Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter http://ezezine.com
Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter
September 8, 2010
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Facebook fan page: http://bit.ly/BrezFB
Daily astrological text messages: http://RealAstrology.com
For a pretty version of this newsletter: http://bit.ly/FWA-9-09
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There's a new release from the soundtrack for my book
*PRONOIA IS THE ANTIDOTE FOR PARANOIA.*
It's called "All I Ask of You"
You can access it here:
http://bit.ly/AllEyeAsk
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The revised and expanded version of my book *PRONOIA IS THE
ANTIDOTE FOR PARANOIA* is available at Amazon: http://bit.ly/Pronoia
Below is an excerpt. It's from the piece called "Subterranean Pronoia
Therapy."
1. No matter how holy and good, everyone in the world has a portion of
the world's sickness inside them. It's known by many names: neurosis,
shadow, demon, devil. Many people try to deny that it inhabits them.
Others acknowledge its power so readily that they allow themselves to be
overwhelmed and distorted by it. At the Beauty and Truth Lab, we take a
position between those two positions. We accept the fact that the evil is
part of us, but treat it with compassionate amusement and flexible
vigilance. Our stance is partly that of loving parents and partly that of
warriors.
Once you make a commitment to explore the mysteries of pronoia, your
shadow will try to play tricks on you that it has never tried before. How
will you respond? We recommend an aggressive, tender, improvisational
approach. Be ready for anything. Avoid both blithe excesses of tolerance
and grave fundamentalism.
2. "We are attracted to people who express the qualities we deny or
repress in ourselves," says creativity expert Shakti Gawain. Using this idea
as your hypothesis, take an inventory of the people you're most drawn
to. Ask yourself whether they have talents and dreams that you wish
could come alive in you. If you find this to be the case, consider the
possibility that it's time to claim those talents or dreams as your own.
3. Philosopher William James proposed that if our culture ever hoped to
shed the deeply ingrained habit of going to war, we'd have to create a
moral equivalent. It's not enough to preach the value of peace, he said.
We have to find other ways to channel our aggressive instincts in order to
accomplish what war does, like stimulate political unity and build civic
virtue.
Astrology provides a complementary perspective. Each of us has the
warrior energy of the planet Mars in our psychological makeup. We can't
simply repress it, but must find a positive way to express it. How might
you go about this project?
4. Some of my readers complain when I draw inspiration from a public
figure they consider a bad person. Once I cited philosopher Bertrand
Russell, and a woman from Austin went ballistic: "Russell was a terrible
father! How dare you give him any credence?" Another time I invoked the
wisdom of ex-U.S. president Teddy Roosevelt. "What possessed you to
quote such a militaristic bully?" wrote an outraged emailer. Here's how I
respond to these grumbles: If I refused to learn from people unless I
agreed with everything they had ever said and done, I would never learn
from _anyone.
What about you? Have you set up your life so that everyone is either on
or off your good list? If so, try something new: Cultivate a capacity to
derive help and insight from people who aren't perfect.
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MORE PRONOIA RESOURCES:
HOW'S YOUR SOUL DOING?
Redefining Education: Cultivating the Soul
http://tinyurl.com/SoulEducation
CAN YOU STAND THIS MUCH BEAUTY?
Astronomy Pictures of the Day
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap100705.html
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap100721.html
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap100820.html
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
SHARING IS GOOD MEDICINE
Instead of hoarding information to advance their careers, scientists make
their data public quickly. As a result, there's progress in fighting
Alzheimer's for the first time in quite a while.
http://tinyurl.com/366nf9s
(Note: I endorse these because I like them. They are not advertisements,
and I get no kickbacks.)
Please tell me your own personal nominations for PRONOIA RESOURCES.
