Robin Williams, Connection, and the Synchronicity of Experience

The pain, the joy, the sadness, the exuberance, the unfamiliar and familiar, are but a host of expressions of one continuum of consciousness and we are connected to it all!

It was only days ago that the world learned of the death of a beloved figure in the world of entertainment, Robin Williams.

Despite the personification of artistic genius, Williams apparently struggled with general acceptance, reportedly since childhood, gradually spiraling into a cumulative vortex of addiction and deep depression.  

Still, with his broad spectrum of persona; his convincing and infectious character, both on screen and off, millions upon millions of people came to know, love, admire, and marvel at this brilliant creator, leaving an indelible mark of emotion and connection in the hearts of the many who followed his work and his life.

It is this connection that is often intensified when it comes to those individuals well known to the masses.  Particularly those like Robin Williams who had the uncanny ability to virtually morph into any character whether comedic or dramatic, spanning the gamut of human experience, thus creating and/or fulfilling the universal archetypes that are said to be embedded in the collective unconscious of all living souls.  It is in this connection that a primordial link between individuals, whether personally known or not, can tether our collective psyche and unfold as synchronicity when notable events occur.

Keeping this premise in mind, I found the following play out of events worth noting here, which I would deem indicative of this very Jungian-esque idea.

The week prior to Williams’ death I had been on vacation with my husband on Martha’s Vineyard, a popular island off the coast of Cape Cod in Massachusetts.  While there, I had this clear and spontaneous urge of wanting to watch the movie What Dreams May Come starring Cuba Gooding Jr., and Robin Williams.  One of my favorites, I’d seen the movie several times years ago and read the original novel by the late Richard Matheson at least as many times as I’d seen the film.  Why I had this urge to watch it again, and why now, I did not know - and since we were away from home, the likelihood of my finding it on the island was slim.  So I let it go.

A few days later (August 11), I’d been having a late meal with my husband and discussing the recent suicide of a young man several weeks ago whom I only knew of, through another close friend.  His suicide, which was carried out by asphyxiation stunned so many in his wide circle of friends, including my dear friend. The full spectrum of his story and all of the multi-dimensions of this short life touched both my husband and me so intensely that we’d spent hours talking about this young man, feeling as if we knew him.  Our conversation about him intensified on the evening of August 11th.  

Earlier in the day, I’d been visiting my friend who knew this young man quite well.  She felt the need to painstakingly describe his character to me: a young, vibrant, talented and extremely funny guy, though morbidly troubled since childhood.  She’d shown me several photos of him clowning around with friends, clearly captivating his audience at every turn.  A seemed dichotomy of character rolled up into one 21 year old individual.  

It was this theme that later dominated our dinner discussion on the evening of August 11th - the conflicting personalities that appeared equally present - that of the funny, warm, gentle kid vs. the dark, mischievous, restless soul.  Unfortunately as circumstances would have it, the latter won out!  He was found by a family member in his home, having hung himself.  An unspeakable tragedy to be sure!

Although both my husband and I had been aware of this awful incident for several weeks and had discussed it at some length, something about this day, August 11th, had cast an unusually sympathetic spell on our conversation.  First, it was the visit to my friend’s house, where she had felt intent on sharing an important slice of his life with me via the photos that depicted him as a “happy, go-lucky guy.”  Then we mused over how such an unfathomable act could be possible, given his oft experienced personality that was anything but dark.  I then carried the emotion of his story home with me, feeling the need to discuss it further, trying my best to understand “why?” 

Only minutes after wrapping up our meal and our exhaustive analysis of the loss of this young soul, along came the breaking news: ”Robin Williams 63, dead, apparently of suicide by asphyxiation…”  Needless to say, an absolute chill came over me - initially of the unexpected news of this massive tragedy but also of the preternatural details of what we had been speaking of only moments before!  

