All The World’s A Stage By Julie Bragg

Jul 19, 2010 by Susan

Julie Bragg photo All The Worlds A Stage By Julie Bragg Shirley MacLaine. The name alone makes me smile. It evokes memories of a girl sitting in front of my Dad’s record player, listening to the Sweet Charity soundtrack for hours on end. Sitting with my Mom on Sunday afternoons, blissfully watching our Shirley favorites like The Apartment, My Geisha and The Turning Point. Like her, I spent years in dance classes, learning those Fosse moves, perfecting “If My Friends Could See Me Now” as one of my signature songs.

Shirley Maclaine. The name also produces visions of past-lives (both mine and hers). It brings to mind her first book, Out On A Limb, a book that made me feel I was not on my own. It was then I began to see the light, and she was my beacon.

Shirley MacLaine. Thanks to Satiama, Bella Spark Productions, and the Center for Spiritual Living-Seattle, I had the opportunity to listen to her share her thoughtful words and rich experiences with a group of beautiful souls at The Beneroya Hall, in Seattle Washington in June. The evening was transformational.

Ms. MacLaine began the evening discussing a favorite topic of mine: “Life is just show business.” Being the Artistic Director of a theater company, this makes perfect sense to me. The talk began with the concept of maya: the realization that we indeed create our own reality. We each make our own ‘films’ or ‘shows.’ We write our own script, cast the players, decorate our set, put on our costumes and make-up. We , alone, design our personal dramas. Here’s the best part: if we don’t like the evolution of the plot, WE CAN REWRITE THE SCENES!

Shirley then went on to share some of her wonderful book, Camino. She shared with us her deeply personal discoveries made upon her 30-day pilgrimage along the Santiago de Compostella de Camino, and her tales of deep connections made during her walk upon this ‘ancient, enchanted’ path. This Spanish road is said to reflect the energies of the stars above it, and her recollection during that journey of her life as a gypsy girl transported us all back to a time long ago and far away.

Shirley MacLaine and Steven Hawking. Shirley’s retelling of the events discussed at her momentous meeting with Steven Hawking ranged from black holes and string theory to ETs and the thought that they may not be so friendly, but may be able to help us. They spoke of change in the world: “Everything will change, the only thing constant is our tie to God.” Shirley noted that Steven had pictures of both Albert Einstein and Marilyn Monroe on his wall.

Shirley MacLaine and 2012. She believes, as many of us do, that on 12/12/12 the alignment of the planets will line up with our chakras. It will be at the time where a great many of us will find balance and enlightenment. Synchronicity. We will be the ones who are the beacons for the rest of the world, “guiding the ships to our shore,” the Shore of Truth on the banks of the River of Peace.

Shirley feels the shift: the movement of the tectonic plates, climate change, and the oil spill in the Gulf. “The way we define reality is shifting,” she said, and that hopefully this catastrophic event will be the biggest and best wake-up call humanity has ever had. She shared her idea for a “very expensive spiritual boot camp for Ccrporate Leaders” made us all laugh with hope for our Earth.

“An Evening with Shirley MacLaine” concluded with a wonderfully giving question and answer period. Many audience members shared personal dreams and admiration for this icon. When asked her favorite leading man, she quickly replied, “Jack Nickelson, of course” and her favorite character, “Aurora Greenway,” from Terms of Endearment, because of her contradictions. When a friend of mine asked her how best to prepare ourselves for 2012 she laughed and replied, “Hot fudge sundaes.”

We were treated to a visit from her sweet Jack Russell terrier, Terry, who took a turn about the stage, and then Shirley took a final question and left us with the words of another great artist whose work has had a great impact on my life,” All the world’s a stage.” I agree with William Shakespeare, but I also know we are here to strut, not fret. I am grateful to have had the pleasure to spend the evening with one of my heroes.

Julie Bragg is the Artistic Director of a touring theater company with a “new thought in education and entertainment.” She specializes in teaching Shakespeare to kids with her play, “Love’s Labour’s Found,” a Shakespearean-inspired musical fairytale. She has also brought her love of Shakespeare and sacred theater all over the country with her original show, “Shakespeare and the Creative Mind.” She is a student of Dr. Ernest Holmes and Religious Science and uses his “Meditations for Self-Help” in “Auditioning for Life,” a workshop program designed to inspire anyone to follow their dreams, on stage and off. After years of living on the East Coast she was ‘called’ to Seattle, where she is furthering her spiritual studies at The Center for Spiritual Living Seattle. Julie loves her life with her husband and is blessed with two wonderful children. She shares her poetry and thoughts on life in her blog: http://www.juliesstages.blogspot.com.