The Definition of Freedom

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Dear Friend and Reader:

Earlier this summer, I had the privilege of seeing Radiohead perform at Madison Square Garden.

At about 8:40 pm, the house lights went black, and powerful spotlights illuminated a massive mirrorball, set on the stage, from all directions.

Then a disembodied voice boomed through the arena: FREEDOM IS NO FEAR.

I was actually a bit stunned by that statement, and stood there in front of my seat reeling a little. The first coherent thought to go through my mind was: yep, that's true. To have no fear would indeed be the ultimate freedom.

Yet on deeper thought, the human experience so often seems wrought with anxiety and anticipation as a basic fact of life. And as a result, so much of growth, particularly what we call spiritual growth, involves learning how to address fear, how to cope with it, and what to do with it.

Right now, fear is soaking through our experience of life, which is to say, through our hearts and minds. There's something to latch onto for everyone: economic fear, the planet getting hotter, methane levels rising, society being destabilized, the world order being destabilized, one's state of personal health, anxiety around what one's kids are going through.

In a previous letter, I described my approach to astrology, which is to connect on the level of humanity before there's any thought of symbols. That means addressing fear. People almost always come to astrology seeking reassurance about the future. It's not easy to offer that and still feel honest.

Yet what I can offer is an approach to fear itself. I think there are about three ways to do that.

One is to reason. It is sometimes possible to take the emotional jolt of anxiety and break down the basic facts. A similar method, which I use often, is to provide an analysis of the circumstances surrounding any event. In looking at a situation objectively, it's possible to take a view that does not spread fear any further.

First moments of Radiohead's recent performance at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Photo by Eric.

Another is to cultivate self-knowledge. The deeper one goes into self-awareness, the more it's possible to understand the dynamics of fear and how they influence us. This seems to work only in those who have a strong mental override and can easily suppress or bypass their emotions.

Or, if one cultivates the inner witness well enough, it's possible to observe: "I am feeling fear."

The third way, which I find to be the most effective, is to go direct to spirit. To get relief from fear, one must ask inwardly for that to be done. This requires deep faith, and some spiritual training. This one maneuver is the basis of A Course in Miracles, in total.

As the author of Planet Waves, I take all three approaches, focusing most of all on what I learned from A Course in Miracles: to ask on behalf of myself, to guide you to ask, and to ask for others. Writing a horoscope is more than on-the-spot philosophy. Most readers tend to take it as something deeper.

My role is to provide immediate guidance, often encountered at random, designed to help guide you inward, to the source of spirit. I am careful to orient you on your inner conditions, over which you have some influence, rather than outer conditions, which are more difficult to change and perhaps impossible to control fully.

We are here with a steady source of guidance seven days a week, in many different formats -- so there's sure to be one that you relate to. We are available around the clock, so that there's a beacon for anyone who may show up, whatever their circumstances.

Thank you for helping us provide this resource to the world -- and to you. Please take advantage of all we do, and help make our work available to others, by subscribing, reviving or extending your subscription. Here are your membership options. If you need alternatives, please email cs@planetwaves.net or call (845) 481-5616 during Eastern business hours. We'll be happy to help.

Thank you for your generosity and support, and for telling others about our work.

With love,