It was psychologist Carl Jung who postulated that each and every individual is somehow connected to what he called, the collective unconscious - a stream of experience encompassing past, present, future, and virtually every expression of the human experience.  Although often appearing as arbitrary in its surfacing, this field of awareness is always present, although buried deep in the psyche of man.

In Jung’s seminal volume, Memories, Dreams, Reflections, he recounts a story in which shortly after after delivering a lecture and then spending some time with friends, he retired to bed, although finding himself uneasy and unable to sleep.  Once he finally dosed off, he then awakened with a start, feeling as if someone had intruded into his room.  Perplexed as to the activity he thought he’d experienced, he then realized that what had awakened him was not an intruder but the sensation of a dull pain in the back of his head.  The next day, Jung received news that his patient had committed suicide, shooting himself in the head!

The collective unconscious is…the foundation of what the ancients called the ‘sympathy of all things.’

Jung later reasoned about the episode, “This experience was a genuine synchronistic phenomenon such as is quite often observed in connection with an archetypal situation - in this case, death.  By means of a relativization of time and space in the unconscious it could well be that I had perceived something which in reality was taking place elsewhere.  The collective unconscious is common to all; it is the foundation of what the ancients called the ‘sympathy of all things.’  In this case the unconscious had knowledge of my patient’s condition.  All that evening, in fact, I had felt curiously restive and nervous, very much in contrast to my usual mood.”

Might it have been our pre-occupation with the act of suicide and the loss of such a vibrant soul that linked past with present, unlocking a stream of experience from deep within the unconscious mind?

As I juxtapose Jung’s experience which happened many years ago with the unusually sympathetic and almost obsessive demeanor that both my husband and I exhibited, particularly since we did not know this young man personally, strikes a chord of curiosity.  Just like the unconscious had knowledge of Jung’s patient’s condition, the unconscious had knowledge of the death of Williams, which was happening at the same time or shortly before our deep discussion about a young (funny, bright, and conflicted) man who chose to end his life in the same manner that we learned would be Williams’ fate only moments later!

When we speak of archetypes and the collective unconscious, we are acknowledging that there are symbols depicted in people, places, things, and events, both fictional and non-fictional, that on some level carry a measure of familiarity to us all, whether experienced directly or not.  In both of the aforementioned cases, the archetype is suicide, but are the implications even greater?

This archetype, though focused on one individual expression (the young man), it would later be mirrored in another (Williams).  The sympathy of emotion became the synchronicity that would connect the two seemingly separate events, illuminating the idea that all things are indeed connected at some fundamentally deep level.  

Further adding credence to an all but explainable phenomenon of synchronicity, the movie What Dreams May Come, depicts a character played by Robin Williams who tragically dies and spends his post-mortal “time” trying to understand all of the subtle nuances of the afterlife and the ties of love that infinitely bind us all together to transcend the process we call “death.”

We are all inextricably linked and capable of glimpsing virtually any expression and at any moment.  When we fully realize this, we will understand that the separation of time and space as we know it is the real illusion and that the demarcation of life and death are equally illusory. 

Let us all carry on with this knowledge and evolve into the understanding of what connection really means!

If in doubt, synchronicity might just be our greatest clue!

Alexis Brooks is the best-selling author of Conscious Musings - Contemplations to Transform Life and Realize Potential and is the host of the popular  Conscious Inquiry Radio program, exclusively presented by Conscious Life News.  Visit Alexis on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube!

The Shadow vs. Light of Media and the Act of Free Will

"Most people live life on the path we set for them, too afraid to explore any other. But once in a while people like you come along who knock down all the obstacles we put in your way. People who realize free will is a gift that you'll never know how to use until you fight for it. I think that's the chairman's real plan. That maybe one day, we won't write the plan, you will." 

– Character, Harry Mitchell from the movie, The Adjustment Bureau.

This is a powerful statement – perhaps the single most enlightening piece of narrative from the 2011 film, The Adjustment Bureau starring Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, and Anthony Mackie (Harry Mitchell).

