Seas of Opportunity

Opportunity is today's magic word. We are all here together in this amazingly complex time and space, deciphering the point at which to focus our precious and sacred energies. Also there are moments where we have no clue and drift like children through experience as if on our grandfather's sailboat, nurtured and safe, waiting for our turn at the rudder. There is no advantage however in steering the boat until we are able to see where we are going. Yes we will practice how to turn and what to adjust when the strong winds come, but within the bounds with which we can understand and handle.

Collectively I see us emerging into a new level of responsibility. Our grandfather is aging and cannot see like he used to. The channel is so much deeper and wider than when he started his journey, and there are new options for the sailor. It is the moment of opportunity, to take the responsibility of where you are and where you are going.

So how does one decide? You may ask. I know that I am always asking, and in that lies a clue I believe. Every moment is your perfect mirror, an opportunity to receive and feel the reflection of the reality which you have been creating. Ooops, in case you have trouble with that idea I will say this: fundamentally there is no out there... everything we perceive is occurring within us as our perception of the reflection of light, sound and other energies interacts with our consciousness or individual reference point. We are not separate from the sea of potential being perceived. Everything is a part of this connected field of energy, and this includes you, your personal reference point of experience in time space. There is no other, only infinite view points of the whole from every perspective imaginable.

Whoa sounds kinda complicated and then what? I would say there is simple solution to a complex problem. The only reliable gauge of direction for an individual is within you. It is a new way of navigating life, not based on the collective assumptions of what is important, safe and meaningful, but on your own unique individual guidance, your pulse of excitement. Now don't get me wrong, this is not just a selfish,narcissistic excitement, or wanting, which we probably know very well. I'm talking about the quality of excitement that has some fear with it, the kind that you make excuses about why you can't or rationalize away. If you look at your life as a journey of happiness, creative expression, love, wonder and abundance, I doubt you will create it from a traditional, rational, societal course of action....(well unless that really turns you on). We are entering a new paradigm of what it means to be human. An age of authenticity and empowered action, from our deepest yearning which is the piece of the whole we came here to share, a piece that will be greatly missed if you decide to go back to sleep.

Much love and gratitude for sharing this journey with me!
Chief ME
(in charge of being myself)

Guitared and Feathered

The one thing that can be counted on in life is the unexpected. A sudden re-direction or unseen option becomes a clear front runner for the new now that was not part of the plan. This is one particular reason why I don't like plans too much. I do believe they offer some value to certain individuals like say ...Wayne Gretzky who was born with his skates on (not sure how his mom handled that?). In such a situation you would want to get off to a fast start and keep your stick on the ice... in this case a plan gets you where you want to go, knowing the destination, the journey unfolds.

I must say that during inspired moments I too know such a certainty within myself. And yet it has a newness that is uniquely mine. Sure, my life path is influenced by many others who have blazed a trail for my emergence, and yet I find myself constantly redefining what it means to be me, and to offer this expression to the world. It always comes back to a drive for authenticity, and the compass for that is an internal knowing that each of us possess, as we feel our way through life and how open we have been with our experience of it. When it feels good and empowered, exciting and clean, it means you got it right.

So when we found ourselves in the space between the worlds, sitting on the group W bench in the customs office at the US border last week, I quietly payed attention to my non-attachment to any particular outcome. Yes we had packed a whole lot of crap into the van and had just moved out of our house and opted for temporary storage instead, not to mention the 5:30am wake-up and subsequent millisecond miss of the ferry to the mainland... But hey this was the next thing and I was fine with it. So we waited in the lounge as our young US escort went through our things.

Shortly thereafter he came back into the office and slowly lifted his black gloved hand above the counter... "Do you know what this is?" holding up the dried and lacquered head of a poppy that my friend had just given me as part of my eclectic instrument collection.
I replied easily "It's a shaker".
He giggled but was less amused... "In the eyes of the US government?" he added.

Well suffice to say we are not on America's most wanted list, but I'm a little pissed I lost that little gem. He did however add "I can see what you are up to there, and it does have a smooth sound".

