Is Hope the most dangerous drug of the mind?

Is Hope the most dangerous drug of the mind?

There is a German proverb: “Hope dies last” and when we use hope to stay strong, when we let it guide us through the challenges of life, when we use it to rise above what we thought was possible, than hope is the fuel our motivation needs.

Although, hope can be a very dark, destructive force: namely when, we use hope to escape the present, to deny the facts. We then project an ideal state of being into the near future and hope that the present will change towards our projection while refusing to accept our present.

We wait – for a raise, for a better job, to win the lottery, to find our soul mate… we wait for people to change or better circumstances, for Christmas, for warmer or cooler weather… the list is endless.

Eckart Tolle describes this state of waiting as follows:

“Waiting is a state of mind. Generally meaning, that you want the future; you do not want the present. You do not want, what you have, you want, what you don’t have. With waiting of any kind you subconsciously produce a conflict between here and now, where you don’t want to be and your projected future, where you want to be. This reduces the quality of your life tremendously, since you lose the present."

When we abuse hope to reject our life, to negate “now” and to project all our wishes and dreams into a “better” future, than hope becomes a dangerous drug. A terrible hang over is more than certain, namely when this hope is disappointed on a daily reoccurring basis, since no new better job is offered to us, no Mr. or Ms. Right is stumbling into our live, no raise, no bonus no nothing from our beloved boss and so on…

Hope in its pure meaning belongs to trust. Trust in yourself, trust in your life, in the path you are on and trust, that everything you need to do whatever needs to be done is right here, right at this point in time, right where you are at the moment. Trust, that life is to be lived in the moment, not yesterday or tomorrow but right now. Hope that is bound to expectation is only one step from the dark path into waiting. In German the word for expectation contains the word for waiting. When you expect something you subconsciously or consciously wait for it to happen. That is perfectly fine when we talk about realistic goals and positive expectation. But when hope and expectation get you into a state of waiting in powerless devotion to your idea of what will be your salvation or who or what will be the fulfillment of your dreams, than you have doomed yourself to mere existence rather than living your life. You negate your life and wait to live it at a later, supposedly “better” point in time. 

Newsflash: this allegedly better life will never happen if you don’t cherish what you have and do what needs to be done, now, not tomorrow!

If you focus now and do what needs to be done, right in this moment without knowing if the outcome will be positive or meeting your expectation, when you live in the moment, accept what you have and do your best, than hope in its purest meaning is your motivation and the fuel for your willpower. Not knowing if you succeed but trusting in yourself and your life, your ability and strength, hoping for the best, knowing what you do right now is perfect for the moment, in this scenario hope become a very powerful blessing. Without hope you would not attempt. With hope free of expectation you will attempt, you will take risks and you will most likely indeed be rewarded.

Salvation does not follow the fulfillment of our wishes or dreams. Salvation, inner peace, happiness and bliss happen in the present, “now”, in the moment; the moment you live your life and stop seeking your faults in the past or your luck in the future while rejecting the present.

(c) Britta Goetz - Tiphareth-Tarot & Astro

Hoffnung und (Er)Warten

Ist Hoffnung die gefährlichste Droge des Geistes?

„Die Hoffnung stirbt zuletzt“ und wenn wir Hoffnung benutzen, um weiter zu gehen, um über schwierige Situationen hinauszuwachsen, um Herausforderungen zu bestehen, dann ist Hoffnung das Benzin, das unser Motor braucht, um zu laufen.

Hoffnung kann aber auch eine sehr dunkle Seite haben, eine zerstörerische Kraft sein. Dann nämlich wenn wir sie benutzen, um dem hier und jetzt zu entrinnen, um nicht zu akzeptieren, was ist. Wir projizieren dann einen Idealzustand in die Zukunft und hoffen auf Änderung, auf Besserung und lehnen die Gegenwart vollumfänglich ab.

Wir warten – auf die Gehaltserhöhung, auf den besseren Job, auf den Lottogewinn, auf den Traumpartner, auf Verhaltensänderungen oder Einsicht beim Gegenüber, auf Weihnachten auf besseres Wetter.... die Liste ist beliebig fortzusetzen.