One might question the “we” Mitchell is speaking of, or you might ask, “Just who is the chairman?”

As much as we may desire to know who or what may be pulling the strings of life, sending us on a predictable path away from free will, perhaps this matters less than how we ascertain the meaning of free will and moreover, how we ignite it.

Media and particularly the art and science of film-making: telling stories, conveying messages, and shaping culture, has arguably been the single most influential catalyst in creating our worldview – our reality, whether positively or negatively.  With this influence in mind, free will is often forfeited for the trap of projected images. 

Many have pointed out that the lure of Hollywood film and its spell-binding ability to draw the viewer in, has culminated in the forza primaria of social engineering.

Alternative researcher Alan Watt had this to say about the “spell of film” and its massive implications:

“Hollywood is the magician's wand which has been used to cast a spell on the unsuspecting public. Things or ideas which would otherwise be seen as bizarre, vulgar, undesirable or impossible are inserted into films in the realm of fantasy. When the viewer watches these films, his/her mind is left open to suggestion and the conditioning process begins. These same movies which are designed to program the average person, can give the discerning viewer a better understanding of the workings and the plan of the world agenda. Be aware.”

In a recent interview with producer, film historian, and new media expert Randall Libero, we explored the idea of both shadow and light in film and how depending on the level of conscious awareness of the viewer, the impact of what has been watched will be determined.  Libero reminds us that it is each individual’s decision as to whether they will use film as an escape from their own reality or to view it objectively with a discerning but detached observation.  Either way, the message must be seen for what it is – a story – not yours, but someone else’s.  And from his perspective, we would do well to understand the importance of this demarcation.

In my interview with Randall, I posed the question of the continuum of consciousness – the idea that whatever we are experiencing, including the movie we are watching is in some way a continuum of our own consciousness.  “Wouldn’t this philosophy of detachment fly in the face of a connected Universe?” I asked.  Libero points out that although this may be true – that all things are fundamentally connected, it is absolutely important to learn the art of being present, to be aware of your surroundings and not allow the outside world, whether in art, media or the person you are speaking with, fully draw you in.  This is where we can get lost in a maze of messages and essentially stumble off the path of free will.  He says, “When you go to a museum and you look at a piece of art, you don’t get sucked into the art.  You’re still aware that you’re in a room and that you’re walking around.  Your feet are on the floor or you’re sitting on a bench.  You can experience the art and feel what the artist was saying emotionally, but at the same time you’re not losing yourself.  Why can’t it be the same way when you’re watching a movie?”

This begs a much larger question – the act of viewing art in a gallery let’s say, which is represented as a static image.  It may be far easier to not get “sucked in” to the visual image than it is when you’re experiencing a motion picture.  The lure of characters playing out a story, the emotional pull that is so often skillfully invoked and in many cases the relate-ability of the viewer with the character(s) on some level, even if subconsciously, makes for a much stronger draw into the film and away from the act of being present.

Motion pictures are notoriously skillful at imploring an emotional resonance with the viewer.  Feelings of sadness, anger, passion, and fear are depicted by the characters.   These fundamental emotions can all be related to on some level by the viewer.  When you put emotions into a context that includes powerful sound effects, dramatic music or even hell-raising violence, the emotional pull is magnified multifold and potentially more effective!

Nonetheless, when one can master the act of desensitizing from that which they are viewing, whereby still getting a full experience of the film, much more can be gleaned from its message.  For instance, shadow and light can be experienced from an entirely different perspective – an objective vision.  Then one can choose which portions of the message, if any, can serve as a catalyst for greater consciousness and the rest can be willfully left behind.

Randall contends that this is a far more preferable way to go – staying present and conscious throughout.  And it is in this light that we can recognize and even distill the purpose of shadow and light as represented in many Hollywood films while not becoming a part of its psychological landscape.

