Greetings!
In this edition, I’m sharing a series of thought-provoking channelings from Michael, focusing on the nature of consciousness and the soul’s role in bringing life to the brain and body. These Q&A segments delve into complex questions, such as how consciousness exists, the nature of ego, and what it means for essence to manifest in our lives. They offer insights that may inspire a more balanced understanding of how our minds and souls interact to create our experiences.
The final piece, "Seeing Your Reflection in Another," presents a simple yet profound exercise to help foster empathy and connection, especially valuable as the world becomes more polarized. This gentle practice encourages us to see the common threads that unite all of us, regardless of our differences, and can be a powerful tool for anyone feeling overwhelmed by the current political climate.
I hope these reflections provide clarity, comfort, and a sense of connection as we navigate the coming weeks. Let’s take this opportunity to look beyond our usual perceptions, finding a shared humanity even in the midst of disagreement.
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With gratitude,
Dave Gregg
The Nature of Consciousness
Q: What is needed from the soul, if anything, for consciousness in the brain to exist?
MICHAEL: Consciousness, as we would define it, is the element that endows the brain with the fluidity and cognitive understanding that exists beyond the mere computational mechanics of the brain’s machinery. For example, a computer can calculate and retrieve existing data that was programmed into its memory, but it is not aware that these functions are being carried out. They are strictly performed through a sophisticated yet ultimately rote series of computations.
With the human brain and other life forms, the soul animates these mechanical functions with the cognizance that there is an awareness of the self performing the calculations. Nouns, verbs, and conjunctions are strung into coherent sentences to communicate with others; compassion and understanding are felt based on empathy; and choices are made that react to ever-changing social and environmental conditions, as well as the personal needs that arise. In other words, the soul endows the brain with the conscious awareness that knows it is alive and capable of exerting influence on its surroundings.
The general plasticity of the brain allows the soul to meld with the organ on a vibrational level, attuning with its electromagnetic fields without being electromagnetic in terms of detectable matter. The process is difficult to describe in a physical sense, but think of the permeability of osmosis, where the physical and the spiritual merge, creating a symbiotic relationship between the brain and the soul that activates a state of consciousness.
A brain without that symbiotic relationship with a soul would, of course, be rendered comatose. Theoretically, the body could still function and exist for years if proper nourishment were provided, but the brain lacking a soul would not awaken. This scenario, however, is more hypothetical than realistic.
While the soul is responsible for sustaining consciousness in the brain, the brain itself does the thinking and retrieves and stores memories. This is why a physically impaired brain shows a corresponding degree of mental decline, even though the soul remains intact. No matter how damaged the brain might be, the symbiosis with the soul ensures that no experience is ever lost. However, as stated, the functionality of the brain correlates with the health and responsiveness of all mental faculties. In cases of dementia or Alzheimer's, for instance, these faculties are diminished. The brain is then the body's central processing unit (or CPU). It governs motor skills, the functioning of internal organs, breathing, the ability to see, instinctive-centered emotions, and mental processes, among other functions. The soul, however, as a nonphysical entity, could not sustain these functions in the body alone.
Beyond the animating properties of the soul, the soul (or essence) influences the personality through the positive poles of the overleaves, projecting light into all aspects of an incarnation through its presence. Thoughts, feelings, sensations, and physical maneuvers are still governed by the personality and the brain, but essence illuminates the path. This path, one devoid of egotism, the polarities of likes and dislikes, and negative emotions, assists the personality in integrating more of its authentic self into daily activities.
We believe it is also instructive to understand that the soul contributes, at varying degrees of sentience, the vital component necessary to instill consciousness in all life forms, even those lacking a traditional nervous system, such as plants and trees.
Q: It has been claimed that the astral body fades away after several hundred years and the personality of that soul is stored as a memory in essence. Could you elaborate?
MICHAEL: As the physical body is interned after the death of its former inhabitant, the astral detritus is repurposed when essence ascends to the Causal as part of a reunited entity. Although the fragments that comprised the past lives of essence are reassembled, so to speak, these individual personalities still exist and continue to evolve on their own. The mechanics behind this can be difficult to understand from a third-dimensional perspective but essence is multi-layered and quite capable of sustaining multiple versions of its expression. When essence casts out its seeds (similar to the expansion of the Tao), they grow beyond the confines of the initial incarnation.
This may be easier to comprehend if one remembers that the enormous diversity existing among souls is all from a single expression. The great illusion that pervades the Universe is that despite the apparent medley of life that populates planets, solar systems, and galaxies, ALL is one. Division is the illusion. Nothing is separate. Everything emanates from the same source. The source does not fade or contract, it expands in awareness.
