Mitchy by Nature

Hey everyone!I will be releasing some new music Sept 5th. It will be a four-song EP called Sugar Man. The song I play in this podcast, Everything's Fine, will be on it. Here are the lyrics:VERSE:I won't forget The time we spent Till it begins againMother nature wonIn the longest runThe one that never endsCHORUS:Late spring snowBlew through on my way backCaught between seasonsI realized Everything goesEverything's pieces Everything's weightless Everything's fineI want you to knowYou're part of my soulLet your love goSee where it flowsLate spring snowBlew through on my way backCaught between seasonsEverything is fineHere is the link for the pre-save.In this podcast episode, I try to explain the utility of allowing our thoughts to pass by. Our emotions are merely reactions to stimuli, and are not well understood. I would even say they are not to be trusted (but merely non-judgementally experienced). Only meditation and mindfulness practices can give us the perspective we need to see them for what they are. I then accidentally stumble on an easy strategy for all content-generators to avoid deep fakes of themselves - by making music while they do their podcast. Randomly playing an instrument will limit the AI's ability to copy your patterns. If you can't make music, just carry a rattle or something, or just try to be as unpredictable as possible. Hope you're well!Sending love and light,MitchSupport the show

Meditation is not something to do once everything else is figured out; it is what figures everything out. As author Ivan Antic wrote, "In meditation we should always adjust ourselves to it, not adjust meditation to us." (Meditation: First and Last Step; pg. 276)The world's going to appear increasingly more aggressive, scary, and disorganized UNLESS you start meditating. So start now. Support the show

In this episode I perform one of my unreleased songs, Gates. I talk about the creative process, and how accidents drive it (for me), as well as think out loud about the utility of meditation as a means for self-creation.Remember: Thoughts aren't real!Much love and light!MitchSupport the show

In this episode, I wax philosophic (or just whine) about the creative process, identification with art, and how I started out as a guitarist. I perform all three songs from my latest EP, Holier than Water, which is available wherever you stream music. Here is my IG link, in case you want to follow my "work".Much love to you,MitchSupport the show

" ...breathing is an automatic, natural process. With its awareness, we realize that it is not our process; we cannot stop it, we realize that we are not breathing, but that nature breathes in the shape of 'our' body, and that there is nothing that is ours...The insight that shows that no breath is ours is the beginning of all wisdom." Ivan Antic, Meditation, pg. 154In this episode I briefly touch on my experiences doing breath work, which has had a profound effect on my mental and physical health. Breathing consciously - especially while doing yoga - feels a lot like creating space within my body, making me feel lighter, more flexible, and (ironically) more grounded. Furthemore, once you realize what Ivan is speaking about in the above quote - which is not an idea or concept, but must be physically experienced in order to be understood - the world becomes a whole lot more light, flexible, and grounded as well. Coincidence? I dare you to find out. Support the show

In this episode, I perform one of my newest songs, Holier than Water, as well as do a deep-dive into the creative process. I try to unpack what it feels like to write and share music, and explain how different the craft of songwriting is to something more real, like stone masonry (which I do as a profession). I find making music to be frustrating and confusing, which is a stark contrast to how I feel about masonry. Perhaps it is unfair to compare the two. I don't know. But in this episode I try to figure out what the f*ck I'm talking about. Here are the lyrics to Holier than Water:Well springWithin my heartbeat You helped my find inside what I've been looking forOut there The world doesn't seem to careIf I'm afraid, lost hope, overheating, or just coldDon't, no don't, let goDon't, no don't, lose hopeJust hold on tight Your heart's in my handYour heart's in my soulYour heart's in my mindI'll never let goBut if you should fallI'll hit the bottom first just to soften it allYou're everything that's worth itHolier than waterAll you do is help me growJust hold on tight Your heart's in my handYour heart's in my soulYour heart's in my mindI'll never let goBut if you should fallI'll hit the bottom first just to soften it allYou're everything that's worth itHolier than waterAll you do is help me growThe song will be available everywhere you stream music, June 17thThe pre-save link is hereSupport the show

