Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter
September 8, 2010
FreeWillAstrology.com
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Facebook fan page: bit.ly/BrezFB
Daily astrological text messages: RealAstrology.com
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: 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: 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
tinyurl.com/SoulEducation
CAN YOU STAND THIS MUCH BEAUTY?
Astronomy Pictures of the Day
antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap100705.html
antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap100721.html
antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap100820.html
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.
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
FreeWillAstrology.com
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 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 YourSoulJourney.com
She can also be reached at roloughran@comcast.net
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Contents of the Free Will Astrology Newsletter are Copyright
2010 Rob Brezsny
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