Nox Amicus

At 2:32pm on Monday, July 17th, the Moon was New again. She isn’t due to come to fullness until Tuesday at 2:32pm, so we’re not quite half-way through the cycle. Interesting though, that this cycle the New and Full moons both arrive at 2:32pm ET. If anyone knows if there is any astronomical reason or any astrological significance, please let me know. Given the complexity of the cosmos, I’m apt to think it’s a coincidence, but I’m not sure I believe in coincidences.

For the last cycle I set out to focus on Autonomy, specifically how I can incorporate it into a life where I am called to interact with other individuals. I concluded by noting that Immanuel Kant suggested that the concept of Autonomy entails individuals acting in accordance with their rational will and self-imposed moral principles, rather than being governed by external factors, or heteronomy. To me, this signaled that Autonomy is at the root of both authenticity and the path toward self-actualization.

The questions dawned on me though – “why do I need to work on Autonomy? What is stopping me from being Autonomous?” I began to move through my days with this in the back of my mind – catching when I was feeling like I was standing in less of my own power as well as when that feeling wasn’t as prevalent. I began to realize that I was anticipating – or steeling myself for – an emotional reaction in conversations. I seemed to be constantly on-guard, as if waiting for a shoe to drop. I eventually began to notice that there was emotion everywhere – not just in reactions to things I might say, but when someone would say something there might be moments where I would assign an emotional gravitas that they not only didn’t intend, but they were not even aware of.

I did some research and found that this is described as “emotional reasoning”. When someone engages in emotional reasoning, they interpret neutral or objective statements in a way that aligns with their current emotional state, often without considering the actual facts or intent behind the comment. 

Someone can say something and that’s simply their truth. It is just a fact to them. If they wanted to impart any emotional attachments to that, it’s on them to say it. My problem has been that I have Assumed an emotional significance or emotional weight. 

Maybe this goes right back to control. Was it easier for me to Assume or project an emotion – positive or negative – rather than to let things play out in their own time? And how much of that projection becomes manifestation?

So for this cycle, I want to be more mindful of Assumptions. Did someone actually say a certain thing, or behave in a certain way, or is the lens of my history distorting reality into something else? Additionally, I want to try to be more mindful of allowing space for fate to evolve, rather than Assuming, and thereby possibly unintentionally manifesting an outcome.