Michael Edward Bradford
Sitting in the Void – Not Knowing
I sit in the void, not knowing, not in control, not feeling safe, not anything,
I wonder what is real, what is truth, who can I trust, what I can believe,
Everything seems so unstable, so changeable, so fluid, so shaky, so jelly-like,
That part of me that wants, needs, hungers for certainty is scared, challenged.
I trust in the process, I believe the Universe will take me where I need to be, go,
Yet the human part of me wants to see, know, feel, understand, wants certainty,
My mind spins, whirls, asks questions, creates scenarios, doubts, invents fears,
My heart aches from the pain of loss, separation, isolation, change, uncertainty,
As I sit in this void I am torn between tears, frustration, anger, upset, grief,
The tears just below the surface, building, filling, percolating, bubbling,
My heart aching, burning, stretching, clearing, cleansing, purging, unloading,
In my mind I know what I want, need, desire – my heart thinks it knows too.
Yet my soul seems to want to lead me in another direction – but to where?
As I sit in the void, I ponder, wait, question, feel, sometimes I even relax into it,
Other times, like a baby trapped in the womb, I struggle, fight, kick, toss, turn,
When will this birthing process be over, when will the placenta break, when?
I can only pray, allow, surrender, trust, believe – eat healthy food, exercise, rest,
I can only allow the time needed for this process to run its course – to complete,
I can only believe in myself, the Great Mystery, in Spirit, in the process called life,
So I swim, walk, do my best to quiet my mind - and I open my heart even more!
I sit in the void, not knowing, not in control, not feeling safe, not anything,
I wonder what is real, what is truth, who can I trust, what I can believe,
Everything seems so unstable, so changeable, so fluid, so shaky, so jelly-like,
That part of me that wants, needs, hungers for certainty is scared, challenged.
I trust in the process, I believe the Universe will take me where I need to be, go,
Yet the human part of me wants to see, know, feel, understand, wants certainty,
My mind spins, whirls, asks questions, creates scenarios, doubts, invents fears,
My heart aches from the pain of loss, separation, isolation, change, uncertainty,
As I sit in this void I am torn between tears, frustration, anger, upset, grief,
The tears just below the surface, building, filling, percolating, bubbling,
My heart aching, burning, stretching, clearing, cleansing, purging, unloading,
In my mind I know what I want, need, desire – my heart thinks it knows too.
Yet my soul seems to want to lead me in another direction – but to where?
As I sit in the void, I ponder, wait, question, feel, sometimes I even relax into it,
Other times, like a baby trapped in the womb, I struggle, fight, kick, toss, turn,
When will this birthing process be over, when will the placenta break, when?
I can only pray, allow, surrender, trust, believe – eat healthy food, exercise, rest,
I can only allow the time needed for this process to run its course – to complete,
I can only believe in myself, the Great Mystery, in Spirit, in the process called life,
So I swim, walk, do my best to quiet my mind - and I open my heart even more!
The Two Alters
In all lands, with all people, there are two Alters where people go to worship,
One is the Alter of pain, suffering, separation, fear, lack, anger, competition,
The other is the Alter of peace, love, abundance, joy, happiness, success,
Each person must choose how to live their life and at which Alter to worship!
There are times when people jump back and forth, making themselves crazy,
Most people tend to stick to one, or the other, or even somewhere in between,
Yet it is challenging to ride two horses at once, or to worship two different Gods,
So most people tend to worship only one, and live their entire life by those rules!
Unfortunately some people pretend, saying they are worshiping one God,
When their thoughts, actions, deeds clearly indicate something very different!
In reality, all they are doing is pretending – and then worshiping the other God!
This is so strange, to see people talking love and abundance – and living in fear!
So I ask you, which alter do you worship at? How committed are you – and why?
How do you really act, what do you really say, what do you do, how do you think?
Are you committed to your success, abundance, to love, peace, joy and happiness,
Or are you actually worshiping at the Alter of fear, anger, lack, suffering, pain?
Only you know the deepest reaches of your own mind, your heart and your soul,
Only you know what your innermost thoughts and feelings are in each moment,
Only you know how you act and how you treat yourself and those closest to you,
Only you know your deepest wishes, desires, dreams, expectations and more!
In all lands, with all people, there are two Alters where people go to worship,
One is the Alter of pain, suffering, separation, fear, lack, anger, competition,
The other is the Alter of peace, love, abundance, joy, happiness, success,
Each person must choose how to live their life and at which Alter to worship!
There are times when people jump back and forth, making themselves crazy,
Most people tend to stick to one, or the other, or even somewhere in between,
Yet it is challenging to ride two horses at once, or to worship two different Gods,
So most people tend to worship only one, and live their entire life by those rules!
Unfortunately some people pretend, saying they are worshiping one God,
When their thoughts, actions, deeds clearly indicate something very different!
In reality, all they are doing is pretending – and then worshiping the other God!
This is so strange, to see people talking love and abundance – and living in fear!
