My Friend Michael

I read this book by Frank Cascio, not sure where it would take me, or leave me.  I was nervous about what he might have written that would be too revealing of Michael's personal life, or something that could be used against Michael in some way.  I was hoping it was not another betrayal, something that happened all too often in Michael's life.   In the end, I need not have worried.  Frank Cascio clearly adored Michael from the age of five, to now.  He was very careful to try to write completely honestly and fairly, and give us a view of Michael's life, that could only be told by Frank, because he was there.  For me, it rang true, and gave me comfort that Michael had a true friend by his side, and a regular family to be a part of.   He shows us how it was from inside Michael's world, not as an excuse, but as a way to help us understand him and his life.  I admire the way Frank does not presume to take any other point of view than his own, and does not venture outside of his own personal experience to describe what was happening.  This is not written by someone looking for his five minutes of fame, but someone who truly was a friend to Michael, always.

I love seeing the human side of Michael, the jokes, the fun and how much he truly was a child at heart all his life.  Anything that pulls me closer to Michael can only be good.  I love to know that he was not perfect, in the human sense.  At the same time, this books is like a microscope focused on one person's experience of Michael and by no means is a complete picture of Him.  I think that Frank purposely avoided mentioning anything about Michael's godliness, in the hopes of being taken seriously by readers and reviewers.  He could probably write another book about the enlightening experiences he had with Michael, but that is not the purpose of My Friend Michael.  It's like Frank's relationship was one piece of the puzzle, and all of us have our own piece to put in to make the whole picture of Michael's effect on the world.

I did not feel that Frank went too far in any aspect of his writing.  Nothing that he wrote disappoints me in any way.   We all need to be able to accept the fact that Michael was human, which to me, make his determination and perseverance to be what God wanted him to be, even more beautiful.  It makes me love him more, and be determined myself, to be what He would have me be and do what He would have me do.

Be Love Now - Call For Love Devotion December 21

‎..once you have experienced unconditional love, you have nowhere to go. You can run, but you can't hide. The seed is planted, and it will grow in its own time. You can only grow into who you truly are.
You may think you are free to come and go and play where you will, but the Beloved has taken you for his or her own, and in reality you can only surrender more and more to that divine attraction. 
ram dass - be love now - page 7


I am currently reading this book and am thoroughly enjoying the similarities between the description Ram Dass gives of his relationship with his Guru, and the relationship many of us have with Michael.  It gives an outside perspective and validity to what we have been experiencing.  


Be Love Now 

Ryder Michael

One week ago, on December 6, my daughter gave birth to a baby boy.  She invited me to be with her along with her husband during the labor and delivery.  As it often is when babies, doctors and hospitals are involved, all did not go according to plan, and she was rushed in for an emergency caesarian.  During the short time that I was waiting to hear what was happening, I was sending love to my daughter and the baby and praying for the safe birth of my grandson.  Who did I pray to?  It was Michael.
After I found out everything was fine and the family was already getting to know each other, I thanked Michael for being there for us.  He has become so much a part of my life, my every moment, that I had no doubt that he was with us then, and I naturally turned to him for comfort and for help.
That turned out to be one of the most wonderful days of my life.  To see my beautiful baby, being a mother to her own beautiful baby, along with the most devoted husband and father to them both, and being invited to share their very first day together was a gift that I will cherish forever.  
They named him Ryder Michael.  Needless to say, I am thrilled with his name.  I am so grateful that they live close by, and that I will be able to watch him grow up, and be a part of his life.  Is it too soon to start playing Billie Jean for him?  I bet he'd love it!

Michael Pointing to Enlightenment

We love Michael for so many reasons.  He has helped each of us individually with our problems, dreams, decisions, hopes, confidence and beliefs.  I am still amazed at how totally devoted I can be to someone I never met, and didn't even appreciate until he left the physical world.  It seems to me that he was sent from heaven and returned to heaven, and spent the 50 years in between showing us in every way he could, the way to reach heaven.  He sincerely wanted to show all of us the way to love, peace and happiness, which we can only find by helping each other to get there with us.  In many ways, the story of Michael is similar to the story of Jesus.  I hope that 2000 years from now, we do not have a religion based on Michael, with rules and behaviors set by people in authority, which totally idolizes Michael and makes it impossible for a regular person to ever interpret his message or be capable of following his teaching without the "authority" telling them what to think.  I think that Michael, like Jesus, wants people to follow his example in their own lives.  Love each other, do what they love to do, be the best they can be.  He does not want us to think of him as "different", meaning that we have no hope to ever attain his level of "LOVE".  Like the finger pointing to the moon, the finger is not the moon.  We miss the point if we never look past the finger, or the beautiful, amazing person that is Michael, to see the possibility he is showing us.

Right now, we are each having our own experiences, our own interpretation of his message, and that is the way it should be.  We can each trust our own intuition and heart.  Part of Michael's message is exactly that trust and faith in ourselves and our own ability to know what is right for us.  Someone posted a quote from Einstein today (When I tried to find it again, I couldn't see it, so I don't know who posted it, but thank you so much!)


