“I’m talkin’ ’bout the man in the mirror. I’m asking him to make a change”
- Man in the Mirror
Most of us had no idea that when the sun rose yesterday, it would set on a very different world; a world without our iconic “king of pop”.
Yesterday afternoon, Michael Jackson died suddenly of a heart attack. It was one of those days that will become crystallized in our memories, like the death of Princess Diana or the terrorist attacks of September 11. We’ll all remember where we were and what we were doing on the day we heard of Michael Jackson’s death.
Over the last 24 hours I’ve watched the world react to the death of Michael Jackson with every emotion ranging from grief-stricken despair, to bitter anger, to reverent compassion. Although our perspectives may vary, the fact that we react with such emotional intensity to Michael Jackson has remained consistent since 1985. In the hours following his death, people of all ages and races are responding with the same sort of fanaticism they expressed when “Thriller” was released over 20 years ago. Why do we all react to Michael Jackson in this way? And could there be spiritual wisdom emerging from within the situation?
The Death of Michael Jackson: Man in the Mirror
There is always something to learn when we experience the emotional “animation” that sometimes surfaces in observing another person. In the looking glass that is our external reality, Michael Jackson literally is, “the man in the mirror”. In other words, Michael Jackson is a symbolic representation of characteristics that already exist within each of us; qualities we choose to love or hate; accept or reject. In fact, every person in our experience, including our family members, friends, spouses, children, and yes, even celebrities, represent a “fragment” of our consciousness that is yearning to be healed or hallowed.
As holographic beings, the “whole” of humanity is contained within each and every one of us (its’ “parts”). Within us all are the qualities of every person that has ever existed; including the saints AND the sinners. Our relationship with the outside world acts as a mirror and as a catalyst, encouraging us to heal what we find to be disturbing and honor what we uncover as divine. This journey of self-reflection calls us into expressing our highest potential by bringing us into alignment with our true nature.
We react with extreme emotion to icons like Michael Jackson because they represent the extremes of both our highest and lowest selves. With this in mind it’s clear that the lens we use to view or judge the life of another person always says much more about us than it does about them. Observing the emotions that surface when thinking about Michael Jackson or any other person is an invaluable tool for inner healing.
The Death of Michael Jackson: What Michael Represents in You
Make a list of thoughts that surface in your mind when you think about Michael Jackson and you’ll see what I mean. When you uncover a point that registers with you emotionally, recognize it as an area you need to acknowledge or heal. For example, Michael Jackson may symbolically represent:
- your wounded child
- your childlike nature
- your innocence
- your genius
- rejection from your peers (“freak”)
- your inner victim / abuser
- your emotional pain
- your strength / weakness
- your self consciousness / confidence
- your self love / self hatred
- your luck / misfortune
- your creativity
- your talent
- your brilliance
- your wealth / debt
- your attractiveness / disfigurement
- your lowest / highest potential
- your reputation (“celebrity”)
Whenever you have a strong, love or hate reaction to any person, you can be sure that they are simply reflecting back to you a quality you either love or hate within yourself. You can create healthier and more fulfilling relationships with other people by honoring them as reflections of your own consciousness.
Your life is a reflection of the man in the mirror, and if you’re like most people, you’re probably continually asking it to “make a change” for the better. As with all mirrors, the reflection doesn’t change until the source of the image does. To make a long story short, if you want to make your world a better place, “take a look at yourself, then make a change”.
We miss you, Michael. May you rest in peace.
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{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Michael J was like a hero to me. I’ve been dealing with his death and it has been very emotional for me. I cannot believe how he moved the people around the world. I wish his family the best. Thank you Michael for the most amazing life!