#michael meade

[eccentricsworld]

"When death finds you, may it find you alive."

-Michael Meade

#thoughts #writing #books and literature #spilled ink #books #books and libraries #poetry #spilled thoughts #author #literature #life quote #michael meade

[entheognosis]

Shakespeare wrote: "There is nothing more confining than the prison we don’t know we are in." In other words, whatever we are not conscious of can have a deep hold on us. In critical moments, we can wind up doing its bidding while believing we are making our own choices in life. We are in just such a prison of our own making when we act as if the common world of fact and figures is not only the "real world," but also the only world. The prison of the modern mind is partly created by the common belief that "reality" can be limited to logic, statistics, and provable facts. Not that the literal world is "unreal," rather that it is the first level of reality and can never depict all that is truly Real. Restricting all modes of presence to a single plane of being leads to being trapped in a narrow view of life and imprisoned in the linear trap of time. Too much "hard reality" and the world becomes as if flat again; we lose touch with all that makes this earth a place of wonder and beauty and hidden possibilities.

Michael Meade

#michael meade #consciousness #shakespeare

[kamala-laxman]

Each life involves an essential errand; not simply the task of survival, but a life mission embedded in the soul from the beginning. Michael Meade

#michael meade #life #soul

[a-path-by-the-moon]

#michael meade #chaos #individuals #ground #stand your ground #inspiration #spiritual #spirituality #inspirational #quotes

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

"In initiation a person becomes no one before becoming someone again."

~ Michael Meade

[thanks Ian Sanders]

#Michael Meade #Ian Sanders #quotes #initiation #process #becomming

[mountain-sage]

#spirituality #MICHAEL MEADE

[1introvertedsage]

🪶Seen🪶

In seeking after what the soul desires we become pilgrims with no home but the path the soul would have us follow.

~Michael Meade~

#Seen #Substack #writing #poetry #Michael Meade #Michael Meade quotes #see #path #Soul #journey #pathless path #what we seek #fate #destiny #no home #following our soul #guided #lha #1introvertedsage #intsa original #writers on tumblr #writers and poets #my writing #creative writing #From the Mind of an Introvert

[microwaveexplosion]

#neliatorkian #michael meade #quote #african proverb #alive #the goal

[innervoiceartblog]

#Michael Meade #Mythic Imagination #timeless #myth #heart and soul

[jonny-thoughts]

Dancing in the Morning: An Introspective Journal Entry About Social Anxiety and How I Spend My Time

Morning of March 20, 2022

This morning I am using an idea I learned from Michael Meade; I am writing down as much as I remember about my dream from last night - I also danced this morning, allowing my emotions to transform into motions, which felt incredible. The main thing I remember is that my girlfriend found out she was pregnant with twin boys. I was so excited to bring two people into this world and I remember feeling more connected with my girlfriend and ready to raise our boys together. There were no thoughts of regret or worry that I would be missing out on things even that we were to have our children in our twenties. Much of the narrative that I have heard around having children young, especially in urban centers, is that people miss out on “life” (ironic, isn’t it?). I think it depends on what sort of lifestyle you live. This motivated some pondering on my lifestyle.

Today is Sunday. Last night I had the opportunity to stay out late, meet new people, and hear live music. Saturday morning I woke up at 3:45am refreshed and ready to immerse myself in nature. I went for a hike through the snow with a friend in the Mt. Lady Washington wilderness near Estes Park. Exposing myself to the elements was tough at first; I had difficulty breathing at that altitude. On top of that, I would consider myself somewhat out of shape. Soon my breath reached a comfortable equilibrium where I didn’t feel like I was gasping for air every five seconds. In moments like these where I overcome the discomfort of shortness of breath, I am grateful for the researchers from whom I’ve learned breathwork to help in this situation. The method I perform looks like the following: breathe slowly in taking long and deep breaths, being careful not to suck in a ton of air rapidly. Then, hold the breath all the way out. From what I’ve read in James Nestor’s book Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, this allows my body to use oxygen more efficiently. 

When we passed the tree line and walked into rolling hills of snow and sporadic pines, we could feel the cold and icy air hitting our ears and faces; this was quite uncomfortable. We kept walking a little bit, but then upon further research from my hiking partner who is an avid hiker, outdoorsman, and mountaineer, we turned back in an effort to avoid a storm that would potentially be dangerous. We got back to our cars, said farewell, and I drove the two hours home back to Denver. 

When I got home, I rested briefly, then got on my bike and rode to the tennis courts to meet some friends. After playing tennis I rode home, rested briefly once again, and met my friend, call him Oliver, at the bar near my house called Shorty’s for a pitcher of Coors Banquet and some dinner. It was a St. Patrick’s Day-themed celebration at the bar so they had specials like Carbombs, Shepherd's Pie, and of course, Corned Beef and Cabbage. I ordered the Shepherd’s Pie and Corned Beef and Cabbage and enjoyed the pitcher as Oliver and I shared pleasant conversation. Oliver invited me to see a band that I was unfamiliar with. I thought that I should accept the offer for a few reasons. First, a few weeks ago I was trying to find someone to attend a concert with me since I had an extra ticket and Oliver said yes. We went and we had a great time. Second, I felt a societal pressure to go because “that’s what people our age do”.

In addition to the concert, Oliver was adamant about seeing a new friend of his, we will call him Frank, at some point in the evening. As time grew closer to the concert, Frank was at an apartment party. As odd as this may sound, that just did not sound fun to me. I was tired from my day and did not have the energy to place myself in such an environment and be my full, attentive self. After some trepidation, I decided to call it a night after Shorty’s. By going home and going to bed early I felt like I was potentially missing out. I wasn’t participating in the events or lifestyle that most people in their twenties living in a city would want to do. But this morning, I am very content with my decision. 