 “The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.” 
― Albert Einstein

Michael showed us how a life can be lived by remembering the gift and directing the servant.  Let's show him that we get the message.

This is the back of a sweater that someone was wearing in the line-up of Subway two days ago. It was a long line, and I was about three people behind. I just had to leave my spot to go up and tell him how much I liked his shirt. I could see that it was well worn, and he said he had had it for years, and he has a few others as well. Returning to my spot to order my sandwich, I kept my eye on the guy with the shirt. After I got my sandwich I ran after him and asked if I could take a picture. He was with a group of co-workers, and I was thrilled to find another follower of Michael. This confirmed the decision I made a while ago, to always carry some sort of Michael bag, pin, shirt to keep him in the minds of people I interact with each day. Even if we don't talk, they will know I am a follower of Michael's, and I just might make a new friend, start up a conversation, give someone a Michael gift, or change someone's mind.

Every Day Create your MICHAELstory

M ay

I

C o-Create

H is 

A wesome

E verlasting 

L egacy

This week I have been listening to the HIStory album over and over, whenever I have been in my car, which is a lot!  I have to admit that this is one album I have not listened to as much as the others.  I found the songs just so SAD.  About causes and situations that need so much work, Little Susie, Earth Song, Scream, Stranger in Moscow, Tabloid Junkie, they all ripped my heart out, and I just didn't want to face these realities.   This week has been a whole new awakening.  These songs are so BEAUTIFUL, I can't get enough of them.  But History  - that is the one that really got to me.  It is the Answer to the other songs which point out the tragedies of the world.

Every day create your history

Every path you take you're leaving your legacy

Every soldier dies in his glory

Every legend tells of conquest and liberty

Don't let no one get you down

Keep movin' on higher ground

Keep flying until

You are the king of the hill

No force of nature can break

Your will to self motivate

She say this face that you see

Is destined for history

All nations sing

Let's harmonize all around the world

I realize we have to face the tragedies if we want to heal them.  It's ok to FEEL.  It took Michael Jackson to have the compassion and vision to look at difficult situations and bring them to light in his music.  I have been cowardly in avoiding what I don't want to look at, for my own comfort.  If I didn't look at it, I wouldn't have to do anything about it.  There are too many people like that in the world, and I don't want to be one of them anymore.

Whatever I am doing each day, is what my life is made of.  It is a long string of pearls and each one is another opportunity to create. There is another one, and a fresh start, each morning.  One middle aged woman is not going to solve all the problems, but she can handle whatever is in front of her to deal with, with as much love and compassion and vision as she has learned from Michael Jackson.  

CFL Devotion November 9 - Michael and Me

"People sit around the table and pray - and that's beautiful, but to DO something is the thing, you have to ACT."   


These words of Michael's have been haunting me lately.  I have been wondering what it is I am supposed to be doing.  What is the point of this journey I am on?  Am I meant to be spending my time on line looking at pictures of Michael, watching videos of him, missing him, talking about him, demanding justice for him?  Or is there more?  Yesterday I found myself, for the first time, wondering if I should go back to being "normal".  It seemed to me that I was kidding myself, maybe making this whole connection with Michael up.  Is he really still around?  Looking around the world, it seems that nothing is getting any better.  I have become so sensitive to the pain, that I can not even watch a bit of news, or a program about animals without it affecting me for days.  Seeing a mother yelling at her children in the market makes me fight back tears.  What is going on?  I never used to be this way.  I had been living in my own little world, maybe a little bored, but content.  Now the weight of the world is on my shoulders and it is just too much!  Better to go back to the way I was before I met Michael.


Luckily, I talked to my beautiful friend, Siren, about my feelings, and she immediately understood and talked to me, without any judgement, only love and understanding, as well as total confidence that we are not making this up, and there is a perfect plan that is unfolding.   Earlier, I had read Heaven's latest post on her HeavenLeigh Thoughts blog, and I went back to read it again.  This is the part that stood out for me:
 I have transformed to a place where you miss me, yet I am embedded in your thoughts and movements in a new and spectacular way. Fusion of spirit...no time...no separation. In a way it seems I am not with you, for I am now in you. 


In thinking about this as a message from Michael, (although Heaven does not say it is), everything suddenly became much clearer to me.  On that day in 2009 when I was "struck" by Michael's love, could it have been a merging of souls?  I became bigger, because a part of him was now a part of me, and he became bigger because I had become an extention of his love.  This would explain the change in how I viewed the world.  It was almost like I was seeing it from his eyes, and my continuing and growing compassion and love for all people, animals and the earth seem to be more typical of Michael, than the me I used to be.  If you multiply this by the number of people who have been affected by Michael, it would seem that we really are one, and he is here, through us.  Instead of waiting for Michael to let me know he is here, asking him what to do, needing him to take care of me, wanting the physical Michael back, although I never knew him then, this new perspective gives me the confidence and determination to BE what Michael would have me be.  I will know what that is, because he is now creating his dreams, with me, through me, as me.   It has been happening for two and a half years already, I just didn't know it.  My little book, Ever After, is a creation of Michael's and mine, together, as a gift to the world.  Neither one of us could have done it without the other.  My thinking has been much too small, and now I feel that a whole new way of thinking has opened up for me to grow, to be who I really am, to share the truth of Michael with whoever may be listening.  This does not mean that I won't be loving pictures and videos and music of Michael's, because his energy is still there for us, but I won't be thinking he is separate from me anymore.  And I definitely don't want to go back to being "normal"

