MODERN MYTH MESSAGES: Mr. Holland’s Opus… !

 

From Buena Vista Pictures: MR. HOLLAND'S OPUS

Back in Portland, Oregon circa 1965, the trained and talented music composer, Glenn Holland, decides to temporarily forgo his own artistically merited dreams and aspirations.  All so he can spend more time with his wife and deaf son. He somewhat reluctantly decides to accept a music teaching position at John F. Kennedy High School. All the while, behind many soulful scenes, attempting to create a profound orchestrated musical 'Opus.'  One that would be left behind as his own lasting legacy.

During the next 30 years as a music instructor and teacher, he unexpectedly unearths his own life's true CALLING!  Not anything he could have ever pre-planned, but something even greater than the life he always longed for.

Now forced into early retirement due to artistic budget cuts, Mr. Holland enters the music auditorium he called home for 30 years, for the very last time. But what he receives on this day is overwhelming and overtly, emotionally stirring, brewing with the TRUTH behind each of our own life's Superhero's Journey!


Gertrude Lang: (Mr. Holland's former student, now the Governor of Oregon, takes the stage full of Mr. Holland's former students)  Mr. Holland had a profound influence on my life and a lot of other lives I know. But I have a feeling that he considers a part of his own life misspent. Rumor had it he was always working on this symphony of his. And this was going to make him rich, famous, probably both. But Mr. Holland isn't rich, or famous, at least not outside of our little town. 

So it might be easy for him to think himself a failure. But he would be wrong, because I think he has achieved a success FAR beyond riches and fame. Look around you. There is not a life in this room that you have not touched, and each of us is a better person because of you.
We are your symphony, Mr. Holland. We are the melodies and the notes of your opus. 

WE'RE THE MUSIC OF YOUR LIFE!

Mr. Holland's orchestral piece, never performed in public, has been tastefully placed upon over a hundred of his former student's musical stands from the past 30 years; who are now willing and ready to perform for their own SUPERHERO up on center stage! Before they begin to play his own piece of orchestrated lifelong LOVE, they invite him up on stage to conduct his very own 'Life's Opus!' for an adoring crowd!



All of life itself is a grand, orchestrated series of musical notes! Written in the stars by a GOD who never skips a beat! Each and every day, we are creating our own Lasting Legacy through the musicality of our thoughts, words, and deeds. That's precisely why every generation's imprint on the fabric of the Universal tapestry that eventually unfolds the TRUTH of the state of our collective consciousness is so priceless! Please remember that you can always hide one's true nature from yourself, but never from the One God Mind herSELF! Try as you like, it's pure fodder for those Spirits who still believe spiritual fragmentation serves anyone still dazed and confused by the egoic illusion and allure of separation! 

And the more you ponder this Universal Law, the more your so called 'missteps,'  transform into the much needed back beats that although mostly unheralded, always become the relied upon benchmark that finally awakens you; actually enlightens you to this understanding: it's the most challenging of your own life's trials and tribulations that offers the greatest opportunity for 'Soul Filled' growth! And as Mr. Holland discovered, we must often leave behind the life we planned for, so that we may live the grander life that has always been waiting for us! 

The greatest spiritual masters have always taught it is through life's greatest PAIN, that you have the most to GAIN! And everlasting, soul filled prosperity can only be gained through the chambers of Collective Consciousness. The realm of eternity, that while never judges another's Journey, also totes a time travelled wisdom which always offers a perfectly 'orchestrated' understanding in course correction toward the Holy Grail behind every Superhero's Journey!

That being the completion of our individual life's CALLING, combined with the remembrance of the eternal growth and wisdom which always accompanies the core completion of our very own 'Musical Opus.'  One to be everlastingly heard through the brightest of GOD's Universal Musical Playmakers amongst the stars! 

What would it look like to start living your life in a manner in which you truly believed your every word, thought, and deed was actually a magnanimous note of your own personal OPUS held in reverent care by the UNIVERSE? In essence, the very 'beats' and so called 'realities' of your life were being created by both the conscious and unconscious choices you make during every moment in this illusion of time and space. Because, I come today as the bearer of great truth! For that is exactly how your own life has and will always be played out! I'll give you a few minutes for some much needed deep thought into the understanding I just dropped on all my fellow New Age Nerds!

First and foremost, please remember I stated your every word, thought, and deed was held in deep care and reverence by the YOU-niverse! Hopefully, that knowingness, in of itself, will help you all relax from any limiting belief based paradigms deeply planted and rooted in a state of FEAR and LACK.  Any default thought programs that have thwarted prior attempts meant to break you away from the illusions of the egoic mind and keeping you held in a vibration of being a VICTIM of all your prior life's circumstances. 

You are here for a specific reason. And you matter more than you could possibly imagine! And this Universe, in alignment with Albert Einstein's beliefs, is a place of utter compassion and forgiveness! 

Can I get a big 'ole "Hell Yes" up in this congregation. Because I know, although I have diligently practiced unification in all I say, think, and do, I have been far from perfect! Just sayin' and always praying'.   ;0) 

Luckily, I was a fortunate to have my very own 'Mr. Holland' in my life.  My father Roger Lee Poston. (Stepdad, but will always just be my Pop!)

Some believe that angels are ordinary souls who come into your life to help you believe in MIRACLES once again.  If this sentiment bares any truth, than I met my first ANGEL when I was still a young lad  My birth father had abandoned our family while we were living out in California, leaving my mom with two small children, little use of her right arm from a horrendous car accident, and absolutely no money.  But as Napoleon Hill always said, “Within every adversity, every failure, and every heartache there lies within it a seed of an equal or greater opportunity.”

