your foods come from, etc and go down the rabbit hole.  Awareness opens us to new realities, but if along the way we find an area that needs healing and energy we can give it.  If we are looking at food and know that local farmers are being kicked out by big Agribusiness we can send light, protection, and healing to those that need it in that space.

We are no longer in a place where we can be complacent in our spirituality.  Spirituality needs to be the place we move from and not the space we just sit in to escape.

Choose to open your eyes, engage your space, and wake up.  Is it possible to be too awake?  There is only one way to find out…

Michael A. Brazell

Morning Practice

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Morning Practice.

From my Yoga Witch Blog… if you are not a subscriber… you should be 🙂

I had an inspired moment while waiting for my super early yoga class to start.

Love and Light,

 

Mike.

 

The Spiritual Journal

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I’ve done a few posts on journaling, but I really don’t think it is something that can be overstated… journal are one of the most powerful spiritual tools that we have access to.  Journals are places we can catch our thoughts, our moments of gratitude, our struggles, our fears, and whatever else our soul desires.    Journaling allows us to engage in self-reflection.  There really are not any rules or right/wrong ways to journal, but I would propose on rule- Don’t hold back!

There are times we begin to go beneath the surface.  We scratch through one layer of our life experience and then we go a bit deeper, then we become afraid of what we will find when we go all the way through… We become trapped in that middle layer, and that creates stagnation.  We have to push deeper, and this can be a lonely process for many of us.  Journals are companions that we can access without judgement.  We can dive deeper into our psyche and it holds our memories in spaces that allow us to access when we are ready.  Diving below the surface of our lives allows us to gain insight.

Many newbie spiritual practitioners always ask me how to hone their psychic skills… Journal your spiritual experiences    Too often we have profound moments and we forget to capture them.  When we take the time to journal the experience we can go back to it, learn from it, and evolve it.  Write down the readings that you are doing for yourself, write down the insights gained in that meditation you just completed, and capture inspirations as they occur to you through the day.  Magickal practitioners often create a “Book of Shadows” to capture their spellwork, lessons, and thing relating to their spiritual path work.   Many in the new age community could really learn from this.  I would encourage everyone to keep an ongoing psychic journal, dream journal and life experience journal.  Do a google search for “keeping a book of shadows“, and read up.. add what works, leave what doesn’t.

There are a lot of people who prefer to use electronic journal (online, voice recorder, laptop, etc), but I prefer good ol’ pen and paper.  There is something about putting pen to paper.  It slows us down, it allows us to be a bit more tangible with our journaling.  I also carry a smaller journal in my back pocket for those on the go inspirations that tend to grab me in my randomness.

If you have not started a journal, I would encourage you to start today.  Allow it to be a traveling companion, take it through your day.  Walk with it.  Capture whatever inspires you.

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

Michael Brazell

www.michaelbrazell.com

www.yogawitch.com

www.facebook.com/yogawitch

Engage Your Inner Warrior: Standing in Balance

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Engage Your Inner Warrior: Standing in Balance.

 

Here is a post from my blog www.yogawitch.com  Be sure to head over and follow along!  I’ll be posting updates on classes, events, giveaways… I’ll be posting exercises and practices to help you move into a more magical and embodied life!

Poem…

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Haven’t done poetry in a while.. tho, I’m in a poetic mood, so here goes….

 

Tonight I am wrapping myself in blankets of memory, some of them warm, some of them are patchwork quilts.. memories stitched together, the seams sometimes blurred.. Like me…

The poems elude me.. I am dancing in the silence of my own symphony… Sometimes wondering if all this meaning has purpose, and if that purpose will carry all of us to a new tomorrow… and tomorrow I’ll get up and start over.  Sometimes the knots in my stomach remember your hands…  You hands, they were brutally soft.  They knew all the right buttons to push, self destruct was the easiest to find… I’m still looking for the off button, but for now I’ll settle for a cup of grace… two scoops of hope, and memories that sometimes keep me up like a heavy dose of caffeine…

But for now,

the knots they keep me from coming undone…

Soul Satsang: Spirituality as an Escape

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I was recently listening to a wonderful podcast by Swami Ramakrishnananda on the subject of spiritual escapism.

