Michael Jackson: The Man in Our Mirror, A Reflection of Our Collective Soul

By Lisa Brisse

It was 1982, and Lisa Brisse, a 13-year-old, small-town, Midwestern girl, was a fan of Michael Jackson, like millions of other people. Then, in 1987, a series of synchronistic events began to occur, revealing a deep connection between these two improbable souls. It was a journey that not only opened her to the magical world of spirit, but eventually led to the unfathomable reality of Lisa’s mother working for the King of Pop at his Neverland Ranch.
In Michael Jackson, the Man in Our Mirror: A Reflection of Our Collective Soul, Lisa shares powerful insights into Michael’s painful human struggle between ego and spirit, and how his own fall from grace was part of his mission on Earth to mirror this conflict within us all.
For those who have been touched by Michael’s life and saddened by his death, this book will bring peace, hope, and inspiration, as we understand his deeper purpose and ultimate message: We heal the world when we heal our hearts through love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lisa Brisse
• Release date: Dec 18, 2014
• ISBN: 9780991492718

Lisa Brisse

Lisa Brisse is an Exercise Physiologist, Wellness Coach, Speaker, Spin Instructor, Writer and Founder of State of the Heart Fitness in Santa Monica, California. Ever since she was a little girl, Lisa has always felt a deep caring for humanity and the planet and has dedicated her life to helping others achieve their optimal health and live their best life through exercise, healthy eating and mindful awareness. She has traveled extensively around the world, has journaled about her life experiences since the age of 12, and attributes much of her joy and learned wisdom to her most profound teacher, her horse of 32 years, Little Miss. Michael Jackson: The Man in Our Mirror, A Reflection of Our Collective Soul is her first published book.

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THE BEGINNING

chapter

CHAPTER 1

HEAL THE WORLD:

A MEETING ABOUT PLANET EARTH

Love is important, to love each other. We’re all one. That’s the message.

—Michael Jackson

IBEGAN HAVING VISIONS only a few days after Michael died, and as I know from past experience, when I’m out of my mind and in my heart, another world reveals itself. I love that state of being. It’s as if the rays of sunshine pierce through the clouds, exposing the vibrant blue sky above––a reality we may not always see, but yet is always there. And just like the sun’s rays shed light on the shadows below, a vision comes into focus, like the opening scene of a play as the curtains are drawn. It’s a meeting I see, and I am there, a witness...

The rays of sunshine coming through the clouds.

Kauai, June 2014 (Photo: Lisa Brisse)

From what I could tell, this was a council meeting of the Elder Light Beings who oversee our planet. They had called an emergency gathering to discuss the condition of Planet Earth, because unless something shifted dramatically, humankind would eventually self-destruct. And though there had been the likes of Buddha and Jesus, who came with great love and offered glimpses of truth and hope to guide us on our way, these elders could see that the human species was falling into the darkness of ego—a destructive and delusional existence based on the belief of separation and disconnection from each other. As a result, humans have been plagued with the same historical patterns of greed, hatred, and war, along with a general disrespect for each other, the animals and plants—even the planet itself. Something desperately needed to be done if the earth and its inhabitants were to survive.

In my heart, I knew the purpose of this meeting and the questions before the Council: how could these Light Beings oversee the planet with great love and caring in order to help their Earthly brethren remember their truth and light once again? How could they get us to remember that we are all a part of each other—a part of the infinite Divine Energy and Consciousness that some refer to as God?

I could hear the head elder address the council:

"Angels and archangels, I have called you to this meeting out of the deepest love for our Earthbound brothers and sisters to discuss how we can help Planet Earth rise and shine brightly as the beautiful jewel we all know it is. They need help, and we need to help them; not so much by telling or showing them—Jesus already did that—but by demonstrating the free will and choice we’ve all been given: the freedom to choose light or darkness. We know that the only empowered choice is the one we make from awakened consciousness, so this is the plan, and I want you all to listen carefully.

"We know that the greatest gift we can give to each other is our unconditional love of the Father. But in understanding the nature of this love, we sometimes have to allow our beloveds to fall, despite how difficult it is to watch those we love in pain. We also know, however, that we only find our true power and strength when we pick ourselves up after we have fallen. It is a gift that allows us to learn, to grow, and to rediscover the light that is within us: the light that is love.

