I went to see the new movie, Bohemian Rhapsody, this past Sunday. Wow.
I have always loved Queen’s music, so it came as no surprise that I enjoyed the picture. What I wasn’t prepared for was the unanticipated revelation that, in many ways, Farrokh Bulsara – a.k.a., Freddie Mercury – created and lived a very REAL life. Rather, in the language of his band’s signature song, he created and lived a REAL bohemian rhapsody.
Did you know that the primary definition of rhapsody is an ecstatic expression or feeling of enthusiasm? Related words listed include: tirade, exultation, euphoria, elation, exhilaration, contentment, and communion. A Bohemian? That’s a person who lives and acts free of regard for conventional rules and practices. Does the idea of non-traditional euphoria resonate with you?
It should, because the REAL tea is that REAL living is indeed meant to be an ecstatic and enthusiastic tirade of euphoria, exhilaration, contentment, and communion with one’s self and with all that is! And creating a REAL life often requires the brave abandonment of long-established philosophies and popular “wisdom.”
REAL life should be EPIC.
A rhapsody can also be defined as an epic poem, and Freddie Mercury’s story is indeed epic. Some would call it an epic tragedy, others an epic legend. Either way, there are very REAL lessons in his legacy.
While he clearly made some choices that caused suffering for himself and others, there is no denying that Freddie knew at a soul level that he was created to be a ground-breaking musical artist. In spite of his circumstances, and in direct opposition to negative feedback and criticism from industry “experts,” he fiercely followed his passion and his intuition when it came to how he composed and entertained. And after years of battling his ego-driven fears around being gay, he again chose soul over reason, ultimately freeing himself from the need to hide a very REAL part of who he was.
Throughout his journey, intuition and spirit victoriously prevailed over ego and mind. I call that a REAL win. I call that EPIC.
Goodbye, everybody. I’ve got to go. Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth.
It is both haunting and serendipitously comforting that Freddie left us a part of his legacy message in the lyrics of Bohemian Rhapsody. In the song, he actually bids us farewell and says he must leave us behind in order to face the truth. What is that truth?
The REAL truth is that following intuition instead of ego paves the way to REAL living. Allowing your gut instinct to trump your rational mind will enhance your power to create a REAL life. Following your heart and soul, even when it means going against the grain of reason and risking harsh ridicule and judgement, is the ticket to freedom and the key to experiencing life in a REAL, live-and-in-color way.
Is this the REAL life? Is this just fantasy? Caught in a landslide, no escape from REALity.
Does living a REAL life of elation and contentment, absent of concern with outside judgement and approval, sound like just a fantasy to you? It might.
Does that mean it is cannot be true or become REAL? Hell to the no!
The REAL you knows with full certainty that REAL living is not just a pipe dream, but your soul-based knowledge gets muddied up and even concealed by all of the ego-driven junk that gets thrown at you. Thus, an internal battle ensues: inner knowing versus outer noise.
The epic war of ego and intellect versus intuition and spirit has been playing out since you were born. All day long, you listen to the arguing voices from these conflicting camps. It can leave you feeling like you are caught in a landslide with no escape.
Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me.
A friend once told me that the only devil she believes in is the ego. I can relate, and I would be willing to bet that you can too.
Your ego voice is your mind’s voice. It speaks a language that functions from a place that is guarded, doubtful, fearful, questioning, analytical, logical, and purely intellectual. This voice shouts at a deafening decibel and is an expert at drowning out the intuitive murmurs of your soul.
To its credit, the ego is designed to protect you (which is a plus). On the flip side, however, it tends to take its cues from historical data only, be overly influenced by society-driven fears, and has no tolerance for risk-taking. Boo!!
You can’t live for REAL if you are slave to the past, play by outdated rules, and never take any chances.
Thoughts that leave you feeling trapped with no way to escape, thoughts like, “I’m just a poor boy, nobody loves me” are false notions that are generated by the ego. Whenever you have a thought that stems from fear (false evidence appearing REAL), that is your ever-doubtful and unceasingly worried ego voice talking.
Easy come, easy go. Will you let me go? . . . Just gotta get right outta here.
Intuition fuels your capacity to flow more easily with the changing winds of life, and it is perpetually working to break you loose from the grasp of the ego and rescue you from your mind. Like Tony Robbins, it knows that “when you’re in your head, you’re dead.”
Your intuition is your soul’s voice. It speaks a language that functions from a place of vulnerability, faith, love, affirmation, gut instinct, risk, and pure spirit. This voice whispers in a soft manner, and the silence of reflective solitude is typically needed in order to decipher its soft words and quiet communications.
Living for REAL means recognizing that there is a common source energy fueling your intuitive power, and that transitioning into a space where intuition is the primary operating system of your life is key to creating your REAL life.
Your soul-based, higher self holds every answer and solution that you will ever need. Your intuition is the voice of your higher self. It is also the voice of your angels, your Source, and of the Universe. In all cases, your intuition holds the power to guide you.
Open your eyes, look up to the skies and see!
Once you open and sharpen the focus of your spiritual eye, your 3rd eye, all the tools you need to win the internal battle of intuition vs. ego will come clearly into view. You have the power. This awareness alone is an important step toward victory.
Taming the ego and cultivating REAL intuition is “an inside job.” It is a solo gig, and it takes deliberate and dedicated effort. Tapping into and strengthening your intuitive muscle requires daily doses of down time, reflection, and mindfulness. REAL Exercises that have worked well for me include:
- Monitoring and assessing your thoughts and self-talk
- Doing mindful pulse checks a few times/per day
- Facilitating a self-care analysis
- Carving out routine solitude/quiet time
- Infusing nature into your daily regimen
- Paying attention to your dreams
- Beefing up listening skills (practice connecting for REAL with others, then apply to yourself!)
Your REAL Rhapsody
You can merely exist at the beckoning of your ego voice, creating a life filled with safe and predictable experiences. There is no shame in staying nestled in your comfort zone.
Or . . .
You could start to answer the calls of your intuition, and create a REAL rhapsody of a life, filled with fabulous tirades of exhilaration and imperfect amazingness. It could be . . . EPIC.
You have the power to choose.
And that’s the REAL tea.