Q: Is Ego just an Illusion?
MICHAEL: What if we told you that ego was an illusion? Would it persuade you to examine those darker underpinnings within that create havoc in your life and the lives of others? Would it convince you to accept more responsibility for your actions, both positive and negative? Then we shall unequivocally state that ego is indeed an illusion, an illusion of the mind that sustains itself on a steady diet of fear-based emotions and beliefs -- all while bearing no discernable outline in the body or a definable energy like the soul. Ego is merely a manifestation of wants and cravings cast into an ephemeral form that dissipates as soon as the mental projector in the mind is shut off.
Ego is the house that false personality built, but the foundation is shaky and is mostly held together by negative, transitory emotions.
To illustrate, in your world all things are transitory, and that, of course, includes the ego. Nothing is permanent and nothing is truly real. Even the atoms that bind matter together are in a constant state of flux. More importantly, ego lives in the past and the future. It cannot exist in a mental state where reality thrives. Like physicists postulate the existence of matter and anti-matter, ego could be postulated as anti-reality. Ego can only exist in the worlds of what once was or what will be. In the present, the ego lacks the binding elements of fear to form a real identity.
Only in states of fear can ego be defined in your world. Fear is the life-blood of ego, the alpha and omega. Fear, however, has no tangible form. Fear is just fear and ego is just illusion.
Q: You once said in the Yarbro books the overleaves die with the body. Could you elaborate on that?
MICHAEL: Like someone who uses a house key to enter their home, the soul acts as a key to unlock and activate in the body the overleaves encoded for that life. Without getting overly complicated, the etheric layers that mirror and co-exist with the physical body are pre-programmed, for want of a better word, to include all the universal energies available to an incoming soul.
A simple example might be the technology of a hotel key card. The soul, in this instance, is the key card that’s pre-incarnationally encoded to unlock a chosen set of overleaves. When the soul merges with the body, the desired selections (goal, mode, attitude, etc) are unlocked and activated. This is why changing the overleaves during a life is complicated and rarely done, and why the overleaves are said to die with the body.
The soul exists in a pure form and only experiences the overleaves when physically incarnating. Any trace vestiges that linger after death fade over time. The soul itself brings the role energy and any other attributes carried over from essence that last for a grand cycle.
Q: What is essence manifestation?
MICHAEL: Essence manifestation charts the percentage of essence that an incarnating personality manifests. The number is not fixed and may fluctuate by the day, which is why the average is gathered over a period of three months. The approximation is similar to the A1C test used by diabetics, where the average blood sugar reading is derived over a three-month period.
Because the percentage of essence is not a fixed number, there is considerable leeway in how the number may cycle up or down, all dependant on the level of essence manifestation the personality allows through. A particularly challenging week, for instance, can lower the percentage of essence -- although some souls thrive on challenge and may use their personal obstacles to increase their connection to essence. As with all things in the Michael teachings, personal choice is a major component here.
The average essence manifestation in the world, for instance, is in the lower 40% range, whereas many Michael students tend to average somewhere between 50-60%, with occasional spikes into the 70s. Due to the inherent wiring of an incarnating soul, a percentage ranging from 80-100% is rarely achieved and would be impossible to maintain.
In fact, essence spikes nearing the century mark are not only difficult but not entirely productive. The incarnational experience requires a collaboration between essence and personality. Heavily leaning toward one side or another would deprive the soul of a full life experience, which includes both the whims of the personality and the directives of essence. Finding a proper balance is part of the incarnational process. Living the life more in the positive is an obvious benefit but much may be learned from occasional transgressions into the darker expressions of the personality -- and all are valid.
In short, an essence manifestation of 40% or lower is not detrimental to the soul. It all comes down to how the incarnating soul chooses to lead their life. Many younger souls manifest less essence to better experience the dual nature of the overleaves and their polarities, whereas older souls may feel less restricted by them.
Seeing Your Reflection in Another
MICHAEL: We would like to say to those reading this transcript that the Internet has afforded you a wealth of exchange previously thought impossible. Never before have you been presented with so many opportunities to see the teachings in action. Societal barriers are quickly eroding as the Internet reveals new cultural diversities to explore and allows for the study of the soul ages and overleaves of people from across the world.
We encourage you to embrace the differences with the fragments you encounter through this electronic medium, not only striving to understand these differences but also paying particular attention to how some seemingly disparate souls can actually mirror surprising commonalities.