"So, regarding our dear Planet Earth, we need someone willing to volunteer to manifest human form, with the plan to take humankind under his wing. Here’s how it will look: from childhood on, you will show them God’s amazing light and grace through a universal language that transcends all boundaries of color, race, creed, religion, and gender—the language of music and dance. You will be born a child prodigy, singing the songs of angels from the time you are born, and you will appear wise beyond your earthly years.

"Your light will shine brightly and capture the hearts of all who experience your voice, your energy, and your dancing. This shall be God’s expression manifested via the physical body. You will touch people—not in their minds, but in their hearts, and they will be moved. You will awaken them to listen and live from their hearts—the child’s heart within them all. For those who are willing, you will take them for a ride that veers, at times, too close to the sun.

"You will bring joy and hope to many around the world. You will dazzle that world. You will show them what it truly means to experience the Kingdom of Heaven through the innocence and playfulness of a child. You will demonstrate what is possible for all when they live in their heart and spirit, when they are in alignment with God’s light. You will show them what it means to be an instrument through which God’s light and love naturally flows. You will not only show them a love that is otherworldly, but you will also allow them to feel it deeply in their hearts and souls.

"Now we know that this sounds like a glorious task, but here’s the rest of the story—the painful part, but also the most important. This is where it will take great love and a steadfast faith in God’s redeeming vision of humanity to volunteer for this role. During the first 25 years of your life you will win the adulation and adoration of many of Earth’s people, but the second 25 years will be your painful ‘fall from grace’ – your downward spiral into ego-consciousness. This will be a purposeful demonstration of the polar opposite of living from your heart and spirit, where God resides. In turn, you will experience great pain and suffering – emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual. However, it is imperative to remember the profound purpose of this aspect of your life, which is to demonstrate the potential extremes of the human condition. So the first part of your life will model what it’s like to live from the heart and spirit, while the second part will reflect what happens when one lives from the egoic mind and its conditioning.

"In the heart and spirit, you will soar; in the mind and ego, you will falter, exposing your painful vulnerabilities for all to see. Though you will never completely forget your soul’s mission, or why you chose this earthly role, it will feel like a faint light glimmering in the distant fog during the second half of your lifetime. In the meantime, you will experience great criticism, ridicule, judgment, and be profoundly misunderstood—even perceived as a criminal.

"As I said, this will be very painful, but meaningful. The purpose is to serve as a reflection, a mirror, to all who are awake and can see themselves in your example—the full embodiment of the human condition. You will die a physical death when your mission is accomplished, and it will leave many with unanswered questions and much to ponder. These unanswered questions will not be so much about who you were, but more importantly, about who they are. They also will be given the opportunity to recognize the gift you gave the world in demonstrating the choice between light and darkness, and how everyone has the personal power to choose.

"You’ll show them how it’s all about choosing a level of consciousness; will they choose moving more toward the heart, or will they choose a more ego-centered existence? Will they move more toward the light or descend into darkness? Your life will model each choice. In fact, your lifetime has the potential to show—for those who are willing to open their hearts and recognize it—what it means to shed light on all the dark places that every human being has in their soul. As a result, many will realize that they have the opportunity and power to take responsibility for how they choose to live their lives. Will it be moving toward God’s love, through the heart, or staying in pain and alienation, through the ego? Your ‘death’ will move many and bring much light to the darkness. Your life will create a window for others to open their hearts to the truth—a window they can so choose… or not.

"During your earthly sojourn, you will experience some of the greatest highs a human being can experience, but you will also experience some of the greatest suffering: loneliness, judgment, and isolation. And yet, you will always remember the great love and purpose you have for our human brethren. In the end, your message will be about love.

With this said, do I have any volunteers for this extremely poignant role in the history and ascension of Earth?

After a brief silence, one small, childlike soul with the kindest of smiles raised his hand: "I will do it. I am willing. It would be my great pleasure to do whatever I can to assist the evolution and consciousness of our brothers and sisters on Earth, because I know God’s love is so great. It would be my honor to serve humanity in whatever way I can. Just let me know when it’s time for me to go."

Thank you, Archangel Michael, for your love, your willingness to serve, and your courage and bravery, the elder says with a grateful smile. "Though this role is of Divine significance in the awakening of our beloved planet, it will not be easy, so I want you to know that you will not be alone. We will all be here to guide you, once you fall deep into the veil of ego and the delusions of humanity. But in addition to those of us here, you will also have support from those willing to go with you into human form with the singular ‘soul’ purpose of anchoring your light on Earth. You won’t necessarily recognize these souls in their human bodies—in fact, you may not even meet them in this earthly incarnation. Just know that they will be there to bear witness for you, remembering your truth when you go into darkness; holding you dear and protecting you in their hearts while you’re on your mission."