So I ask you, which alter do you worship at? How committed are you – and why?
How do you really act, what do you really say, what do you do, how do you think?
Are you committed to your success, abundance, to love, peace, joy and happiness,
Or are you actually worshiping at the Alter of fear, anger, lack, suffering, pain?
Only you know the deepest reaches of your own mind, your heart and your soul,
Only you know what your innermost thoughts and feelings are in each moment,
Only you know how you act and how you treat yourself and those closest to you,
Only you know your deepest wishes, desires, dreams, expectations and more!
When You Are Ready
When you are ready
Your life will begin to change
And the past, with all its hurts, pains
And disappointments will gently melt away.
When you are ready
Your confusion, resistance, fears, and doubts will dissipate
And your desire for freedom will grow
Beckoning you to fully embrace the real you.
When you are ready
Your mask, your survival kit, will no longer be needed
And the true you, the authentic you,
Will gingerly peek out seeking the light of life.
When you are ready
Your pride, looking good, and being right will no longer matter
For your desire for truth, connection and spirit
Will awaken and fill you.
And when you are ready
Your vision will clear and you will know, beyond the shadow of a doubt
The gift that you already are.
It is time, beloved being of light, to ignite and shine bright!
When you are ready
Your life will begin to change
And the past, with all its hurts, pains
And disappointments will gently melt away.
When you are ready
Your confusion, resistance, fears, and doubts will dissipate
And your desire for freedom will grow
Beckoning you to fully embrace the real you.
When you are ready
Your mask, your survival kit, will no longer be needed
And the true you, the authentic you,
Will gingerly peek out seeking the light of life.
When you are ready
Your pride, looking good, and being right will no longer matter
For your desire for truth, connection and spirit
Will awaken and fill you.
And when you are ready
Your vision will clear and you will know, beyond the shadow of a doubt
The gift that you already are.
It is time, beloved being of light, to ignite and shine bright!
The Tightrope Walker
High above the maddening crowds of life, the tightrope walker gingerly walks,
Delicately balancing his body, his mind, energy, thoughts, feelings and emotions,
He has to maintain his balance or he will lean, tilt off balance and fall to his death,
So he remains calm, focused, centred – paying full attention to his every action.
He balances his head and his heart, staying as close to centre as he can,
He balances his intellect with his emotions, his thoughts and his feelings,
He balances his left-brain and his right-brain, his logic and his intuition,
He balances his mind, thoughts, logic with his feelings, emotions, heart, intuition.
He balances his will and his power with his love, tenderness and compassion,
He balances his desires and needs, with the desires and needs of others,
He balances his longing for control, with his need for independence and freedom,
He balances all of his polarities, all of his extremes, all of his aspects, his parts.
Walking the tightrope, remaining in balance is not easy, however it is a challenge,
A very noble worthy challenge few can do, and fewer still can do well, or master,
Only a rare few dare to walk life in balance, peace, harmony, joy and happiness,
Only a rare few dare to keep their mind and heart open, feeling, staying present.
So I take another deep breath, outstretch my arms even wider, feeling, sensing,
Seeking to stay present in my body, alive, alert, awake, listening, feeling, sensing,
And as I walk, I feel my own body, the rope, the pulse of life and of the Universe,
I feel my heart and my soul calling to me, to live life fully – in love, in compassion.
Each day I walk this tightrope, dong my best to learn, change, grow and evolve,
Each and everyday I risk a little more, learn a little more, balance a little better,
As I risk and learn, I remain open, receptive, vulnerable, feeling, sensing, living,
Sometimes I come close to losing my balance and falling, yet my soul saves me.
Thankfully I am paying attention, learning to be more open, aware, sensitive,
I’m learning not to judge, beat myself up, condemn myself or seek perfection,
Each day I do my best to maintain this delicate balance – to seek my centre,
To seek the truth of who I am, to give my best to myself, and to this world!
Every time I lean too much to the right, or too much to the left, I catch myself,
Returning as best I can to my centre, to balance, peace, love and harmony,
This takes constant awareness, supreme commitment, sensitivity and more,
Yet as each day passes, I can see, I can feel how much I am growing, evolving.
Yes, I can still laugh, and play, and create, and dance, and still live life fully,
However there is an inner calling within me to be more, to become more,
This inner calling is for peace, harmony, balance, sensitivity, awareness,
To connect with myself, others, to maintain a balance, to walk the tightrope well!
High above the maddening crowds of life, the tightrope walker gingerly walks,
Delicately balancing his body, his mind, energy, thoughts, feelings and emotions,
He has to maintain his balance or he will lean, tilt off balance and fall to his death,
So he remains calm, focused, centred – paying full attention to his every action.
He balances his head and his heart, staying as close to centre as he can,
He balances his intellect with his emotions, his thoughts and his feelings,
He balances his left-brain and his right-brain, his logic and his intuition,
He balances his mind, thoughts, logic with his feelings, emotions, heart, intuition.