Call for Love Devotion November 2 - Immortal

On November 4, 2010 I bought tickets for my husband, my daughter and myself to see the Immortal Tour show.  Last night was the day I had been waiting for, for three days less than a year.  I am not going to describe the show here, as I am sure many of you will be seeing it soon.

As I was sitting in my seat, in a city three hours from my home, I was looking around at the people and wondering how many of them were discovering Michael for the first time, right at that moment.  There had to be at least a few.  How could anyone hear that voice, that message, that creative genius with the heart of an angel and love for every life on the planet, and not be affected.  Personally, I was overwhelmed by the respect and love that was being shown to Michael.  It was not only about the music, but great care was taken to show the heart of the man who graced us by giving us everything he had, for 40+ years.  Being Canadian, I am a great fan of all Cirque du Soleil productions, and I am proud that their genius combined with Michael's genius to create such a spectacular tribute that will last forever.

It was beautiful, magical, incredible, and it made me love him even more.  I read a quote that was one of many in the giant program.
  "Since we are given the gift of life, it should be our persistent endeavor to immortalize ourselves no matter what field of endeavor we choose."  Michael Jackson.
Then I remembered,  that is what it's all about.  Michael's dream is coming true with the creation of this tour.  The Immortal Tour.

Call for Love Devotion October 26 - Perseverance

The word Perseverance has always seemed a bit negative to me.  It sounds like working hard fighting an uphill battle.  It seems like struggling against the flow.  Perseverance does not sound joyful.  To do this devotion I had to resort to looking up a definition of perseverance.  This is what I found

Steady persistence in adhering to a course of action, a belief, or a purpose; steadfastness.

Wow!  That sounds like dedication, devotion, determination, all words that I feel strongly about, especially when it comes to Michael.  It also sounds like the way Michael lived every minute of his life.    Has there ever been anyone who has shown more steady persistence in adhering to a course of action, a belief, and a purpose?  Maybe perseverance is something worth looking at again.

Every single witness in this trial is expressing love for Michael.  Saying how amazing he was, a genius, the best father ever, the kindest, most loving person. It is wonderful to see such love for him expressed by those who knew him, and also those who barely knew him.  Is Michael there?  Do they feel his presence when they are testifying?  Is our Call for Love working?  Is the whole world going to see the true Michael after this?  I am asking a lot of questions these days.

When I have time to watch the trial, I find it to be very encouraging.  The judge seems to be very fair, the prosecution lawyers are clear, direct, easy to follow.  The defence seems lost and disorganized.  The witnesses are painting a picture of the events and more importantly to me, they are showing who Michael was.  There can be no satisfaction for any of us in a conviction, other than the knowledge that a dangerous doctor can not harm anyone else.  Nothing will reverse the insanity of the situation that occurred.  The fear of Michael's name being dragged through the mud, has not materialized.  He has been recognized as the victim here, and the judge has not allowed any other distractions to be allowed into evidence.

Still, it can be very depressing.  Sometimes I feel like there is no hope for the world.  There just seems to be too much that needs to be done, too much anger, hatred, cruelty.  I feel like giving up.
If I just watch the news, or anything on TV, I find it dragging me down, sapping my energy.  Today I heard about shark fin soup, and how they get the fins, and my day was ruined.  I could only think about all the sharks, dolphins, whales, seals, and endless other animals that are suffering under human hands.  It was too much for me to bear.  How can we possibly turn it all around?

Then it was time for the Major Love Prayer.  I saw myself in the courtroom, looking at the jury, the judge, the lawyers, the defendant.  I actually saw myself walk over and kiss CM on the head.  (This was quite a shock to me)   The room filled up with white light, shooting up from the floor, spreading all through the courthouse, up to the sky and out like a ripple around the building in all directions, flowing out across the country, the oceans, spreading all around the world.  I felt myself holding hands with others in a circle around the globe.  I heard Michael singing the words, all around the world, all around the world, all around the world.

Steady persistence in adhering to a course of action, a belief, or a purpose; steadfastness.

Maybe there is hope.  When I think of Michael's children, and the strength and character they demonstrate, it gives me back my determination to persevere, not in an uphill battle, but with the flow of LOVE that they, and all of us, have learned from their father's example.

