Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter January 29, 2020

 Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter
 January 29, 2020
 FreeWillAstrology.com

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I've gathered together all of the long-term, big-picture horoscopes I wrote for you in the past weeks, and bundled them in one place. Go here to read a compendium of your forecasts for 2020:
bit.ly/2020BigPicture

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In addition to these, I've created three-part, in-depth EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPES about Your Long-Range Future. They go even further in exploring your prospects and challenges in 2020.

Who do you want to become in the coming months? Where do you want to go and what do you want to do? How can you exert your free will to create adventures that'll bring out the best in you, even as you find graceful ways to cooperate with the tides of destiny?

To listen to these three-part, in-depth reports, go here:
freewillastrology.sparkns.com

Register and/or log in through the main page, and then access the horoscopes by clicking on "Long Range Prediction." (Choose from Part 1, Part 2, or Part 3.)

If you'd like a boost of inspiration to fuel you in your quest for beauty and truth and love and meaning, tune in to my meditations on your Big-Picture outlook.

Each of the three-part reports is seven to nine minutes long. The cost is $6 per report. There are discounts for the purchase of multiple reports.

P.S. You can also listen to a short-term Expanded Audio Horoscope for the coming week.

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FLYING VERSUS RUNNING

Sometimes I fly in my dreams. The ecstasy is almost unbearable as I soar high above the landscape. But there's something I enjoy dreaming about even more, and that's running. For years I've had recurring dreams of sprinting for sheer joy through green hills and meadows, often following rivers that go on forever. I'm never short of breath. My legs never get tired. I feel vital and vigorous and fulfilled.

Does it seem odd that I prefer running to flying? I think I understand why. The flying dreams represent the part of me that longs to escape the bonds of earth, to be free of the suffering and chaos here. My running dreams, on the other hand, express the part of me that loves being in a body and exults in the challenges of this world.

And you?

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EVERY LITTLE INCREASE IN HUMAN FREEDOM

Every little increase in human freedom has been fought over ferociously between those who want us to know more and be wiser and stronger, and those who want us to obey and be humble and submit.

—Philip Pullman

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MAGICK VERSUS YOGA

Essential to the practice of real Magick is the training of the imagination so that it serves one's highest purposes rather than being a reckless spinner-of-illusions that constantly leaks psychic energy.

In a related matter, here's what Crowley said: "To train the mind to move with the maximum speed and energy, with the utmost possible accuracy in the chosen direction, and with the minimum of disturbance or friction: That is Magick. To stop the mind altogether: That is Yoga."

My education seems to be more about learning Magick than Yoga, more about practicing Western Hermeticism than Buddhism. But both are good, fun, essential.

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MY INNOCENCE

In some ways, I'm quite ripe, sophisticated, and savvy. In other ways, I'm innocent and simple-minded.

As evidence of the latter, I genuinely believe the following: We who care about truth and love and justice are not only in a fight for the soul of America

—we are also fighting to save the well-being and even the lives of millions of people of color, people below the poverty line, LGBTQ people, and immigrants.

We are also fighting to save the environment from the ecocidal practices of the earth's despoilers—and stop the mass extinction of species and the mass killing of animals.

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WHAT IS ENLIGHTENMENT?

One thing is certain about your destiny in the coming years: life will conspire to bring you deep insights into the nature of reality—and the excited joy that comes with it.

If you decide to cooperate with life’s efforts, keep in mind these provocations from designer Elissa Giles:

“Enlightenment is not an asexual, dispassionate, head-in-the-clouds, nails-in-the-palms disappearance from the game of life. It’s a volcanic, kick-ass, erotic commitment to love in action, coupled with hard-headed practical grist.”

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A GENEROUS THRASH OF DIVINE GRATITUDE

I want a heaven for my compassionate rage;

a paradise to house my greed for justice;

a choir singing blasphemous hymns for my affectionate lust;

hilarious hallelujahs for my lunatic confusion;

a generous thrash of divine gratitude for my wise mistakes, yearning terrors, & manic hopes

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THE GRADUAL, SLOW-SIMMERING APPROACH

I'm all about the gradual, slow-simmering approach to just about everything.

My ongoing spiritual work-and-play is to practice small moment-by-moment meditations in the midst of "ordinary" life -- to experiment with the manageable daily self-transformations that are challenging but not impossibly heroic. What does it mean to be reverential and devotional toward every little thing that life offers me?

When I was younger I enjoyed cultivating senses-reeling ecstatic breakthrough on a regular basis. I still like that, of course -- it's essential! -- but now I'm equally inclined to commune with the chronic, low-level ecstatic union that thrives on opening to the Mystery wherever it shows up. Neither is "better," of course. I'm just talking about what has been right for me in recent years.