He balances his will and his power with his love, tenderness and compassion,
He balances his desires and needs, with the desires and needs of others,
He balances his longing for control, with his need for independence and freedom,
He balances all of his polarities, all of his extremes, all of his aspects, his parts.
Walking the tightrope, remaining in balance is not easy, however it is a challenge,
A very noble worthy challenge few can do, and fewer still can do well, or master,
Only a rare few dare to walk life in balance, peace, harmony, joy and happiness,
Only a rare few dare to keep their mind and heart open, feeling, staying present.
So I take another deep breath, outstretch my arms even wider, feeling, sensing,
Seeking to stay present in my body, alive, alert, awake, listening, feeling, sensing,
And as I walk, I feel my own body, the rope, the pulse of life and of the Universe,
I feel my heart and my soul calling to me, to live life fully – in love, in compassion.
Each day I walk this tightrope, dong my best to learn, change, grow and evolve,
Each and everyday I risk a little more, learn a little more, balance a little better,
As I risk and learn, I remain open, receptive, vulnerable, feeling, sensing, living,
Sometimes I come close to losing my balance and falling, yet my soul saves me.
Thankfully I am paying attention, learning to be more open, aware, sensitive,
I’m learning not to judge, beat myself up, condemn myself or seek perfection,
Each day I do my best to maintain this delicate balance – to seek my centre,
To seek the truth of who I am, to give my best to myself, and to this world!
Every time I lean too much to the right, or too much to the left, I catch myself,
Returning as best I can to my centre, to balance, peace, love and harmony,
This takes constant awareness, supreme commitment, sensitivity and more,
Yet as each day passes, I can see, I can feel how much I am growing, evolving.
Yes, I can still laugh, and play, and create, and dance, and still live life fully,
However there is an inner calling within me to be more, to become more,
This inner calling is for peace, harmony, balance, sensitivity, awareness,
To connect with myself, others, to maintain a balance, to walk the tightrope well!
The Delicate Art of Supporting Others and Ourselves
How many times in your life have you felt excited about something you've seen, heard, done or were planning to do, yet when you shared it with someone, their comments felt as if a bucket of ice water was dumped on your head? How many times have you felt all of your joy, happiness, excitement and enthusiasm destroyed?
At the other extreme, how many times have you felt frustrated, exhausted and ready to give up, when someone gifted you with a smile, a caring hug and words of encouragement that totally lifted your spirit? Looking back over your life, remember the people who, with a few kind, caring, encouraging words made your heart sing? Do you remember how positive, re-energized and re-committed you became? Those are the friends to keep around.
As humans, we are sensitive and often oversensitive. At the same time, we have a tendency to be critical of others and especially of ourselves. Regardless of whether we are talking to children, young adults, adults, parents, partners, work colleagues or even to ourselves, the way we communicate and share – and respond - can have a huge effect on the outcome of our – and their - health, sanity, projects and relationships.
How many times in your life have you felt excited about something you've seen, heard, done or were planning to do, yet when you shared it with someone, their comments felt as if a bucket of ice water was dumped on your head? How many times have you felt all of your joy, happiness, excitement and enthusiasm destroyed?
At the other extreme, how many times have you felt frustrated, exhausted and ready to give up, when someone gifted you with a smile, a caring hug and words of encouragement that totally lifted your spirit? Looking back over your life, remember the people who, with a few kind, caring, encouraging words made your heart sing? Do you remember how positive, re-energized and re-committed you became? Those are the friends to keep around.
As humans, we are sensitive and often oversensitive. At the same time, we have a tendency to be critical of others and especially of ourselves. Regardless of whether we are talking to children, young adults, adults, parents, partners, work colleagues or even to ourselves, the way we communicate and share – and respond - can have a huge effect on the outcome of our – and their - health, sanity, projects and relationships.
Kindness, caring and compassion cost so little to give, and yet often has a huge impact on the person we are interacting with. So rather than criticize, look for the good in people. Take time to compliment a person. Be sensitive to what others are feeling and may be going through and ALWAYS see their magnificence, their divine soul essence.
Although this article is focused on how we communicate with others, it also pertains to how we treat and communicate with ourselves. Often there seems to be an “unkind” voice within us that puts us down, criticizes us and points out even our most minute imperfection. That voice is the wounded (disowned) part of our self that is crying out, begging for healing and acceptance.
The kinder, caring, compassionate and more loving we become – to ourselves as well as to others - the faster we will heal, learn, change, grow and evolve into the magnificent perfectly-imperfect human being we already are.
Isn’t today a great time to start?
Although this article is focused on how we communicate with others, it also pertains to how we treat and communicate with ourselves. Often there seems to be an “unkind” voice within us that puts us down, criticizes us and points out even our most minute imperfection. That voice is the wounded (disowned) part of our self that is crying out, begging for healing and acceptance.
The kinder, caring, compassionate and more loving we become – to ourselves as well as to others - the faster we will heal, learn, change, grow and evolve into the magnificent perfectly-imperfect human being we already are.
Isn’t today a great time to start?
