Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter
April 28, 2021
FreeWillAstrology.com
"The important thing," said author Charles Du Bos, "is to be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become." I
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HOW IS YOUR YEAR GOING SO FAR?
If you'd like to check out the year-long preview horoscopes I wrote for you at the beginning of this year, they're here:
bit.ly/BigPicture2021
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CUES AND CLUES
Guidelines to celebrate "Loving the Luxurious Hole at the Heart of Luminous Nothingness," a three-hour jubilee to be performed once every season for as long as you live.
• Empty yourself out completely, and do it gladly.
• With blithe daring, lower your expectations all the way down to zero.
• Surrender every remnant of delusional hope you might be tempted to cling to.
• With a jaunty nonchalance, act as if you have nothing to lose.
• Open an enormous welcome in your heart for the messy, unpredictable mystery of life exactly as it is.
• Say yes to the confounding beauty of ambiguity and paradox.
• Free yourself to accept every person and every situation on their own terms.
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FAKE ENLIGHTENMENT
If your quest for spiritual enlightenment doesn't enhance your ability to witness and heal the suffering of your fellow humans, then it's fake enlightenment.
If your quest for spiritual enlightenment encourages you to imagine that expressing your personal freedom excuses you from caring for the health and well-being of your fellow humans, then it's fake enlightenment.
If your quest for spiritual enlightenment allows or encourages you to ignore racism, bigotry, plutocracy, misogyny, and LGBTQ-phobia, it's fake enlightenment.
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WE NEED AN UNCOLONIZED IMAGINATION
Below are excerpts from an interview with storyteller and mythologist Martin Shaw: WE NEED AN UNCOLONIZED IMAGINATION, a mythic intelligence. (Whole interview is here: tinyurl.com/z2evq6e)
Why? Because we are constantly being fed signs that frighten us, and then paralyze us, and then colonize us. And imagination, through myth, wants to give you symbols to raise you up.
People often prefer to dismiss myth, saying: it’s not true. But a way to think about myth is as something that never was and always is. Or as a beautiful lie that tells a much deeper truth.
But one way or another when we lose our mythic sensibility, the powers in this world that may not wish us well have a greater purchase on us, a greater hold.
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Whatever we are facing now we need to have a root system embedded in weather patterns, the presences of animals, our dreams, and the ones who came before us.
Myth is insistent that when there is a crisis, genius lives on the margins not the centre.
If we are constantly using the language of politics to combat the language of politics at some point the soul grows weary and turns its head away because we are not allowing it into the conversation, and by denying soul we are ignoring what the Mexicans call the river beneath the river.
We’re not listening to the thoughts of the world. We’re only listening to our own neurosis and our own anxiety.
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The days of conventional hero myths are not serving us. What is being called for now culturally is a word you find often in Ancient Greece: metis. Metis is a kind of divine cunning in service to wisdom.
We can’t be naïve in times like this, because we are in the presence of underworld forces that will do one of two things: they will either educate us, or annihilate us.
And in fairy tales whenever the movement is down – and the movement culturally is down right now – you have to get underworld smart, have underworld intelligence, underworld *metis*.
I have a strong feeling that a lot of what wants to emerge through many ancient stories is a kind of wily, tough, ingenious and romantic force that needs to come forward at this point in time.
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If you don’t have ancestors you have ghosts. At the moment many of us are so impoverished and lacking in a cultural root system that what is around us are not ancestors supporting us but ghosts depleting us.
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I notice that several times a day I go into what you could call a mild trance state. I’m not talking about ouija boards here! I’m just talking about falling under the influence of advertising, or various politically engineered neuroses that might be floating around.
But I recognize I have come into a kind of enchantment. And the way I recognize it is that I feel less than grounded. I feel I’m not in the realm of imagination, I’m in the realm of fantasy. So the imaginal is not present; the Earth as a lived, breathing, thinking being is not present.
What’s happening is I’m simply fretting – to use my mother’s language – I’m spinning my wheels. And so actually I think stories have a capacity to wake us up.
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Gaston Bachelard says, "The Earth seeks to be admired by you."
So if you do nothing else, admire natural things. Learn to give them praise. Learn to speak their 12 secret names. You hear about the Inuit having all these different names for snow.
Well, I thought, what are the 12 secret names of those old-growth oaks that I see down near Greenwich docks? My advice really is what the Hindus call the "joyful participation in the sorrows of the world."
Read the entire interview with Martin Shaw: tinyurl.com/z2evq6e
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I need the medicine Martin Shaw has to offer. tinyurl.com/y9j78hfc
More from Martin Shaw: tinyurl.com/y9smcex2
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KEEPING YOUR IMAGINATION HEALTHY
Great article on the subject here: tinyurl.com/46942k9y
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"So many indigenous people have said to me that the fundamental difference between Western and indigenous ways of being is that even the most open-minded westerners generally view listening to the natural world as a metaphor, as opposed to the way the world really is. Trees and rocks and rivers really do have things to say to us."