Eckart Tolle beschreibt dieses Warten so:

„Warten ist ein Geisteszustand. Grundsätzlich bedeutet es, dass du die Zukunft willst; du willst nicht die Gegenwart. Du willst nicht das, was du hast, du willst das, was du nicht hast. Mit jeder Art von Warten schaffst du unbewusst einen inneren Konflikt zwischen deinem Hier und Jetzt, wo du nicht sein willst, und der projizierten Zukunft, wo du sein willst. Das reduziert die Qualität deines Lebens gewaltig, weil du die Gegenwart verlierst.“

Wenn wir Hoffnung dazu benutzen, unser Dasein abzulehnen, das „Jetzt“ zu negieren und alle unsere Wünsche in eine „bessere“ Zukunft zu projizieren, dann wird Hoffnung zu einer gefährlichen Droge und der Kater ist quasi vorprogrammiert, dann nämlich, wenn die Hoffnung täglich aufs neue enttäuscht wird, weil weder der Traummann vor der Tür steht, noch der Chef endlich das Gehalt aufbessert.

Hoffnung in ihrer reinen Form gehört zum Vertrauen. Vertrauen, auf das eigene Leben, Vertrauen auf den Weg den man geht, Vertrauen, dass alles, was man braucht, immer da ist. Vertrauen, dass Leben nur im Jetzt stattfindet. Hoffnung, die mit Erwartung verknüpft wird, steht schon auf dem schmalen Grad zur dunklen Seite. Im Wort Erwartung ist schon das Wort „warten“ enthalten. Warten negiert das Jetzt und somit das Leben.

Wenn ich mich jetzt fokussiere und tue, was getan werden muss, im Moment bin und ohne zu wissen, ob meine Aktion erfolgreich verlaufen wird, das annehme, was ist, dann ist die Hoffnung in ihrer reinen Form mein Motor. Ohne zu wissen, was wird, aber in dem Vertrauen zu sein, dass das was ich jetzt lebe, jetzt richtig ist. In dieser Form ist Hoffnung ein Segen, frei von Erwartung und Warten, verankert in einem Urvertrauen in das Leben.

Erlösung kommt nicht über die Erfüllung unserer Wünsche, Erlösung findet im Moment statt. Und den Moment kann ich nur leben, wenn ich aufhöre, mein Glück in die Zukunft zu projizieren.

(c) Britta Goetz - Tiphareth Tarot & Astro

Moonmagick - Newmoon in Cancer July 15th 09:24pm

Moonmagick

There is no other magic more related to female power than working with the moon. Us women are connected to the moon in a natural way. Our period follows the phases of the moon. The moon is considered the female counter part to the male principle of the sun. It does not shine on its own but reflects the sunlight - yet, in the dark phases of New Moon it holds the greatest mystical power in it self. The moon receives, it's light is gentle, yet it has the power to move entire oceans.

New Moon is a wonderful time to regain access of our genuine female power.

A cycle is ending. It is the time to get rid of old, useless stuff cluttering our lives and souls, capturing our energy and be aware of our genuine power. We receive to give life!

We can ask Luna tomorrow to lead us to our genuine powers and show us how to use the new starting cycle to grow and foster what lets us grow.

New Moon Blessings to all!

Mondmagie - Neumond im Krebs (09:24 EDT - July 15th)

Mondmagie 

Es gibt keine weiblichere Form der Magie, als das Arbeiten mit dem Mond. Wir Frauen sind auf ganz natürliche Weise mit der Mondenergie verbunden. Unsere Periode folgt den Mondphasen. Der Mond gilt als das weibliche Gegengewicht zum männlichen Prinzip der Sonne, er strahlt nicht aus sich heraus, sondern durch ihr Licht und hat dennoch in sich selbst, in seinen dunklen Phasen zu Neumond, die größte mystische Kraft. Der Mond empfängt, sein Licht ist sanft und doch hat er die Macht ganze Ozeane zu bewegen.

Neumond ist ein wunderbarer Zeitpunkt, uns unserer urweiblichen Kraft bewusst zu werden und sie zu nutzen.

Ein Zyklus geht zu Ende. Es ist Zeit, sich von Altem und Unnützem zu trennen, sich und sein Umfeld zu reinigen und zu befreien, von Dingen, die man sinnlos herumschleppt und sich bewusst zu werden, welche Urkraft in einer ruht. Wir empfangen, um Leben zu geben!

Am morgigen Neumond können wir Luna bitten, uns unsere ursprüngliche Kraft zugänglich zu machen, uns zu leiten, damit wir den neuen Zyklus nutzen können, das wachsen zu lassen, was uns Stärke gibt.

Symbols of Power and Oppression – Confederate Flag and the Swastika

Allow me to express my thoughts on the ban of the Confederate Flag – even though I feel slightly awkward being non-American.

