Rediscovering Passion—A Call to Let Go

Chapter Eleven

We draw on insights from existential, transcendental, and mystical philosophies to explore the transformative power of letting go as a path to passion and meaning. 

Lillian Hartley

Throughout this book, we’ve explored the intricate dance between the self and the cosmos, between modern existential crises and ancient wisdom. As we look to the future and seek meaning in our increasingly fragmented world, one truth stands out: the path forward is not about achieving more or fixing everything but about rediscovering passion through **letting go**. This echoes the existential philosophy of **Emmy van Deurzen**, the transcendental teachings of **Ralph Waldo Emerson** and **Henry David Thoreau**, and the mystical journey symbolised by the **Tarot**.

The Illusion of Control: The Crisis of the Modern Self

In *Selfie: How We Became So Self-Obsessed and What It’s Doing to Us*, **Will Storr** argues that modern society’s obsession with self-perfection has left us emotionally and spiritually hollow. The constant drive for success, validation, and self-improvement has created a culture where people perpetually strive to be better but never feel good enough. This mirrors what existentialists like **Kierkegaard** and **Heidegger** have warned us about: the danger of reducing human existence to a series of tasks to be completed, goals to be reached, or external standards to be met.

Yet **William Barrett**, in *Irrational Man*, highlights that true meaning in life doesn’t come from achieving perfection but from engaging with the messiness of existence. He suggests life is inherently filled with contradictions, anxieties, and uncertainties. The more we try to control or fix these, the further we move from the truth of who we are. **Martin Heidegger’s** concept of **Dasein** (Being-in-the-world) reinforces this. Heidegger argued that we are not isolated minds in control of the world but beings embedded within it, constantly interacting with our environment and grappling with what he called “care and concern.” The more we try to master our world, the more we distance ourselves from our essence, from our true **Being**.

As **Emmy van Deurzen** writes in *Paradox and Passion in Psychotherapy*, the journey to rediscovering passion lies in embracing the paradoxes of life rather than resisting them. Van Deurzen’s work with clients like Vicky, who struggled with societal expectations, demonstrates that the key to living with passion is not controlling life but allowing oneself to experience it in all its complexity fully—**being more by being less**. Vicky’s breakthrough came when she surrendered to the idea that life’s difficulties—her disappointments and struggles—were not obstacles to be overcome but aspects of life to be lived fully and passionately.

The Tarot’s Journey and the Rediscovery of Self

The **Tarot**, as **Hajo Banzhaf** outlines in *Tarot and the Journey of the Hero*, offers a symbolic map for this rediscovery of passion. Each card in the Major Arcana represents a stage toward self-awareness and fulfilment. Take, for example, **The Fool**—the card representing the journey’s beginning. The Fool steps forward into the unknown, unafraid of what lies ahead, trusting in the process. This is the essence of letting go—trusting that the journey will reveal what we need.

Similarly, **The Hanged Man** symbolises the need for surrender, letting go of old perspectives to gain new insights. Like Vicky in Van Deurzen’s case study, who learned to embrace her vulnerabilities, the Hanged Man shows us that growth comes not from control but from acceptance. Passion is rediscovered when we release the need to constantly strive for more and instead allow ourselves to be fully present in the moment, with all its uncertainties and contradictions.

**The Magician**, on the other hand, represents creative power—the ability to manifest one’s desires in the world. But the Magician’s power is not about domination or control; it’s about working in harmony with the forces of the universe. **Ken Wilber**, in *Quadrants of the Kosmos*, emphasises that true mastery comes not from separating ourselves from the world but from seeing ourselves as co-creators. Like the Magician, we must learn to balance our desires with the flow of life, recognising that true passion is found not in controlling the outcome but in participating fully in the process.

