Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter
JANUARY 9, 2008
FreeWillAstrology.com
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"You have everything you need in the present situation to
work with impeccability. That doesn't mean that you shouldn't
work toward manifesting additional resources and opportunities.
It does mean that the present situation supplies you with everything
you need to take the next step."
- Jonathan Zap, "A Guide to the Perplexed Interdimensional
Traveler"
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EXPLORE THE BIG PICTURE OF YOUR LIFE
with my 3-Part EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPES for the Coming Year.
What new influences will be headed your way in 2008? What fresh
resources will you be able to draw on? How can you conspire with
life to create the best possible future for yourself?
This week, my EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPES feature Part 3 of the
long-range, in-depth explorations of your destiny in 2008. Part
1 and Part 2 of your Year-End Predictions, which I offered the
last two weeks, are also still available.
To find out more about how to listen to your BIG PICTURE horoscopes
online, go to RealAstrology.com.
You can also listen over the phone by calling 1-877-873-4888
or 1-900-950-7700
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My book
"PRONOIA IS THE ANTIDOTE FOR PARANOIA:
How the Whole World Is Conspiring to Shower You with Blessings"
is available for sale at
tinyurl.com/qaj62 and
tinyurl.com/3dsx6q
Here's an excerpt:
ART LESSONS
French Impressionist painter Henri Matisse wanted his art to
be "free from unsettling or disturbing subjects . . . soothing,
a cerebral sedative as relaxing as a comfortable armchair."
Spanish painter Pablo Picasso had a different opinion. "Art
is offensive," he asserted. "At least, art should be
allowed to be offensive. It ought to be forbidden to ignorant
innocents, never allowed into contact with those not sufficiently
prepared. Yes, art is dangerous."
As you practice the art of pronoia, you will probably get best
results if you swing back and forth between Matisse's and Picasso's
approaches.
Every once in a while, try out William Butler Yeats' idea, too:
"Art that doesn't attempt the impossible is not performing
its function."
To read news and features from my book, go here:
tinyurl.com/lhwx2
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OTHER PRONOIA RESOURCES:
This week I'm featuring the work of JONATHAN ZAP.
He's putting together a collection of his writings in book form.
For the moment, we have to be satisfied with reading his insights
on his website at zaporacle.com.
Here are some of my favorite essays:
"The Glorified Body: Metamorphosis of the Body and the Crisis
Phase of Human Evolution"
tinyurl.com/2bg6ag
"Suffering associated with body image has reached such epidemic
proportions in our culture that it must be counted as one of the
greatest spiritual plagues ever to be visited upon mankind."
"Resource Fluctuations Happen--Working with Scarcity and
Abundance"
tinyurl.com/yq96pq
"The Taoist assumption is that the universe is unfolding
as it should. Resources fluctuate, and fluctuation is the heartbeat
of life, an essential part of the dynamic aliveness and interest
of incarnation. And it takes times of both abundance and scarcity,
along with every other sort of fluctuation, for there to be development."
"Projection: The Enemy of Peace and Justice"
tinyurl.com/28etdr
"Environmental destruction, racism, violence, injustice,
war derive from a single source -- the human psyche. An activist
who is not interested in psychological underpinnings is analogous
to a botanist who is not interested in biology."
"Dynamic Paradoxicalism"
tinyurl.com/2djg56
"The greatest of life skills is the ability to live with
ambiguity, ambivalence, and paradox without trying to regularize
these uncertainties into finished, absolute truths."
"Kill the Time Grid and Fire up your Life: A Lesson in Practical
Magic"
tinyurl.com/yutjyd
"The test of a big dream is to ask yourself, 'Will I remember
this well on my death bed?' If you have a big dream you will probably
find that to accomplish it will require a minimum of two hours
of devoted activity per day."
"The Path of the Numinous: Living and Working with the Creative
Muse"
or "The Muse: Ego Can't Live with Her, Creative Fulfillment
Can't Happen without Her"
tinyurl.com/yvcwls
"A Guide to the Perplexed Interdimensional Traveler"
tinyurl.com/2vn7a7
To find out about Jonathan's DREAM INTERPRETATION service and
other counseling services, go to zaporacle.com
and click on the blue-green sphere. I have personally benefited
greatly from doing dream work with him.
To use Jonathan's ORACLE, go to zaporacle.com
and click on the gold sphere at the top. Here are some quotes
from the Oracle cards:
1. "The core of your relationships to people, sex, time,
money, power, eating, politics, career, health, and spirituality
is your relationship to yourself. Get that relationship right
(a moment-by-moment challenge of epic proportions) and all those
other relationships will be as good as they possibly can be. Omit,
neglect, or distort any part of your relationship to yourself
and all those other relationships will accordingly be diminished
and distorted."