Opportunity comes in many forms.  And often not wrapped in the way we would have ever imagined them to be.  Such was the case with Roger Lee Poston!  I first met this slice of Heaven's Heartthrobs when my mom moved my sister and I from California to Washington DC. (My birth father had abandoned us in Los Angeles, leaving my mom penniless and nursing a shattered arm from a hit and run accident!)  He was still a relatively young man and was friends with my mom's sister. They were both teachers just starting out on their career Journeys. Although we were in many ways an unlikely dynamic duo, it was absolutely ‘Friends at First Sight.’  He was a good ole' country boy from the pan handle of Virginia; think 'The Beverly Hillbillies' sans the ‘Beverly’ part.  He had thick, curly hair and despite his very best efforts, a dialect that was laced with the Southern twang garnered from growing up in a little town called Saltville, VA;  known as the ‘salt capital’ of the Confederacy during the Civil War. His face was quite pale; in fact I always teased him that he had three colors: white, red, and redder!  LOL  Pop was short and stocky with forearms and calves that rivaled those of Popeye.  

His aesthetic contrasted greatly with mine.  I was super skinny with straight, jet black hair and olive skin.  Leaner than a "fritter on a fryin' pan."  I was also painfully shy and introverted. (hard for anyone who knows me now to contemplate)  Due to the harsh traumas from early childhood, trust was an emotion that felt foreign to my sensibility.  I had been surrounded and raised by women until this extraordinary man appeared in my life. Suddenly, I was being introduced into the world of ‘guy stuff’ on a daily basis.  From comic books and 7-11 slurpees, to movies and batting cages, putt-putt golf and Spiderman early morning cartoons. The world suddenly exploded into a cacophony of glorious geekdom!  

And it wasn't just me; as he showered my sister, mother, and the rest of the Lapham (my mom's maiden name) clan with the same sense of love and reverence.  So when my mom set my sister and I down to let us know he had asked her to marry him, for the first time in my young life, my heart felt a sense of peace, and security.  I finally felt......... SAFE!  

I still remember the very first time I was able to garner the courage to call him DAD.  He was getting ready for work, and I paced back and forth just outside his bedroom door.  Practicing all the while, the manner in which I was going to approach him about it. I placed my ear up to the door and could hear him just about to emerge into our downstairs rec-room. My palms were sweaty and my heart was literally pounding out from my chest. Until, the door opened and as he walked out of the bedroom, I tentatively stepped in front of him and looked him square in the eye.   

“I have a question for you,” I said in a hushed voice.  It took all the intestinal fortitude I could muster, my bottom lip quivering just a bit, before finally garnering the courage to ask “Is it OK if I call you Dad?”

He stayed silent for a few precious moments which seemed like an eternity. He placed his right hand on my shoulder and said “Jeff, I have been waiting for you to ask me that for several years.  And there is nothing in this world that would make me happier!”  He then pulled me in for one of his well known "bear hugs" and then he started to cry.  Soon thereafter, tears started raining down my cheeks.

But it is what he said next, which has been permanently imprinted into my reverence and reverance of him.  “Jeff, just promise me one thing,” he said.  “Although I will ALWAYS consider you to be my son, if the day comes where you choose to try and meet Danny (my birthfather) I will always support you.  He was part of the process that brought you to me, and for that I will always hold a space of gratitude for Danny in my heart. And I will until the day I die.”  Now it's one thing to utter such good intentions, but my Dad did something I consider to be one of the most powerful testaments toward unconditional LOVE  I have EVER received. Despite many of the ugly acts that Danny brought about us in the years that followed, Dad never once spoke even one word of judgement or ill-will towards him.  I knew it was out of respect and still ponder in a complete vibration of awe whenever I think about this act of unfathomable respect for a man who caused my family so much pain.   

I contribute so much of who I AM to this man of undeniable strength and authenticity.  He taught me what it means to live life as a 'Gentle Man.' Here is just a sampling of his teachings to me:

~~  Never be afraid of your emotions Jeff.  One of the greatest signs of inner strength and courage is to never be afraid to cry.  In fact, I think as a whole, we shed more tears at the movies to fill an olympic sized swimming pool!

~~Women are the greatest gift to this world. And should be treated as such. If I ever find out you have mistreated a young lady, I will ‘kick you through the goalposts of life.’  If you want to find out what that looks like, test me! lol

~~ Don't ever let anyone confuse your kindness for weakness.  They are NOT the same thing.  Buyer beware!

Looking back, my Dad was the very first Superhero I ever met.  Not only did he work two, sometimes three jobs to put food on the table, but HE NEVER CALLED IN SICK IN 40 YEARS.  He considered his teaching occupation as 'JOYOUS PLAYING!'  Not working.  I never once heard him complain, even when I could see the toll of working 80 hour work weeks for over 20 years wearing him down to the bone.  He was a true warrior who lived a life that was completely personified by hard work and being of loving service, always and in all ways.   

This may be hard to believe, but I never saw him buy anything for himself.  He was much more concerned with making sure his students had anything they needed. Always quick to think of others during any trip to the mall.  “Hell fire Jeff.  The only thing I truly need is the love of your mother, you and Sandy,” (my sister) was his super heroic catchphrase!   

Always a man of his word, he never let me down one time during our several decades long relationship. And he didn't even need a 'Batsignal.'  His Spidey-sense was always set to surprise and service. Back in 1997,  when I spent almost a year in the hospital battling Crohn's disease, he came for a visit EVERY SINGLE DAY. All while working two jobs. And I mean it;  dsd never skipped one day, always sneaking in a tasty treat, a comic book or one of my favorite films.  

So in 2013, when he was diagnosed with a rare and devastating form of cancer, I had no problem leaving my job and moving into my parent's basement to help with the massive amount of daily care he required.  Although he fought the dis-ease so valiantly, the cancer eventually spread to his brain.  And he passed away in December of that same year.  

I was fortunate enough to be alongside his bed while he passed away. In fact, my mom, sister, aunt Rena, and my girlfriend at the time were all there holding vigil over him.  The manner in which he transitioned was as close to a MIRACLE as I have ever witnessed.  With only the use of one eye, he was truly able to connect to everyone there.  He lovingly gazed at each of us as we said our individual goodbyes.  But when he got to my side of the bed, his one eye intently glaring into mine without blinking, I felt .....  HEAVEN itself.  "Heaven on Earth!"  His soul was slowly leaving its body temple, while a precious piece remained so we could say goodbye.  While I leaned in close to him, thanking him for all the LOVE, support, and guidance he poured upon me, something magical happened.  I received a quick glimpse of a future period of NOW. Without saying a word, he was communicating with me in a manner far more clear than using any type of vernacular.  The best way I can explain it is to think of a portal opening up.  It contained images of what my life was to become.  And the message was crystal clear.  It was time for me to start committing to my own PURPOSE and beginning the next stage of my Superhero's Journey.  I felt a sense of peace and utter knowingness in that moment of what I needed to do.  