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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
Week beginning September 9
Copyright 2010 by Rob Brezsny
http://FreeWillAstrology.com
Grammar key: Asterisks equal *italics*
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): I've been playing with a fun hypothesis lately:
that absolutely everyone in the world has the power to heal someone
else. At one end of the spectrum are the doctors and shamans and
therapists who can summon the means to cure lots of people. At the
other end are individuals with the power to improve the health or smooth
out the distortions in just one other person. Wherever you fit in this
range, Virgo, I'm happy to tell you that your healing mojo is now at a
peak. Please invoke it in all of its intensity and point it in the direction of
whomever can benefit.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): As I studied the astrological configurations for
you, I realized I had to leave the bubble of my office. The omens
suggested that you would benefit from escaping your usual frames of
reference, and I felt I had to do the same if I wanted to get the best
oracle. So I hiked out to my favorite boulder, where the creek forks into
two streams. I sat down and addressed the spirits: What's the advice
Libras need most? Soon, a dragonfly landed on my shoulder. For the next
ten minutes I asked it questions about how you should proceed. Here's
the gist of its telepathic message: "I gently shatter illusions. My power is
graceful and lilting. I sew up the wounds of snakes. Nothing eludes my
uninhibited vision. I don't bite. I am a professional and primeval
transformer."
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Of all the noses of all the famous actresses in
the world, my favorite is Cate Blanchett's. It's strong and forceful, yet
buoyant and irregular. It's wider and fleshier than most noses that are
considered "feminine," but sensual and seductive. Best of all, it has so
many different aspects, and looks so varied from a variety of angles, that
it seems to shift its shape as you watch it. It's gorgeous! Please take a
cue from me as you evaluate the unacknowledged beauty in your own
sphere, Scorpio. It's crucial that you rebel against our culture's absurdly
generic standards.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): "The best guide in life is strength," said
Swami Vivekananda. "Discard everything that weakens you, have nothing
to do with it." In accordance with the astrological omens, Sagittarius, I'm
making that your rallying cry. You not only have the right to align yourself
with only the most potent, life-giving sources; you have an urgent need
to do so. So be audaciously discerning as you evaluate each person and
situation that comes before you. Ask, "Will this feed my vitality or will it
not?"
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): What happens in your bedroom, Capricorn?
What stories swirl around in your mind while you're there? What secrets
simmer and ferment? What feelings do you gravitate toward? Judging
from the astrological omens, I'd say it's time to expand your notion of
what goes on in that sanctuary. How about embarking on a new playtime
activity or introducing a pleasurable commotion you've never tried? At
the very least, unleash your imagination while relaxing there. Give yourself
permission to have bigger fantasies. Tell yourself more epic stories,
develop a more active relationship with your secrets, and welcome
unfamiliar feelings.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Last May, riots in Santa Cruz, California
trashed 18 buildings in the downtown area. But for one store owner, the
mayhem brought unexpected blessings. She was able to tap into a city
fund that not only paid for her broken front window, but also allowed her
to make several improvements, like adding fresh paint, a new awning, and
better lighting. "I never would have thought when I got that call at 1 in
the morning that this was going to turn into such a wonderful thing for
us," Diane Towns told the *Santa Cruz Sentinel.* I predict a similar
progression for you, Aquarius. An event that seemed like bad luck at the
time will ultimately lead to good luck.
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LISTEN TO AN EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPE
Since I put all my heart and soul into the written horoscopes I send out in
this newsletter, they're pretty nutritious. You may never need any of the
other stuff I create.
But if you ever do crave an added boost, you may want to sample my
Expanded Audio Horoscopes. They're different in tone and intent than the
written scopes, imbued with a little more of the psychologist in me, and a
little less of the poet.
Find out more at http://RealAstrology.com.
The audio horoscopes are also available by phone at 1-877-873-4888 or
1-900-950-7700.
"Your expanded horoscopes get more personal and intimate with me than
some of my closest friends. Thanks for the loving reflections."
- Ari S., Ann Arbor, MI
"Your audio 'scopes have a knack for waking me up from whatever
random dream has sneaked into my brain and rendered me half-blind."
- Teresa F., Boston, MA
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PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): French painter Paul Cezanne (1839-1906)
declared early in his career that he wanted to "conquer Paris with an
apple." He meant that he wanted to become a major force in the art
world by revolutionizing the way that still-life paintings were done. He
must have been successful, because two prominent modern painters,
Picasso and Matisse, referred to Cezanne as "the father of us all." Your
assignment in the coming months, Pisces, is to make a splash in your own
chosen field with an innovation that's as simple and basic as Cezanne's
reconfigured apple.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): My friend Alana suffered from a mysterious
ailment for months. Symptoms included vertigo, stomach pains, and
numbness in her legs. After being treated unsuccessfully by six health
care practitioners, both mainstream and alternative, she went to see Dr.
