We had enough questions from readers to make up an entire interview, so again we have combined everything into one article and eliminated “Samuel Responds.” Before we began asking questions, Samuel discussed, in the context of other events in our lives, our reactions to the results of the election two days earlier.

Living in the world in a time of such great change, depression is a very natural physical reaction, as well as a mental one, and it can be helpful if you can get the physical to stop reacting so you can clear out the mental. It looks like some of the questions might directly work with that very issue, because any time there’s been an election, there is always a letdown. Suddenly it’s over, you’ve got the results, and life goes back to normal. And if normal is that the loyal, loving dog you’ve had for years and years is no longer here or is very sick, and you’ve come through major surgery, and family issues are creating all kinds of issues because people are undergoing challenges . . . well, it is hard, because normal is far more involved than it had been.

And I will remind you of two things: the first one is, it’s not your problem. It’s not. And I’m going to tell you that with regard to everything that you’re dealing with: it’s not your problem. You are experiencing the symptoms that come from focusing on something that isn’t under your control. It might be your physical blueprint or other people’s choices, but it’s not yours to control. Your lesson is to be all you can with what you have, and not focus on what you cannot do or do not have. Turn off those little voices. Turn them off.