In this episode I perform a new original song called Old Town. It's part of a three-song acoustic EP called Holier than Water, which will be available everywhere June 17th. You can pre-save the songs hereThe song is about the power of addiction to ruin meaningful relationships. I think it is very important to talk openly and vulnerably about our struggles with addictive behaviour. Doing so often builds relationships, and even communities. Here are the lyrics to the song:As the pain eats the old side of townI hold relief and push the plunger down;Red door swinging open, ecstasyA lifetime fleeing moments I can't be inYou remind me of a girl I once loved,She tried to fill the hole in my arm;Chasing what she pumped through my bloodIs all that I can do with my heartYou remind me of a girlYou remind me of a girlI wish I could forgetJust how good it feels to give in;I wish I could recallThe taste of broken glass, blood, and where you areYou remind me of a girl I once loved,She tried to fill the hole in my arm;Chasing what she pumped through my bloodIs all that I can do with my heartYou remind me of a girlYou remind me of a girlYou remind me of a girlYou remind me of that girlThank you for listening! Feel free to connect with me over IG. I love meeting new people and having meaningful conversations about life, love, art, or whatever you're interested in. All the best!MitchSupport the show

Like the dentist, boredom is painful, but only because we don't want it. Boredom is one of the more gruelling experiences we can have. I've been bored; I didn't enjoy it. But therein lies the issue, the 'question begged' - who am I? We refer to ourselves as "I" a lot. But what makes me me? Is it my likes and dislikes? So, when I am bored (and rejecting the experience), my identity is threatened? I do not want to be bored, mostly because I have better things to be doing. I'm a busy guy, after all. Needs to get the sh*t done!Repeating something over and over doesn't make it true. If we don't know who we are - or, worse still, we believe we are something that we are not - we tend to feel pain. That's because the limited-scope narrative that we call our identity is under too much pressure. Like water squirting mercilessly out of a rip in the side of a hose, when we identify with limited and contrived ideas, we don't allow ourselves to flow. We look for every opportunity to assert ourselves through an escape.I challenge you to do the opposite of what you want to do. Just try it and see what happens. If you don't like what is happening, just know you're on the right path.Peace and love!MitchSupport the show

Karma is a sanskrit word that means, amongst other definitions," work". It is essentially the culmination of the work we have done, are doing, and still need to do. The karmic cycle of rebirth, one of the facets of Hindu spirituality, tries to articulate why it is important to allow things to pass. Because, if we do not - if we cling to our work - we cannot get to the next stage of development, and so are reborn in a body. Now, is development even a thing? Is evolution real? I don't know. We ought to be mindful of the things we take for granted.With that said, it does seem to be the case that breaking bad habits, and replacing them with good habits, improves the quality of our lives. A healthy person should (theoretically) be happier than an unhealthy person (is this true? Almost certainly not, if taken in a a general sense. But you know you feel better when you're not in ill health, so that's worth considering). Karma, then, is not about reincarnation. It's about being in this body right here right now.As far as I can tell, the true value within spirituality and spiritual practice is in energy usage. Living a life that is deeply spiritual is the same as living off a healthy diet and exercise - you just feel more energized, more alive, happier, brighter, more patient, and, most importantly,  open to life.It has very little to do with our concept of god or heaven or hell etc. It's more about feeling good in the moment.Or maybe not. What do you think?Peace and love!Om shanti shanti shantiiiiiiiiMitchSupport the show

Meditation creates space.Space is, in my opinion, the most misunderstood of all phenomena. Probably because it's hard to qualify. What is "space"? But perhaps that's the wrong question. Space isn't anything in-and-of-itself. It is what - or where? - things happen. We so quickly, if not entirely unconsciously, react to our thoughts, believing them without hesitation or evaluation, that we never actually experience space. We are so eager to be something that we make little room for anything to become anything. Spiritual wellbeing exercises, like qigong , meditation, and yoga, create space, often by merely drawing our attention to our breathing habits (which is, shockingly, enough). When we "empty our minds", we aren't literally pouring our pureed brains out of our ears. We are metaphorically resisting the relentless temptation to believe the unreal (our repeated thought-patterns), and wait, holding the empty space, to see what is really there. It's only after you've exhaled that you can take another breath. We need to empty our lungs if we want to continue living.You need to empty your mind if you're going to find our who you are. - The book I mentioned is Kenneth S. Cohen's, The Way of Qigong- Greg Holden is a singersongwriter based out of the UK - As far as I know, my buddy Jody runs at least two open-mics in Toronto; here's his Instagram- Here is Anto's Instagram. He's a wonderful poet, and an even better person.Support the show

The Hindu god of death was called, 'Yama'. The Sanskrit word for 'restraint' is 'yama'. As they say, Death is the ultimate test. Metta!MitchSupport the show