Call for Love Devotion October 19 - Faith of a Mustard Seed

When I was a child, I remember hearing this quote from Jesus (I don't know where I heard it, because we did not go to any church)  and I was amazed to think that nothing will be impossible for me.  I just had to figure out how a mustard seed had faith.  To me it seemed like a mustard seed didn't do anything at all, it was a mustard seed, and if you planted it, it would presumable grow into a mustard plant.   What did that have to do with faith?

As I grew up, I realized that there were many things that were impossible.  I only had to be realistic to see that.  It has been Michael who has shown me in the last two years, that it is true, nothing is impossible, for someone who has faith.   Now I have a small idea of what the faith of a mustard seed is.  I did have it right when I was a child, the mustard seed doesn't do anything!  The mustard seed is being a mustard seed.  There is nothing it needs to know about water, sun, sprouting, leaves, mustard, or anything else.  It only needs to be, and to allow it's own nature to be brought forth.  So it is with us, there is so little we understand, even about how our own bodies work, (does anyone know how we keep breathing, heal a cut, create a baby, think, beat our hearts?)  we really must let go of the idea that we are in control of anything at all.  We only need to be, and allow our own nature to be brought forth.

I know that we are a bit more complex than a mustard seed, but the basic truth remains.  To allow our own nature to be brought forth, we only need to do what Michael did, which was to say yes to his heart and follow his joy.  If a little mustard seed is guaranteed to become what it is meant to become, with only a bit of nurturing, would the universe have planned anything less for us?  If you love singing and dancing, then sing and dance.  If you love animals, be with animals.  If you love drawing, writing, reading, cleaning, cooking, then do it.  Nurture yourself.  All else will fall into place.  And nothing will be impossible for you.

She (his mother) taught me that my talent for singing and dancing was as much God's work

as a beautiful sunset or a storm that left snow for children to play in.   MICHAEL JACKSON

Call for Love Devotion October 12 - Miracles

There are two ways to live your life,

One is as though nothing is a miracle.

The other is as though everything is a miracle.

Albert Einstein 

I can only believe that this trial is a miracle.  The true Michael is being revealed beyond a doubt.  The true Michael is not what substance was in his body or how it got there.  The true Michael was not on that gurney or autopsy table.  What is important is not the physical side of life, it is the love that is not visible, but can change lives in an instant.  What is important is the selfless message of love that will be carried on and continue to change lives forever as a result of one man's devotion to mankind. Our bodies are temporary, as hard as that is for us to believe, and as much as we don't want it to be true.
We can not have the physical Michael back, but this trial is an opportunity for more people to be awakened to the true Michael and the truth within themselves.  And that is a miracle.

The way I know this is because I believe in miracles, and a miracle has happened to me.  It was not the physical Michael that woke me up to the miracle of life.  It was the Michael that lives on forever, as real as he was when he was in a body.  This Michael is pain free, happy, able to make a huge difference to all of us as he always wanted to do.  This Michael can sing, dance, never needs to sleep, and can not be hurt by unkindness.  He is here to help us in our time of need.  He is here to help us get through this trial.  He is here to show us a bigger picture that is much more beautiful than we could ever have imagined.  Let's let him help us to make his dreams come true.

MICHAEL THE MACHINE

Michael learned at an early age that his personal needs were secondary to those of the family and the show.  Being tired, hungry, sad, lonely was not as important as performing and meeting obligations.  When he was old enough to make his own decisions, he continued to follow this habit.  This was part of the reason that he was able to express so much of his potential as an entertainer.  He did not let his own personal comfort interfere with his practice schedule or creative endeavors.   As much as this became part of who Michael was, it cost him dearly.

When the bridge collapsed during a show, injuring Michael in the fall, he continued to sing and finish the concert.  When asked how and why he did it, he answered that he heard his father’s voice telling him that the show must go on, don’t disappoint the fans. 

His motivation was not money, other than as a means to fulfill his REAL work, which was to help children in need.   The This Is It concerts were no different.  His desire to help the children of the world by building a hospital which would heal the underlying need of making them feel loved and valued for who they are, kept him going even when his body was exhausted and his mind wouldn’t stop long enough to let him sleep.  

Many people who “handled” Michael, as well as Michael himself, saw his body as a machine.  They did whatever was necessary to keep the machine going, without care for the person inside that machine.  Michael did it selflessly, the others did it selfishly. 

As a result, we have lost the physical Michael, the wonderful talented loving man that was with us for most of our lives.  What can we do now to ease the pain of the loss, other than to do whatever we can to bring about the dreams and wishes he expressed.  Let’s not let him down.