With a deep sigh followed by a smile as bright as the sun, Michael stood up and said, "It is my honor, and I am ready to go. We are here to change the world."

The meeting adjourned, and on August 29, 1958, Michael Joseph Jackson was born.

chapter

CHAPTER 2

HIStory, MYstory

Let us dream of tomorrow where we can truly love from the soul,

and know love as the ultimate truth at the heart of all creation.

—Michael Jackson

We all know his story.

HE WAS BORN to sing and dance and he was only 11 when he and his brothers burst into fame as The Jackson 5. We know about their incredible success and his eventual call to step into himself as a solo artist. We remember how he mesmerized the world with the moonwalk in that historical moment during the 1983 TV tribute to Motown Records. We know about the story of an album called Thriller and how he became the best-selling artist of all time. His music, dancing and videos transcended and blended the lines of color and culture. We know his international stardom and how he took the world by storm. We felt his passion to unite people through his music and the epic songs that asked us to care—for each other and the world.

We heard him talk about the emotional void he suffered from missing out on a normal childhood and his desire to make up for this by creating something magical for his inner child’s heart through Neverland. We struggled with his often controversial and misunderstood love for children. We know about his marriage to the daughter of the King. We witnessed his ever-evolving face—reflective of his poignant dislike for himself—while he transformed from black to white.

We saw his ongoing and deepening tribulations as he got older and the bizarre behavior we struggled to make sense of. We know the conflict we felt about the polarities of his life along with the accusations, the trial, and the acquittal. We wondered if his children were really his. We know about his last attempt to reclaim himself as the King of Pop with his comeback concert, This Is It. And we will never forget where we were when we heard the news of his sad and untimely death; the shock traveled the world instantaneously as we felt the loss in our hearts, to a depth we couldn’t explain.

We know the tears we cried and the heart-stopping pause during his internationally televised memorial service when his daughter, Paris, shared how he was the best daddy ever and she loved him so much. We understood that whether we loved him or not, the world had lost a huge and profound soul. We know that, with his death, the world had changed forever.

This is the story we know, or at least the story we witnessed.

Michael was one of the most enigmatic persons to walk the planet. Reflecting upon his life, it’s easy to call it tragic. When he died, even some who weren’t fans felt a sadness for someone who appeared to be such a bright light, yet such a tortured soul.

In mythological and metaphorical terms, the story of Michael Jackson plays out like a Shakespearean tragedy. His story can appear to be an almost surreal depiction of Icarus—one who flew too close to the sun—while we collectively and excitedly flew with him under his wings. We felt uplifted by the love and gifted inspiration of his music as it touched not only our hearts, but also the world. We sang. We danced. We were awed by his fluidity, by his voice, and his moves. Whether young or old, we felt the child within us begin to play and dance once again. We were thrilled by the thriller himself, yet once the tips of his wings were singed from the sun’s heat, we were left to helplessly witness and feel his tragic, painful, and ever-so-human fall back to earth. Why did it happen that way? Why couldn’t he have stayed that shining star whose light graced the world? Why did he have to fall?

Now we are left to ponder the complex life of an equally complex person that will go down in history with so many questions seemingly unanswered. Tragic, indeed…or is it?

Maybe it is tragic if we believe what we see. However, life imbues multiple perspectives. Could there be some answers, a deeper truth? Could there be an even greater reason and purpose to the life he lived, no matter how tragic it appeared on the surface? Could there be something we can all learn about ourselves as reflected in the life of Michael Jackson, the man in our mirror—so that his life and death wouldn’t have been in vain?

I witnessed the outward story of Michael Jackson just like the rest of the world. I loved his music, his dancing, and his videos. I loved his deep caring for the world and his message. I believed in him, even when he appeared to falter and veer away from his own soul. But then I, too, felt betrayed by Michael, in whom I had believed. I was conflicted, like many, when he seemed to fall deeper and deeper into the throes of the ego and darkness that followed. I felt the pain of this beloved star tumbling into the depths of the human condition—so raw, so vulnerable, and all right out there for the world to see.

But just as a coin has two sides, so did Michael Jackson. There’s the story we know, and the one we don’t. Like an iceberg whose mass substance lies beneath the surface, so it is with Michael Jackson’s soul. What we’ve been shown is only the tip of a much larger story and perhaps a much deeper truth. To understand, it demands that we open our hearts to feel, and our eyes of spirit to see.

