--- title: "Don't Be Vulnerable in Pursuing Hopes and Wants (SW000)" heading: "Don't Be Vulnerable in Pursuing Hopes and Wants (SW000)" subheading: "" updated: "2025-12-16T06:44:00+00:00" words: 526 url: https://ananda.icu/talks/spirit-warden/sw000-dont-be-vulnerable-in-pursuing-hopes-and-wants description: "Chasing after our hopes and wants, we dance with the phantoms. Blinded by our pursuits, we long for miracles and embrace the hollow magic helpers. Yet there are no free meals to our inner work — and the traps laid for you are abundant. Don't ignore those red flags. Broadcasting your vulnerabilities, your weakness will be exploited." ... [◂ Spirit Warden](https://ananda.icu/cat/talks/spirit-warden) ⁘ [📺 Video ▸](https://ananda.icu/video#SW000) [🎶 Audio ▸](https://ananda.icu/audio#SW000) ⁘ [LINK 🔗](https://ananda.icu/talks/spirit-warden/sw000-dont-be-vulnerable-in-pursuing-hopes-and-wants) [PDF ](https://ananda.icu/files/pdf/talks/sw000-dont-be-vulnerable-in-pursuing-hopes-and-wants.pdf) [YT ](https://youtu.be/7ns-iMRdTbk) [MP4 ](https://ananda.icu/files/video/talks/sw000-dont-be-vulnerable-in-pursuing-hopes-and-wants.mp4) [OGG ](https://ananda.icu/files/audio/talks/sw000-dont-be-vulnerable-in-pursuing-hopes-and-wants.ogg) **Words:** 526 ⁘ **Length:** 02:59 min ⁘ **Created:** 2025-12-16 ⁘ **Updated:** 2025-12-16 Chasing after our hopes and wants, we dance with the phantoms. Blinded by our pursuits, we long for miracles and embrace the hollow magic helpers. Yet there are no free meals to our inner work — and the traps laid for you are abundant. Don't ignore those red flags. Don't be hypnotized by your longings. Broadcasting your vulnerabilities, your weakness will be exploited. The predator will cross your path and there you fall — enmeshed and exploited. Seek truth and clarity. _#SpiritWarden #Hopes #Wants #Traps #Vulnerable #Predators #Healers #Deceivers #Helpers #InnerWork #BeReal #AnandaICU_ **As we follow the pushings and pullings** of our needs and wants, we make ourselves vulnerable. Blinded by the drives and pursuits, we march headlong into traps set for us by those who would seek to exploit us. This holds true in the world as a whole, and so very pointed in the world of marketing and consumer engineering. But we are not of the whole world in this series. As the title suggests — Spirit Warden — we look at all of this in the context of spirituality, religion, other frameworks of inner work and cultivation. Into common scenarios of vulnerability, exploitation, traps and proactive immunization. To be clear, we're not entering the realms of arcane protection magic or ceremonial shield invocations. I mean, that's all cool, you're welcome to codify the raw substance of life into symbolic rituals for your own programming. We're looking at all of this on a very basic cognitive behavioral level. The sorts of things anyone without belief can spot in themselves, in their environment. The red flags in you and in others, in communities, that should make you stop and take a second look. In whatever that follows in our upcoming installments, these are not hypothetical textbook material. Of each, there are surely a handful of examples right at the top of my head. Yet we are looking at this in terms of principles. As the short version starting point: Do not ever invest the fulfillment of your hopes and needs in someone else out there. Especially do not invest yourself or open your heart before these savior figures staging themselves, rolling out the soft red carpet just for you — into their unconditional loving embrace. These healer messiahs have a million traps under their red carpet for you. Traps laid consciously or otherwise — but there they are. Massive red flags. Then mind your bearings and be aware of the urges driving you, the pushings and pullings of your hopes and wants, your lifelong longings. You will only ever find your fulfillment in your own inner work, in your reconciliation, in your harmonization. Not in the healing embrace of a magic helper. In closing, just to be a hundred percent clear. "Spirit Warden" — so I am not your spirit warden. I am the warden unto myself and you are the warden unto you. I simply share perspectives, insights, experiences from the whatever watchtower of the ages. What you make of it is up to you. Have a clear vision. Do not be deluded by your hopes and dreams. Be well and keep yourself safe.