David Norris played by Matt Damon is interrogated by the
Adjustment Bureau and ordered to stay on their plan.

In the Adjustment Bureau, shadow and light both play a starring role.  We watch as orders are carried out from the chairman to cause accidents, change routes and even mind-wipe unsuspecting individuals.  What are clearly seen as nefarious and dastardly acts – feats of wizardry not known to the general populace, are instead invoked to ensure that the individuals being intercepted stay on a planned life path – a path not determined by the individuals but by the chairman himself.

The idea of free will and what it truly means has been debated by philosophers, theologians and lay people alike.  For it has been said that “freedom is not free.”  Freedom carries a cost, if nothing more than the responsibility and courage needed to turn your back on what has been offered to you (including the film that you’re watching).   Rather it is more important to glean the messages for yourself that can be used to enrich, evolve and empower you.  This is also an expression of what it means to be consciously sovereign.

Now let’s revisit the Alan Watt quote in which he said, “Hollywood is the magician's wand which has been used to cast a spell on the unsuspecting public…. When the viewer watches these films, his/her mind is left open to suggestion and the conditioning process begins.”  What is key here is that there is an assumption that the average movie go-er is not conscious and not aware of his/her surroundings but has allowed the movie and its plot to take over their consciousness, thus “casting the spell.”  This is a choice that one makes each and every time they decide to view a film, whether at home or in a movie theatre.

Sadly, unconscious viewing is so prevalent today that it isn’t even recognized by the percipient as such.   It may be with this understanding that the average person is pre-disposed to getting lost in the film, and for a variety of reasons, that has been so effective in programming the mind to follow a given path, rather than creating their own (free will).

Ironically, it is within the Hollywood film, The Adjustment Bureau that seems to spell out an identical significance – that despite the intentions of “others” to set the course for you, essentially telling you what is or isn’t possible in life, it is those who dare to challenge the template and create their own path, despite the odds, who will finally know what it means to be free.  This takes the conscious and aware individual – one who stays alert to the messages and can determine their own meaning.  This is the subjective journey!

Paradoxically, it may be plausible that the aim of the Universe is to put stumbling blocks along ones path –  disguised as the architects of some Hollywood films, media and other systematic culture (i.e. the chairman), to push us toward walking the path of free will and thus write our own plan! 

Either way, free will is our choice, and once realized, what an exhilarating choice it will be!

Alexis Brooks is the best-selling author of Conscious Musings - Contemplations to Transform Life and Realize Potential and is the host of the popular  Conscious Inquiry Radio program, exclusively presented by Conscious Life News.  Visit Alexis on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube!

Self Help? It May Be Easier Than You Think!

Updated: March 2014

Bestselling author Alexis Brooks debuts 

Conscious Musings - Contemplations to Transform Life and Realize Potential

What people are saying about Conscious Musings...

"A real page turner" - "mind boggling" - "inspirational"

"transformational" - "a must read!"

What does this post 2012 era have in store for us?  Will we have any say in how our lives play out?  Can we truly create our own reality to our own specifications?  Can we use our dreams, intuitions, and synchronicities to trade our current reality for one we would rather experience?  According to the new release of Conscious Musings – Contemplations to Transform Life and Realize Potential, the resounding answer is YES!

The act of self help takes on a whole new meaning with Conscious Musings - a powerful anthology of thoughts covering a broad range of experience and potential of today’s human.  From rationalizing reality to spiritual sovereignty; from dichotomies of consciousness to the emergence of individualism, death of the ego and behavior modification to transcending the limits of physical life as we know it.  This book delves deep into the big questions, and offers suggestions for achieving in ways we’ve yet to experience both individually and collectively.

Will out of body experiences (OBE’s) shed stunning light on our true potential?  Will accepting the reality of paranormal phenomena shift our paradigm to a whole new level?  Can we literally design our life from the Imaginal realm?  According to some of the most widely respected individuals in many areas of transformation and potential who are mentioned throughout this book, the answer is YES!