Transcendental Teachings: Emerson and Thoreau on Letting Go

**Ralph Waldo Emerson** and **Henry David Thoreau** offer similar lessons in their transcendental teachings. In *The Spiritual Teachings of Ralph Waldo Emerson*, **Richard Geldard** explores Emerson’s belief that the divine resides within us and that listening to our inner voice is the key to passion and authenticity. Emerson’s philosophy of **self-reliance** isn’t about striving for external success but about trusting in one’s own experience and emotions. This echoes **Heidegger’s** idea of **Being**, where truth is revealed not through intellectual speculation but through thoughtful observation of our everyday existence.

David C. Smith’s The Transcendental Saunterer examines Thoreau’s life at Walden Pond, where he found passion and meaning in being present in nature. Thoreau’s concept of sauntering—walking without a destination, letting life unfold—serves as a metaphor for rediscovering passion in a world obsessed with goals and outcomes. Thoreau teaches us that passion is not something we achieve but experience when we let go of control and allow life to reveal itself.

The Death of God and the Age of Aquarius

**Friedrich Nietzsche** declared that “God is dead” not as a nihilistic statement but as a call to create new values and new meanings. Nietzsche believed that with the death of the old religious structures, humanity would have the opportunity to transcend its limitations and create a new relationship with the divine. This theme resonates with the transition from the **Age of Pisces** to the **Age of Aquarius**, where the relationship between man and God is being redefined.

In the Age of Pisces, as symbolised by the two fish swimming in opposite directions, there was a clear distinction between the material and spiritual worlds. God was seen as separate and superior to man. But as we enter the Age of Aquarius, represented by the Water-Bearer pouring knowledge from the heavens to the earth, we are asked to reconsider this relationship. Rather than seeking God in some distant realm, we are called to recognise the divine within ourselves and the world around us.

**John Ryan Haule**, in *Perils of the Soul: Ancient Wisdom and the New Age*, explores how this shift is reflected in contemporary spiritual practices. Haule argues that the New Age movement, focusing on individual experience and personal empowerment, mirrors Nietzsche’s call for the **Übermensch**—the individual who creates meaning in a world without external divine authority. Yet Haule also warns of the dangers of this shift, reminding us that without grounding ourselves in a deeper understanding of our connection to the cosmos, we risk falling into the same traps of self-obsession and perfectionism that have plagued modern society.

Where Do We Go From Here?

As I see it, the path forward is not about striving for more but about **letting go**. We must let go of the need for control, perfection, and external validation. As **William James** argued, our religious and mystical experiences are shaped by our consciousness and how we interpret the world. As James anticipated, we have taken this control to new extremes in the post-human era, shaping our reality through technology, self-help ideologies, and social media. But this control comes at a cost—disconnection from ourselves, others, and the world around us.

By **letting go**, we rediscover passion. Passion is not something to be pursued or achieved; it emerges when we engage fully with life. This is the lesson of **Van Deurzen**, **Banzhaf**, **Emerson**, **Thoreau**, **Heidegger**, and even **Nietzsche**: life is messy, contradictory, and unpredictable, but it is also filled with beauty, meaning, and passion—if we are willing to let go of control and embrace it.

The Tarot teaches us that the Fool’s journey is surrender, trust, and openness to life’s mysteries. The Fool is not foolish because he lacks knowledge; he is wise because he understands that life’s greatest truths are revealed not through striving but through letting go. As we move into the Age of Aquarius, we are being asked to embrace this Fool’s wisdom, let go of outdated beliefs, and create a new, more authentic relationship with ourselves, each other, and the divine.

In conclusion, the path forward is clear: **let go**. Let go of the need to be perfect, the desire to control, and the fear of the unknown. In letting go, you will rediscover the passion, meaning, and beauty that have been there all along.

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**Sources:**

1. Emmy van Deurzen, *Paradox and Passion in Psychotherapy* (London: Wiley, 1998), 45-62.  

2. Will Storr, *Selfie: How We Became So Self-Obsessed and What It’s Doing to Us* (Picador, 2018), 103-122.  

3. Hajo Banzhaf, *Tarot and the Journey of the Hero* (Weiser Books, 2000), 12-28.  

4. Richard Geldard, *The Spiritual Teachings of Ralph Waldo Emerson* (Lindisfarne Books