Looking for this reflection of self in the people you meet can offer a valuable way to discover the connecting threads that tie each essence to the Tao. You all share the same spark that fuels every atom in the universe, and learning to recognize this spark can unlock cultures or beliefs previously thought inaccessible.
The act of seeing your reflection in another can initially be a terrifying experience, especially for those submerged in false personality. Pushing another fragment away is a common reaction. Indeed, much of the strife currently seen in your world stems from this refusal to honor and recognize the light you all share. But the lessons you so avidly desire to learn hinge directly on the realization that you all walk in the same shoes, and while many divergent paths are available for you to take, each path ultimately ends in the same place.
We offer the following exercise:
Make a concerted effort each day to gaze into the eyes of everyone you have a conversation with. Try this with a family member, a friend, or even the cashier at your local grocery store. Do this in a passive way so your intention doesn't become intrusive to the other person. In other words, avoid the kind of staring match often seen in the territorial posturing of animals.
As you look into the person's eyes, free your mind of your own thoughts and nervous distractions, and try to tune into the inner world of the person in front of you. What do you feel? What thoughts or sensations suddenly cross your mind? And more importantly, how do these feelings mirror your own?
Neither telepathy nor psychic talent is required to practice this exercise. In fact, you may think you're merely experiencing your own thoughts and feelings, and that's okay at first. The goal is to passively receive the energy the other person is emitting.
The most intimate channel of energetic expression comes from the eyes, so practicing in this way will help you become more aware of this energy.
If you carefully monitor your feelings during this exercise, you will begin to notice certain emotions and sensations that plainly are not your own, and you'll develop greater levels of empathy for the souls around you who clearly share the same struggles you do.
You may not always think you have time for this task, but reserving a quiet space of reverence for another will both honor the people you encounter and help you learn things about yourself you didn't know before.
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Unlock a deeper understanding of yourself with a personalized Michael chart. Discover your soul's role, age, and unique overleaves—insights that reveal your core essence, personality patterns, and life lessons. Whether you're seeking clarity, direction, or a greater sense of purpose, a Michael chart offers a powerful tool for self-awareness, helping you navigate life with a clearer sense of who you are and how you connect with the world. Order your chart today and begin your journey of self-discovery!
Take a look at some of the features included on the chart.
● SOUL AGE - Finally! End the debate if you're a young soul or old soul. Michael will reveal your TRUE soul age.
● ROLE (or soul type) - There are seven roles. Are you ready to know who you are? Discover the new you.
● ESSENCE TWIN - The most significant relationship you can have. Is your twin flame an artisan, scholar, king? Find out with this chart.
● CASTING - This is how you express yourself. Do you long to be creative or do you feel driven to lead? Find out!
● TASK COMPANION - The 2nd most significant relationship you can have. Is your task companion alive or discarnate?
● CADRE/ENTITY - Learn the identity and energetic resonance of your greater soul family and other important connections.
● MALE/FEMALE ENERGY - Have you had more past lives as a male or female?
● FREQUENCY - This is the vibration of your soul from one to a hundred. Is your frequency high or low?
● PREVIOUS CYCLES - Discover how many times you've had reincarnational cycles on other planets.
● PAST LIVES - Find out your current number of past lives you've had so far.
● THREE PRIMARY NEEDS - These are your unconscious motivators. Do you have a need for Freedom? Acceptance? Adventure?
● INTERNAL MONADS - Finally learn, for instance, if you're in that pesky 4th monad and at what level.
● ESSENCE MANIFESTATION - This shows your percentage of essence manifestation. It's like a spiritual A1C test.
● GOAL - Your goal is the primary motivation behind what you choose to seek and experience in life. This is powerful information.
● ATTITUDE - This shows your outlook on life. Are you Idealistic? Pragmatic? Skeptical?
● MODE - Do you approach life with passion or power...or are you merely observant and watch life passively?
● CENTER - Find out how you internally react to the stimulus of life. Are you intellectually focused? Emotionally focused?
● CHIEF FEATURES - Your chronic phobias in life that act as obstacles to your dreams. This information could be a game-changer.
● BODYTYPE - Bodytypes (Venusian, Saturnian, Martial, etc.) govern why we're attracted to people, and more.
Learn more…
https://www.michaelteachings.com/michael-questions.html
Thank you for joining me on this journey of exploration. Until next time, may these insights bring clarity, connection, and a little more light to your path.
Peace,
Dave