If the bird of our soul is caged, it cannot fly. Set your Self free.

It really doesn’t matter what “something” hems us in, be it horrendous circumstances or misguided goodness. If the bird of our soul is caged then it cannot fly. Often, long after the captors of our spirit are gone, we hobble along like the ladies of ancient China on their tiny bound feet. We have embraced our own crippled nature as if, in its familiarity, it is who we really are. The tether, long since severed in the physical, continues to bind us emotionally. The result is we transfer the power of the captors of our spirit onto other external “authority.”

That could continue to be our parents: “Forget being a musician—get a proper job.” Our teachers: “You’ll never be a painter if you don’t paint this way.” Our religion: “You’ll never get to heaven if you do that.” Our lovers: “You sound so lame when you sing!” So we cut …