—Derrick Jensen
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"Our original instructions are to listen to the cloud floating by and the wind blowing by. That’s poetry and prose in English, but it is 'wakahan' in the Lakotan language. It means to consciously apply mystery to everything. Everything is alive and has its own consciousness."
—Tiokasin Ghosthorse, Lakota elder
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"Animism is a way of approaching life that emphasizes relationships. Animists see the world as full of persons, both human and other-than-human, and prioritize living in respectful ways with these others. Animism is largely about ethics or core values that get expressed through practices, rituals, and traditions."
—Dr. Daniel Foor
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"Modern post-industrial societies tend to produce un-sane populations -- multitudes of people who are unbalanced in their adaptation to the destructive stress of daily existence. One of the symptoms of this un-sanity is the loss of contact between the waking ego and the depths of the self, a contact that requires involvement in dream experiences and information.
"Cultures generally resist change, and modern materialist societies are no different in this respect. Devaluation of dreaming and other spiritually efficacious experiences is part of the foundation of 'false consciousness' required by capitalist/materialist political economies.
"Materialist cultures require that the focus of awareness be upon the material conditions of life and away from involvement with the inner being which is the only road to spiritual maturation."
—Charles D. Laughlin, Communing with the Gods: Consciousness, Culture and the Dreaming Brain
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May sound and light
not rise up and appear as enemies,
may I know all sound as my own sound,
may I know all light as my own light,
may I spontaneously know all phenomena as myself,
may I realize original nature,
not fabricated by mind,
emptynaked awareness.
—John Giorno
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QUESTIONS
1. What is the most important thing you have never done?
2. How could you play a joke on your fears?
3. Identify the people in your life who have made you real to yourself.
4. Name a good old thing you would have to give up in order to get a great new thing.
5. What's the one feeling you want to feel more than any other during the next three years?
6. What inspires you to love?
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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
Week beginning April 29
Copyright 2021 by Rob Brezsny
FreeWillAstrology.com
TAURUS (April 20-May 20):
In her poem "Mirror," Taurus poet Halina PoĊwiatowska wrote, "I am dazed by the beauty of my body." I applaud her brazen admiration and love for her most valuable possession. I wish more of us could genuinely feel that same adoration for our own bodies. And in accordance with current astrological omens, I recommend that you do indeed find a way to do just that right now. It's time to upgrade your excitement about being in such a magnificent vessel. Even if it's not in perfect health, it performs amazing marvels every minute of every day. I hope you will boost your appreciation for its miraculous capacities, and increase your commitment to treating it as the treasure that it is.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20):
Gemini poet Buddy Wakefield writes that after the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami of 2004, "the only structure still standing in the wiped-out village of Malacca [in Malaysia] was a statue of Mahatma Gandhi. I wanna be able to stand like that." I expect you will indeed enjoy that kind of stability and stamina in the coming weeks, my dear. You won't have to endure a metaphorical tsunami, thank Goddess, but you may have to stand strong through a blustery brouhaha or swirling turbulence. Here's a tip: The best approach is not to be stiff and unmoving like a statue, but rather flexible and willing to sway.
CANCER (June 21-July 22):
No educator had ever offered a class in psychology until trailblazing philosopher William James did so in 1875. He knew a lot about human behavior. "Most people live in a very restricted circle of their potential being," he wrote. "They make use of a very small portion of their possible consciousness, and of their soul's resources in general, much like a person who, out of his whole bodily organism, should get into a habit of using only his little finger." I'm going to make an extravagant prediction here: I expect that in the coming months you will be better primed than ever before to expand your access to your consciousness, your resources, and your potentials. How might you begin such an adventure? The first thing to do is to set a vivid intention to do just that.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):
“Someone in me is suffering and struggling toward freedom," wrote Greek author Nikos Kazantzakis. To that melodramatic announcement, I reply, good for him! I'm glad he was willing to put himself through misery and despair in order to escape misery and despair. But I also think it's important to note that there are other viable approaches to the quest for liberation. For example, having lavish fun and enjoying oneself profoundly can be tremendously effective in that holy work. I suspect that in the coming weeks, Leo, the latter approach will accomplish far more for you than the former.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):
Virgo novelist Agatha Christie sold hundreds of millions of books, and is history's most-translated author. While growing up, she had few other kids to associate with, so she created a host of imaginary friends to fill the void. They eventually became key players in her work as an author, helping her dream up stories. More than that: She simply loved having those invisible characters around to keep her company. Even in her old age, she still consorted with them. I bring this to your attention, Virgo, because now is a great time to acquire new imaginary friends or resurrect old ones. Guardian angels and ancestral spirits would be good to call on, as well. How might they be of assistance and inspiration to you?