Dad took three, slow, deep breathes, and then transitioned back into the LOVE of BLISS.  And although I was understandably sad, he had, in those final moments, given me the greatest gift of all! KNOWINGNESS.  It was time for me to use my pain and suffering to become a Wounded Healer.  And for once, I wasn't afraid to take that leap.  My dad showed me a glimpse of the support behind the ‘Curtain of a Heavenly Oz.’  Once taking the smallest sip from source energy that was available to me in my dad's final breathes, I just knew the complete shift I was being asked to take in my life!

I wish that my own Superhero's Journey took a turn toward pain free redemption after those experiences. But the 'Universal Prose of Poetry' doesn't always begin devoid of pain.  In fact, I have come to understand that new beginnings often start with the pain of ending old relationships and situations that no longer serve us. But through my own travels, I have learned that letting go of anything that no longer serves us, creates and cleans out the space for the Universe to fill in that hole with All Things that are for our highest good!

So today I ask you; if you now perceived your life as a collaboration with a compassionate Universe that kept the individual notes and "Best of Beats" towards creating your own 'Optimum Opus,' eventually to be shared with the world, how might your thoughts, words, and deeds change? Towards both yourself and all others? Because, in all reality, that is exactly what we are all co-creating in every moment of NOW, as Mr. Holland was so gracefully taught! A multi-layered and majestic "Magnus Opus" for all ages!

BE SUPER HEROIC
LOVE-SERVE-INSPIRE

Nerdmaste,

Jeffery Louis Martinez

Have You Hit ROCK BOTTOM.. Congratulations!! Here’s why…

 

 

I have a voracious appetite for biographies.  It started around my late 20's when I had gone through the first, of what eventually became many "Rock Bottom" periods of this experience called life. Not that misery loves company in my book, but from an INSPIRATIONAL standpoint, I love to learn how far down the rabbit hole someone had to fall before they picked themselves off the mat and rebuilt their life.  It gives me hope and a fervent vigor that if they can do it, so can I, damn it! And so what have I ascertained from the comeback stories of so many iconoclasts and spirits of great reverence?  I have learned that HITTING ROCK BOTTOM IS THE GREATEST THING THAT WILL EVER HAPPEN TO YOU!  So if that is where you currently find yourself to be, BRAVO!  And if anyone happens to inquire about your current set of circumstances, may I suggest you simply smile and say, "Right now I just happen to be in between life successes!"  You are EXACTLY where you are meant to be! Now I am the first to say that being in this temporary situation is by NO MEANS easy!  In fact, it can be quite harrowing and even down right brutal at times.  But as the creator of the billion dollar Harry Potter franchise has repeatedly stated, “I built my entire life from the foundation of being at rock bottom.”  And utter LOVE

For those who don't know her story, she was a single mom, completely out of money and close to losing her home. One day, sitting in a cafe and in a state of utter desperation, she wrote down the basic outline for Harry Potter on a napkin. Even though she had never written a novel in her entire life. (and she was in her late 30's)  As we all now know, she has become one of the richest people in the world!  And her story is FAR from unique.  There are countless stories of individuals who have hit rock bottom only to scale the heights of abundance through blood, sweat, perseverance and plain old determination.    

Before fingers start being pointed in my direction, regular readers of The New Age Nerd know a great deal about the times I have hit my own version of Rock Bottom.  And I must admit, when you are in the middle of the storm, it can feel downright awful. As if life's oceans are bombarding you with spiritual shards of painful pieces of a life that now seems shattered beyond repair. And your FAITH seems to be no where in sight. For rather than dipping our toe into the illusionary pond of illusion, we JUMP RIGHT IN, sans any bathing/BIRTHING suit.  For when life brings us to our knees in this fashion, it usually means that we area about to birth a MIRACLE! And the birthing process is an arduous one. As any mother of such daunting deeds will fully attest to. ;0)

But as part of the process, you go through a period that I like to call a BREAK OPEN.  Others call it a BREAK DOWN, but I prefer to transcend that limiting energetic offering by deeming it a BREAK OPEN.  Because I have come to the realization that your own heart uses this period to completely shatter itself into something that can later be rebuilt!  Into a perfect painting worthy of any artist's awe and inspiration!  And when this transformation occurs, the ONLY thing that pours out is complete LOVE!  It is very much like the process that a caterpillar goes through during its transformation into a butterfly; for once that miraculous process occurs, THERE IS NO GOING BACK! And the collective whole of each precious SOUL sharing expanded loving energy  will eventually reconnect with the Grand Creator herSELF!  All to assist in the grand expansion that this Universe is currently desiring! How frickin' cool is that!  We are all Superheroes collecting shards of expansive love in a "Billion" different forms. All so that this Universe and the Grand Creator who gave it birth, can experience the passion, joy, kindness, peace, wisdom, and blasts of bliss filled LOVE that will forevermore expand the energetic FORCE of creation to newly filled heavenly heights of pure KNOWINGNESS! NO PRESSURE MY TEAM OF SUPERHEROES!

It is usually during this time that we begin the process of understanding our purpose.  Because as I have repeatedly stated in this blog, we all have the exact same purpose.  Which is to flood this world with a 'Billion Buckets of Love," all through being of service toward ourSELVES and all of mankind!  And so once our heart breaks open, the Love that gushes out can be channeled toward the manner in which you choose to share it! It's all part of the Superhero's Journey......

However, this period of our collective Journey will at times be filled with gut wrenching pain and Soul Crushing loneliness! And we will feel periods of angst imbued with the loss of everything that has come to define the existence of anything we once believed defined our individual reason for BEING.  And during this Earthly period of transformation, we let go of those things that no longer serve us.  This can be in the form of friends, relatives, jobs, and lovers.  Not to mention old belief patterns and paradigms that formed the old foundational systems of our life "pre-Break Open!"  And that is NOT AN EASY PROCESS!  It's also why so few SPIRITS hear the call of their own Soul and pick up the phone to answer the voice on the other side. That soothing voice that will guide your individualized Spirit back toward its earthly mission!  

