His name’s Jim. He’s been on our email list for nearly 4 years (since the beginning!). Watch what he has to say (and take note of what he says about taking action).
Listen to how the vision of one young woman is is calling her to uplift and mobilize all those who care for our environment. This is the first of many Interviews with Visionaries here on VisionForce.com. You're listening to Michael Skye talking with Audrey Parker 8/16/06. Leave comments for Audrey below.
MP3 File
Really, we don’t know our own power to change the world. It’s cliche, but the power is really within us. I plan to tour the US and select countries beginning in 2007 with several Vision Force Boot Camp graduates.
by the way, we’ve recently chosen *not* to have another boot camp in 2006 in order to create space for the evolution of VisionForce into a vehicle that can drive real change in the world, on a much grander scale. If you were planning to attend our usual fall boot camp, I apologize. We will announce the spring boot camp dates soon, so stay tuned.
We spend so much time thinking about, talking about and being involved in political campaigns and controversies… as if political force is our best shot at change. It’s not! By far, it’s not. Most of the positive change we’ve seen in the world in the last 30 years has been from vision force–our natural ability as individuals to see a vision worth pursuing and then taking a stand and making it happen. Entrepreneurs, inventors, social entrepreneurs, community leaders, parents, teachers–you, we, are the ones who’ve brought the most possible change to the world–not politicians. Hey, I’m not saying don’t be politically active, I’m just saying what if we invested much more of the time, energy and money we invest in political force and invest it instead in our own minds and spirits–our vision force?!
What if?
JOIN US! Let’s campaign for vision!
If you’d like to talk about joining forces with VisionForce in a campaign to bring vision to the world, then reply to this post. You could be a local contact in your city or take on any of a myriad of other roles. Many more details to come. This is just an initial feeler. Just planting a seed.
If you’re used to just reading the VisionForce emails or blog entries, I challenge you to make your voice heard. This game of life is more exciting on the field. Come play with us. Say whatever is on your mind. Share your ideas for how we can bring vision to the world.
I thought I’d share about the woman who saved my life when I was about 21 years old. The following is a transcript of the orientation audio CD from the Visionary Mind package I’ve just completed.
< …What was my vision for my life? Who was I to be? Was there something more for me? I had dropped out of college after my first semester, and begun my own quest for truth, for answers, for direction. I had found the power of ruthlessly questioning, looking, thinking for myself… and then one evening, I found myself on the top balcony of a dormitory overlooking downtown Austin and the University of Texas. I’d stepped out onto the balcony, and begun a philosophical conversation with a student. As we talked, he told me it sounded like I’d been reading the writings of a certain author. I didn’t recognize the name, so he went and pulled a book off his book shelf. I opened it to a random page and began reading. Suddenly I found myself short of breath… almost in shock. Here was a woman, some woman I’d never met, mounting a passionate, logical defense for my life. For my happiness. For my right to be free and happy and my responsibility to myself to do so. It was as if she was standing up to the world, a world that wanted me to follow and obey their wishes, a world that would have put me on trial for being true to myself. In the face of all the world, she was defending me, my life, my spirit. She was a visionary, who only by staying true to her own vision, was able to reach out to me that day, nearly a decade after she died… and awaken me to life. I never met that woman. She had passed away before I ever read those words. But she saved my life that night. Now, I’d like to say something to you, the one listening to this program. I don’t know you. And we may never meet. In the years since that woman’s words changed my life forever I too have been standing, and for all the years that I have left I shall continue to stand… for you. I stand here today in defense of your spirit, your life, your happiness. As she stood in defense of mine. Is there a vision you could see for yourself, for your life? A vision that calls you to rise and face any challenge? Is there a vision that is uniquely yours? A vision, that by following it, you can know you are fulfilling your greatest purpose? And what will happen if you don’t live your life true to your own vision? What happens to the person who compromises his or her vision day by day? You’re fire goes out slowly… and you live, knowing there was something more… Sadly, this is the case with so many adults in today’s world. We’re compromising our selves and our own vision, to be accepted, to be “responsible,” to be “successful.” Indeed, we’re