Hear from OBE expert William Buhlman about how incorporating self-initiated OBE’s can literally transform our perceptions about life and death.  Paranormal researcher and author Rosemary Ellen Guiley talks about how the thinning of the planetary veil has possibly initiated a more robust link with the spirit realm.  Gifted intuitive and teacher Penney Peirce shows us how to engage the imaginal realm to begin a joyful journey that is squarely within our grasp.   Near-death experiencer and researcher PMH Atwater reminds us about the necessity to take stock of our position in life: Are you a complacent consumer or change-maker?  The late author of the Holographic Universe, Michael Talbot comments on how the “weird” is a means to understanding the practical applications of the paranormal realms and what they have to teach us.  Dream expert and author Robert Moss conveys a riveting and inspiring story of how abolitionist and humanitarian Harriet Tubman used her innate psychic influence to change history!  There’s so much more!

Find practical and attainable solutions using heart-based visualization and meditation to begin the reality shift for yourself and learn how I tapped my own inner guidance to shift out of a reality that was fraught with challenge and desperation.

We do have a choice in how we live our lives and I am confident that once you read Conscious Musings you will never look at your life or your world through the same lenses again!

Exciting times are upon us, knocking at our door. Self help and transformation has taken on a whole new meaning in this new world for which we live.  Let’s unlock that door – we’ve already been given the key!  Let’s approach the mystery, the magic and the magnificence of life and of the Universe, because we have a unique stake in the process and in the outcome!

The time is now  to help your SELF!

Early praise for Conscious Musings!

“In Conscious Musings Alexis Brooks reminds us that the perfect world we are looking for might already be here. With an emphasis on personal responsibility and the importance of service to others, we become the change we want to see. This is an intelligently written, thoughtfully composed collection of essays that examine the human potential. It is a well-researched book that examines the influence of consciousness on reality, looking at the act of reflection rather than reaction. I was particularly intrigued by the idea that a simple change in one’s daily routine can be a pre-cursor to change in other areas of life. Read this enlightening work, and as Alexis so clearly states, ‘Embrace the journey’.”

-William Buhlman, author of Adventures in the Afterlife

“Conscious Musings is a marvelous collection of metaphysical principles designed to both educate and enlighten the reader. I highly recommend this book.”

-Dr. Bruce Goldberg, author of Exploring the Fifth Dimension – Parallel Universes, Teleportation and Out-of-Body Travel

“Conscious Musings is a celebration of inspiration and a feast for the soul. Alexis Brooks has a rare talent for combining the most mind-boggling metaphysical concepts with down-to-Earth practical ideas. She illuminates some of the great ideas of our time with graceful dexterity and takes us on a journey to comprehend the nature of reality, asking questions such as, ‘Is paranormal the new normal?’ Conscious Musings guides us through the challenges of our times, envisioning a state of mindful awareness and wonder we can attain by which all problems can be solved.”

  -Cynthia Sue Larson, author of Reality Shifts – When Consciousness Changes the Physical World

“Alexis Brooks is a great ‘muser!’ She zooms in on poignant topics in the news and life, and examines them in a spiritual, intuitive light. She connects the nonphysical and physical realms this way, helping us see through the veil of confusion and ignorance that surrounds us on a daily basis. It’s fun to contemplate the ideas along with her. It will help you notice other important things that want noticing.”

-Penney Peirce, author of Leap of Perception and Frequency

“Conscious Musings is wonderful, inspirational and motivating!  Alexis Brooks offers insights of great depth and wisdom that she seamlessly brings together into a perfect wholeness.  This book will help you gain a higher perspective on life and how to make it richer and more rewarding.”

-Rosemary Ellen Guiley, author of Dream Messages from the Afterlife and

Soul Journeys.

