Andrea Gibson 360 aka the night I had a permasmile that wouldnt end

It is not often that you get to be as close as I was to someone that has completely changed my life. Andrea Gibson is an amazing poet and an amazing person. Andrea is one of the few people that I have met that really lets her soul step into her body and it lets that energy fill the hearts and ears of those in her presence. She is small in stature, but her energy makes her bigger than life. I remember hearing "Ashes", a poem about a gay soldier that was burned to death, for the first time-- my life changed. She inspires creativity, and speaks a truth that will cut through the reality of our little bubbles and she helps us to see what is really there.

I teared up the moment I saw her, and when I got that first hug of the evening from one of my personal heros- God truly was pulling at the corners of my cheeks ( a great line from her poem photograph). We got to help man her merch table, and I got an autograph in my book. She read my favorite poems, and at times I felt like she was speaking directly to my soul.

I think the biggest lesson in this encounter is learning to speak from the soul. How often do we have chances and opportunities to do so, but let those moments pass us by?

Here are a few of her poems, and I hope you will find as much enjoyment in hearing her words as I have.

Much love,

Mike-

Awakening

In this time of forward progress we are all awakening. There are many levels to this process. Many of us are coming into alignment with our core being, our soul. This will bring many body changes as well as spiritual changes for all of us. Ideas we once held sacred may shift, change, or even fall away. When we come into center with oneness we realize that many of the things we hold so close only hold us apart from those that are around us. When we go to the core of all that is, we see that it is all really the same. Letting go, and moving into alignment with the soul can challenge us on many levels as we have to deal with all that karmic baggage we carry with us, but open the bags and unpack. The road is easier to travel when you are not so loaded down.

Back to our regularly scheduled programming...

Ok, I'm stepping off my ranting about the state of activism soapbox for a bit, and getting back to the good stuff...

Soul Development and Spritual Progress.

I have rediscovered journaling. It really is a great way to connect to the soul, have conversations with ourselves (not in a crazy kind of way), and allows us to keep track of our day. I use mine to guage my spiritual progress, log my personal readings, and just keep track of my emotions and feelings. It allows us to rediscover our journey, and to keep track of those life lessons. The more we learn about oursevles, the less likely we are to have to repeat the lessons of our past.

Find a book that is unique to you-- and begin your journy.

I'll give some specific exercises for journaling, but the most important part is just getting started... and do not limit yourself... just start writing.. ask your soul questions... it will answer.

Have a great weekend!!!

Mike

Keeping the world at arm's length- Wake UP!

When are we going to stop holding our hands out in a defensive posture, and turn our hands outwards to welcome all people to the table to create change. I'm just really getting fed up with the way activism seems to work these days. We have so many national groups that seem to want to throw as many fancy galas and cater to the stars as possible. We have local groups that wish they were the national groups so they forget about the struggle in their own backyards because the ego of the group has gotten to be the size of Mt. Fuji.

We throw parties and have events- and really its fun to come together and share with like minded people... because that's easy. I don't have to be anyone but myself and if I get on bull horn and scream "Let's create change!!!" I'll have many happy voices applauding my statement. Not so easy when we have to get in front of a group of what we might consider non-like minded people and to do the same thing--but it is so much more powerful when we do. Otherwise it is like going to a vegetarian festival and telling people not to eat animals.

We need to get our issues and our faces in front of people who do not know us. We need to hold events that are open to ALL, and we need to stop saying that just because you do not see eye to eye with me- there is no room at the table for YOU. How the hell are we supposed to change if we have such a narrow view of the world around us. And yes, I too am an angry activist- I'm angry at the way WE do things, and continue to do things. We sell tickets for an equality ride only in places where we know people will buy the tickets, yet think of the impact it will have to sell them at places that are not exclusively gay-- Oh and don't forget its an EQUALITY march, and an "We only want you to come along if you are gay and see only what we ask you to see March".