conditioned to act as if we’ll really find deep happiness, fulfillment and peace by fitting in, following and obeying the rules and norms of authority and society. We compromise, compromise and compromise some more… and with every compromise, there is less life within us… the heroic human spirit suffers and slowly dies. Visionary Mind is a program for you. A program that gives you a simple pathway to see your own vision—a vision that inspires you above the rules and norms of the world around you—a vision that you cannot help but follow. A vision that gives you the ultimate sense of peace, power, purpose and fulfillment. Here’s a short quote from the woman who defended my life. “Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark…. Do not let the hero in your soul perish, in lonely frustration for the life you deserved, but have never been able to reach. Check your road and the nature of your battle. The world you desired can be won. It exists, it is real, it is possible, it is yours.” Exactly, how does your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark? Exactly, how does the hero in your soul perish in lonely frustration for the life you deserved? And exactly how can you reclaim it? How can you win it back? Or, how can you prevent your fire from diminishing in the first place? How can you be so lit up with your own vision, that nothing can stop you? This course is about you. It’s about that fire inside. The human spirit. Who I am for you, and how I invite you to listen to me throughout this course, is the one who stands for you, for your life, for your happiness, for that hero in your soul. Together, we will check your road and the nature of your battle. Journey with me and we shall see together, that the world you desired—can–indeed, be won. You will see a vision and know that the world you desire does exist, it is real, it is possible, it is yours. Let’s begin. >> End of excerpt from Visionary Mind The woman I quoted changed my life with words. She spoke to me. She awakened me–to me. The Visionary Mind package is the product of years of work and sacrifice to be able to do the same for you. I don’t know you, but if you let me, I’d like to be for you who she was for me. If me words have spoken to you, I urge you to purchase Visionary Mind, so I can ship it to your doorstep. Take me with you in the car, as you jog, as you walk your dog. Make sacred time to honor yourself perhaps as never before. If you let me, I’ll show you a powerful way to do that. A way to connect so deeply with your self, your values and your vision, that literally nothing can stop you. Not because you’re now omniscient or omnipotent… only because nothing now can have you turn back. Nothiing.
There’s a download version available as well. Go here and scroll down the page to get your package.
Do you know who said those words that I quoted? Post your comments below.
I remember graduating highschool in 1989 and heading out into the world in the 90’s… It was the era of the Seattle Bands, and while there was a lot of brilliant music that came from those bands, often the lyrics echoed the Seattle weather… mostly cloudy with a good chance of rain, rain and more rain.
The summer of 94 I spent with my brother Dave building my father’s ranch in Arizona. It was he and I every day working 12 hour days in the Arizona sun–to the music of bands like Soundgarden… “black hole sun, wontcha come…” Wow, brings back so many memories.
But there didn’t seem to be much revolutionary rock music. Most if it seemed to take on a whiney attitude, as if the world is screwed up and there’s nothing we can do about it. Lyrics like Beck’s “I am a loser baby, so why don’t you kill me,” and Nirvana’s “I’m half the man I used to be,” made me practically sick to my stomach. What I didn’t like was that the artists themselves had such amazing talent and great airplay, and in my opinion they were wasting their power to influence positive change.
So, I tended to listen to many of the older bands, classic rock from the 60’s and 70’s like Led Zeppelin and The Doors, and hard rock and heavy metal bands from the 80’s like Metallica.
Of course then there was the band that gave me the theme music for my life during the 90s… Rage Against The Machine. It was the music of a positive rebellion. “Don’t stand on a silent platform, fight the war, f— the norm!” In my head I made up my own lyrics to many of their songs, but the underlying theme was that we can do something in the world we live in–we can “take the power back.”
(Where has Zack de la Rocha disappeared to, anybody know?)
Of course, my musical taste ranged far beyond classic rock, hard rock and heavy metal–the common theme being music that gave me power to be the change, to stand up, speak up and make a difference. In fact, I must have worn out almost as many Rocky soundtrack CDs and Chariots of Fire soudtrack CDs as I did RATM.
Anyway, I just came across a news article on CNN about how heavy metal is growing up and starting to bring forward more messages for change. The same thing can be witnessed in the world of Hip Hop. It’s a trend that is just beginning to emerge.