I initially woke up feeling anxious about my decision and I was worried that people in my life would be disappointed in me for skipping out on such a “fun” night. I was almost crippled with my melancholy, but I awoke early in the morning (7:45) and got myself out of bed and into the kitchen where I put the kettle on the stove to make some tea. I then moved my body in my living room, feeling the flow of my emotions transform into physical movement. Because I was feeling anxious, my movements appeared as if I was trying to purge something out of me. I then became more open with my movements, swaying side-to-side and opening up my ever-tight hips. At this point I felt a tremendous flow of life, prana, chi, whatever you want to call it. This reminded me of how good you feel when you move and take care of your body. I stretched while I drank my tea and read some articles online. I then grabbed my computer.

No one can tell the future, but we can project the future based on the past. If I were to do this as sincerely as possible in the context of this weekend, I can confidently say that had I gone out last night, I would have slept in late this morning, would not have felt as energized, and I probably would not have celebrated my mind and body like I did when I was moving around my living room. I would much rather have the morning I am experiencing now than the fun and exciting energy of last night and the feeling of despair this morning. However, most of the time I don’t make the choice that I did last night. I mainly choose to go out and be hungover the next morning, and I always feel horrible about it. This is all because I’ve been told that I won’t make friends or enjoy life if I don’t participate in that lifestyle. 

I think and hope that I am beginning to build strength in knowing and doing what’s best for me, and doing what I want to do. I love to learn and explore ideas. It’s not always easy to find curious minds to discuss ideas with. I suppose there’s nothing wrong with that, and I have had great practice talking about things I didn’t really know about or that I’m not too interested in. However, when most of the people in the room are talking about something, I often feel like I don’t have a lot to add; I am listening and digesting what they’re saying and then every once in a while I will share a thought. When no one is talking and I try to start a conversation about something I find fascinating, the room often falls silent. I’m glad that I’ve had practice adapting to different social situations, but at the same time, I haven’t really fueled my curiosity or filled my cup through conversation in the last six months with the people I’ve met; I fill that cup by researching things on my own, reading, watching fascinating YouTube videos, and meditating.

Morning of March 28, 2022

I think my social experiences this past weekend play nicely into the theme I’ve been discussing above. I was in a ski cabin with seven other people. There was one evening, the second evening we were there, where I felt like I didn’t want to participate in the conversation. At first it felt like I wasn’t interested in the things they were talking about. I told myself that even if this is true, I can still try to enjoy it and be present in the conversation and listen. I didn’t force myself to participate, I only spoke up when I felt a genuine urge to do so, and I found that people received what I said well. I don’t want to have to try to be someone else; I don’t want to say things that feel unnatural. Later on that evening in the ski town, we were at a very busy bar. This is the type of environment I might be comparing myself to others socially, which causes an uneasy feeling. I told myself it’s okay to not constantly engage in conversation; it’s okay to sit, drink my beer, and watch my friends play their pool game. When I took this approach I found that I still talked to people, but this time I felt loose and natural about it. I wasn’t doing it because I felt like I had to - I hate doing things because I feel like I have to. I was feeling introspective and I genuinely enjoyed experiencing that environment from a quiet and observant perspective; taking it in, enjoying the energy and company. 

However, my friends saw that I was alone and they tried to get me to talk to strangers. I appreciated this because it shows that they care about me and they want me to make friends and have fun. I explained that at that moment, I didn’t feel the desire to strike up a conversation, but rather observe the environment quietly and engage in conversation when it felt right. They understood. I felt good about my approach and experience at the bars last night, however, the one thing cutting into my vibe was the anxiety I felt whenever I considered what my parents and my girlfriend would think of me: I worry about what my parents would think because I grew up a very social person and spoke to anyone. I like to think that my lack of words used now is not a result of social anxiety or discomfort, but rather a goal of mine to say more with fewer words and be more calculated and intentional in my speech. Furthermore, I worry about what my girlfriend would think of me because she is the type of person who can talk to anyone about anything. I don’t want her to think of me as antisocial. I hope that she doesn’t look at me as such (she said she doesn't think that) and I try to tell myself to trust her not to judge me in that way - I hope I can trust her to understand that I am present, listening, engaged, and thoughtful even when I’m not talking. I wish I could stop worrying about it. I feel like if I am strong and confident in my approach, then people will pick up on that. In fact, some people I’ve spoken to said that although I come off as quiet and “soft-spoken”, they can see that I’m a good person once the conversation gets going. And I am fine with that. 

#michael meade #culture #mid twenties #james nestor #lifestyle #journal #digital diary

[infinitedonut]

"Set within the seed of the soul is not just a fleeting image or a vague pattern but a lifelong story enfolded within, waiting to be cracked open and lived all the way out."

- Michael Meade

#michael meade #quote

[purpozen]

“ ..a prodigious omen of something coming forth in its own time and on its own terms. ”

#Michael Meade #genius

[goldjointogether]

#message in a bottle #self love #michael meade

[kamala-laxman]

“Our job is not to comprehend or control everything, but to learn which story we are in and which of the many things calling out in the world is calling to us.  Michael Meade

#michael meade #world #comorehend

[a-path-by-the-moon]

#michael meade #quotes #home #ourselves #soul #spirit #story #spiritual #tree of life

[midnightfreedom]

African proverb :

" When death finds you, may it find you alive. "

#proverbs #michael meade #death #life #alive #African proverb #to live #wisdom