Making Magic and Hope for the Future

Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour Footage

www.youtube.com

This week marked the premiere of the Cirque du Soleil - Immortal World Tour in Montreal.  Another one of Michael's dreams can be checked off the list.  He loved watching Cirque shows, and talked to John Branca in the weeks before his death about his dream of having a Michael Jackson Cirque production.  These shows combine the magic of illusion, with storytelling, artistic abilities and unbelievable feats of daring, strength and imagination.   The incredible music and dancing, combined with the unique 3D circus-like performance makes for a memory that lasts a lifetime.  These are magical productions that children and adults can appreciate and enjoy together.  I feel Michael spinning with delight at the launching of the Immortal World Tour in his honor.  As with all of Michael's tours, music, short films and everything else he did, the purpose is not solely entertainment.  The underlying purpose is to Heal the World.   With families spending time together, the suspension of reality, the possibilities opening people's minds, these shows will bring the truth of Michael to a whole new set of people who may not have realized who he was when he was here.   I hope my husband and daughter will be two those people when we go to the show on November 1.   I imagine my 14 year old realizing that anything is possible when you believe in yourself.  I imagine my husband thinking "maybe there is more to Michael Jackson than I previously thought."  I imagine people who see this show, feeling for some unexplainable reason that their dreams can come true too.  That is the Magic of Michael and the Hope for the Future.

I'm So Sorry

Dearest Michael,

I am so sorry that I was not there for you

No one was there

the most loved man on the earth

and you were all alone

How could this have happened?

My heart breaks again

for the lack of love

shown to you who gave everything

I am so sorry I wasn't there

or even aware

of who you were

and what you had done 

for all of us

When you left

you gave me life

and I selfishly celebrated my awakening

forgetting what it had cost you

Only now have I come to realize

the sacrifice you made for us

Please forgive me

Thank you

I love you

Flower Power - Call for Love Devotion Sept 20

     Daisies have always been my favorite flower.  When I got married at age 19, (yes it's true) I had daisies for my bouquet and on my wedding cake.  Everywhere I go, I notice them, and take pictures of them.  I don't know where this love began or why daisies make me feel so happy, but I know they do.  In all these years of loving daisies, I have never looked up the meaning behind them until today.  The flower symbolism associated with the daisy is purity, innocence, loyal love, beauty, patience and simplicity.  These are beautiful qualities, ones I don't always display myself, but ones that I admire.  

I remember hearing once, that flowers are the windows to heaven in the plant world, as babies and baby animals are in the animal kingdom, and crystals are in the mineral world.  Everyone loves flowers, babies, and crystals.  They are a symbol of all that is beautiful, fresh and pure. 

Next week, when the trial begins, I will be using daisies and sunflowers for my focus to send love to all involved, and all who are watching, and I will especially send love to those who will find this trial to be the beginning of their awakening to the truth of Michael.  I know there will be many of them, and when they come to Call for Love and other Michael pages and sites, searching for understanding as to what has happened to them, and wondering why they have suddenly developed such a devotion to Michael, we will be ready to welcome them on our journey to heal the world together, and make Michael's dreams come true.

Attitude - Call for Love Devotion September 14

"He cares about animals and nature,

 and he believes that with a positive attitude,

 we can have whatever we want."

Diana Ross, about Michael Jackson.

We have had lovely devotions focusing on gratitude this week already, so I have chosen to express my feelings about ATTITUDE!
Some people think they are like little boats being tossed around in the waves of life.  Others feel that they have control of the rudder of their little boat, steering it where they choose to go.  However you may feel about the workings of the universe, one think is sure.  Each of us had total control and choice about our attitude.  Our enjoyment of life, no matter what the circumstances or personal events may be, is in a large part decided by our attitude towards it.  If we feel that life is happening TO us, and we don't like what's happening, we can choose to have an attitude of resentment and anger, or we may choose to have an attitude of determination and strive for what we would like to see happen for us.  If we have everything we could ever want in life, we may have an attitude of smugness, or an attitude of fear of losing what we have, or we may have an attitude of giving, sharing and joy.  No one can force us to change our attitude, not by force, or by coaxing, unless we agree.  It is one thing that is always in our control, and it is also one thing that affects our enjoyment of life.
We all know examples of people who seem to have nothing, and are always joyful, as well as those who have all the material possessions imaginable and are miserable.  It is only their attitude towards their own life that differs.  Which one is truly blessed?
Michael is such a beautiful example.  He always had a positive attitude, never wavering in his faith of the goodness of people.  He always believed he could achieve his dreams, and he did.

One of the most important lessons we can teach our children is to have a good attitude.  They learn by watching us, so we would do well to pay attention to our own attitude in circumstances that come up, and see if a change would be beneficial to ourselves and those around us.  It's easy, once you try it a few times.  Next time someone upsets you, in traffic, in a store or restaurant, try smiling and sending them love, and keep your attitude positive.  The situation will be over in an instant, but your attitude about it can affect you for the rest of the day or longer.  What attitude will you choose?

One in Consciousness Devotion 7/9/11

I did not know Michael when he was here.  How is it then, that I have come to this place of having him be the centre of my life, my first and last thought each day, my focus whether I am in the grocery store, or on the top of a mountain?  I didn't meet him.  No one told me anything about him, or tried to convince me to learn about him.  It was Michael himself who reached out his hand to me on July 7, 2009 and opened my heart to a whole new world.  How could this happen?  It was mystifying to say the least, especially those first few months when I thought I was alone in this experience.  I didn't know how it had happened, but I knew that it had, and I KNEW for sure, who it had come from.