I see Michael Jackson’s life as a spiritual allegory, not riddled with darkness and tragedy, but instead a beautiful journey of the spirit that serves as a one-of-a-kind story and gift to us all. It’s a two-sided coin: spirit versus ego. It’s a story about choice: how we can choose—consciously or not—to live via our spirit, heart, and intimate connection with God, the Greater Consciousness that Is, or be ruled by our ego, our mind and the belief that we are separate from God and each other. In our spirit, we are bathed and blessed in light, but in our ego, we feel empty and drown in darkness. When we become aware that we can consciously choose our divinity in every moment of our lives, we awaken to the grace that is within.

Since I was 18 years old, I’ve been aware of this choice and the difference in how experience flows through us, depending on our perceptions and the choices we make. Yes, we are human. Yes, we all falter. Yes, we struggle in our darkness. But in each moment, no matter how lost we may feel, we can still access the power to choose spirit over ego, light over darkness, love over fear. As I witnessed Michael’s life, and death, I’ve seen both the human story that we’re all familiar with, and a deeper story as well. That other story is the sole (soul) purpose for writing this book.

Michael’s life (and his death) is a tale of two journeys. On one hand, it could be considered tragic, given the circumstances we’ve been shown. Or, it could equally be described as magical, depending on how we choose to perceive it. During his first 25 years, Michael lived and created in alignment with spirit, clearly from his heart—a wide-open channel for God’s love while his life soared to epic proportions. In the second half of his life, like a wounded hawk spiraling to his demise, Michael plummeted into ego—an all-too-common human detour from spirit—crashing horrifically right before us. For so long Michael had served as a light beam of hope; now we were left with the realization that he was as human as the rest of us, maybe even more so. However, in the midst of what seemed like such a tragic end, at the last minute, in his darkest hour, Michael raised himself up on the wings of love once again, leaving us with his final but eternal message: Will you still care? Will you be there? Where there is love, I’ll be there.

And that’s what this book is about. It’s about the deeper meaning and significance of his life and message, which demonstrated how we all have the opportunity to choose love—for ourselves, for each other, and for our planet.

In this book I share my story—a surreal, enigmatic experience that began in my small hometown of Minnesota; a story guided by Michael himself, though I never met him in this physical realm. And yet, through an ongoing series of synchronistic and mystical Michael events in my life over the last 25+ years, I have been shown by my heart, that an unseen reality exists and is as alive and real, if not more so, than the physical one we see. Just like a once blurry picture that finally moves into focus, with Michael’s death, all of the dots that made little sense before finally connected; I got it.

Through the spirit and soul of Michael Jackson, I have been shown that life is one ongoing, mind-blowing miracle, when we are able to get out of our heads and into our hearts—the heart of the child within. I have learned that all things are possible with God, and there is purpose in everything even when it doesn’t make sense at the time. There is always more than meets the eye, and it is often so much more than we could ever imagine. Life is happening and we apply the meaning, depending on the reality we choose. As a result, we experience joy or sorrow, judgment or compassion, love or fear. So much of it is in our hands.

I have written this book to share what I have been shown: another perspective that recognizes a deeper soul purpose in the life (and death) of Michael Jackson. And as Divine perfection would have it, his life is the perfect platform to challenge us all to look in the mirror of ourselves while daring us to see life beyond the surface, even if for just one moment: the holy moment.

With Michael as the macrocosm, and us as the microcosm, this is a story about him and us through the eyes of spirit. May it have the power to turn tragic to magic and travesty to majesty as we believe once again—in ourselves, in each other, and in the truth of who we all are.

Love and light heals. When we heal our heart, we heal the world. May we fly eternally with Michael’s love once again.

This is it.

PART TWO

FROM MINNESOTA TO MICHAEL:

A MYSTICAL JOURNEY OF MAGIC AND MIRACLES

chapter

CHAPTER 3

MINNESOTA:

THE MICHAEL MIRACLES BEGIN

I’LL NEVER FORGET the first time I heard it—it sounded and felt different than any other pop song at that time. It was 1983. I was 14 years old, and it was during my 45-minute bus ride to school when that intriguing and amazingly great song came over the airwaves. The radio station played it every morning, and at first I didn’t know who sang it, but I certainly knew the chorus:

Hey, hey… Billie Jean is not my lover…

She’s just a girl who claims that I am the one…

Wow, what a groove! And once his music captured my soul, little did I know how it would change my life—not only how I saw it, but mostly how I lived it.