In my experience, and those of SO many I have coached, heard and read about, the gifts that come from the courage to hit Rock Bottom and never give up are almost too many to list.  Here is the short one:  compassion, wisdom, empathy, patience, strength, perseverance, and remembrance of their earthly MISSION!  Pretty groovy stuff if you ask me.  :0)

Even the Bible has its allegory for the magic of being broken!  Jesus the Christ (The Christ Consciousness was HIS and OUR Superpower) would often BREAK bread. And that is when the bread would multiply to feed thousands!  I believe this is because it was HIS way of showing us that we must first be broken wide open before our own miracles can be birthed into the earthly experience.  For after every single time he conjured a - so called Miracle - he finished HIS Earthly deed with the following magical mantra. "One day, this, and SO MUCH MORE, one day, you too shall do!"  Please think about that for just a moment!

As we grace this experience of having our own 'Break Open,' it is absolutely crucial to have a good support system in place.  For there are times in which you are going to want to give up and throw in the preverbal towel.  This is when it is so important to have a group of Fellow Spirits who will step into the darkness and pull you back into the light after the pain you feel has finished teaching you the lessons it came to bring!  If you are struggling to find a fellow friend to assist you......please write my own name down!  My Super Heroic beacon call for all fellow Spiritual Gangsters is jeffmartinez@me.com. Just sayin....I answer EVERY single email I receive......   ;0)

One Gi-normous reason for that is because I have come to learn that there really is no such thing as a Breakdown......Instead, I have come to realize that there are only Break Opens! And they occur when our lives hit absolute ROCK BOTTOM!  Which I have hit on more than one occasion. ;0) But, once again, hitting ROCK BOTTOM is one of the greatest opportunities for a grand Spiritual Awakening that we can experience in this dense realm called life on Earth!   

As they say the TRUTH (proof lol) is in the pudding and I have personally witnessed the power of SPIRIT that floods into our existence when we suffer what I now deem a Break Open!  When we hit a period of absolute ROCK BOTTOM, which if truth be told, more of us experience than we are willing to admit!

And if this is the direction in which our life has taken us through a myriad of possible outcomes and experiences, oh too many of us surrender to our Ego and look for a way out of our PAIN!  Yet, if we just have the COURAGE to SURRENDER to our authentic self in the form of our Divine connection to source energy, we can begin to rebuild our lives with PURPOSE, and begin the process of finding our true CALLING!!  For while I DO NOT believe in ABSOLUTES, through over 20 years of personal self actualization acumen, and over 10 years of working with coaching clients, we often hit a time period of ROCK BOTTOM that coincides with our unique Break Open!

To quote Gabrielle Bernstein from her transformative memoir SPIRIT JUNKIE, "Hitting bottom and surrendering was the best thing that ever happened to me.  It cracked me open and led me to hear the voice of my ~ing again.  The willingness to hear this voice was all I needed to receive the guidance .  The Course(in Miracles) teaches that with the slightest willingness you will receive guidance from you inner guide.  Our relationship with our~ing is like having a mentor or teacher.  The ~ing's sole purpose is to guide us back to love." 

And THAT my fellow NEW AGE NERDS is what this post is really ALL ABOUT! LOVE!

For when you truly are in a vibration of ACCEPTANCE when life's torrential down pours have brought you down to your nightly knees, it is actually the greatest opportunity for you to have the Courage and Faith to Break Open!  And TRUST me when I tell you I speak from personal experience!  The process of surrendering to Spirit and allowing yourself to completely Break Open is perhaps the most transcendent experience that the Universe provides us in this dense realm! For when we lean into this experience with all our heart and soul, the only thing that pours out of us is the willingness to love ourselves and others!  I'm not saying it's a painless experience, but nothing worth while ever is on this side of SOURCE! Life is NOT meant to be easy. But rather meaningful and imbued with LOVE filled purpose...............

And through this process of Breaking Open, we find that the other side is full of what I call Blissful Boosts!   Now it doesn't happen overnight, but trust me when I say that IT DOES INDEED OCCUR!  For as soon as you make that shift from Fear (EGO) to LOVE, MIRACLES begin to flood into our daily existence. And life begins to take on a feeling of MAGICAL PROPORTIONS!  People who are in a similar vibrational energetic pattern begin to seemingly appear out of thin air!  New business opportunities show up as we take daily action steps toward what we desire. Our health begins to burgeon with healing hands.  And this experience we call LIFE no longer feels like a daily slog!

Rather, it becomes a daily opportunity to experience pure BLISS!  And after all, isn't that what we are all seeking...?


BE SUPER HEROIC~
LOVE  SERVE  INSPIRE

Nerdmaste,

Jeffrey Louis Martinez

My SECRET SAUCE Towards Connecting DIRECTLY With GOD..!!

 

After college, I was blessed enough to earn a media fellowship from the International Radio and Television Society.  Every year, this New York City based organization picks 15 ‘fellows’ from a pool coming through tens of thousands submissions sent by college seniors around the world.  And this slightly ‘Manic Hispanic’ was one of the 15 finalists for the IRTS class of 1993! I used to tease that every Superhero Team needed a token Latino. But in today's ever so sensitive 'cancel culture,' not so much! lol

For me, this was more than a dream come true.  It was a sure sign that my inclinations towards a career in the magical world of mass media was indeed the start of my Superhero's Journey. And what a helluva first step! The entire lot of this group of media maniacs ascended upon Greenwich Village in the heart of New York City for three months of pure BLISS. Each of us was granted an internship somewhere within the vast media landscape that NY affords. My fellowship was with Ann Liguori, a former fellow and well known sports broadcaster at the time. The other fellows were placed everywhere from The Today Show to Late Night with David Letterman.  Zipadeedoodah! Right?! Not to mention, we were all given the infamous and much garnered, yet little known number to the world's media bat phone.  If we wanted Yankee's tickets, done deal. Four seats to the Lion King, just come to the box office. We were treated like media kings and queens.  And I was in my own version of Heaven on Earth!

