Back in the Summer of 1980, an incredibly nerdy, (I'm talking braces, headgear, Gi-normous glasses -the whole shebang) string bean of a young lad, stood over FOUR hours in a line wrapped halfway around our local Cineplex. It was exactly three years since the film “Star Wars” had shifted his entire perspective of the wondrous and transformative power contained within the modern mythological world of movies!! And on this very day, he was about to be magically transported once again, back into that world of rapturous cinematic delight through the screening of “The Empire Strikes Back.” I’m sure it took no debonair detective for you to correctly assume that the young man I'm describing is ‘Yours Truly!’
But while “Star Wars” captured my imagination with its unique use of heroic storytelling and mind-blowing (for its time) special effects, “The Empire Strikes Back” struck quite a different cord within me. If ever to be asked, it planted the first seed of spiritual awakening in my then 11 year old SELF! As I'm sure everyone in the New Age Nerd community is fully aware having seen the film, (wink!) midway through the story we are introduced to the iconic character of Master Yoda! A slightly cantankerous and at first easy to annoy little nine hundred year old fellow who at first throws our hero Luke Skywalker off his intentional course. Remember Luke had recently received his celestial CALLING to veer off the more astute path of his fellow comrades and visit the planet of Dagobah. The whisper of his late mentor Obi Wan Kanobi instructed him to do so in order to be trained in the ways of THE FORCE by this mystical creature.
Their first meeting causes Luke to lose his cool and allows his current level of conscious awakening to be brought into full display. Thankfully for Mr. Skywalker (and the audience) Yoda begrudgingly accepts to train him in the metaphysical and cosmic spiritual ways of THE FORCE! And therein too, my own ‘Super Heroic Spiritual Journey’ began! This New Age Nerd was rebirthed back into his ascension state with bliss filled balloons and party hats galore!
For my ally is The Force, and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it. Makes it grow. It's energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we. Not this crude matter. (Touching Luke's arm) You must FEEL the Force around you; here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere.
~~ Master Yoda
And with the simple utterance of those now glorified words, my own consciousness was awoken to the awareness of my own Super Heroic Higher Self! I'm not ashamed to admit that I coerced my mom into paying my way and seeing the film in the theatre over ten times that summer! Hey, that's how us New Age Nerds role! LOL I became more and more fascinated-enthralled actually- with this notion of THE FORCE. And with each new viewing of the film, became more interested in this unseen energy and how powerful it makes each and every one of us. (I know what you may by thinking. An 11 year old kid really delved that deep into this stuff?! I'll have you know I was voted most likely to become a priest three years in a row by my CCD class! So there! ;0)
FAST FOREWARD 20 YEARS-----------------------------------------
Now living in Los Angeles to pursue my own tinstletown dreams of making transformative comedic cinema, (those adventures to be left for another post.. PROMISE!) I began devouring spiritually based, self actualization books like a frenzied fiend! I got my Master’s in Spiritual Psychology. I began attending several different non religious houses of spiritual transformation. On the weekends, I began transcendental meditation classes on the beach in Malibu. I was fortunate enough to be mentored by several of the leading teachers in metaphysical/quantum field modalities!
Soon, I started sharing my newfound knowledge with my LA LA based Spiritual Tribe. And then they started coming to me for guidance and to help soothe their spiritual sores. And ya know what? It felt really good. In fact, looking back, it was the first time that I received what Joseph Campbell espouses THE CALL TO ADVENTURE! It's the spiritual ringtone from your Soul telling you, 'You're up next!' However, like the majority of us, I resisted to pick up the phone. Still trying to find my spiritual sea legs; a strong sense of self worth and triumph over the insidious FEAR of failure.
It took another ten years of starts and stops, soulful misgivings, false paths, one foot in and one foot out experiences before I FINALLY picked up the phone for good! And do you know what/who was on the end of that line? LOVE....PATIENCE....KNOWLEDGE and KNOWINGNESS.......
Please Be Patient With Me....
As My CALLING Has Been Patient...
And Your CALLING With You...
As CALLINGS Are Non Temporal...
Eternally Obedient...
A Contract Written With Remnant Tears...
From The Times They Were First Imagined..
And Birthed through JOY's LOVE and Laughter...
They are INTUITION Made Tangible Guide...
Sealed With God's Knowing Nod...
And So It Is........
Jeffrey Louis Martinez
And during the last 10 years, I have fully stepped into my calling. At times it's been messy as hell! More than a handful of times I've wanted to turn back. From time to time, FEAR still roars its vile head. And although the Gremlin in my head (I call him Uncle D) knocks on the door, packed bags at his side, attempting to will his way in for a visit still occasionally appears, I've gotten pretty damn good at telling him to go take a hike; and pretty please, LET the door hit you in the ass when you leave. LOL
But even with all that dastardly deviousness that still creeps in from time to time, the utter BLISS I feel when I am firmly planted in fulfilling my CALLING of being a spiritual teacher, self empowerment coach and transcendental mentor is like a cosmic, suds bath of utter joy. All because I know I have THE FORCE at my side! In fact, I AM THE FORCE! Always and in all ways! (And so are YOU!)
As I have said many times before, each and every one of us is here for a special Mission/Calling. One so unbelievably special and crucial to the continued expansion of the world’s collective consciousness that ONLY YOU can fulfill it! And in its own magical manner, it carries the potential to be absolutely disruptive in the planetary mission toward shaking others out of their own slumber! So it is my heartfelt wish that sooner rather than later, when you receive that call from the Universe saying....Get ready...You're Up Next.... that you look the cosmic director square in the eye and say.....I'm Ready For My Close Up!
In closing, I want to leave all you Special Sparks of Stardust with this fantastic inspirational quote :
Whatever your fate is, whatever the hell happens, you say, “This is what I need." It may look like a wreck, but go at it as though it were an opportunity, a challenge. If you bring love to that moment- not discouragement- you will find the strength there. Any disaster you can survive is an improvement in your character, your stature, and your life. What a privilege! This is when the spontaneity of your own nature will have a chance to flow. Then, when looking back at your life, you will see that the moments which seemed to be great failures, followed by wreckage, were the incidents that shaped the life you have now. You’ll see this is really true. Nothing can happen to you that is not positive. Even though it looks and feels at the moment like a negative crisis, it is not. The crisis throws you back, and when you are required to exhibit strength, it comes.
Joseph Campbell
BE SUPER HEROIC!
LOVE - SERVE - INSPIRE
Nerdmaste,
Jeffrey Louis Martinez
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