Sure, each genre has always had it’s visionaries and revolutionaries, but it’s the change in the percentage of artists using their medium for positive change that excites me.
And what really excites me is that great movements of social change tend to be preceded by artists by a few years (can someone quote me a study or reference?).
So, tis the dawning of a new day!
And I know the power of heavy metal to reach a large percentage of today’s youth–especially the young rebels who refuse to abdicate ownership of their minds to authority and the majority. Heavy metal artists, welcome to the Vision Revolution–make yourselves heard!
And, soon the day shall come when the messages of change in the music are presented not from well-intentioned positionary artists, but visionary artists (the distinction is here).
Musicians – Be heard! Post comments below.
VisionForce serves the ever expanding constellation of visionaries in the world. We know how tough it can be too keep extending yourself, to keep risking your time, your life, your money, your reputation for what you see is possible for humanity. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a social entrepreneur, an activist, an artist, a teacher, a parent, an author, a visionary politician, a church group leader, etc–or you aspire to be in some kind of creative leadership role to make a difference–matters not. What matters is that you need the power to stand and keep standing. Not a small task in today’s world that still mostly honors those who fit in, follow, obey and conform.
You are the hope of our children. You are the hope of tomorrow. In addition to providing powerful tools for visionaries like you, VisionForce aims to fill your spirit so that you can keep going forward, doing what you do, being who you are.
And our new Visionary Interview series is meant for you. We’ll be posting an audio interview with an everyday visionary, for your benefit. You can listen right here on the website, download to your computer and burn to your CD, or subscribe to this as a podcast and listen from you iPod.
We’re not necessarily going to interview those who’ve made it to the top. Au contraire! We’re going to interview the people in the trenches, people just like you! You are NOT alone. There are countless millions living the visionary lifestyle–living by their vision and risking everything that the “normal” world offers to do so.
The world of the past offers us the rewards of comfort, convenience, approval, respect, safety and financial security. All we need to do is stay mostly within the boundaries of the existing systems (that are sooo NOT working!). You are one of the few who chooses not to go down with the ship! And you’re willing to risk your life and your reputation to swim to shore to save all the others on board, and raise humanity to the next level.
I honor you.
This week we’ll be taling to a young entrepreneur in the renewable energy industry. Learn the challenges she comes up against and see who she is in the face of those challenges. Note: You’ll see yourself in her. She is you. Later on in the week, we’ll be interviewing a young visionary musician, risking it all to change the world through his music.
I will make no promise as to the frequency of these interviews, but expect them!
If you have comments, thoughts or suggestions, please post them below. (Oh, and if you know of someone we should interview.. hint, hint… YOU? Then direct them to visionforce and have them comment below. Thanks!)
(I thought I’d post this email that I sent to those beta-testing the Power To Stand course. Advance warning… I’ll use many terms here that may be unfamiliar to those who are new to conversations from Power To Stand or the realm of conscious evolution.)
May I speak to you of your path to conscious evolution?
By “path to conscious evolution” I mean simply the ways in which you personally work to evolve your self, so that you can be the change you seek in the world.
You likely know the dangers of a positional mind. Those of us who still consciously operate from the realm of fear-based Truth and Righteous Judgement are sourcing the war and terror of our world.
You likely also understand that we grow up in a world that conditions us to form a positional consciousness. It’s how we protect ourselves from the pain of shame and guilt directed at us from the fearful positions of others.
And so, whether you and I want to not operate with a positional mind is often besides the point. How do we evolve ourselves beyond that so that we might positively affect the conscious evolution of those around us?
Perhaps you are someone who seeks enlightenment (however you define it) or inner peace through practices such as meditation. Perhaps you read the writings of people you esteem to be enlightened, such that you can further evolve your thinking to that of a more enlightened being.
Whatever your personal path to conscious evolution, consider what I am about to introduce to you. It’s a methodology you can
use to accelerate your personal journey to power (power to “be the change,” power to inspire the change, power to “do the change”).
What does a practice such as meditation give us? One benefit is an expanded sense of self–or an identification of self not as separate but as one with all that is. Some consider achieving this state as an end in itself.