Most of us had never been to the Big Apple prior to this experience. So everything seemed jaw dropping in scope.  If things are always bigger in Texas, then New York demolished that mold and built its very own. In fact, the first week there, many of us had to be told of the dangers in constantly looking up at the gi-normous cityscape vistas that engulfed all our senses. Doing so made you an easy target for pickpockets. Yet, ‘Jaw Drop Walking’ as it was eventually termed, still imbued most of our daily jaunts around the city.  

The student housing condo units where we stayed became our very own version of MTV's Real World.  Thankfully, this particular group of fellows was filled with fun loving, genuinely thoughtful and caring people. The media world is often full of ultra competitive and hard charging folks.  But we were super supportive toward one another and slowly built up friendships that still last to this very day.  What a blessing had been bestowed upon all of us lucky enough to be included in this particular IRTS class.  

After putting in our full days at the office, we often spent our nights out on the town.  Who wants to cook when you are in the middle of the cuisine capital of the world. No way, Jose! The group was pretty much evenly split between men and women. And while some of the other guys had to be prodded by the ladies, I was always up for dinner and a dance at the various hot spots around the city. 

I've loved to dance since I was old enough to walk. My mantra has always been "first one on and last one off" any dance floor.  My mom often had to pull me off the stage while ‘cutting a rug’ at family weddings for fear of dehydration. I’m a sweater and a lover to boot!  Just sayin! Dancing always puts me in direct touch with my Super Heroic Higher Self.  Anytime I am feeling disconnected from SPIRIT, one surefire way to reconnect with the TRUE me is through cranking up the stereo and shaking my little bootie!  It's never yet let me down one time.

One particular evening, we came upon a club where it happened to be karaoke night. While some in the group were quite trepidatious at the notion of singing on stage in front of a group of strangers, I was all in! Before I had a chance to buy a drink, that night's DJ called out my name. And so I hopped up on stage in front of a few hundred patrons and began to belt out Billy and The Beaters "What Do You Think I Would Give At This Moment."  Always a ‘showman,’ I sank myself offstage to peruse into the audience and grabbed a gorgeous young lady and brought her back on stage with me. I sat her down in a chair and began to dance around her while continuing with my own unique form of crouching and crooning. (I'm not so much a singer, as I am an impressionist. Rather than having my own signature singing voice, I have the God given knack of impersonating the voice of other singer/artists)

I got the entire crowd to join in on the fun, as they began to sway back and forth in the aisles. Their energy further fueled my own. The triple threat of music, singing and dancing transported me to a space filled with complete conscious clarity.  Where you don't so much feel pure LOVE, but literally ‘live within it!’ And dwelling in that space, any notion of separation was expelled into an endless summer recess. Each face in the crowd became a mirrored reflection of BLISS. And the waving arms became wings of fulfilled intentions.  All forms of abundance was manifest into the ONE DREAM of DESIRE we all share. Dorothy, we were NOT in Kansas any longer! But rather the realm where the "Kingdom of Knowingness" reigns supreme.  And dear Lord, if living this way is wrong, I DON'T WANNA BE RIGHT.  ;0)

It was perhaps the very first time that I understood the concept of creating Heaven on Earth. After hitting the last note of the song, I was embraced with a standing ovation from the audience. Instantly, I understood the appeal of constantly performing in front of a live crowd.  It really is an indescribable rush of emotions. There is nothing quite like it. It's interesting that near the top of human fears is any form of public performing.  From that moment I knew why.  Yes, of course on an innate level there is the worry of what others will think about you.  But from a more micro construct, it is the fear of showing true vulnerability. Of letting go of the familiar you; the comfort zone created in the hopes of never having to share your authentic self with the world. All to step into your Super Heroic Higher Self- full super suit in tow!   "Am I good enough?" you ask yourself.  Followed by, "What will be expected of me then? Can I handle the tasks that come with the Cape of my CALLING?"  But as long time spiritual professor and newly minted politician Marianne Williamson says, "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.  Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.  We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?'  Actually, who are you not to be?  You are a child of God.  Your playing small does not serve the world. " AMEN.

About fifteen minutes later, I got a tap on my shoulder. It was the general manager of the club. He asked me if I was a professional performer.  "Only in the shower," I shot back. LOL!  He said he would be interested in talking to me about running their karaoke nights.  HOLY SMOKES! Of course I had no desire to be the next ‘Karaoke King’ of New York, but what an amazing acknowledgment. BLUSH. The rest of the fellows razzed me for weeks thereafter.  All in good fun.

That long, bliss filled, once in a lifetime summer experience still resides deep within my spiritual core. And it always will! It's a powerful part of the ‘many lessons’ I've learned along the way. And I am still in contact with many of my former fellows. Most of whom have created stellar careers and continue carving out the lineage of their personal Legacies.

SUPER HEROES IN TRAINING TAKEAWAYS

Part of my job is writing. And I LOVE TO WRITE!  Thank heavens, right?! It's a core part of my coaching business. I'm often at my computer for many hours on end pounding the keystrokes along with my dancing partner, SPIRIT. Our daily "wisdom waltzes" create the divine connections that manifest much of my writing content.  THANK YOU SPIRIT!  Love ya so much!  

But in addition to my daily dalliances with SPIRIT, I also make sure to take at least one real ‘dance break’ every single day. And I highly suggest that you do too! The dynamic duo of music and dancing is incredibly powerful.  Scientifically proven, it is one of the top ten fastest ways in which to ‘speed up" your personal energetic vibration.  The higher your vibrational offering to the Universe, the greater your connection to SPIRIT.  The great I AM.  Where you have instant access to Infinite Intelligence.  Which not only revs up your creative juices, but also strengthens the flow of abundance in ALL its forms into your experience.  

Dancing is a tangible form of ‘letting go and letting God.’ It assists in freeing you from restrictions that have been solidified as blocks within your mindset. As you move in complete freedom of expression, you loosen up and stop forcing your FAITH.  Similar in fashion to meditation, dancing centers you fully in the NOW.  And you stop overthinking and begin to go with the flow of the music and life.

