So, you're a Reverend?
Like, you preach?
I used to think what broke my heart the most was people living in pain. It's not. It's our unlived life: unspoken I-love-you's, undanced dances, unfelt feelings, ungiven gifts, untold tales, ungiggled giggles, even our undoodled doodles (which are the seeds of our next brilliant ideas.).
My definition of a fulfilling life is people having the time and space to discover their gifts, give their gifts, and be appreciated for their gifts. The experience of being seen, heard, celebrated and connected is central.
So, I make participatory experiences and artworks --- performances, writing, rituals, installations, holidays --- to get as much of our undoneness done as we can... while we're here, now, together.
My tools are the trifecta for emotional well-being: Love, Art, and Humor. I work at their nexus. Using these tools daily promotes a life of self-expression and contribution in community, creating connection across a global-facing world.
To these aims, I lead a non-denominational creative community using Love, Art, and Humor for social evolution worldwide. I leverage the Humor Arts for Humanitarian Aims (HAHA).
I combine intimacy, comedy, wisdom, and change.
Create humor from challenge.
Use sweetness preemptively.
Seek flow over force.
Channel delight to ignite insight.
It's often deceptively simple;
undefended and shared joy is revolutionary.
- Rev. Barbara Ann Michaels
Jester of the Peace
So, you're an Artist?
Like, you paint?
Artist | Author | Actress | Adventurer | Ace
Catalyst | Clown | Costumer | Curator | Clergy
Dancer | Director | Dreamer | Driver | Diva
Event Entertainer and Executor | Editor
Fortune Finder | Finesser | Founder | Friend
Ivy Grad | Improviser | Idealist | Interfaith Minister
Musician | Magician | Merrimaker | Muse
Performance Artist | Painter (sure, sometimes)
Reverend | Reframe Queen | Reveler | Revealer
Speaker | Soulmate | Skater | Spark
Traveler | Truth Teller | Tour Guide | Teacher
Wedding Officiant | Writer | Wonderer | Winner
Barbara has performed in/on/at...
Rock concert
Fringe Festival
Street fair
Holiday Parade
Pride Parade
Opera house
Art Gallery
Baseball game
Town parade
Corporate party
Restaurant
Night club
TV special
Short film
International Festival
Circus tent...
Park bench
Hay bale
Roof of a car
Drawbridge
Greenhouse
Moving trolley
Street corner
Graveyard
Subway
Basement
Store window
Squash court
Tunnel
Open field
Living room
Doorway
Abandoned bridge
Under an overpass...
Conference
Kids party
Public park
Public library
Wedding
Tradeshow
Fundraiser
Gala
Schools K-12
Day Care Center
University
Senior center...
ON HUMOR
I believe humor is a powerful force of healing and harmony for all people. I'm serious! Humor is the unsung hero of sanity, and healthy community.
Positive humor helps us grow beyond shame, embrace the journey of change, be brave and be known, express ourselves, and naturally act for a win-win world.
Laughter is a vital part of every recovery journey, every dream's journey into being, every love story.
ON ART
I believe art and creative expression are basic human rights. Art helps us discover and share what is beyond regular communication -- that which comes from undefined, unknowable origins, yet that powers intimately through us. Art is access to and action from the infinite.
Art is also artfulness, bringing qualities of attention, craft and enjoyment into regular aspects of daily life. How could we put on our shoes artfully today?
ON LOVE
I believe love brings affection to our imperfections, creates connection, and leads us in new, good direction.
It's common to distill the meaning of life down to love. Yet what is it?
My definition of love is "win-win." Love is creating a world in which all people are seen, heard, celebrated and connected; all our gifts found, given, and appreciated.
Love honors life's shadows and light together, bringing celebration to our shared journey. Just like Art. Just like Humor. Trifecta!