Hilarious. At any rate he had let us through except for some CD's that I always have with me, which he suggested I take to the broker and have them do some of their special paperwork to make them legit to carry in. Turns out that we just needed to spend some time talking with a wider range of border patrol and really get a feel for the community...
Our option was to just drive back into Canada and mail them home. So we did, and then started all over again. Not quite what I was hoping for, but interesting none the less. Unfortunately there was a shift change while we were out, and this round was serviced by the men with serious faces.

So we waited again, and waited, this time for over an hour, until he called us over as he held up Missy's macaw feather wand. Unbeknownst to us, macaws are on the endangered list and apparently bringing feathers back into the US that we had originally received there was cause enough to bring in the expert from the department of fish and wildlife. Man I was starting to feel like a star with all this special attention! Anyway he made us fill out an import form for the feathers and also an abalone shell we have for smudging (also from the US). Then we assumed alright shows over and time to get on with our journey.

Well not so fast. "Yes", our fine officer friend said, "we will let you in, but without your work related items". We of course said "well what items?"
"Related to this!" As he again did the black glove thing, up from under the counter. (they must practice that move?) And held up one of my business cards. "No guitars and feathers".

I must say he did a fine job and had due cause for concern. Irony is that we were not even working this trip. So we decided to head home to re-group and reassess after such a 180 degree turn. On the way back into Canada it hit me, we were just guitared and feathered! Just like ancient times, just a little less permanent.

Little gold nuggets everywhere, even in such a shit storm. Thing is that all is perfect at all times, it just takes a bit of perspective widening to get it in some situations. This turn gave us a chance to examine some of our shadows around being stationary right now and to put energy in some of the things we were neglecting. The best gem though, is to know that wherever we are is exactly where we need to be.

I've started to plan a special CD release show in Nanaimo at the Church @the Old Quarter. This has been a dream of mine for a few years and I realized that the time is NOW. I'm working on the cover for "Welcome to the Main Event" and my "plan" : ) is to have the show around my birthday in early May or late April. Plus more Move Freely, Live Deeply which has quite the buzz around it these days! This year is the launch after all!

Love and Blessings
Chief ME
(in charge of being myself)

The Launch

A mystery has crossed the line
And we no longer struggle to see
What was once a dream is now
A fabric of dimensions beyond the prelude.

The journey into authenticity is well under way and it is emerging as a new form of currency, the movement of flow, and energy without effort, a tapping into the river of right relation. In this new home we have the courage to answer the calling of ourselves, to begin the listening to the guidance of our wholeness.

It has been a few weeks since I’ve written you. I have taken a period of isolation to finish the 3rd album in my trilogy of solo creations, “Welcome to the Main Event”. I’ve just had the first few listens through the whole thing, and it is quite a journey. Upon completing it I realized that it was the culmination of this trilogy of albums I have done since 2006. It is long, deep, vulnerable, smooth and celebratory. The album ends with a song written spontaneously as I sang through the new year with some of my closest friends on Gabriola, and recorded on new years day. This was an experience I will always cherish very deeply… It was like we opened a portal into the Launch of 2010 and rode it right through the shift, celebrating on the other side. It was so beautiful.

This brought such completion to our last ten years here on Gabriola and a huge clarity of the energy which we are amidst creating for this coming year. It feels like the foundation is strong enough to hold the incredible amount of joy and wonder we are going to step into this year. I wish so deeply that you will join us on this mission, this launch into your authentic glory.

Imagine for an instant that everyone began choosing based on their, excitement, their hearts desire and deepest longing. Imagine that they valued the call of their inner voice above the pressures of fear and uncertainty. Imagine the absolute pandemonium of joy and wonder that would multiply beyond our wildest dreams, the magic of honesty, clarity and unique individual brilliance guiding us together in a new dimension of coexistence.

I’ve been imagining it so much it appears to be just that. A deep well of precious gifts for all that dare take the responsibility to accept them. A synchronistic sharing of humanity between family and friends, fathers and sons, mothers and their emerging daughter goddesses, and the amazing gratitude that flows from such miracles.
We are changing the game.

Missy and I continue to accelerate down the road of our chosen awesomeness into the next phase of our life adventure. We wish that yours be even more inspiring and may your many ripples create huge waves that crash onto the shores of our connected yearning.