I aspire to practice tantra 24/7, worshiping and drawing inspiration from each gift the daily (and nightly) rhythm brings.

An important prod that led me in this direction was my 18+ years as a householder -- when I transitioned from being a rock and roll singer leading ecstatic magick-based communal rituals to being a writer and living with my partner and our child.

I don't recommend that for everyone, but it worked for me. Learning to communicate with and care for a child and be fully alive in an intimate relationship with a woman I love and respect were crucial in me learning to expand and deepen my capacity to communicate with a wide variety of beings. It was instrumental in teaching me a very practical mode of compassion.
 

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MORE PRONOIA RESOURCES:

A list of how things have gotten better since the dawn of last decade:

The developed world used less water, despite population growth

The whole world became less transphobic than it once was

The ozone layer started healing

Investment in green energy far, far exceeded investment in fossil fuels

The world got greener

Homicide rates fell worldwide

Weather forecasting became a lot more accurate

The number of people without electricity fell below one billion

Universal health care went from privileged ideal to global ambition

Read more: tinyurl.com/whlgtl6

Still more: tinyurl.com/ukot5uc

(Note: I endorse these because I like them. They aren’t advertisements, and I get no kickbacks.)

Please tell me your own nominations for PRONOIA RESOURCES: Truthrooster@gmail.com.
 

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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
 Week beginning January 30

Copyright 2020 by Rob Brezsny
FreeWillAstrology.com
 

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):

Please don't imitate or repeat yourself in the coming weeks. Refrain from relying on formulas that have worked for you before. Resolve to either ignore or rebel against your past as you dream up fresh gambits and adventures. Treat your whole life like an improvisatory game that has just one purpose: to attract and stir up useful novelty. If you do these things, Aquarius, I can practically guarantee that you will win the game.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):

Poet Robert Bly believes that each of us has a special genius, and the key to understanding and fully activating that genius is in our core wound. In other words, the part of us that got hurt the worst is potentially the generative source of the best gifts we have to give. Do you know where that is in yourself: the wound that could be the source of your blessing? Now is a great time to investigate this tantalizing mystery.

ARIES (March 21-April 19):

My favorite ancient Greek philosopher was the rascal Diogenes. As a joke, he carried around a lantern during the daytime, proclaiming, "I am just looking for an honest man." When Alexander the Great, the most powerful man in the world, came to meet Diogenes while he was relaxing outside and asked him if he needed any favors done, he replied, "Yeah, stop blocking my sunlight." As for Plato, Diogenes complained that the famous philosopher talked too damn much and misinterpreted the teachings of Socrates. I encourage you to borrow some of Diogenes' attitude in the coming weeks. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, it'll be healing for you to experiment with being brassy, saucy, and sassy. Emphasize what makes you most unique, independent, and self-expressive.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20):

Taurus author Anthony Trollope (1815–1882) published his first novel at age 30. During the next 37 years, he completed 48 additional novels and 18 works of nonfiction. Critics liked his work well enough, but were suspicious of his prodigious productivity. When they discovered that one of Trollope's motivations for writing was to make money, they disapproved. Then they found out that Trollope kept a watch nearby as he worked, determined to generate 250 words every 15 minutes. The critics hated that even worse. Creative artists are supposed to court inspiration, not adhere to a schedule—at least according to the critics. But I approve of and recommend Trollope-like behavior for you in the coming weeks, Taurus. Cosmic forces will be on your side if you do.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20):

In accordance with the astrological indicators, I invite you to rise and soar and glide during the coming weeks. I encourage you to expand and enlarge and amplify. Don't wait around hoping to be asked to explore and experiment and improvise—just do those things. It's high time for you to enjoy stirring quests and research projects and missions dedicated to discovery. Be a fun-loving pioneer. Sample the joys of being a maverick and outlier.

CANCER (June 21-July 22):

I love living in the material world. Its crazy-making demands and exhilarating rewards are endlessly entertaining. Despite having been born as a fantasy-prone, overly sensitive Cancerian, I've become fairly earthy and well-grounded. I have a good job, a nice house, a smart wife, and an interesting daughter. On the other hand, I also love living in the soul's realm. I have remembered and recorded an average of three dreams per night for many years. Although I don't take drugs, I cultivate alternate states of consciousness through meditation, prayer, and ritual. I've long been a student of depth psychology, which has trained me to be as focused on my soul as my ego. In accordance with current astrological omens, my fellow Cancerian, I urge you to hang out more than usual in the soul's realm during the coming weeks.
 