2. "Find your spirit medicine and remember that what works
for someone else, may not work for you (and vice-versa). Also
what works for you when used consciously, sparingly, in just right
the circumstances, might be disastrous as a habit."
3. "The Warrior must be aware that the psyche is conservative
in nature, preferring old, self-destructive neurotic patterns
to the unknown. The Warrior must have the insight and determination
to break those patterns, particularly those created by early childhood
situations."
4. "The liminal state is characterized by ambiguity, openness,
and indeterminacy. One's sense of identity dissolves to some extent,
bringing about disorientation. Liminality is a period of transition
where normal limits to thought, self-understanding, and behavior
are relaxed -- a situation which can lead to new perspectives."
(Note: I endorse Jonathan Zap because I like his work. This is
not an advertisement, and I get no kickbacks.)
Please tell me your own personal
nominations for PRONOIA RESOURCES.
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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
Week beginning January 10
Copyright 2008 by Rob Brezsny
FreeWillAstrology.com
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):
The Wind Horse is a mythical creature in Tibetan Buddhist tradition.
Symbolizing vigorous life force, it embodies the quick, cleansing
power of the wind and the primal vitality of the horse. In accordance
with your astrological omens, Capricorn, I nominate this archetype
to be your ruling metaphor in the coming weeks. Visualize yourself
being accompanied by a Wind Horse everywhere you go. See yourself
riding it, feeding it, playing with it. Call on its inspiring
presence as you align yourself with the natural beneficence of
the universe. Ask it to help you sweep obstacles out of the way
as you attract a flow of opportunities to open your mind and heart.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):
This will be an excellent week for you to buy $50 worth of silence.
And to hang around people who won't try to coax you or manipulate
you into doing anything. And to wander out into a barren wilderness
-- the Mars-like landscape of the crater near the summit of Maui's
Mt. Haleakala would be ideal -- and howl wordless, senseless,
empty-headed melodies to a god who may or may not exist. Do you
catch my drift, Aquarius? You are likely to attract cosmic luck
and generate useful serendipity if you can achieve a state that
combines Zen Buddhism's "beginner's mind" with the attitude
Henry Miller enjoyed when he said, "I have no money, no resources,
no hopes. I am the happiest man alive."
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):
"The stars would love to influence your future," reported
a horoscope for Pisces in The Onion newspaper, "but
they are powerless against your well-established patterns of behavior."
While this might sometimes be an accurate statement, it's not
true now. The next three weeks will be a very favorable time for
you to escape well-established patterns of behavior, especially
the ones that are no damn good for you. Here's a bonus perk: You
will also have marked success if you not only rebel against your
habits but also against the stars' influence. The upshot of all
this good news is that you'll be in prime time to unleash your
freest free will.
ARIES (March 21-April 19):
"My calling hasn't called yet," wrote Rennie, an Aries
reader from Austin. "Please, Rob, say a prayer to all the
applicable gods and angels, asking them to do whatever it takes
to make sure that I am at home when it finally does." I've
got good news for Rennie. Many Aries who have never before had
a hint about their calling will be able to gather many clues in
2008. Meanwhile, those of your tribe who have already found their
higher purpose will be evolving it to a much deeper level. To
help ensure that all the magic unfolds, I have unleashed a fist-pumping
prayer to the goddess of mission plans, urging her to invite you
Rams to claim the empowering joy that comes from being united
with your source code.
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EXPLORING YOUR LONG-RANGE FUTURE
Would you like some inspiration as you muse and wonder about
your upcoming adventures in 2008?
In this week's EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPES, I give you Part Three
of a long-term, in-depth exploration of your destiny in the coming
year.
Part One and Part Two are still available.
Find out how to access them online at RealAstrology.com.
They are also available by phone at 1-877-873-4888 or 1-900-950-7700.
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TAURUS (April 20-May 20):
The longest waves on the planet unfurl in the place where the
Atlantic Ocean flows into the mouth of the Amazon River. The phenomenon
is called the "pororoca" (from a word meaning "tumultuous
noise"), and has become a favorite challenge for surfers.
In 2003, a Brazilian daredevil named Picuruta Salazar rode a single
wave for 37 minutes, gliding and plowing for almost eight miles.
