(Neptune goes direct. Mercury enters Capricorn.)

The yogic path, the path that we all walk, constantly and, at times, quite rudely, asks or demands of us to detach from those people, places, and things that obstruct the free flow of our unique expression — our daemon, as the Greeks might have termed it.

It sounds easy enough. However, the process in practice amounts to a slow form of torture. It hurts the child to have her stuffed animal removed past a certain age. Oh, how she cries.

It hurts to have anything we think we need from outside of ourselves removed. It will drive some even to violence, or worse.

The earnest seeker recognizes the process for what it is — a cleansing, and a necessity. You cannot be you if you are somebody else’s picture of who you should be. That can include gurus, parents, friends, and society as a whole.

Daily, ongoing meditation is the practice of choice here. For awhile, it detaches us from the sensory input of the world and reattaches us to our genuine, inner experience.

With steady practice, we get adept at hearing our own voice that has the answer to every question. That knows exactly what to do — better than anyone else.

After some trial and error and stumbling around, we learn to rely on this voice. (Why wouldn’t you?)

We become masters of ourselves and seek not authority from the outside.

It hurts and hurts and hurts, until it doesn’t.

At some point along the way, you realize there is no other choice.

Suggested Use: Have pen and paper ready. Read this post once. Then read again, a little more slowly. Pause. Reflect. Journal any connections or intentions that come to you. Come back a few days later, and read again. Repeat. Only take what resonates. Leave the rest behind, and kindly share if you feel another could be benefited.