Working in the spiritual domain I often hear people say “I am so thankful for my meditation, it helps me to escape reality for a few moments.”

I am so thankful for my “spiritual group” they help me to escape the mundane nature of my life

… and this is just a few of the avenues that many of us use to escape what is presented.  We often forget that what is presented (even if it is not what we want to face) is also part of the divine experience.  Escaping into spirituality takes away from the sacredness.  When we use our spirituality as a game of hide and seek, eventually the other stuff catches up to us…. Which is why I also hear “every time I try and meditate my brain is flooded with thoughts”… Just because you hide from reality it does not mean that she wont keep looking for you.

When we engage our spiritual outlets as spaces to just be present.  To just be whole for a few moments it allows alignment instead of disconnection.

Instead of running from– Run into.   When you run from something it only will chase you faster.  Run into each moment as a divine experience.  Let your spiritual outlets be moments of transcendence instead of avenues of escape.

What do you feel the need to escape from?

What are you running from?

What do you find yourself running towards in times of stress, chaos, or disconnect?

Does escaping into the spiritual lessen the sacredness of the experience, or does it facilitate a release… define release.

Here are some questions for you to sit with

Love and Light.

M.

http://www.michaelbrazell.com

http://www.yogawitch.com

Working out in a Storm

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Hurricane Sandy is bearing down on us, and the Metro system will be shut down tomorrow.  If we are lucky we’ll maintain power, but knowing our local power provider that is unlikely.  So, no power–no access to my gym–whats a workout-a-holic to do?

Work out at home!

Here is a quick and dirty workout routine that you can use to take you through any storm environment:

All you need is a deck of cards.

The next part is pretty easy– Until you begin that is.

There are four suites (clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades).  You are going to assign an exercise to each suite.

Ex:

Diamonds- Diamond pushups

Clubs- sit ups

Hearts- squats

spades- flutter kicks

Shuffle the deck.  When you pull the card off the top of the deck you do the corresponding exercise at the number given.

10 of Diamonds = 10 diamond pushups, etc.

Go through 1/2 the deck, or the entire deck.  Try and choose exercises that give you the use of multiple muscles or big muscles groups.  There are a multitude of variations on pushups, planks, sit up/abdominal exercises.

Be creative, have fun!

Michael A Brazell CFT CSN MAT PAT

www.michaelbrazell.com

www.blogtalkradio.com/michaelbrazell

The Expansion of the Spiritual Self

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What are your limitations to living a spiritual life?

Where do you find divinity?   Do you see the divine when you look in the mirror?

What is God/dess?

What inspires you to breathe?

Can you feel the spark in your heart center keeping perfect time with the flow of your life?

Where do you let go?

What does freedom feel like?

How often do you say “I love you” to your own heart center?

How often do you laugh?

How free do you feel right now?

When is the last time you looked at the tops of the trees?

When’s the last time you gave from your soul?

 

Expansion of the spiritual self happens through the space of contemplation.  Sitting with our various “life questions” and letting them sit with us.  We spend so much time looking for answers, but often we don’t remember the question… and well, sometimes the question is the answer.  We have to take time to take account of our many pieces.

Alignment is something we work at.  Where do you feel off-balance?  Take that deeper… do you feel spiritually, emotionally, or energetically off-balance?   What do you need right now to come back to center?  We have to take life in slices of “now”.  What do you need in this moment to expand and let go?

Sit with these questions, ponder your existence, and live not just the answers, but the questions… Don’t be complacent–

Seek and ye shall find….

 

Namaste

Michael A Brazell

 

Creating Sacred Space

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There are times when I feel that I need to escape the world around me.  The busy energy of the year, the technology that expands and binds, the hurried energy of time.  Having a place to breathe is just as important as the action of breathing.

What is sacred space?

Sacred space can be any place where you decide to meet the divine.  Sacred space can also be that place deep within your being that holds your energy and light.  Sacred space is the rest stop on our busy highways.

Sacred space can be a room, a park, a bench, etc.  I typically have a few different places that I can duck into around my work place that I can retreat to for a bit to find balance.  There is a wonderful fountain, and I sit and watch the water.  Just being present in that space makes it sacred.