Every time I start to have doubts about my sanity, or wonder if I really am serving any useful purpose with my devotion to Michael, I only have to think back to that day, and remember that moment when his love filled me to overflowing.   I was not looking for him, I didn't know there was anything missing in my life.  He found me, he reached out to me, he filled me with love, and gave my life new meaning and purpose.  How did he do it?  I don't have the scientific answers, but to me, it was possible because we are actually One in Consciousness.

I now have many friends who feel the same about Michael, and who communicate with him, as I do.  None of us knew him personally, yet we have a connection that can not be denied, and through our love for Michael, we have developed a connection with each other.   We have awakened to our oneness.   One in consciousness.  We even seem to express similar thoughts, ideas, dreams at the same time.  The internet helps us to be able to see these synchronicities more easily.

We don't need to have physical bodies to be a part of this consciousness, in fact, bodies are probably a huge hindrance.  If we didn't have these bodies to contain our spirits, what would there be to keep us separate?  Nothing.  We would be pure consciousness.  Michael connects with all of us this way, because there really is nothing else.  One day, we will know much more about how this all works.  For now, it is enough for me to know that he is here, he loves us, and he is able to have a personal relationship with each of us, bringing out the best in all of us, for a purpose that is bigger than any of us can imagine.


I'll reach out my hand to you
I'll have faith in all you do
Just call my name, I'll be there

Ripples of Love

Each of us

has so much to give

It's what we're here for

yet we hold back

Wondering

are we good enough

are we worthy

Who are we to be

what we imagine we could be

afraid of failure

afraid of success

afraid of change

Yet

if we try

if we listen

to the whisper

in our hearts

the joy

the love

will fill us to overflowing

beyond anything

we could ever have imagined

and maybe

by just saying yes

we will give someone else

the courage

to try

Celebrating Michael in Service

It is such an honor to be a part of the MJ community.  There is so much love, awakening, giving, sharing, learning, and growing going on for all of us.  The birthday celebrations and projects are sure to have Michael smiling and twirling in joy and love.  I think he approves of us giving him the gift of doing our part to make his dreams come true.  Vaccinations, children's parties, money for orphans, children's homes, and so many more, as well as endless individual acts of love, all in his name.  It is a joy to be a part of.  Michael said,  "People sit at the table and pray, and that's beautiful, but doing something is the thing, we have to ACT."  I see that we are acting, as his advocates, devotees, emissaries of love, representatives, disciples, followers, students, gopis.  Whatever we call ourselves, we are carrying on Michael's work and wishes and with his guidance and inspiration, we are making a difference and changing the world.  He said, if each of us could help just one person, its a big step forward, because there's a lot to be done.  We hope you like all your birthday presents, Michael.  They are only a drop in the bucket compared to what you have given us.

My beautiful friend Siren, and I, spent the day together celebrating Michael on his birthday.  We had set the day aside, making arrangements to have the time free for our little trip to Banff and Lake Louise in the beautiful Rocky Mountains only a couple of hours from home.   Having lived here for so many years, we tend to take our local attractions for granted, but as I had planned to write about our day for my devotion, I was looking at everything through the eyes of all of you who have never been here and it helped me to appreciate the wonder of it.

We had planned to make Stones of Love for Michael and leave them at the top of Sulphur Mountain, where there is an old Cosmic Ray Station and a weather station.  Cosmic Ray, sounds so Michael like that we thought it would be a good place to go to celebrate him on his birthday.  There is a gondola that takes people to a big lookout station with a restaurant, and from there it is a bit of a walk to another peak where we planned to leave the stones.

Proudly wearing our Michael T-shirts, and knowing it was going to be a warm and sunny day, we forced ourselves to take time to stop for gas before we left the city.  As I waited to pay for my gas, I heard an older lady asking for help to put coolant in her car.  The cashier told her that the gas attendants are not allowed to do for her, as they are not mechanics.  Normally, I would not even think twice about the lady and her predicament, but being Michael's birthday, and wanting to ACT as he would, I offered to put the coolant in for her.  She was very happy to have my help, and as I was pouring it for her (hopefully into the right opening) I showed her my shirt and told her it was Michael's birthday and I was remembering him by helping her.   I think she thought I was a bit crazy, but she appreciated the help.   Feeling great for making the effort to do this small random act of kindness, we drove out of town and stopped at a drive through coffee shop in Canmore about an hour later.  This time we asked to pay for the order of the person in the car behind us.  This is something I have often thought of doing, but have never followed through on.  The cashier warned us that the lady's order was a big one, but we were excited to have the chance to give again.