In the book Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill, he states the top 10 mind stimuli. 
"The human mind responds to stimuli through which it may be 'keyed up' to 
high rates of vibration, known as enthusiasm, creative imagination, intense desire, etc.  
The stimulate to which the mind responds most freely are:"

1.  The desire for sex expression
2.  Love
3.  A burning desire for fame, power, financial gain, money
4.  MUSIC/DANCE
5.  Friendship between either those of the same or opposite sex
6.  A Master Mind alliance based upon the harmony of two or more people
7.  Mutual suffering, such as that experienced by people who are persecuted
8.  Autosuggestion
9.  Fear
10. Narcotics and alcohol

BOOM! Music is the 4th post powerful mind stimuli.  And when paired up with the physical act of dancing, they become a Miracle Makin' Mind Machine. When you are in the moment through dance, your vibration grants you access to that space of a CREATIVE GENIUS!  Part of your ‘sixth sense.’  What I call "The Silent Whisper" becomes your new dance partner. And as it whisks you around the dance floor, it whispers hunches, plans, and strong senses of intuitive knowingness into your understanding.  All to be used for your higher good.  To find and follow your personal CALLING on your Superhero's Journey. And it feels OH so good.  Yummy, yummy in your spiritual tummy........................

So even if you were blessed with ‘two left feet,’ there is nothing stopping you from starting small with a little head nodding and toe tapping to one of your favorite songs.  Before you know it, the feelings you begin to generate will empower your movements to transcend any thoughts of limitations. Even on the dance floor. My suggestion is that you take daily dance breaks wherever you are. And please don't worry what others may think! Heck, many times I've invited folks into my dance sessions so they can see what all the fuss is about.  I have a hunch it will quickly become your next HEROIC HABIT!

For a dance a day, keeps the FEAR, DOUBT, and WORRY at bay........................

BE SUPER HEROIC!

BE LOVE - SERVE ALL - INSPIRE ALWAYS

Nerdmaste,

Jeffrey Louis Martinez

Why GROUNDED SPIRITUALITY Offers TRULY Transformative SUBSTANCE

 

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU WILL EVER LEARN IS SIMPLY TO LOVE AND BE LOVED IN RETURN

~~  MOULIN ROUGE


I want to shed some light on the type of philosophy that the New Age Nerd adheres to with regard to all self actualization work- GROUNDED SPIRITUALITY.  Perhaps in a future incarnation,  I might come back with Pure Consciousness in tow, shedding all fear and disconnection.  But right now, I still have my moments.  Through the daily practice of grounded spirituality, I have become much more attuned to the nuances of being both Here and There.  And by that, I mean being connected to Spirit as often as possible, yet still allowing for the resonation of earthly illusions in my experience.  And that is why we are all here, right?!    To slay the proverbial ‘dragons’ along our path toward finding the Holy Grail of our Hero's/Heroine's Journey!  Kinda tough to do that when we refuse to acknowledge that ‘dragons’ even exist.   

Perhaps John Lennon said it best, "I believe in everything until its disproved.  So I believe in fairies..The myths..Dragons.  It ALL exists, even if only in your mind.  Who's to say that dreams and nightmares aren't as real as the HERE and NOW!"  Amen!

During my life, I have attended numerous churches of various denominations.  You name it, chances are I have investigated whether it was for me.  I have studied at a plethora of organizations from the East Coast to the West.  All searching for something that made sense, resonated deeply with my heart and soul, and that when put into practice, worked on a consistent basis.  In doing so, I think I was trying to create something that could help me better navigate this thing called life.  And guess what, on my journey I found out I wasn't the only who had come up with the term Grounded Spirituality.  There are several I am quite sure.    In fact, in a book I absolutely adore, and highly suggest anyone of this ilk read, called Soulshaping by Jeff Brown, he says, “...my philosophy of grounded spirituality started to concretize.  I call it Ascending with Both Feet on the Ground.  It is the idea that our ascension to heightened consciousness can ONLY be sustained it if is an embodied unfolding from the the ground up.”  What a terrific definition.  I believe we are meant to courageously engage the pain, emotions, challenges, as well as the joy, laughter, and LOVE we encounter in this Earthly Matrix of experience. 

He goes on to give more details of his journey and how he had a great lesson about spirituality from one of his mentors, the wonderful teacher Ram Dass.   After years of neglecting his body on his spiritual journey, he suffered a horrible stroke.  Pre-stroke, he preached that ‘we are not our body’.  A very common pronouncement in the realm of spiritualists.  His post-stroke experience, which he called FIERCE GRACE, shattered that notion.  This self named -stroke of good luck- grounded him as he later stated, “I came to appreciate, that as wonderful it is as a practice, ‘I am not of this body’ is only half the truth. The stroke brought me squarely in touch with the fact that, although I am certainly more than my body, I also am this body.”  Boy can I relate to that.  During my time with a colostomy bag, cleaning my own intestine several times a day, had anyone told me,  ‘You are not your body’, I would've flung poop at them like a chimp at the zoo!  I'm KIDDING....kinda!

So here are some of the basic tenets of how Grounded Spirituality has come to serve me and many other truth seekers I know.  But please always remember, that as a Course in Miracles states,  “There are many paths to God.”

1-  Feel Your FEELINGS and Emotions
When I first started to passionately engage this world of self actualization, it seemed as though there was this taboo like energy towards many common emotions like anger, and sadness.  Some of the practices I was learning about started feeling robotic in their teachings.  Not to mention unrealistic in trying to sustain a Zen like stature 100% of the time. I started to feel guilty to express or admit when profound vibrations of any emotion outside of LOVE would bubble up inside me. Worse still, I began to try and force others through their times of emotions by reframing, or spouting a newly learned spiritual epithet.  There is a funny story behind what got me to finally change my ways.  