When we listen to a guided meditation, we are usually listening to someone's voice 'guide' us into a state of attention. That is, they offer us opportunities to pay attention, learn to observe without identification, and take slow, thoughtful breaths. But do we need a guide to do this? Why can't we just do it ourselves?Maybe it's because we feel we can get away with things?There's an old saying: "Your last thought begins your next life."Metta!MitchSupport the show

The word "psychedelic" means "Mind-manifesting". We can use psychedelics as a way to shine an inquisitive light into the darkness of our minds, which is the pathway to remembering who we are! Like Simba did. Why do you think he was talking to clouds?Yoga, as well as meditation and mindfulness practices, like CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and psychoanalysis, can also be used to manifest, and curiously explore, our minds.It's fun! I do it all the time. It even makes drinking and smoking weed more fun! And the clouds know so much. Metta!MitchSupport the show

Logic is merely a method of deducing patterns from reality. It does not care about the truth, or about what is right vs wrong. Logic is like a hammer. If we don't know how to use it, it won't help us build the house, and may even become a danger. Jesus was, among other things, a logician. Maybe...what do you think?Support the show

Gravitation isn't real. Magnetism isn't real. Thoughts are not real. All of these concepts - gravitation, magnetism, and thoughts - merely point at the result of physical laws. Much like how gravitation is the result of mass, thoughts are just the result of blood flow. Blood flow is real. Thoughts aren't. This podcast is me trying to explore how that may be true. As always: I'm not saying I'm right. I'm just thinking out loud. What do you think?Follow me @understandtrees and/or @mitchybynatureMusic is from DreamHopMuch love and light!I'm rooting for you!Your pal,MitchySupport the show

What if, instead of instanly and uncritically believing your thoughts, you defied them? What if, instead of just agreeing with yourself  that you don't want to be where you are doing what you're doing, you said, "No! I WANT to be here?"What if you vacuumed as if the future of the Earth depended on it?Try it, and let me know how it goes. Doing this has done nothing but improve the quality of my life. Support the show

I wanna change things up a bit. I will be sprinkling in some of my poems. I find writing poetry to be the most meaningful of all art forms; I feel most connected to the process. This is an original poem called "Slow". SLOWMay you find peaceIn all your frustrations,During all the hatredAnd thick relocations,Where you feel forcedAgainst willTo be and do and sayWhat you need;May you find peace there,And may you be free,Of whatever tortures coax you into violence against another;Whatever pains cause you to lash upon the world;Whatever cruelties seduce you to respond in kind,Against something,Or someone,Who could really use your help;May you find peace amongst the travestiesThat fall like rain upon your back,Thrusting ever more weightUntil you feel your spine'll snap;I know it's hard,And that the world doesn't seem to care,But unless you find peace within your pains,You'll never find peace anywhere;And you'll walk on through lifeScowling on the inside,Hating thingsMerely because they resideIn your way;You knowThose who live,Live with too much pain,When instead of cultivating inner peace,They cut down trees instead;So,May you find peaceWherever you are,And however you may feel,For peace is what is always there;Sincerely,Your friend,A treeSupport the show

If you feel like the world is becoming scarier, it may actually be you who is becoming more afraid. Fear is a reaction; it is almost always unconsious. What we need to do is wake up. We need to realize that fear is not real. When we are in the moment, we are freed from our fears and desires. Meditation is an excellent training regime that can help us connect with the moment. I strongly encourage you to meditate. Or at least be where you are.You're always free. Especially when you don't feel like you are.I'd love to hear your thoughts!Sending love and patience your way,MitchyFollow me on IG @understandtrees and @mitchybynatureSupport the show

Where are we going? If we ever slow down enough to honestly ask this question, we realize two simultaneous facts: 1) We don't know;2) We're going to dieThe second fact is what drives us to hurry. The irony is that, if we do meditate upon our death, we discover that there is no such thing. This almost always slows us down. Another beautiful irony is that death, once truly appreciated, frees us from panic and lust. I encourage you to meditate upon your mortality. I can confidently say that Vladamir Putin is scared to death. That's why he's creating so much fear.Sending you love and patience, MitchSupport the show

One of the greatest ironies I've ever come across is the fact that, the best way to plan for the future, is to be fully immersed in the moment. Listen to this podcast to find out why. Reach out with any questions or rebuttals! Would love to hear from you. @mitchybynature on IGSupport the show