I see this whole issue from the perspective of a person who has studied and is working with ancient symbols and who knows about the power symbols do have. As a German, working with Nordic Runes and having a completely different understanding of the Swastika (Hakenkreuz) I am not exactly “thrilled” that the bearing of a swastika is forbidden by the law and can get you in real serious legal trouble.

I am working with that Symbol in its true sense and powers. I own multiple Artifacts picturing it. I am as far from being a Nazi as probably many southerners are from being racist – NEVERTHELESS - and this is important – We cannot and should not be allowed to deny the fact, that the Swastika is a symbol of pure Horror to everyone who has suffered or knows anybody who has suffered from Nazi-Germany.

Same is true for the Confederate Flag. It is a Symbol of Oppression and Terror to a large number of people. Humanity, rationality and common sense should leave no doubt that we need to step back with our individual usage and meaning of a Symbol of Power and Oppression to benefit those that were and are actually hurt by it.

Do I absolutely refrain to obey to the ban of using the Swastika? Yes I do. Do I support the ban and the prosecution by law – of course, I do! I don’t walk around and offend people with the Swastika and I don’t “fight” for my personal right to use it. I have my artifacts; I use them in the original sense of the Symbol being a Symbol for good luck, good fate. In Germany many of the runes I use on a daily basis for readings are banned and the open display is forbidden and prosecuted. Do I support that ban? Of course, I do. It does not hinder me and my work and my connection to the symbol in any way if I have the decency not to offend those who have experienced a very brutal and different meaning of those symbols. It is called respect. And it does not prohibit you to have your meaning and your connection but it protects others from getting hurt or offended.

Symbols do not kill people - that is right - but Symbols do have power and if it is so important to me, to use it, than I should be the first one to understand the importance of its ban if it affects many others in a very negative way.

It is called respect!

Star of Bethlehem Venus Jupiter Conjunction and a Full Moon in Capricorn

Star of Bethlehem Venus Jupiter Conjunction and a Full Moon in Capricorn

If we look to the west this night (June 30^th) we will see Venus and Jupiter - who have been dancing around each other and slowly getting closer over the course of this month – in a bright conjunction, looking almost as if they have joined to become one. Astrologically they are not even 1° apart from each other – only 0.3° to be precise. 

Astronomers (not Astrologers) call this constellation “Star of Bethlehem” Conjunction – and, exactly like when this happened the last time 2000 years ago, Venus and Jupiter are right next to the Fixed Star Regulus in the Zodiac Sign of Leo.

The Moon is not full yet. That will happen tomorrow at 10:20 pm EDT and the Moon will have entered the Zodiac Sign of Capricorn by then.

Since the Goddess of Love – Venus joins the King of Gods – Jupiter under the Sign of Leo in their heavenly romance, we might be inclined to interpret this constellation as an indicator for energy that fosters love, romance, falling in love and magical moments. Yet, these planets are not alone and the coming Full Moon in Capricorn, lit by a Sun in Cancer is almost aligned with Pluto. 

Full Moons are revealing. This one is revealing the Abyss of our soul and psyche. With Sun in Cancer it is very likely, that conflicts within family structures break open and force you to get in contact again with long forgotten or denied emotions and trauma. You may find yourself reacting like a child throwing a tantrum and it is likely that you will behave emotional-irrational like a child. Emotional oppression, emotional blackmail, attachments and traumas especially within the family or in relationships are the issues that will rise from the depth of our sub-consciousness. Other issues that are of importance are obligation and duty.

We can use this Full Moon especially because we have the Star of Bethlehem Conjunction still coming along with it to let us be guided through the dark parts of our souls, to find hidden, denied and suppressed emotion and trauma, to clear it and let it heal by redirecting our self and our lives in a more positive direction. If we translate the power indicated by the Star of Bethlehem constellation into the historical content of the biblical sign, that has guided the three Kings to find the Savior. A newborn in a stall - soon to change the entire world with his teachings of Love and Compassion. We can change our whole world today, if we dare to decent into the pits of our souls to find redemption by enlightening the fears and traumas of our past, that are still obstructing us and set our path into a brighter direction. Of course the Full Moon supports all matters of our hearts and souls if we want to break free of emotional attachments and abuse of power. 

Homework: go outside and watch Venus and Jupiter uniting tonight and use tomorrows Full Moon to decent into the Abyss, to lighten up the darkest corners of your past and free yourself from emotional attachments to set your path for a brighter and more positive direction. You can’t miss your “savior” within – the Star that guided three noble men into a stall is there to light the path.

© Britta Goetz – Tiphareth-Tarot

Picture by © Syk & Teleskope 2015