There is a wonderful place called Agape in Los Angeles, which was attended by me and most of my like minded friends every Sunday for years.  Agape in Greek stands for unconditional love, and it is a true non-denominational Sanctuary of commiseration for those of us on this path toward Self.  During a weekend trip to Napa Valley, one of the friends in our group was going through the initial stages of divorce, and definitely having a boat filled size explosion of various emotions(Thank God for wine! lol)  Rather than allowing her to truly feel her grief, I started in with a reframing soliloquy that was sternly met with,  “I swear to God, Jeff, don't you dare try and F&ckin Agape me right now."  I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.   Although that line became a long lasting re-membrance in our group about giving each other the respect of our own emotional process, it also taught me a PROFOUND lesson.  I started to acknowledge the power of our feelings, and that NOT being in ALLOWANCE of them is doing yourself and others a great disservice.  

And ya know what?!   When I  started allowing myself to fully enter into my own emotions, for a given period of time, I usually came out the other side with a new perspective, or plan for moving forward.  I began to understand that feelings are one of the most powerful tools we have to assist us in navigating our unique path.  They are truly the ‘guide posts to the Soul’.   So rather than ‘Apape'ing’ myself or others, now I remember that repressed emotions are actually unrealized spiritual lessons.   Just DO NOT make a Broadway Show out of them.  Cause nobody wants to buy a ticket to an event that has outstayed its welcome!  


2-Honor Your Body
Yes, we all know that this body is temporal.  It is ours for a finite time.  But is is also a precious gift.  That's why it is called the Body Temple.  It is sacred in that in houses our Soul while we are here.  As the book God I Am declares, “There were billions of other Souls around the Universe vying for the ‘ticket to ride’ that was given to you!”  That's right, YOU are that Unique and Special.  Everyone here already won the lottery!  So while you are here, be grounded enough to care for the body which brought ya!

3- Don't Take Yourself Too Seriously
By this, more than anything else, I mean learn to laugh at yourself.  This field is filled with people who take themselves so seriously.  Lighten up!  We all make missteps, are infallible, and poop in our pants. (Or is that just me ?!  lol)  I have found that you will actually relate to more people with your story and message, when you can learn to laugh at yourself.  In fact, it is a proven fact that laughter has cured more illness than all the medication in the world combined!

4-  ACTION is Always Necessary
When the Secret first came on the scene with its teachings of The Law of Attraction, there was this huge ‘Wishful Thinking’ movement in the self realization world.  People actually started believing that they could simply sit on the sofa and think about money, and that checks would suddenly start appearing in their mailbox.  I believe it truly started doing damage to the real understanding of the Law of Attraction (The Law of Attraction is but one of several Universal principals by the way) and in my experience, caused a ton of frustration and disillusioned spirits in our community.  

Don't get me wrong, I am a BIG believer in the power of Universal Energy.  As Yoda says, “It's an energy field that is created by all living things.  Life creates it, makes it grow.  It surrounds us, binds us.”  And it is ALL powerful.  BUT, in this dense realm, it MUST be combined with ACTION in order to work.  And unfortunately, there is not enough re-membrance of the importance of taking daily actionable steps toward our goals.  You can think all day and night to align your energy fields with your desires until the cows come home, but if they are NOT backed by actionable steps toward your plan/goal/path, the ONLY person you will be making rich is your therapist.  Trust me!  

For more pragmatic advice about the proper use of The Law of Attraction, I highly suggest reading Beyond the Secret, by Dr. Lisa Love.   She has such a grounded way of explaining the Law's principles.  For instance, she suggests one use it to try and attract the qualities for keeping and using money responsibly, rather than just acquiring money in the first place.  Great stuff!

5-  Stop with The Shame Game

This is perhaps the 'secret sauce' toward maintaining a lasting vibration in the healthy use of Grounded Spirituality.  There is a large component of people I have encountered along my path who insist that EVERYTHING that finds its way into your personal experience, including illness, is a byproduct of something you did to create it.  Talk about a shame game.  Aye Dios Mio!!

Yes, a great deal of our experiences are indeed brought about through a combination of our thoughts, beliefs, AND actions, but WE DO NOT LIVE IN A VACUUM.  We each share this planet with billions of other souls. Don't ya think that sometimes, we just happen to be in someone else's path, and in the process receive their byproducts?  And the truth is, we can never really know what the exact cause of everything that happens in our life happens to be.  And I personally think we have much better things to do with our time than try and figure it all out anyway.  

My point is that in grounded spirituality, the shame game DOES NOT exist.  Rather than spend time on WHY something happened, we focus on HOW to show up to meet the challenge once it occurs.  We are not so much responsible FOR everything that happens to us, but WE ARE responsible TO IT.

For instance, rather than blaming myself for the Crohn's disease I was diagnosed with, I try to listen to my body, and care for it with compassion, proper food, exercise, and rest.  Further, in meditation, I ask for the Wisdom to understand how I can draw any benefits from the illness that was brought into my experience.  

I hope this gave you a richer understanding of GROUNDED SPIRITUALITY and how it can be used to assist you on your Superhero's Journey!

BE SUPER HEROIC!

LOVE-SERVE-INSPIRE


Nerdmaste,

Jeffrey Louis Martinez

MODERN MYTH MESSAGES : DAREDEVIL…!

 

Matt Murdock (The Daredevil) is having a heartfelt talk with a nun who he has discovered is his birthmother. They are reminiscing the life of the church's former head Pastor who was slain in cold blood in the basement of an old Catholic Church in Hell's Kitchen.

MATT: I was angry.  I would change that if I could.

SISTER MAGGIE: If God allowed that, there would be no future. Just people endlessly rewriting the past.

MATT: Yeah. I think he was trying to tell me that for a long time. His last words were, "Forgive us."
(forgive them for keeping the secret to who his birthmother really was)

SISTER MAGGIE: Do you think that's possible?

MATT: (Several contemplative beats) He told me something years ago when this happened that I never forgot.  (pointing to the sunglasses he wears to protect his blind eyes) You see I was pretty angry at God and bitter toward his world. How could a loving God blind me. Why?! Anyway, he told me, God's plan is like a beautiful tapestry. And the tragedy of being human is that we only get to see it from the back. With all the ragged threads and the muddy colors. We only get a hint of the true beauty that would be revealed if we could see the whole pattern on the other side. As God does. 
(Looks down at the ground as if to summon his own TRUTH)

MATT: And although people have died on my watch. People who shouldn't have. There are countless others who have lived. So, maybe it is all a part of God's plan. 

