Being an observer, I’ve noted something important that I want to talk about. Absolutely essential to our long term well-being is living in ‘right’ relationship with authority. Here’s the catch: the authority begins outside of ourselves, projected out until we become self-actualized; and then eventually, if we are lucky, while growing up and taking on responsibility, authority begins to become mirrored as part of a system–which then is to blame for any problems or challenges, until ultimately one has to come up to the realization that one’s inner authority is thee check-point. Best to visit it throughout the day, and even in the beginning and the end of the day. One can even consider their own authority as a sobriety-check. Give yourself a breathalyzer test. Am I acting out of habit? Is there a lot of reactionary behavior? How am I contributing to the good of those around me? Do I consider the needs of others?

We often associate things like authority with other words like discipline. In the context of astrology, these words are very “Saturnine.” That means “no fun.” However, if one really looks more deeply into the way the reward system of the brain works, you can get to ironic HEART of the matter: your brain needs you to be a good horse-back rider. That’s right. You need to tame your brain, your sensory system, your self-regulation, or self-governance.

Isn’t interesting how this is a major societal problem right now? I read a study that found that the thing that parents are most worried about for their child, now-a-days, is their “mental health.” How interesting that mental health is something that can really, when properly channeled, and even disciplined, bolster a person into a position of making a positive impact in the world. Why? Because we don’t live only for ourselves. We are here for each other. That is the purpose of life.

Here’s another catch. There’s no real thing as external discipline. That’s authority! However, there is self-discipline. All our lives we must learn to negotiate the needs of the system, the external, with the needs of the inner, internal. One of the reasons I found buddhism and other spiritual ‘practices’ so appealing in my later 20s is that the spirituality is based on building an internal locus of control. That’s fancy-speak for self-determination.

Now, I’m not talking about manifestation here. I’m also not talking about magic. By the way, I love those two things. I believe in them wholly. But I have found that manifestation and magic does indeed involve right relationship with authority. Think on this. I want you to really examine it and see what is true for yourself. Can you trust yourself? Do you have a good enough relationship with yourself that you even give yourself responsibilities? Or, do you block your growth with fear? Be aware of what comes up for you when you consider these aspects of yourself. Is there a way that you can have a better relationship with authority? It might help to journal on this topic. You will learn very much from yourself if you let the words flow.