However, I’ll bet that for you it is also a means. It’s a means to the freedom to *not* act from a fear-based, dualistic, conscious position. And thus, meditation can be a tool to be the change and do the change.
Of course, even with a practice like meditation, you find your mind coming back to it’s well-formed positions. This presents a major challenge in being the change, inspiring the change and doing the change.
For all the time you spend with practices such as meditation that work to liberate your consciousness form its position, your mind spends much of the rest of the time habitually spinning or strengthening its positions.
The Power To Stand course (and VisionForce technology in general) offers something powerful to the agent of positive change, such
as yourself. Consider this…
It is perceive threats to our positional identities/egos that cause the mind stress. In those moments, the mind tends to automatically resolve the threats by forming a dualistic position.
(this is made clear in the Inner Conflict Diagram tool presented in such programs as VisionForce’s Visionary Mind program.)
What if…
Rather than simply seeking to free ourselves from identity, or identifying ourselves with God or the universe or all that is–What if we had a dynamic, non-dualistic way to identify self or consciousness?
What might that mean? That might mean we have more access to power. The power to be the change, inspire the change and do the change.
Consider that the self-identifying function of consciousness is neither good nor bad. Consider that it is a valid tool in many cases (beyond valid, it is a powerful tool).
Consider that action and direction requires identity. To go from here to there, we must first be a something–we must first be here. To communicate something, we must start from one perspective or concept and make our way to another. To see something, we must first have a perspective from which to view.
So the self-identifying function of consciousness is not only *not* wrong or bad or useless. It is powerful and I would even say necessary. To act or speak your mind generally needs an identiy.
Consider then that it is the limited, dualistic, fear-based position identity that is what limits us–not ego or identity itself.
Understanding this then can give us access to power. The power to cause the change we seek in the world… If only we could self-identity not from a position…
What else is there?
Such questions are on the forefront of the field of conscious evolution. One tool is to identify as a stand, rather than a position.
(Before you assume the generally held definition for stand, dive further into the Power To Stand course, as I mean this as something new and different.)
(this has been quite an abstract conversation… let’s pause for a deep breathe… inhale… exhale… aaaaah! 😉
OK! So, I generally avoid the extra intellectual conversations as I seek to simply offer new technology via simple concepts and methods to the general public.
My thinking is here is that the proof will be in the puddin. You use a simple concept or new tool, it quickly proves to be more powerful or useful, and…
You adopt it! You pass it along!
So, when I speak in the course and on the web site about seemingly simplistic and flat concepts such as vision, honor, position and stand; please try them on as tools before overlooking them as concepts not complex or new enough to interest your hunger for new ideas.
Now, never before has anyone been able to box up VisionForce (our human technology) as an experience and take it home with them… until now.
We have just announced the production of our first physical home study program, complete with audio CDs, workbook and on-line member area.
==> http://visionforce.com/action
I invite you to sink your teeth into this condensed program created from our iStand technology–technology for change agents who can’t wait for enlightenment, old age wisdom or divine intervention.
This program works like this.
SESSION 1 AUDIO
– You are introduced to Visionary Mind, Michael Skye and get oriented and prepared to succeed with the program.
SESSION 2 AUDIO
– You take a new look at the way you operate in the world. Take away all your sophisticated ideals and values, and where are you? Are you living in integrity with those ideals and values? What’s missing? And what’s possible? Understand the human faculty we call “vision” in a new way.
SESSION 3 AUDIO
– You participate in an inquiry into the nature of human consciousness and the new realm of human experience to understand an overlooked force. This force is but a natural faculty of human consciousness, yet one that we’re often left without much access to
after our upbringing. This is a state and feeling that we refer to as “honor.”
SESSION 4 AUDIO
– You revisit the conditioning from your upbringing in light of these two newly distinguished forces of consciousness: honor and vision. You see the extent to which your consciousness, including your methods for self-honesty, decision making and learning, has been thwarted. You begin to see what could be possible or our children and their development going forward, and you wonder how you might undo the effects from the past.
SESSION 5 AUDIO
– You are walked through an Inner Conflict Diagram, a process that brings light to your less-than-conscious decision-making, position-forming process. You dissect inner conflicts of your own in a way that can accelerate your own self-learning and evolution.