Follow your excitement!
Chief ME (in charge of being myself)

The Starter is a good place to Start

Hi and welcome back to the Kazoo. I've been back in Canada for a couple weeks, time well spent alchemically shifting old stuff into new possibilities. Simplify is the theme these holidays and that means letting go of a lot of stuff we just don't need to be worrying about while out on the road... It becomes difficult for the wind to blow you where you need to go if you are constantly carrying around a bunch of dead weight; and I mean not only on my back but in my mind most of all. It has been an amazing year for Missy and I, total transformation I would say, with real clarity and purpose to move forward into! And as often occurs in life there are a few tethers still binding us to past choices, out dated realities and former ways of being. All of those times had their day and there is much gratitude for the place and space the experiences of the past now afford the present. There is no now without it all. And yet we are at a crossroads, actually it feels more like a high flying trapeze act... we are doing so well hanging on to this bar just flying through the air. . . and then here comes another bar that we must reach out and grasp. Only thing is that means letting go of everything for a moment, opening up the grip that secures safety, and stability, for this precious leap of faith.

I really like metaphor and yet sometimes you just have metal to work with. In this case about 1000lbs of it or so in the shape of an 81 VW Rabbit. My first car was a VW Bug and my second was a VW Gti and this little beauty in someways filled the void that many men feel long after those original wheels have been melted into re-bar. Buying this little go-cart was pure emotion for sure, not the type of business decision I have the luxury of making quite yet. Well I thought I did last year when I made it and it turns out that it was probably an effective savings account for us. As our little adventure turned from 3 months to 6 months to 13 months into our new lifestyle it became pretty clear that the bunny had to transform into a more exchangeable form of energy ie. cold hard cash!

I was beginning to lose hope that I would find a buyer for her, after months of potential "fun investors" had dropped out of the running and any solid interest disappeared as the weather turned. So I had a little gut check and decided to drop the price for x-mas. Took a little bit of my new sales and marketing knowledge and re-wrote the ad that was gonna make it a merry Christmas! And it worked, I had a buyer lined up to come see it, he was bringing a trailer and everything was in motion. I arrived in Nanaimo with the car ready to say goodbye and instead got a goodbye from this guy as he drove away car-less. I was down but not out! There was one other young kid who had been emailing me his life story complete with at least 10 different VW's his family has or have owned, begging me very apologetically with a lower offer than my x-mas smash deal! I called him up to talk and realized that this kid is in that same energy that I was years ago eying such a car. I knew in that instant that there is more to valuing something than just the $$$$ at the end of a deal. This is a whole experience, including the elements of myself that needed to get some cash, and this young guy who is right now one of the happiest VW owners in Canada, plus a myriad of other little things that make this deal the right deal, not just for me, but for all concerned.

The grand finale!
The next day I'm on the ferry bringing the car over for the great exchange. As we pull up to the ferry dock and the cars are driving off the ferry I go to start the bunny... bluguh blug...uh. "Ummm shit this is not happening" and I waited for a second thinking "I just put in a new battery I've got juice", and then BRAMMM! Whew, she started up and I drove over to the meeting place. (I drove around the parking lot about 5 times to make sure the battery was charged) And I waited for the eager buyer. He got off the bus across the street and was already sold, I think it would have been near impossible to change his mind... Good thing too because as we hopped in for the test drive I turned the key and . . . nothing. "Okay this is a bit embarrassing but let's see what this could be." Without pause he gets up, "Pop the hood, let's have a look!" We decide that it may be the starter and that hey let's just jump start it and get some positive feelings happening here. That went smooth and we arrived back to park on a hill for the next start! I realized that I can't send this kid off on his own with a new car that won't start! So it hit me, I had all these spare parts in the back from my friend Joe's old rabbit... I gave him a call. "Hey Joe, I'm gonna need a little favor here. I'm at the mall with a buyer for my car and it won't start. The good news is I have the part I need right here just no tools. Can you help me?"
"Sure, just come on over."
I asked the kid, "do you have anything else to do?"
"Not a thing." he says with a huge grin.
"Well on to the next thing then." I call out as we hop in the bunny.
Well. . . we actually had to bump start it again, but then triumphantly headed off to Joe's for the great starter exchange.