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):
"To hurry pain is to leave a classroom still in session," notes Libran aphorist Yahia Lababidi. On the other hand, he observes, "To prolong pain is to miss the next lesson." If he's correct, the goal is to dwell with your pain for just the right amount of time—until you've learned its lessons and figured out how not to experience it again in the future—but no longer than that. I suspect that such a turning point will soon be arriving for you.
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MAYBE JOY AND BLISS ARE CATALYTIC SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES
Assume that pleasure and happiness doesn't interfere with your spiritual growth, but may in fact stimulate it.
Proceed on the hypothesis that cultivating delight and wonder might make you a more ethical and compassionate person.
Imagine that feeling good has something important to teach you every day.
For inspiration in practicing this approach, tune in to your EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPES. They're four-to-five-minute meditations on the current state of your destiny.
To listen to your Expanded Audio Horoscope online, go to RealAstrology.com
Register and/or log in through the main page.
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The cost is $6 per sign online. (Discounts are available for bulk purchases.)
You can also listen over the phone by calling 1-877-873-4888. The cost is $1.99 per minute. Each forecast is 4-5 minutes long.
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"I don't much believe in astrology. But that doesn't seem to get in the way of me deriving a whole lot of benefits from your expanded audio horoscopes."
—A. Arrosto, Indianapolis
"You have an amazing aptitude for cutting through the lies I tell myself. Thanks for the gentle shocks."
—T. Preneris, Toronto
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SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):
In her poem "Every Day," Scorpio poet Denise Levertov wrote, "Every day, every day I hear enough to fill a year of nights with wondering." I think that captures the expansive truth of your life in the coming weeks. You've entered a phase when the sheer abundance of interesting input may at times be overwhelming, though enriching. You'll hear—and hopefully be receptive to—lots of provocative stories, dynamic revelations, and unexpected truths. Be grateful for this bounty! Use it to transform whatever might be stuck, whatever needs a catalytic nudge.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):
I hope you're not too stressed these days. There has been pressure on you to adjust more than maybe you'd like to adjust, and I hope you've managed to find some relaxing slack amidst the heaviness. But even if the inconvenience levels are deeper than you like, I have good news: It's all in a good cause. Read the wise words of author Dan Millman, who describes the process you're midway through: "Every positive change, every jump to a higher level of energy and awareness, involves a rite of passage. Each time we ascend to a higher rung on the ladder of personal evolution, we must go through a period of discomfort, of initiation. I have never found an exception."
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):
We can safely say that Anais Nin was a connoisseur of eros and sensuality. The evidence includes her three collections of erotic writing, Delta of Venus, Little Birds, and Auletris. Here's one of her definitive statements on the subject: "Sex must be mixed with tears, laughter, words, promises, jealousy, envy, all the spices of fear, foreign travel, new faces, stories, dreams, fantasies, music." In response to Nin's litany, I'm inclined to say, "Damn, that's a lot of ambiance and scaffolding to have in place. Must it always be so complicated?" According to my reading of upcoming cosmic rhythms, you won't need such a big array of stuff in your quest for soulful orgasms—at least not in the coming weeks. Your instinct for rapture will be finely tuned.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):
"One is always at home in one’s past," wrote author Vladimir Nabokov. I agree. Sometimes that's not a good thing, though. It may lead us to flee from the challenges of the present moment and go hide and cower and wallow in nostalgia. But on other occasions, the fact that we are always at home in the past might generate brilliant healing strategies. It might rouse in us a wise determination to refresh our spirit by basking in the deep solace of feeling utterly at home. I think the latter case is likely to be true for you in the coming weeks, Aquarius.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):
"Not everything is supposed to become something beautiful and long-lasting," writes author Emery Allen. "Not everyone is going to stay forever." Her message is a good one for you to keep in mind right now. You're in a phase when transitory boosts and temporary help may be exactly what you need most. I suspect your main task in the coming weeks is to get maximum benefit from influences that are just passing through your life. The catalysts that work best could be those that work only once and then disappear.
ARIES (March 21-April 19):
Poet Allen Ginsberg despairingly noted that many people want MORE MORE MORE LIFE, but they go awry because they allow their desire for MORE MORE MORE LIFE to fixate on material things—machines, possessions, gizmos, and status symbols. Ginsberg revered different kinds of longings: for good feelings, meaningful experiences, soulful breakthroughs, deep awareness, and all kinds of love. In accordance with astrological potentials, Aries, I'm giving you the go-ahead in the coming weeks to be extra greedy for the stuff in the second category.
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HOMEWORK:
Write an essay on "What I Swear I'll Never Do Again As Long As I Live--Unless I Can Get Away with It Next Time." 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 2021 Rob Brezsny
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