On the highway again, we headed for Lake Louise, listening to Michael and catching up on all we had to share with no computer or telephone between us.  I highly recommend to everyone to find someone who lives close enough, or if not, make the effort to go and meet other Michael followers.  It is wonderful to be able to share feelings, thoughts, insights without holding back, or wondering if the other person thinks you are insane.  It is wonderful to have the time to get deeply into the conversation without having to sign off, or hang up, due to personal or business responsibilities.
We walked along the path at Lake Louise, Siren offering to take pictures for tourists and enjoying the beauty of the day, and then had lunch on an outdoor patio looking out over the lake.   Time was magically flying by, so we headed back to Banff, to the bottom of Sulphur Moutain to get on the gondola.  There were many, many people there, and we were probably the only Canadians in the waiting line.  There was a bus load of Japanese tourists, and people speaking French, German and other languages we didn't understand.   We got in a car with a Japanese couple, and with Siren keeping her eyes closed all the way,  rode above the trees, with the parking lot and town of Banff, fading away until there was nothing but tree tops and sky around us.  Soon we were being welcomed at the top.  We didn't stay at the main building where most of the tourists were, but started on our walk over to the Cosmic Ray Station.

Finding a spot where we could leave the main walkway, we looked for some nice flat stones, and sat on a big rock to enjoyed the sun and the view.  We got out our markers and our Dancing the Dream book and made our Stones of Love for Michael.  There are so many incredible quotes from Michael to choose from, it was tough to settle on only a couple.  I was imagining visitors walking up and reading one of our stones, and realizing that Michael is much more than they had realized.  Our only company was a little chipmunk who suddenly appeared standing between us on our rock.  Since we didn't have any food, he quickly lost interest in us, and disappeared into the rocks.   Times was magically flying by, and we gathered our markers and stones and headed back to the walkway to go up to the top of the lookout.  We tucked our stones along the way, where they could be seen, but hopefully not disturbed too easily.   It was getting cloudy, windy and cooler as we reached the Cosmic Ray lookout point.  We put our last stones, along with a birthday card for Michael under the steps of the weather station cabin.

At the very top of the lookout point, it was very windy.  We were waiting to be alone, as there was one more thing we wanted to do for Michael's birthday.   Finally, we just couldn't wait any longer, and in spite of the other few people around, we shouted out together "We love you Michael"  into the wind.  Just then, as we looked at the clouds, there was a heart shaped opening with light streaming through.  Siren snapped a couple of pictures, and then it was gone.  Hugging each other, and having done what we came to do, we hurried back down to the top of the gondola, half afraid that the wind would cause it to be closed and we would have to walk down the mountain in the dark.  No worries, it was much calmer when we got there, and we were soon zooming down the mountain.  A quick dinner in Canmore, lots of conversation and music all the way home, and before we knew it, our day was over.  It was like a time warp, one day of a different life, which we can hold in our hearts, along with Michael.  Just something else to be grateful to him for.  My intention is to continue to Celebrate Michael in Service, not only for his birthday, but as my ongoing gift to him, to myself, and to the world.

I have posted an album of pictures on my facebook page for anyone who would like to see them.
Celebrating Michael Aug29/11

One in Love

Nothing real can be threatened

Nothing unreal exists

Herein lies the Peace of God

This quote is from the introduction to A Course in Miracles.  I think if we could really understand the truth of these words, we would actually become enlightened beings, finally remembering who we truly are.  Everything in the physical world can be threatened, so if the above statement is true, it must mean that the physical world is not real.  What is there that can not be threatened?  The only thing I can think of is Love.  I know for sure, that nothing can change my love for Michael, my love for my children, my family, the planet, the joy of giving to others.  No one can touch that, no matter what is going on in the physical world.  Michael said, when we're gone, all that's left is the love.  


During the upcoming trial, I would like to ask you all to join in the intention of holding this space, Call for Love, to be truly loving.  If we can remember, even during the difficult time ahead, that only love is real, we can have an actual healing effect on the proceedings, or at least provide a safe, caring place for us to come to be filled up with love to face the day again.  Let other places handle the discussions, the pros and cons and controversy, anger and indignation.  We can blanket Call for Love, with love and only love, for our own sake, for Michael's sake, For the sake of peace on earth.  There is so much more at stake than the outcome of one trial, however important that trial seems to be.


What is at stake is the credibility of us as Michael's voices, hands, feet, and ears in this world.  Our behavior during the trial will affect the future of our work for him.  It will affect how the outside world views him, and us, and takes us as a serious force of change or not.  Can we stand together, outside the courthouse with Sunflowers as our symbol of unity, peace and love for Michael.  Can we stand together on our one small facebook page and spread the word of love for everyone, even those who appear to be unworthy of our love.  What would Michael do?  He would tell us that we are all One in Love with Him, forever.  It's the only thing that's real.