Five minutes later out on the street in front of Joe's house we had the old starter out and the new one in. Turns out one of the bolts was terribly loose and would have disappeared had we not made the swap when we did. A nice little added blessing...!

Then the key was turned and like new she fired up perfectly.

Victory!!

I suppose the moral of the story might be this:
It's not the way something ends that defines the experience, it's the starter!

Love you, and have a blessed solstice!
Chief ME
in charge of being myself

I'm the Absoulute Best at What I Do....??

Well hello sweet reader! I have been slightly absent from the bloggo-sphear for a couple weeks due to the intense experience of living life as I so dare to live it. Just arrived back home in Canada for a spell and I'm going to share some of the experiences and insights gained while on this last leg of the never ending journey.

Part 1 - Life on the road is a great way to learn what you love. When life gets simplified into be here now, in the moment of giving what you came here to give, it seems not much else means anything... or at least there is a pure bliss in being so engaged in the process of life that everything else is just background. I love this space and it is a main motivation for me to continue to find the ways to learn grow and express myself. I don't know about you, but I want and I'd say these days, need to be engaged in life as an active creator and observer. There is that still point where stress cannot exist and the past and future are just one with the present... as a recent acquaintance shared last week: "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift; that's why they call it the present!"
This momentum of empowered experience gives the true fuel for the engine of gratitude which keeps everything well oiled, feeling good, and moving forward!

Part 2 - There is a real sweetness in knowing that where you are is where you need to be. So often I catch myself dreaming of the things I want in the future and the opportunities that would seem to make everything click. I must say these can be entertaining mental push ups, but more importantly I've been recognizing the fact that there is joy in the process of getting somewhere. It does tend to take a lot of focused attention, effort and resources to succeed at creating or manifesting a dream... however it doesn't usually feel like work, not always but for the most part it's just fun. Another thought which almost feel like random ramblings at this point (bare with me if you can) is that for the first time in my life I have a definable goal to reach for. I'm super excited to create a speaking career. I was so inspired by Jack Canfield, Joe Thiesman, and Jonathan Sprinkles at James Malinchak's bootcamp last weekend... I just felt the future in my body... a very profound and revealing experience of the quantum kazoo! I felt the calmness of a success and reality that I have not yet created but at the same time is right here in this moment. I realized the passion in my soul to share who I am through this medium, and to combine my musical mission in ways that are very unique to me. I felt so clearly that in the new paradigm of authenticity, everyone has a perfect role to play and competition is no longer an issue. We have two choices: 1 Be Yourself. 2 try to be something else. Which one do you imagine being more successful. What a cool insight.

Part 3 - I'm the absolute best at what I do. What!? You probably just said. That sounds rather arrogant... well hang on I'll explain. This holds true for you too, and here's why... after a short tale. I was singing last week for a very intimate group and experienced a complete immersion in my performance, total transcendence into myself as the listener while playing. I had this profound insight that no one else could be here now doing what I am doing, allowing what I am allowing. It was like I was turning inside out and could appreciate my experience from a whole new angle. I just relished in the moment and let the thought sink in... I am the absolute best at what I do, because only I can be me, only I can bring this expression through to the world to my brothers and sisters and beloveds. I felt so blessed and grateful to have remembered why I have been toiling for so long, what it was that meaning for me was all about... To tune in and reflect the resonance of those whom I'm with. To help usher forth the Godliness in you.
I truly love you and what you bring for me to enjoy, so thank you for having the courage to illuminate what hides in your shadows.

Blessings in your Awesomeness!!
ChiefME

Holy Wowness!!

I missed you... but here I am back after a couple amazing weeks of transformational magic. It started in Tucson with our first Resourceful Human event, held for 25 wonderful people. We had an amazing day pushing ourselves into new territory and building the foundations for our future success. I gave my first speech ever and it went fabulous! I`m not one to toot my own horn, but I feel so great about stepping up into that and really coming through for myself. And by coming through for myself I came through for everyone else. Missy and Faye were also brilliant and we realized that one day was only a tiny taste of what we have to offer. All in all I am really excited about the day and also the great video footage we got from it.