“If you are ready to contemplate the unknown, to expand your awareness, to remember who you are, I recommend Conscious Musings as a roadmap and Alexis Brooks your muse.”

-Ann Bolinger-McQuade, author of Everyday Oracles – Decoding the Divine Messages That Are All Around Us

“Alexis has provided all of us with a thoughtful, beautifully written understanding of ourselves, the times we are living in and the power of love. This book is sure to inspire, motivate and stimulate our perspectives on life in an uplifting way. It is a testament to the beauty of all that we are and a beauty we should never, ever forget.”

-Howard Martin, Executive Vice President, HeartMath and co-author  with Doc Childre of The HeartMath Solution

“Conscious Musings is a deep, entertaining and enlightening journey into these times of great crisis and opportunity.  Alexis Brooks effortlessly weaves personal reflections, cosmic truths, and our collective reality, into a narrative that is both thoughtful and heartful.  This work is a great contribution to an awakening humanity.”

-Steve Bhaerman aka Swami Beyondananda, co-author with Bruce Lipton of Spontaneous Evolution – Our Positive Future and A Way to Get There From Here

“Alexis Brooks’ search for truth has been so diligent that her Conscious Musings is able to offer sophisticated insights beyond the usual platitudes. The altitude of her worldview allows her to see beyond seeming dichotomies. She describes how a true ego is necessary to be both distinct and unified with the cosmos, that responsible individualism is the core of real connectedness as community and that authentic spirituality depends on the recognition of our sovereignty of every being. Such grounded expansiveness is both inspiring and timely when both waking up and clear manifesting are critical.”

-Foster Gamble, Creator of Thrive Movie – What On Earth Will it Take?

Read a sample chapter from Conscious Musings

The new release of the expanded print and Kindle version of Conscious Musings is

available now on 
Amazon

The New Children Are Here!

What are "crystal," "indigo," "star-child," "rainbow" beings?  Are they real?  And are they here now?

Despite the temptation to name these kids, near-death and consciousness researcher P.M.H. Atwater discards these labels, and rightfully so!  These aren't labels, these are beautiful beings that apparently entered our planet en masse, she says beginning around 1982 and they're rocking our world in ways unknown to us before.

They are psychic, they are genius, they are  sensitive and they need listening and paying attention to.  This is not to coddle, cocoon or patronize them in any way - this is about understanding that a new race of beings has graced this planet for myriad reasons.  In their disfunction (some of them anyway), they may be here to mirror our own misunderstandings and ignorance of ourselves.  But this is just a small part of the story.  They are what she refers to as the 5th root race; a race that entered the planet during a time period when shifts began to happen in big ways.  They are teachers.  They don't want bosses - they want mentors.  They are restless, bored and see through pretense as easy as we see through our window.

These may be your children or your neighbor's children or it may be you!  Either way, there's something magnificent going on here and we need to pay attention!

I had the distinct pleasure of speaking with P.M.H. earlier today about these beings which she covers in her book, Children of the Fifth World - A Guide to the Coming Changes in Human Consciousness.  Our interview will be posted tomorrow on Conscious Inquiry and I encourage absolutely EVERYONE to listen to it.  Why? This isn't just about their story; the new kids - this is about ours and we'd better be paying attention to all of the messages (both subtle and not so subtle, verbal and nonverbal) of what these kids have to show us.  If we are at a tipping point in our world, these kids are integral to what lies beyond that point and the sooner we zoom in on what and who it is that they are, the sooner we will be able to understand who and what we are and what we face in this most exciting of times!

Please do not miss out on this most eye-opening interview, which will debut, Wednesday, September 4, 2013,exclusively on The Conscious Inquiry Radio Show!  As I have said, this is essential information for parents, for teachers, for everyone!

The kids are not just our future, they are our NOW!  Tune in to what matters - tune out the noise and listen to what these incredible beings have to teach us!