You find yourself in action where you weren’t before, honoring values you’d previously been compromising.
SESSION 6 AUDIO
– You are given a new lens through which to view human behavior and complete exercises that have you experiencing the aforementioned conscious forces (faculties) called vision and honor. You’ve begun to deeply connect with yourself and your values from a stand, rather than a position; and you experience in a deep way the power of doing so.
SESSION 7 AUDIO
– You look to your current challenges as a visionary in life and practice this new technology in your unique life situations. The experience is one of alignment with your natural and highest values in a way that results in courageous action.
SESSION 8 AUDIO
– You are given simple, practical steps you can take that will accelerate you on your path of conscious evolution as a visionary in life.
Here’s the good part…
I really want you to sink your teeth into this course without reservation. So I am extending a 365 day no questions refund policy to you. Try it out, test it for 365 days and if it’s not everything you’d hoped, return it in good condition and we’ll promptly refund your entire investment (less shipping).
I trust you won’t take advantage of this offer, and I also trust you’ll return it if you give it a fair shake and it’s just not your “cup of tea.”
As you’re a Power To Stand beta-tester (If you’re not, become one here for free), I’m also going to include a special gift in your package, if you purchase this first week.
Thank you for your interest, your support and your trust. Together we can raise human consciousness to new heights!
You are a contribution to my life and to the world,
-Michael Skye
VisionForce.com
P.S. The page to order this product is here:
==> http://visionforce.com/action
You can also call us at 1-888-844-6667, toll-free in the US.
P.P.S. Your comments to the ideas in this post are MOST welcome below.
Michael Skye here with a personal audio message from my phone. This
is the first of many efforts to become more transparent with you. I
reveal personal details about my life and the last 10 years of my
journey leading up to VisionForce. (this 37 minute audio is not the
greatest audio quality, but I hope you’ll find it worth your time)
Enjoy, and please post your comments.
MP3 File
I just saw the much talked about documentary by Al Gore on global warming. And, I better first mention that I was skeptical. See, I’ve never been a fan of political force as an agent of positive change, and I’ve always seen environmental issues largely from the side of the entrepreneur. Not that I don’t value the environment, I do. I just 1) don’t put much faith in government solutions, 2) don’t typically trust politicians who give good sounding causes to expand government’s power (and their own), and primarily 3) see and feel the detrimental effect that turning to government for answers has on humanity. I’ll get back to all that later.
I loved the documentary. First, it really made me think. Second, Mr. Gore and his crew chose not to lampoon their adversaries with cheap shots, present the ideas as The truth or their solutions as The solution. Yes, it appears to be a marketing piece for a future presidential bid (and a brilliant one at that). But most of all, I was inspired by the stand this man has taken, the path he has walked and how he has leveraged technology to share his vision. He’s been laughed at for decades for his stand on this issue, turned on, rejected, etc., and still he’s standing.
You really couldn’t ask for a better campaign commercial, but I’m not turned off by that simply because at the same time its’ killer marketing piece for his vision of positive change. Brilliant. Further, it’s an excellent example of how a single visionary has the power to change the world.
I understand now more the deep passion (displayed as frustration and anger) a friend of mine has when she finds me with a door open and the AC on (and why she didn’t laugh when I said, but I’m cooling the earth’s atmosphere to help stop global warming). I have a newfound respect for all the visionaries out there who labor tirelessly to share their message–their call to action. If that’s you reading this, I honor you.
Beyond all of that, what I saw from this documentary is a great parallel between the environment of our planet and the environment of our minds. Few see the full magnitude of the extent to which our survival is threatened by other technologies run rampant. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., noted 40 years ago, “We have guided missiles, and misguided men.”
What is happening with global warming and the environment is but a microcosm of a much larger problem. Al Gore’s frustration in reaching his fellow human beings is the frustration felt by most visionaries–everyday people who choose to stand for something worthwhile and take bold action to make a difference. There is a great divide in humanity at present.