Judging from your current astrological omens, Taurus, I'd say
that's an apt metaphor for the kind of wave you now have the chance
to jump on. If you choose to give it a whirl, don't plan for a
short sweet burst of adrenaline. Be ready for a long, rollicking
balancing act.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20):
This is a very favorable time to discover what has been hidden
from you, to strip away disguises, and to penetrate to the real
story that has been buried by the official propaganda. You're
also likely to generate luck if you go in search of buried treasure,
lost keys, and missing links. To help you achieve success in these
noble if sometimes stealthy goals, keep in mind the advice of
inventor George Washington Carver: "Anything will give up
its secrets if you love it enough."
CANCER (June 21-July 22):
Mirrors can be powerful tools and useful symbols for you in the
coming days. When is the last time you gazed serenely into your
own eyes for at least ten minutes? Try it! If you're brave, go
on from there: Actually talk to the interesting creature you see
reflected back at you. Ask questions. Give advice. Sing songs.
And if you're even braver, move on to the next project: Bring
a friend or loved one to the mirror, and converse with each other's
images. Tell each other the kinds of raw, shimmering truths that
can only be revealed in a mirror.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):
At the Plow & Hearth stores, you can buy realistic boulders
"to disguise your yard problems." These gigantic plastic
monstrosities, which sell for $90, are hollow inside and fit right
over the pipes, holes, and other eyesores you want to hide. In
the coming days, Leo, you might want to consider acquiring a metaphorical
version of this item. There's a big old messy place in your kingdom
that seems to be getting bigger and messier. It's high time to
either conceal it or clean it up.
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LET'S IMAGINE WHAT BEAUTIFUL MYSTERIES
MIGHT COME YOUR WAY IN 2008
Listen to my Expanded Audio Horoscopes for the Coming Year.
They're available for you to buy at RealAstrology.com
What hidden factors will be massaging your destiny in 2008? Could
you use some hints about how to prepare for the adventures awaiting
you in the next 12 months?
In this week's EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPES, I give you Part Three
of a long-term, in-depth exploration of your destiny in the coming
year.
Part One and Part Two are still available.
The audio horoscopes are also available by phone at 1-877-873-4888
or 1-900-950-7700.
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VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):
The U.K. newspaper The Independent reports that avid
reader Mark Bastable consumed the collected works of D.H. Lawrence
and found "not a single laugh, not a wry chuckle, not even
a quiet grin in the entire po-faced oeuvre." If that's true,
I say we put an asterisk on the covers of his books, similar to
the mark that will go on the home run record of the allegedly
steroid-enhanced baseball star Barry Bonds. In D.H.'s case, the
asterisk will denote that he won a place in the literature hall
of fame despite having never expressed the second-most essential
human emotion. In any case, Virgo, don't you dare read Lawrence
in the next four weeks. You need to be surrounded by influences
that will encourage you to look for humor and amusement in every
single thing you do.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):
In 15 million years, Los Angeles will be a suburb of San Francisco.
It will take that long for the constant slipping of the San Andreas
Fault to push the southern city 400 miles north. That will be
lucky for the people alive then, since they won't have to travel
far to enjoy the distinctive pleasures of two of the West Coast's
finest cultural centers. In your case, Libra, you don't have to
wait so long. I predict that two of your personal centers of gravity
will combine by the end of 2008. Your divided sense of home will
disappear, allowing you to feel more united than you've been in
years.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):
Why does human anatomy include the organ known as the appendix?
For centuries, doctors have been unable to determine its purpose.
Most have decided it's unnecessary, a vestigial structure left
over from an earlier stage of evolution. But recent research suggests
the conventional wisdom has to be revised. In fact, the appendix
seems to protect and regenerate the good bacteria that live in
the intestines. I predict that you're on the verge of a metaphorically
comparable discovery, Scorpio. Something you have always considered
to be useless or irrelevant will reveal its value.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):
Astronomers say that the Sagittarius Galaxy is being devoured
by our own galaxy. It's getting stretched, rearranged, and assimilated
by our massive gravity. I'd like to offer up this scenario as
a metaphor for you to put into play in the coming week, Sagittarius.
Imagine all the fun and interesting ways that you yourself could
be "eaten." Maybe you could get absorbed into an exciting
social scene, or be integrated into an institution you love, or
become part of a movement you've admired from afar. And maybe
you could simply do what's necessary to get yourself kissed, licked,
and sucked all over.
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HOMEWORK:
Make three predictions about your life in 2008. Go to FreeWillAstrology.com
and click on "Email Rob."
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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 YourSoulJourney.com
She can also be reached at roloughran@comcast.net
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Will Astrology Weekly Newsletter
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submission of any creative
material.
Contents of the Free Will Astrology Newsletter are Copyright
2008 Rob Brezsny
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