I stopped watching the news in 2002. A friend of mine from grad school, Jackie, suggested that I watch the movie "Bowling for Columbine", a controversial Michael Moore film. It introduced me to the culture of fear. After watching the movie, I started reading books on the topic; the Culture of Fear by Barry Glassner, the Gift of Fear by Gavin De Becker and others. I stopped watching news programs and reading newspapers. I do not engage with any news or media feeds on my phone, nothing.
Sometimes, people try to engage me in conversation about things on the news. I'm clueless. Being polite, I will react appropriately, "oh, that's awful", or use facial expressions to indicate that I know what's going on, but I don't. Those that know me well start talking about something mass media related, remember I have no idea, then fill me in.
I understand why people live with a lot of fear, anger and sadness. Most of what is broadcast centers around these emotions. However, I choose not to engage with it. Instead, I get up every day and do what I can to improve collective vibration. My path is one of teaching yoga and meditation. On a larger level, it is in no way involved with the culture of fear. It does not buy in, cultivate or contribute in any way to the messages of mass media. It is taking a stand.
At Yoga Teacher Training on Sunday, one of the students brought an oracle deck for us to play with, it was called the "Lightworker Oracle Deck". You pick 3 cards, one represents your past, one your present and one your future. The artwork is a mix of mysticism, religious imagery and native American beauty.
In working with oracle decks, I know that you do not pick the cards, the cards pick you. I picked three cards. The first was number 1, the First Ray of Power, the second was number 27, Cosmic Heart, Cosmic Christ. The last one was number 7, Unplug from Mass Consciousness. As soon as I saw the last card, I knew what it was about. I turned to the appropriate page in the companion guide and began to read.
"Unplug yourself one layer, thought, word and deed at a time from mass consciousness. Release yourself from more stuff, more fear, more competition, more doubt and more suffering. You have the power to change your world and the world around you, one thought at a time."
The cards confirmed what I already know. I have been leading my own peaceful, personal revolution for over two decades. I will continue to take a stand.
If you need to engage with mass media, do it. But if you are curious, try a "media fast" one day a week and notice your energy shift. Your peace will grow as your vibration increases. Better yet, join me October 14-16. Unplug for a weekend. Replace media with the beginnings of your own peaceful, personal revolution. Take your stand with me.
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