Read what researcher and near-death experiencer PMH Atwater had to say about the events of 9/11 in Alexis' new best-selling book, Conscious Musings - Contemplations to Transform Life and Realize Potential.  Pick up your copy in paperback or for Kindle today!

Commercial Consciousness

GREED NEVER FELT SO GOOD!  POWER never felt so good!  THE BACK-STAB never felt so good!

Sound like an honest admission from an individual visiting their therapist or maybe a visit to the confession chamber for the occasional cleansing of sinful thoughts?  Perhaps.  But these eye-catching and very blatant statements were featured in a print ad promoting the premiere of a new TV series.  Each statement was accompanied by alluring images of the television show’s actors.

When I first laid eyes on this explicit and outlandish ad nestled within the pages of a popular magazine, I asked myself – how low could they go?  But rather the real question becomes, who are they trying to make the masses into?

It has become increasingly known that the powerful world of advertising has long sought out extreme measures to coerce the public into buying products from hairspray to alcohol to processed foods to medicine.  The goal seems obvious – to generate massive revenue and capture the lion’s share of the market.  But what more and more of the public are discovering is that this goal may be just the tip of the iceberg or a lucrative bi-product of an endeavor whose aim goes far deeper.

Shape Shifting the Consumer

A former major product brand manager had this to say about how roles and responsibilities have changed in the world of marketing products – “When I was a brand manager, my job was basically to make sure product was good; develop new advertising copy, design the pack.  Now a brand manager has an entirely different kind of responsibility.  Their job now is to create and maintain a whole meaning system for people for which they get identity and understanding of the world.”

This is a telling statement for sure.  It gives insight into the prime modus operandi of many major advertisers today – to shape identity and influence behavior.

Having been trained as a journalist and spending a fair amount of years working in advertising and broadcasting in the mid 80’s and into the 90’s, I had an internal purview of seeing this very subtle and yet profound shift in motive take place.  Initially, advertising campaigns seemed relatively benign (I stress relatively)  but eventually persuasion techniques in advertising morphed into an outright dumbing-down of consumers, using pithy one-liners, clever play on words and larger than life imagery to “inform” the consumer as to what they need and moreover who they should be!  In fact, I will never forget that it was when my then general sales manager at a major market radio station in Boston said to me, “we must use theatre of the mind,” referring to some commercial copy I had written which apparently didn’t pass muster in the “convince the consumer at all costs” mantra he had recently adopted.  It was then that I began to realize that integrity was no longer a priority in mainstream media and thus my choice to exit from the industry would be imminent!

This was quite a few years ago.  And although my journalistic focus has taken a 180 degree turn in the past decade or more, I have been keen to eye the trends of socialization in media and what I have discovered is nothing short of alarming.

The following “tag-lines” are associated with some recent ads running on television…and often!  What might they be saying (or shaping) behind the product they are trying to sell?

“Life is a fajita (or a pulled pork sandwich).”

“I Robot – Do You?”

“There IS no mass produced human.”

“Live the regular life.” (Note: actor is wearing a t-shirt that says Regular and Proud of It!)

“The new American is arriving.”

Some of you, especially if you live in the U.S., might be familiar with these lines and what brands they are associated with.  I’m not going to get into the brand names, as I don’t think that matters as much as the power of persuasion techniques they are enlisting to ensure the masses follow suit.

For me, it was quite clear that these statements all fall into the category of persuasion not of the quality or superiority of the product that’s being sold but of the mantra that’s being sold through suggestion: Life (or you) is nothing more than a piece of meat.  I am a robot – are you?  Be regular, average, common – don’t even think about trying to be special or exceptional! I particularly find this line: “There is no mass produced human” curious as the emphasis on “is” implies they are responding to a statement that says, you guessed it: humans are mass produced!  And as for the “New American” – I’ll leave that up to you to decide what they might be referring to (hmm).

