Visionary Troubadour

Visionary Troubadour is an idea.

It’s an alternative life path.  A transformational journey.  A profound adventure.  A beautiful way of life.  And an exciting way to “be the change” in the world.  It’s all of these and more.

And for me right now it’s a grand experiment, which is transforming me and my experience of the world, and opening doors to wild abundance and adventure; and I’ve started this web site to share my experience with other creative/inspired individuals who may be likewise  frustrated with American culture, and are ready to explore new directions, paradigms and cultures.

My name is Michael Skye, founder of VisionForce, an organization designed to support and empower rising visionaries to live out the vision of their hearts even in the face of a culture of fear, mistrust, violence and violation.  After fourteen years developing tools and programs and facilitating events mostly in America, I’ve made a pretty radical transition in the way I live my life and offer my work.   This new path I’ve named Visionary Troubadour, and it has required many profound shifts in thinking, moving, communicating and interacting with my world.

Perhaps my first experience of a “Visionary Troubadour” was in 2008 at a gathering (a VisionForce iStand) I hosted for visionaries, who were uniting to “face everything, avoid nothing and stand for humanity.”  The first morning conflict broke out in the room, and one man stood up, walked out of the room and traveled on down the road.  He didn’t stay and engage in the conflict, he didn’t protest, he didn’t try to change anyone else, he just moved on.  This was, apparently, his way.  And it’s only recently that I have begun to appreciate the beauty of his way.

This man is no coward.  Far from it.  Four years earlier at the height of the Iraq War, this man had flown to Iraq with his Oud and sung popular Arabic songs on the streets of Baghdad, even as bombs were falling.  While the American military dropped bombs in a frightening show of force, this real life modern day troubadour was inspiring love and peace, and extending goodwill in the face of fear and destruction.  The underlying message of his courageous journey was: not all Americans want to be at war with you; we are like you; we care about life, about love, about peace.  Visionary Troubadour, indeed.

His path involved no force, no threat of force, no judgment, no posturing, no manipulating, no convincing.  He simply went where he was welcome and invited and he gave his gift.

Over the years I’ve fought for change in America in numerous ways; fighting the system as a rebel, empowering myself and others with entrepreneurship, training inspired  activists and leaders to take a stand and be peaceful revolutionaries, bringing healing and honoring resolution to families in conflict, etc.  A year and a half ago I left the US, and began a journey similar to that of the man I described above.  It’s been a wild, adventurous, humbling and transformative experience.

This journey I now see as a viable path for many inspired individuals, who may be ready for a new way to “be the change” in our world.

I find the Visionary Troubadour path an incredibly alluring option at this time in history as the American Empire is increasingly expanding it’s authoritarian power at home and abroad in it’s attempts to survive.  In the face of violence and violation by his culture, the Visionary Troubadour is not an unquestioningly loyal patriot, not a heroic reformer, not a blind rebel and not a revolutionary.  No… she walks freely and often quietly, courageously and humbly following her heart, sharing her gift where she is welcome… and arguably inspiring more lasting change in our world than all those who are fighting to force change upon themselves and others.

Many Americans may be inclined to see this path as quitting… as walking away… giving up.  But I see it as a very traditional American path, especially considering that America is composed primarily of people who simply left their previous countries and cultures to start life anew, rather than stay and fight.  It is very traditionally American to “live and let live,” and to simply go create the life you desire among people who love you just as you are.  This is the way of the Visionary Troubadour.

Like most Americans, I can look to my past and see Visionary Troubadour stories in the paths of my ancestors.

In about 1730 a man named John chose to leave his homeland and set sail for the “New World.”  He’d been persecuted for his way of life, and realized that rather than live where he was not welcome, he could liberate himself, explore the world and create a new life for himself.  Some of his descendants would begin to feel similarly unwelcome in the Eastern United States and go on to explore the “New Frontiers” of the “Wild West” and make their home there.  About twelve generations after John’s courageous voyage, I can relate to feeling similarly unwelcome in my land.  I can choose to try to stay and try to change myself so I feel more welcome, or change my fellow countrymen…

Or I can go explore the world and discover where I am already welcome just as I am, and  more… I can create an amazing life on several continents if I wish.  Modern technology connects our world and allows for a stunning array of possibilities in lifestyles, families, communities and life paths.

However, perhaps unlike many of my American ancestors, growing up in these times I am fortunate to have a broader perspective on other cultures thanks to technologies, which allow me to travel and to communicate with human beings across cultures.  I can easily see the humanity in people of different colors, creeds, languages and cultures, and I can connect with them as if we are one people.  I don’t need to fear them, to dominate them, to take from them; I can open to them, share with them, celebrate with them.

My ebook, Drum Beat of the Visionary Troubadour, tells more of my personal journey of awakening and transformation on this path, and shares information and perspectives useful to others who are choosing to explore a similar path.

I welcome you to connect with me through this blog, my ebook, my podcasts… and in person as I/we travel our world.

And if you desire to receive support in making a transition from your current path to a Visionary Troubadour path, I invite you to make a contribution and commit yourself to making changes in your life that can free you up to a wild adventure of your own.

If you’re someone who’s been questioning your culture, you may already be well on your way to being a Visionary Troubadour.  If you dare to ask really confronting questions and answer those questions with DIRECT EXPERIENCE BEYOND YOUR CULTURE (rather than with your head), you will be on the VT path.  Typical questions which can set a person on a Visionary Troubadour trajectory include,

- Does it really make sense for me to spend my life’s energy participating in American culture’s creeds of consumerism, debt-financing, litigation, political party machinations, etc.?

- Is it right for me as an American, or a person with a vision of a better world, to force my vision of way of life on others through physical force, threat of force, the legal system or emotional manipulation?  Is it OK for me to force my views on others even if a majority of people agree with me?

- Are there ways to live my life and share my gift in the world that are far more rewarding, enriching, adventuresome and transformative that the ways offered by my American/Western culture right now?

- If I journey into unknown places and cultures with my heart wide open, ready to connect deeply and share my love, will I be welcomed with open arms?

- If I choose to trust humanity, trust love and trust in life/God/Universe, and let go of trying to be in control my life… what will happen?