by Kelly Martinsen
Long Island resident Michael Stern is an award-winning filmmaker and founder of visitor One Entertainment. He’s directed more than 35 music videos and various film projects and is focused on creating films that will have a meaningful impact. This focus led him and his partner, Christine Segal, to create The Master Shift—a group of like-minded individuals that hold global meditations online to send energy out to serve a specific cause, such as world peace, or a specific tragedy. Most recently, the group held a Global World Peace Meditation.
Stern and Segal met in an eco-conscious Meetup group years ago. They both shared a desire to facilitate a global meditation. They started out with one meditation and, utilizing Stern’s background in media production, filmed a video-guided meditation that was narrated by Julian Lennon, son of famed Beatle John Lennon. That one video led to more than 1 million hits on their website, TheMasterShift.com.
The Master Shift now has 12 active members on its creative team and has produced more videos of guided meditations, the last two of which were also read by Julian Lennon. “The more people that get involved and effect change, the more positive energy is out there in the world, thus ultimately uniting the world through global meditations and positive living,” says Stern, regarding the goal of the nonprofit organization, which in addition to offering meditations provides other services to humanity.
While many of the organization’s meditations are held digitally world-wide, it also hosts international “on-the-ground gatherings.” It has received donations, which it utilizes to offer financial assistance to charitable orga- nizations around the world and fund educational conferences that facilitate spiritual growth, worldwide healing and commitment to sustainability and green initiatives. Stern defines The Master Shift as a “movement which exists to aid in restoring, reconnecting and reawakening the collaborative efforts of humans with nature. It is a movement towards harmonious purpose between mankind, Earth and all of life within our planet.” The Master Shift’s hope is to bring humanity together for positive change using cause meditations as the catalyst. “We look to inspire worldwide unity and action,” adds Stern.
On Earth Day, April 22, The Master Shift, along with Forest Nation, The Earth Day Network and The White Feather Foundation, is hosting a Global Planting Event. It will be a “give back to Earth” event—an “offering” for all the planet gives us. Their goal is to plant 1 billion seeds/trees. They request that participators plant something that is organic, perennial and suitable to the growing conditions in the area in which they live. If the temperature is not conducive to planting on April 22, people can con- sider growing a plant indoors or commit to planting a tree once the outdoor temperature is warm enough. Participants that live in an apartment should plant something in a container or donate a tree to a garden in their area. It is important to keep a certain portion of the plan- et covered with forests, as it is essential for regulating the distribution of rain and snow over the surface, thus controlling the climate. Every tree planted will assist in stabilizing the climate and provide habitat for various species.
For more information, visit TheMasterShift.com.