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EXPLORING THE BIG PICTURE OF YOUR LONG-RANGE FUTURE

Would you like some inspiration as you muse and wonder about your upcoming adventures in 2020?

You can still listen to my long-range, in-depth explorations of your destiny in the coming months. Each report in the three-part series is 7 to 9 minutes long.

Go to freewillastrology.sparkns.com

Register and/or log in through the main page, and then access the horoscopes by clicking on "Long Range Prediction." (Choose from Part 1, Part 2, or Part 3.)

A new short-range forecast for this week is also available.

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"The best part about your audio horoscopes is that they pat me on the head and kick me in the ass at the same time." - Rita L., San Diego

"Your audio oracles go beyond helping me find the truth -- they inspire me to find the WILD truth." - Patrick K., Montreal

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LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):

Can I talk you into being more tender and open-hearted toward the people who care for you? I don't mean to imply that you are currently too hard and closed. But all of us can benefit from enhancing our receptivity, and the coming weeks will be prime time for you Leos to do just that. I think you'll find it easier than usual to deepen your listening skills and intensify your sensitivity. You'll have an acute intuitive grasp of the fact that you can earn yourself huge blessings by expressing love and compassion in very practical ways.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):

All of us are in service to someone or something—to certain people or ideas or situations. We provide them with help or energy or mirroring or love. We are dutiful in attending to their needs and wants. For some of us, our service feels like a burden. It's grating or humbling or inconvenient, or all of the above. For others of us, being of service is fulfilling, even joyful. We find a rich sense of purpose in our devotion to a higher cause or deeper calling beyond our selfish concerns. Among the 12 signs of the zodiac, you Virgos are more likely than most to carry out the latter kind of service. I bring these thoughts to your attention because the coming weeks will be an excellent time to re-evaluate, reconfigure, and reinvigorate your own service.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):

Author David Markson imagined what it would be like to write a novel that lacked conflicts or confrontations—in other words, a novel unlike any ever created. Libran author Ursula Le Guin also fantasized about stories with plots that weren't driven by strife and struggle. Since many of us are addicted to entertainment that depends on discord to be interesting, we might find it hard to believe Markson's and Le Guin's dream would ever happen. But I'm pleased to inform you, Libra, that your life in the coming weeks may be exactly like that: a fascinating adventure with few hassles and wrangles.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):

According to Scorpio painter Georgia O'Keeffe, success is irrelevant. The most crucial life-long effort that anyone can be devoted to is "making your unknown known." Did she mean making your unknown known to yourself? Or making your unknown known to other people? Or both? According to my analysis of the astrological omens, the coming weeks will be a favorable time for you to do both. So I hope you will tease out your best and biggest mysteries from their hiding places. Give them expression.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):

You Sagittarians have a talent for burning bridges that really do need to be burned. Your intuition often guides you to assess when the time is ripe to withdraw from connections that no longer benefit you. On the other hand, you sometimes burn bridges prematurely. You decide that they are in such disrepair that they're of no use to you, even though it might serve your ultimate interests to fix them. I offer these thoughts as a preface for my advice: 1. Refurbish rather than burn a certain bridge you're a bit disenchanted with. 2. Build at least one new bridge that will be valuable in the future.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):

The shape of the planets' orbits around the sun is elliptical, not circular. Capricorn astronomer Johannes Kepler (1571–1630) was the first person to figure this out. He didn't like it. He really wanted the orbits to be circular. That would have been more satisfying to his aesthetic and spiritual sensibilities. Explaining the arduous labor he did to arrive at his conclusion, he wrote, "Take pity on me, for I have repeated these calculations seventy times." In the big picture of our understanding of the universe, of course, his discovery was felicitous. It's not a problem that the orbits are elliptical, merely the truth. In the coming weeks, Capricorn, I foresee you engaging in a process that's metaphorically comparable to Kepler's. Hard work will yield useful, if unexpected results.
 

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HOMEWORK:

Avoid the Tragic Magic Triad: taking things too personally, too literally, and too seriously. FreeWillAstrology.com

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Submissions sent to Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter or in response to "homework assignments" may be published in a variety of formats at Rob Brezsny's discretion, including but not limited to newsletters, books, the Free Will Astrology column, and Free Will Astrology website. We reserve the right to edit submissions for length, style, and content. Requests for anonymity will be honored. We are not responsible for unsolicited submission of any creative material.

Contents of the Free Will Astrology Newsletter are Copyright 2020 Rob Brezsny

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