Ling, a Chinese herbalist recommended by a friend. Ling was a dour
woman who made no eye contact. Her office was dingy, cramped, and
windowless. Alana felt a bit depressed by the visit. Yet when she took Dr.
Ling's herbs, she felt better. In three weeks she was cured. The moral of
the story, Aries: The restorative agent you need may not come in the
most inviting form.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): A spider spun gorgeous cobwebs on my car's
back window. Anchored on the window wiper, they're artfully woven spiral
tunnels decorated with white flower petals sent by the wind. This
sculpture is so beguiling that it caught the attention of a stranger who
was walking through a parking lot as I was getting in my car, and we
struck up a conversation that led to him inviting me to a party where I
had maximum fun. So kudos to me for not mindlessly sweeping away the
cobwebs. My decision to honor the spider's small masterpiece proved
fortuitous. I encourage you to learn from my example in the coming week.
Be alert for nature's subtle gifts.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The band Tinariwen is from the Sahara Desert.
Its members describe themselves as "soul rebels." Their influences include
traditional West African music, Santana, Jimi Hendrix, and the Berber
music of northern Algeria. I listen to them whenever I'm feeling wan and
spiritually tired. Their infectious melodies and serpentine rhythms have a
medicinal effect; they toughen me up, fueling the rowdy love I need to
keep fighting for truth and justice. They're your featured artist of the
week, Gemini. As you face down the dangers of apathy, you could use the
shot of courage and audacity they might provide. Listen here:
tinyurl.com/ToughSpirit1 and tinyurl.com/ToughSpirit2.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Afghanistan is a wasteland of desert and
rocks, right? Well, no, actually. It harbors huge deposits of minerals that
are critical to the industrialized world. There's a complication, though. To
succeed, the arduous business of mining such minerals needs lots of
water and electricity as well as political stability and a good infrastructure
-- all of which are in short supply in Afghanistan. In offering this scenario
for your consideration, Cancerian, I'm suggesting that you make a
comparable re-evaluation of a certain situation in your own life. According
to my reading of the omens, someone or something you've considered
barren may in fact harbor resources that are useful to you. Here's the rub:
Are you in position to get access to them? If not, what would it take to
do so?
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): For years I've been in love with a woman who is
also in love with me. Hooray! But when I was younger, I sometimes got
embroiled in obsessive adorations for unavailable women. One didn't want
me, another was already in a committed relationship, still another lived
6,000 miles away, and a fourth was a lesbian. The pain of those
impossible attractions eventually prodded me to retrain myself so as to
not keep repeating the pattern. Can I convince you to learn from my
hardship? According to my reading of the omens, the next few months
should be a time when you put a strong emphasis on allies who are
available, not on the other kind.
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HOMEWORK: If you had to choose one wild animal to follow, observe, and
learn from for a month, which would it be? Testify at
Truthrooster@gmail.com.
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WANT TO GET YOUR CHART DONE?
I'm not doing personal charts, but I highly recommend my astrological
colleague, RO LOUGHRAN. Her approach closely matches my own. In our
many discussions about astrology over the years, we've had a major
influence on each other's work.
Ro utilizes a blend of well-trained intuition, emotional warmth, and a high
degree of technical proficiency in horoscope interpretation; she is skilled
at exploring the mysteries of your life's purpose and nurturing your
connection with your own inner wisdom.
Ro is based in California, but can do phone consultations and otherwise
work with you regardless of geographic boundaries.
Ro's website is at
http://YourSoulJourney.com
She can also be reached at roloughran@comcast.net
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P.S. I totally respect your privacy. I'll never sell or give away your address
to anyone.
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Submissions sent to the Free Will Astrology Weekly Newsletter
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Contents of the Free Will Astrology Newsletter are Copyright
2010 Rob Brezsny
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