I grew up as far away from Hollywood and the celebrity scene as one could imagine: Richmond, Minnesota, population 886. Nowadays the number has increased to just over 1,000, and though some things have changed—a few new homes and a two-lane highway that has grown into four—for the most part, it’s still the same town. Many of the people who live in Richmond spend their entire lives there. The town has a grocery store, post office, bowling alley, water tower, truck-stop, a bank, three bars, and, of course, the church that is the center of the community. Though its main street extends eight blocks at the most, it packs in the people for the annual River-Lake Days parade in July. Life was simple there when I was growing up, and still is to this day, over 25 years later.

Richmond is nestled in the heartland of Minnesota—dairy farm country with cornfields, pastures of black-and-white Holstein cows, and plenty of barns and silos that pepper the landscape amidst the oak trees and the state’s 10,000 lakes. Because of all the water, there’s also millions of mosquitoes (that some call the state bird) which populate the humid evening air with a solid hum in summertime, but disappear in the 20-below-zero cold in the winter.

For those who didn’t grow up in that part of the country with that kind of weather, it’s easy to wonder why anyone would live their whole life there—especially when there are many places on the planet that are warmer in the winter, and have no bugs in the summer. Yet most Minnesotans don’t even think about it. They’re a hearty stock, mostly of Scandinavian descent, and in my county—Stearns County—German Catholics. My great-great-great grandparents emigrated from Germany, with my paternal lineage coming from Alsace Lorraine, an area between Germany and France. Hence, my last name: Brissé (properly pronounced Bri-say, but my family pronounces it Breezy). Those people seeking to homestead in the harsh land of Minnesota years ago knew the meaning of hard work on the farm, and this was passed on through generations. Dealing with weather extremes was and is simply a part of life. Those who live there rarely question it.

Yet I, on the other hand, did question it, but not when I was a kid; no way! I loved Minnesota during my childhood. It was a haven of play with always so much to do. Growing up on a lake was my source of fun and solace. Many memories of swimming in the summers and skating in the winters have become permanently etched into my being. I especially remember the full moon on summer nights while sitting out on our deck with our dog, Ernie, laying next to me. I would just stare into the moonlight for hours, getting lost in its reflection on the lake’s calm, glass-like surface. I would listen to the frogs and crickets singing their nightly chorus, which soothed my heart and soul—and even now, as I write.

Of course, there were other activities, too, like fishing. For hours into the evening, my childhood friend, Monica, and I would sit in her dad’s modest aluminum fishing boat with our boom box blaring, innocently wondering why we never caught any fish. I guess we didn’t realize that the fish weren’t as fond of the loud Top 40 music as we were! And then there was everything from sledding down the hills, dodging oak trees in our path, horseback riding with friends, canoeing with my dad (always wishing we had a speedboat instead), climbing trees, building forts in the forest with my dad’s scrap wood, and building snow huts and tunnels through the drifts of snow after a blizzard. There was never a lack of fun things to do, at least for a kid like me.

Me and my pal, Ernie.

My parents were hippie back-to-the-land artists and rock n’ roll musicians from the ‘60s. They were lovers of The Beatles, protesters of the Vietnam War, and basic rebellious types who desired to live simply so as not to use more of the earth than was absolutely necessary. Self-sustainability was their goal, and with the help of friends and relatives who shared their outlook and way of life, they built our house in that spirit heating it using the dead trees from our woods. Playing gigs with their rock n’ roll cover band four nights a week not only afforded them the ability to live in this carefree way, it also provided a lifestyle that allowed Mom to tend to her two huge vegetable gardens, along with her goats and chickens that provided us with milk and eggs. Dad was usually fixing fences, chopping wood, or building on the house, barn, and garage, when he wasn’t canoeing on the lake or playing his guitar.

Me and cousin JJ with my pony, Tessie.

Me (far left) and my brother, Eric (front and center), along with cousins JJ and Tami (standing) and little cousins Ryan and Jamie atop my first childhood pony, Brandy. Our neighborhood friend and babysitter, Monica, is in the background. We had so many great times growing up together!

There were always cousins and friends at our house. We’d play football and baseball in our pasture with the goats and horses, always so curious, standing right in our playing field as if they wanted to play too. Or, maybe they just loved the action and energy of all us kids. This was our life in Minnesota,