I submit that just like there is a direct correlation between carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere and the temperature of the earth, there is a direct correlation between a) the levels of power that political, military and other outside forces are given, and b) the amount of war, disease, crime, terrorism, poverty, depression, drug addiction, etc., we see. More specifically, the more we turn to technology-empowered external authorities to solve our problems, the less we look within to be the change and cause the change. And the less we look within, the more we suffer, and the more we turn to irrational excapes, actions and justifications.
Just as Al has found that people not only need to see and feel the magnitude of the problem, they need to see and feel there is actually something they can do about it; so too have we at VisionForce found that it’s not enough to present the problem in a way it hits home for the individual–we must communicate in a way that has people seeing and feeling that they can do something about it (yes, our boot camps are powerful in that regard, but the whole world can’t attend “boot camp!”).
I’ve a general aversion to looking outside ourselves to other forces for solutions, as it overlooks our greatest natural resource for positive change–the force within us. The force of our own conscience, consciousness and vision. There are ways we can “activate” the vision force (sounds like a super hero cartoon action) to cause a ground swell of change.
Because there are many more “inconvenient truths” out there that we are facing in these times of accelerating technology. The world doesn’t need more people to compromise their power, freedom, vision and self-reliance in order to fit in and be comfortable. The world needs more people willing to stand for what matters in the face of it all, and share a vision that lifts even their adversaries to greatness. More on all this later.
Comments? Post below.
1 – You are one of the few who can’t turn your back on the opportunity you have to do something great in this lifetime. You’re committed to doing something great–something born of your own vision (your vision for your life, your family, your company, your community or humanity).
2 – You’re frustrated in a world that rewards conformity and tolerates mediocrity. You’re compassionate to the situations of others, yet you’re unsettled by the way conformity and mediocrity has human beings staying small.
3 – You know that what stands between you and the better world you envision is really but one thing: your own limits. And you know those limits are but an illusion. Thus, you are committed to transcending your limits to be the change you seek in the world. Deeply committed.
4 – Thus, human development is not something new to you. You eat it up. You don’t just have an intellectual fancy for human development ideas, you do the work, you take the action.
5 – Having been someone who takes action to transcend your limitations, you see how much more is possible–not just for yourself, but for the world at large. The more you see your own evolution, the more you see for all of humanity.
6 – This vision, you know, is more than a dream. People in your life may see you as an idealist, a dreamer, a rebel or maybe even a nut. But their opinions of you are based on their own fears to live from their own vision–and you know that. So you don’t give much credence to their doubts and fears.
7 – Yet it bothers you. You give so much in life, you sacrifice, you work, you commit at such a high level that you may often find yourself alone, disheartened or even in despair. For you have no comfort zone to retreat to. You can’t pretend you don’t see a greater vision. You won’t pretend. You won’t turn around and live a “normal” life.
8 – Until your dying day, you will keep standing for the vision you see–for what you know to be possible. You are a visionary–a revolutionary. The world is born by those with your courage, your will, your love. There you stand, you can do no other.
9 – You know that if more people could but see even a little more of your vision, it would change their life. It would change the world. You sense something is deeply missing from traditional self-improvement methods. You don’t want to just succeed inside the prevailing system–you want to change the system or give birth to a new one. And you know that takes an entirely different set of tools for thinking, being and communicating.
10 – Words like “change,” “revolution,” and “transformation” don’t scare you. “Bring it on,” you say. You welcome the new, the different, the complex.
11 – You likely have little company. You have few you can talk to who really relate.
12 – The idea of arriving at a final truth or solution annoys you or humours you. You know it’s a fallacy that the fearful cling to. To be human, you’re sure, is to be alive with the quest and the question, learning and evolving continually. The thought of pretending you have the answer repulses you.
13. So you don’t try to sell people on your worldview. You don’t have a need to change their beliefs. You are comfortable in the question, in the unknown. That is your home. It’s where you live every day.
14. You know fear. You seldom ignore your feelings. Rather, you face them. You feel them. And yet you don’t define yourself as them. You define yourself by your actions.
15. You are someone I wish to get to know. Together, we can change the world. We can create a future where every human being naturally develops a healthy, free, independent mind. Where children are honored as the visionaries they have the innate potential to be. A world where human beings live at the edge of their potential as conscious creators in peace and prosperity.
Speak up! Use the comment link below.
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