From there we drove for a couple days to S.F. where Missy and I were presenting our talents for the 133rd Transformational Gate... I am really proud of us. Missy was spectacular and had 4 groups of 100-300 people totally rockin out in their bodies. It was so cool to watch and deafening at times : ) Folks really showed up and stepped into some serious fun factor. I played some of my favorites at the end of each class and it was beautiful, blissful and wonderful. One of the new friends we met there, Bright Hawk, played some djembe and hung drum as well. Just a really great time. The magic continued as the entrainments got more intense too... at times we had trouble balancing between being there for that and doing the programs. On the last night they do something called the Angel Wash, which I was to play for. I had written a new song especially for it and was nervous and excited to see how it would work for everyone. Turns out it was the best ever according to many of the long time gaters. Everyone lines up and creates a tunnel and then bathes each other one by one in a sea of love basically. The energy got so intense and I was playing the song for 45min straight, people were singing and clapping and blissing out... it was really cool. Then everyone spontaneously started clapping in this wild syncopated rhythm, they got so into it we couldn't`t stop them! It was just a special moment that I`ll never forget.

So grateful for the opportunity to share in that way and have everyone step up so fully. Just awesome.

We then drove down to LA where we will be for the next couple weeks. I`m playing music for some meditation circles and then off to speakers bootcamp. Excited and rollin... Just wanted to share some of the magic with you. Step in and step up to whatever makes you sing. I love you and thanks so much!

Chief ME
(In Charge of Being Myself!)

Transparency

In times of fear there there is only one ear,
tuned to the channel that can be handled
in the midst of mirrors.
If I were a scorpion I would sting
If love were a fortune I would sing
A way forward from the weeds
And along the path where planted seeds
Grow from time, into the fine line of right now.

This episode is about transparency. Humans are evolving rapidly into a new way of being on the planet and with each other. One of the most obvious examples of this transformation is right here, on the intranets (internet). I was resistant as first to the onslaught of social media and it's incredible expansion over the past few years. I have been on Myspace for almost 5 years and found that to turn into a strange spam-fest where musician after musician tries endlessly to send out impersonal friend requests with the best result being an actual online friendship and the majority being an inauthentic time waste dump. I had some amazing things happen though through there and did some vocal tracks for another guy without ever meeting him. Just digital connection. I think he still has one of the songs posted (Solardaze). And beyond the couple exceptions I just witnessed thousands of desperate musicians trying to reach out and be noticed... the problem being that we were all doing it to each other! Not the most effective strategy, unless your intention is to collect a large number of friends. I hit 1000 the other day and I actually know about 30 of them.

My intention is not to rag on Myspace, they started something important, I just believe that the structure doesn't support what the evolution of social media now calls for----Transparency!
Transparency is honesty, courage, authenticity and integrity all rolled into one. The expansion of Facebook and Twitter are two huge examples of this. People want to be real with themselves and each other... We are starved for authentic interactions and the digital buffer allows some safety for being with each other in this way. I find it astounding, refreshing and so exciting. Never before have we had the opportunity to put ourselves on the line like this. Just think, whenever you post something, say on Facebook, there is the thought that "oh, everybody I am connected to can read this." It changes the game and creates a new level of responsibility. There is a new tone that begins to emerge and small talk becomes nearly irrelevant. I never liked BSing about anyway. Always made me more uncomfortable than comfortable.

The real beauty lies in the ability to connect with those who resonate with you. Have you noticed that only some of your friends really engage with your most edgy posts? I take that as a positive indication that I am following my own heart. The new idea of community defies location and is creating a network of like minds, like a grid across the globe. I had this insight once where I was looking at the earth from space and it was dark, and all the lights that we associate with cities and such became humans lighting up, one by one. And as the lights came on the whole world began to glow, not from human ingenuity but from the awakening of human brilliance.

Our past has been an exploration of separateness and the individual. We are heading for, and some would say we are in a time where this is not sustainable. It has been a thrilling ride, and it is naturally coming to a close. A new way of being is emerging and the exciting part is we don't know what it will look like! We are here to create it, to unfold from our hearts the essence of ourselves. A mission unique to all and yet one and the same. We are entering a new paradigm, from duality to paradox. Where the perfection of what is becomes the perception of what is.

I love you, and am so grateful for my fellow travelers!!
Blessings and Unmessings,

Chief ME
Andrenobels.com
Resourcefulhuman.org