FROM MARVEL TV: THE DAREDEVIL 


Matt Murdock (The Daredevil) is a haunted SOUL. As a young boy, while trying to save a man from being hit by a car, his eyes were exposed to a canister of toxic liquid the caused him to lose his eyesight. Then his father was gunned down for refusing to 'take a fall' in a boxing match with tons of hush money on the proverbial line. Matt ended up being raised by a group of caring nuns in a Catholic orphanage in Hell's Kitchen. And it was within those hallowed halls that his own Superhero's Journey began!

His journey reminds us that everything happens "through you and for you." NOT TO YOU! See the big difference. I surely pray so because the shades within that subtle shift in understanding is but one of the greatest TRUTHS you will re-discover while on your path in this Earthly plane!

And once you re-member how to leverage that knowledge, your life will suddenly both ascend and then settle into a space of inner peace. For no longer will you wake up daily fretting 'what could go wrong today.'  In fact, you will re-member that 'right and wrong' do not even exist! Only that which does and does not serve you and all others. And you will begin to embrace everything that appears within your daily experiences as no thing less than a SOUL sent blessing from your own personal Wisdom Waiter! 

Think of life as a precious, multi layered jigsaw puzzle. We often start working on one particular area of the puzzle at any given period in time. Just as we are getting our perfectly imperfect 'Jigsaw Jam' on, WHAM, God sends us a piece that is for the complete opposite side of where we were focusing our efforts! And more often than not we become stubborn and resolute in the way WE think things in our lives should play out. So staying stuck in our own personal convictions, continuing to build out the puzzle from where we have started it becomes our nominal norm.

And so we tend to ignore the puzzle piece sent special delivery from The Grand Creator. "I've been working my ass off on this puzzle God! I'm confused. Why are you sending me a piece that goes way over on the opposite side of where I'm building all my magical momentum?" So your inner monologue espouses.

But you have to re-member that THE ONE GOD MIND can see "the whole puzzle" already perfectly and pristinely finished in its glorious form! We tend to see things from a more limited perspective as we live out our daily experiences. Hopefully, now you can see the prescient power in learning to take a DEEP breathe and just RELAX! And then take a few steps back from wherever you currently find yourself to be. Each step will allow you to BE in a space of appreciation and GRATITUDE for the 'entire picture' that your jigsaw puzzle is slowly becoming! Just as THE GOD VOICE within you has seen it from the very beginning. Pretty rad, huh?! ;0) 

And the next time God throws you a piece of your personalized puzzle from "way over there," you will already BE in a state of pure ACCEPTANCE.  And be in allowance of it to grace your world with a form of loving reverence! For it came from a place of Universal KNOWINGNESS of exactly what you need in that given moment of NOW!


SUPERHEROES IN TRAINING TAKEAWAYS:

Creating a New Super Heroic Origin Story


One thing I do with all my coaching clients is have them write a new 'Super Heroic Origin Story.' With the intention of assisting them in transcending their past stories from a state of catabolic, victim consciousness, into an anabolic VICTORIOUSLY HEROIC energetic vibrational space! I highly suggest you try this incredibly transformational process too!

Literally start from your earliest memories and begin to write down the 'New Story of Your Life.'  But refrain from seeing these events from your past perspective.  The static stories we tell ourselves about our past become the coming attractions of what is still to come.  And unless you have already done the energetic clearing work on these traumatic pain points, I really don't think you desire THAT! Am I right? lol

While writing, concentrate on just how any past painful experiences in your life have actually proven to be blessings rather curses.  Start learning to ACCEPT them rather than reliving them in your mind.  Acceptance frees you to transcend these catabolic and disempowering based thoughts and start seeing them in a fresh state of GRATITUDE! (Just like the gift and miraculous blessing of my own father's abandonment)  In your writing, it is vital to transcend such limiting beliefs in a manner that you can actually begin to see your past challenges as no thing less than "Bliss Filled Gifts." That were soul sent as opportunities for you to heal, grow, and expand into the greatest version of yourself. Which benefits not only YOU, but the entire Universe!

Start 'connecting the dots' of your life.  Look for the pain filled patterns that keep showing up in your daily experiences. Continued situations imbued with lack in any form; yuperoo, right there is a great place to start! For that is proof positive of resistance still holding space within you. That's where you are still NOT in alignment with your Super Heroic Higher Self. TRUST! This will shine a light on the areas of trauma bonds that still need healing and tending to!  The blocks and trapped energy that is still awaiting you to release and transform it into your unique Super Powers. Once looked at through the lens of OPPORTUNITY, the things you once thought as misfortune will be seen as perfectly placed in your path to pull you back and then "Propel You Forward!"  If you are having great challenges doing this, stop and pray. Ask SPIRIT for guidance and wisdom to see the Truth behind your pain! Then quiet your mind and listen. You will be shown the answers.  PROMISE!  

You've suffered enough!  It's time for transcendence and TRANSFORMATION!  By creating a New Super Heroic Origin Story.  Start living from a state of Christ Consciousness and NOT  'Victim Consciousness.'  Because the past stories you have been programming your mind to believe, are powerful forms of RESISTANCE!  Resistance is the arch enemy of the Subconscious Mind.  The Powerhouse of our Abundance Making MIND Machine! And that is part of what is still blocking you from being able to manifest all your heartfelt desires.......

So look around you often.  Re-member your outer experiences are a direct reflection of your inner reality. So if you find yourself in a space of lack; be it financially, health wise, or in any other form, it is "proof in the pudding" that you have some blocks, limiting beliefs, or pain points and trauma bonds that still need to be addressed with non judgmental love and compassion.  For there is resistance somewhere within you that requires your immediate attention!  Just sayin'. ;0)

Commit to using this year to both create and live from your 'New State of KNOWINGNESS!' And just like 'The Daredevil,' begin to see with eyes no longer blind to the TRUTH!

Because if you knew just how POWERFUL you truly are, there is absolutely NOTHING you would be afraid of!!  And dreaming BIG would be your new mantra.........  And So It Is!

BE SUPER HEROIC!
BE LOVE - SERVE ALL - INPIRE ALWAYS

Nerdmaste,

Jeffrey Louis Martinez