Its Not Out There

     With the announcement last week about Ophiuchus swirling around us, a thought keeps coming to my mind.  It is a perspective I live by and share with others.  “It is not what happens to you, but how you relate to what happens, that creates your experience of it.”
     I have learned a lot after reading Joan’s post and that of my friend, astrologer Samuel F. Reynolds. I have come to understand the relationship between astrologers and astronomers.  I found the history regarding Ophicuchus fascinating, and more than anything, my respect and admiration for astrology came away intact.     
     “It is not what happens to you, but how you relate to what happens, that creates your experience of it.  What does this statement mean?  In Let Go & Live Institute we say “its not out there”.  This is meant as an encouragement to turn inward into our inner world of thoughts and feelings.  Most people get caught up in the outer world of situations.  The erroneous news of a possible 13th sign was very upsetting to many people.  Turning inward towards our thoughts and feelings helps us to realize that the choice of how we can relate to situations that challenge our world, as we know it is inside of us.  The solution, and peace of mind, is not found in the situation.
      There has been a great deal of fear and uncertainty swirling around this situation.  The more we understand what is happening, by educating ourselves on the matter, helps us manage our fear.  I was in the audience listening to Elizabeth Lesser the Co-Founder of Omega Institute, speaking about fear.  She said the first thing she does when she is fearful is learn about the situation, get the facts so to speak.  It calms her, and then she can take that turn inward. 
     Reading about what the astrological community of experts think, like Joan and Sam and the facts they are sharing, helps us to let go of fear, find our seat and go within.  There we can process the uncertainty and very real threat to our identity that has been mirrored in this disturbing news .
     How do we realize that we do have a choice to work with challenges and create life affirming new habits to deal with them?  When things are challenging we take a deep breath and simply ask the question “what do I have to learn from this”.  Taking a step back and asking this question gives a direct message to the universe.  We are telling the universe (and ourselves) that we are willing to open to “what is” by observing the situation and decoding the message we are receiving.  In quantum physics it is understood that observation changes reality.  Being with “what is” and learning to watch and witness, allows us to observe the challenge we are facing “out there”.  Asking this question opens the door.  What is behind this door?  Freedom, abundance and clarity, and just what Sam wrote, “you are still whatever you thought you were”.

~ Elizabeth Botta Brandes