One in Pain - Call for Love Devotion August 17

Sometimes it seems that the purpose of life is to avoid pain
Pain causes suffering
the two seem to go together
Then again, maybe they don't need to
Could it be that it is not the pain, but the suffering that we don't want?
I recently got a tattoo
There was pain for sure, but there was no suffering
In fact, it was pain that I looked forward to
because it was for something that mattered to me
I had chosen the pain

Maybe pain and suffering do not need to go together
suffering comes from wanting things to be different than they are
If we accept things as they are, the suffering can be greatly reduced
I know this is hard when we have lost someone we love,
or if we are sick,
or our life is not going the way we would like
these are the times when we have a choice to suffer or not,
or at least how long we will continue to suffer

Pain has another side,
it has a purpose
and a potential for growth and love
which is far greater than the suffering

If we share our pain,
if we help others with compassion
if we see how much we are loved
or show others they are loved
if we give from our hearts in someone's time of need
if we carry on, in their name, doing what they would do
if we learn more about ourselves and who we really are,
there need not be undo suffering,
pain can be a blessing
if it helps us to become ONE
because that is what we are here for
and pain is one way we can get there

So let's skip the suffering
Let all things be as they are
and remember to love one another
using everything that happens in our lives
to express who we really are
even the pain

Isn't that what Michael did?

One in Joy - Call for Love Devotion August 10

In my early twenties, I had a palm reading done for me, just for fun.  One of the things he told me was that, when I was fifty, I would have more than most people ever attain.  At the time, I thought two things,  one was that I was going to be rich, and the other was that it was so far in the future that there was no point even thinking about it.  Fifty, to me, was an eternity away!  I didn't give much thought to that reading again, and I certainly have not become independently wealthy.  This week, when I was thinking about the topic of One in Joy, the palm reading kept coming to mind.   I kept shaking it off - thinking it had nothing to do with Joy.  Even as I sat down to write, I had no intention of sharing this story, but here it is again.


It is now apparent to me that the riches I imagined I would attain at the age of fifty were not riches of possessions and money.  It wasn't material stuff that was seen for me, it was more real than that.  It was Joy.  That prediction of so long ago really has come true.  What I have received as a gift, at this time in my life is the Joy of having a meaningful purpose in my life, what I consider to be the meaning of life, which is to truly love others, to truly give of ourselves, to truly care about each other and our planet.  I feel these things in my heart, whereas before, I knew what was good and right, but did not necessarily FEEL it.  I learned to truly FEEL joy in my heart, from Michael Jackson.

I believe that God is Love, and the FEELING aspect of Love is Joy.  I think that Michael's purpose here was, and is, to teach us about Joy.   Our true Joy comes from doing what we love to do, and sharing it with others, as Michael always did.


We are starting to prepare ourselves now for the trial that is ahead.  Feelings are rising,  we all love Michael so much, we can not bear for his passing to go unpunished.  My question is, can we place our focus on Michael's life as an agent of change, rather than the very unsatisfying possibility of a 4 year sentence being the goal.  We will feel no better the day after that sentence is pronounced than we did the day Michael was taken from this physical world.  The only thing that will help to heal our pain is to show the world and ourselves, that we will never allow his message to fade, that no meagre prison term will compensate for the value of what he gave to the world.  My intention is to focus on the resurrection rather than the crucifixion.   This does not mean that there should be no consequences for the person, or people, who caused the loss of life, it only means that those consequences are not what will heal us or the world.


I am so proud to be a part of the MJ community.  The wonderful work that has been done in Michael's name has already made a huge difference to so many people.  It is uplifting to read the writing, watch the videos, see the donations to worthy causes, the projects of all kinds.  This is the way we are changing the world.  This is how we become One in Joy, for Michael.


What we know about how the Universe works, is smaller than a drop in the ocean.  We can only see the tiniest part of the whole picture.  How can we possible understand the meaning behind events from our perspective.  All that is ours to do, is to follow our own Joy.  This is how we can show Michael that we understand his message of LOVE.  I am so grateful for the gift of Joy that I have received.  I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Leaps of Faith - Call for Love Devotion August 3

Faith, I think, is that thing in our souls that tells us we are right when everyone else is telling us we are wrong. This is a quote from Diana's devotion of earlier this week.  It really touched me, because this is the message that I am inspired to share with others.

  It is my passion and joy to encourage
 people, including myself, to 
say Yes to our Hearts and do whatever
 it is we are here to do, as Michael 
always did.  This is the message I hope is conveyed in Ever After, with the story of Michael's life.  His faith never faltered, no matter what, and we can use his example to help us to do the same.  If we listen to that faith, that truth, that knowing inside us, our lives will change in ways we never could have imagined.   Faith is believing, that the Universe is a safe place, that God is with us, that everything is happening just as it should, and all is well.





This is
where the leaping part comes in.  We can say that we have faith, we can think that we have faith, we can hope and imagine that we have faith, but when we really find out if we do or not, is when we are standing on the edge of a decision, something new and unknown, and we need to take that step forward.  No matter how hard and long we look ahead, we can not see where we are going.  There are no guarantees, that's why it's called faith.  The amazing thing is, that as soon as we take that step, the bridge is there for us.


I have taken leaps of faith in my life, sometimes I have waited so long at the edge of the decision that it was more like being PUSHED off the edge instead of leaping.  Since Michael has come into my life, I have made many more leaps, and they seem to be getting bigger and more meaningful as time goes on.  They also are becoming easier, as my faith grows.