Are we too afraid to be ourselves? Are we too afraid to really ask for change? Are we too afraid to step out that rainbow colored bubble for one fucking moment to say- I am not afraid anymore.

When are you REALLY going to be part of change? When are you going to BE the active part of activism?

If you are afraid, that's okay too. Hang around all the people that will only agree with you, that will always see you as the person they know you to be-- And when you are ready to come out of the secondary closet you've created... The rest of will be there to welcome you.

Much love and peace to you all....

Sorry for the rant, just am tired of all the crap I see in this world... and sometimes.. ya have to vent.

Mike

Poem/Commentary: Change- Ode to the Angry Activist

There is an old/new form of activism that seems to be emerging. Angry activism. Now, do not get me wrong. There is a time and a place to be angry, there is a time and a place to demand change, but we cannot live in that energy all the time. We can not combat hate with hate less we become like the people we are trying to change.

Brute force will avail against brute force only when it is proved that darkness can dispel darkness.
- Mahatma Gandhi

You can not hate someone into loving you. It just does not happen. Here is a poem that I hope conveys this message... enjoy

Change:

Change does not come because your sign is bigger than theirs.

Change does not come because you can scream louder than them

Change does not come...
Because you cannot see around your own anger and hate to
see your truth burning crosses in the valley of your soul,
Screaming mantras of " We demand change because we are queer!!!"
But guess what--Change starts here

Wet your soul scream for change with actions of love
Instead of holding signs
hold mirrors so that people can see where change begins.

Do not let ignorance burn down the bridges of change...
because how are people suppose to get across if there are no bridges?!?!

Bashing ourselves with anger and hate
reflecting a humanity that continues to suffer
under the weight of our own unwillingness to say
I LOVE YOU first.

We want equality, but life isn't algebra
a letter plus a letter plus a letter plus a letter only equals separation
and the only number we need is ONEness..

Humanity pointing fingers at one another for all the fucked up things in this world
never seeing the four fingers pointed back at our hearts screaming-OPEN!!

Its the Christian woman that pulled me off my cross long enough for me to feel
God's greatness in the grass under my feet

Its the straight man that holds his sign at a rainbow rally and never once sees
the divided colors of our flag, but sees just a rainbow...
When is the last time we just saw a rainbow?!?!

Its screaming at a man who screams lyrics of hate drowning out the music of change
and our voices are too tired from screaming to start singing songs of love.
If we cant see hope in even the darkest soul.. then why open our fucking eyes?!?

Be the dove.. flap your wings and sing peace
Open your heart and let it scream love
hold your mirrors high so that I can see
that If I want change...
I have to start with ME.


Remember, change starts with us. If we want the world to see us as equal, we have see ourselves as equal members of this world.

Much love to you all...

Mike

Angel Card Draw: Relaxation

What a great card to draw and end the weekend on. How many of us really "relax"? I know I for one do not relax enough. I am so busy running around doing things, working out, working, writing, and what I might not call "work" really becomes work. One of the best ways to come out of this place of constant struggle is to do something that is completely out of your norm. An easy example is to read a book that you may never have picked up in the first place. Read something that has NOTHING to do with work, watch a movie that makes you laugh, or just sit in silence. We spend so much time working and it really does a number on our bodies, minds, and spirits. Do not be afraid to take a break, and often you enter the work again refreshed with new perspective.


Much love and relaxation to you all.... goes well with the meditation post.

xoxo

Mike

Changes all around us

This is a great time of change. We are all in a place of new and forward progress. It is important for all of us to stay centered in this place of transition. We often let life dictate to us how we should and will respond to changes that we anticipate and those that sneak up on us. Learning to meditate and getting on a meditation schedule will help you come back to center no matter what challenge you are faced with. I am going to post a meditation how to guide on here in the next few days... and take you on a mini-guided meditation.

I hope you all are enjoying the summer and living it up!!!

xoxo


Mike