The point of the matter at hand is that when one peaks behind the curtain of commercialism and takes notice of the patterns of language, image and redundancy, one may find that these little 1 minute or less spots are posing potential repercussions that can last for many years to come and to society, en masse. As yet another popular brand (for aspirin) says in its ad, “Life isn’t about to stop messing with our heads anytime soon!” (And that’s why you of course need the aspirin!)

Notice the myriad references to “life” in the aforementioned tag lines.

And The Real Consumer is…The Unconscious

Best-selling author and psychologist, Eldon Taylor’s groundbreaking book, Mind Programming gives the reader a deep dive into the psychological intricacies of persuasion and brainwashing, chiefly through our media.  In it he says, “…humans are socialized in ways that produce limited thinking – or rather, trained thinking.  Indeed, this is done so well that a certain blindness exists in most of us.  This unawareness is sometimes well illustrated by what cognitive theorists refer to as context-bound thinking.”  He goes on to say, “If a product is placed in a context that by definition is desirable, then we’re typically blind to seeing the alternative context.”  Although Taylor is speaking primarily of putting something that would otherwise be undesirable to you in a context that you will in turn find desirable, I am suggesting that context-bound thinking is also being used to cover up the alternative context which is being delivered via the unconscious mind.

It was psychologist Carl Gustav Jung who said, “The psyche is the world’s pivot: not only is it the one great condition for the existence of a world at all, it is also an intervention in the existing natural order, and no one can say with certainty where this intervention will finally end.” (On the Nature of the Psyche, C.G. Jung)

Jung was a proponent of the power of both the individual and collective unconscious, referring to its mysterious mechanisms as a directive to how we live our lives.  He said, “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it (the unconscious) will direct your life and you will call it fate.”

It is my surmise that many advertisers across multiple product sectors have realized this effective mechanism and no doubt use this as a process for shaping culture as we know it.

Enter the Conscious Consumer

Interestingly,  as advertisers have become more flagrant about their messages (e.g. “the greed, power, back-stab tag line), consumers are becoming, slowly but surely more aware of their M.O. and opting to not buy into the messages or in some cases, their products.  We are indeed on the precipice of an awakening on many levels, whether cognizant of the five sense psychological mapping techniques that have been used for years, or the purely spiritual and esoteric underpinnings of reality itself, it is refreshing to see a natural curiosity and yearning to understand the nature of the psyche and of the spirit with all its intricate layers in order to gain greater access to a state of being that is free of coercion from anyone or anything.  The promulgation of free and independent thought and expression is an integral step and the collective realization that we are not beholding to any one mantra for what we think we need or want.  Choice is always at the heart of it.  When we learn to make our choices from the internal advertiser (the intuition that’s nudging us toward what is truly best for us), we will become a conscious consumer – of knowledge, insight and love!

Post Script:

The above summation in my opinion is by no means applicable to all advertisers.  There are indeed some in the media space whose intent is to inform the public of something of value and for the good of humanity.  My aim is to simply illustrate a disturbing trend, primarily within the mainstream.  For all of those whose messages are driven from a place of altruism…carry on!

Alexis Brooks is the best-selling author of Conscious Musings - Contemplations to Transform Life and Realize Potential and the host of Conscious Inquiry Radio on ConsciousLifeNews.com.  Read more about Alexis' candid insights and criticisms of mainstream media in Conscious Musings.

Introducing Conscious Musings!

It is my absolute pleasure to introduce you to a new member of the Higher Journeys family - Conscious Musings - A Collection of Contemplations About Life and Potentiality: my new release on audio book that explores the true nature of reality and that which is most important to us - our selves and the world that we live in!

This short audio book will explore the world as it is vs. the world as it could be!

Conscious Musings offers unique but practical solutions to how you can approach life with a renewed sense of purpose and action.

Included in Conscious Musings is a short but powerful heart based meditation that can be used daily to manifest that which you've always desired, but didn't know just how to achieve it!

Begin to manifest the world as it can be right now!

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