If you are at home, you can make your space sacred by adding statues, incense, or whatever else connects you to your divine self.  Invite the divine into this space with you.  Allow yourself to be creative, even if you don’t have a lot of space you can still created a sacred corner.  When I first started connecting to my higher vibrations, I used an old shoe box with a bandana on it as my altar.  I had a few candles, a couple of stones, and my tarot deck.  Sacred space is uniquely yours.

Mentally you can also create sacred spaces.  Visualizing a harmonious environment, seeing temple, or entering into the void can bring peace both internally and externally.

Where do you find sacred space?  What is sacred space to you?

Michael A. Brazell CFT CSN MAT PAT

www.michaelbrazell.com

www.blogtalkradio.com/michaelbrazell

Becoming Mahayogi Das (Part

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I feel like Madonna 90% of the time.  My life is a constant action of defining, re-defining, and coming into alignment.  This is the beauty of my experience.  I claim my spiritual ADD proudly.  I wear it like a badge of honor, and I’ll venture into the sometimes dark places to find the nuggets of light.

My path is unfolding into new places and new people are coming in now to make some of my dreams a reality.  My spiritual team is working on both sides.  Now, I just need to fully show up to my experience.

There is a fear when it comes to owning our dreams.  What comes next?  Can I sustain the dream once it leaves my head and enters this density?  Am I ready?

The spiritual path is not always an easy one, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.  I’ve learned to wear my battle scars proudly, they are reminders that I have lived.  This is a year of taking ownership if my life, and I am doing so.. Sometimes kicking and screaming, but always moving.

I’ve been on my yogic path for many years now., and the spiritual/quasi-spiritual even longer.  I picked up my first book on the esoteric when I was 7, and my first book on Wicca when I was 10 (casting spells and all–Not many know that little tidbit).   I’ve always considered myself a seeker, and I am a professional student of the divine.  I’ve done a lot in this lifetime, and there is still much to do.

Here is a brief list (to demonstrate that I’m not kidding about the Spiritual ADD):

  1. When I was younger I was going to be an archeologist, a chemist, then a doctor
  2. I use to preach from the the bible to my grandmother because I was going to be a televangelist.  (oh how the tides have changed)
  3. I was a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, had a magic coach, and did a show for a 300 person audience
  4. I’ve looked into, studied and participated in many, many, many martial arts systems and styles, holding ranks in many.
  5. I’ve been in covens, circles, groups, of all shapes and sizes
  6. I’ve taught bootcamp, yoga, bootcamp-yoga, cycling, one-on-one fitness
  7. I served my country in the US Navy (10 years)
  8. I danced the glow sticks at raves (and was paid to do so)–refer back to number 4. 🙂
  9. I’ve worked in marketing
  10. I’ve worked in activism
  11. I started out in vegan campaigns at PETA, then did every campaign at PETA (more like the campaigns do YOU at PETA)
  12. I’ve marched in marching bands, I’ve sung in choirs, I participated in Tuba Christmas 3 years in a row
  13. I’ve worked in a new-born nursery
  14. I do readings, healing, yoga, teaching, and somewhere in there I find time to breathe…
  15. I host a radio channel with 4 different shows, 4 very different topics, and keep them all sorted nicely

That’s the abbreviated version.  If you take your eyes off me for too long, you might loose me… but I always come back to the place I started.

My life is about to streamline, and its terrifying and its beautiful.  I am about to launch my new site, create new direction and own myself fully.  The process of becoming me is never ending.  I’m still learning.  I love not having focus because I feel that’s how God truly exists–in a constant haze of frenzy, experiencing creation as its being created.

When I stepped onto the yogic path, I was initiated into a mantra, given the Mahayogi Das name, and aligned with the energies of Shiva (he’s seems as ADD as I am according to some of his legends).   So I am claiming this journey fully, and owning my spiritual side.  I am not spiritual being living a human experience.  I am being living a full experience.

There is a lot on the horizon.  I’m still wrapping my head around some of the stuff that is manifesting as a reality.  I’m going to do a follow-up post, but just wanted to get some of this energy out there now.

So, I’m embracing this new me.  I’m owning this part of myself.  Plus, it’s going to be the name of my new company… so, no going back 🙂

More to come.  Keep tuning in 🙂

 

Mahayogi Das CFT CSN MAT PAT