Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter
OCTOBER 31, 2007
FreeWillAstrology.com
+
"I like to live in the sound of water,
in the feel of mountain air. A sharp
reminder hits me: this world is still alive;
it stretches out there shivering toward its own
creation, and I'm a part of it. Even my breathing
enters into an elaborate give-and-take,
this bowing to sun and moon, day or night,
winter, summer, storm, still -- this tranquil
chaos that seems to be going somewhere.
This wilderness with a great peacefulness in it.
This motionless turmoil, this everything dance."
- Wiliam Stafford, "Time for Serenity, Anyone?"
from the book Even in Quiet Places
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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
To read news and features from
the book, go here:
tinyurl.com/lhwx2
Here's an excerpt:
BIGGER, BETTER, MORE INTERESTING PROBLEMS
Is there anything more dangerous than getting up in the morning
and having nothing to worry about, no problems to solve, no friction
to heat you up? That state can be a threat to your health. If
untreated, it incites an unconscious yearning for any old dumb
trouble that might rouse some excitement.
*
Acquiring problems is a fundamental human need. It's as crucial
to your well-being as getting food, air, water, sleep, and love.
You define yourself--indeed, you make yourself--through the riddles
you attract and solve. The most creative people on the planet
are those who frame the biggest, hardest questions and then gather
the resources necessary to find the answers.
*
Conventional wisdom implies that the best problems are those
that place you under duress. There's supposedly no gain without
pain. Stress is allegedly an incomparable spur for calling on
resources that have been previously unavailable or dormant. Nietzsche's
aphorism, "That which doesn't kill me makes me stronger,"
has achieved the status of an ultimate truth.
We half-agree. But it's clear that stress also accompanies many
mediocre problems that have little power to make us smarter. Pain
frequently generates no gain. We're all prone to become habituated,
even addicted, to nagging vexations that go on and on without
rousing any of our sleeping genius.
There is, furthermore, another class of difficulty--let's call
it the delightful dilemma--that neither feeds on angst nor generates
it. On the contrary, it's fun and invigorating, and usually blooms
when you're feeling a profound sense of being at home in the world.
The problem of writing this book is a good example. I've had a
good time handling the perplexing challenges with which it has
confronted me.
Imagine a life in which at least half of your quandaries match
this profile. Act as if you're most likely to attract useful problems
when joy is your predominant state of mind. Consider the possibility
that being in unsettling circumstances may shrink your capacity
to dream up the riddles you need most; that maybe it's hard to
ask the best questions when you're preoccupied fighting rearguard
battles against boring or demeaning annoyances that have plagued
you for many moons.
Prediction: As an aspiring lover of pronoia, you will have a
growing knack for gravitating toward wilder, wetter, more interesting
problems. More and more, you will be drawn to the kind of gain
that doesn't require pain. You'll be so alive and awake that you'll
cheerfully push yourself out of your comfort zone in the direction
of your personal frontier well before you're forced to do so by
divine kicks in the ass.
*
In Chinese, the word "crisis" is composed of two characters.
One represents danger, the other opportunity. There has been no
English equivalent until now.
The Beauty and Truth Laboratory has retooled an English term
to convey a similar meaning: "kairos." Originally borrowed
from Greek, "kairos" has traditionally meant "time
of destiny, critical turning point, propitious moment for decision
or action." In its most precise usage, it refers to a special
season that is charged with significance and is outside of normal
time; its opposite is the Greek chronos, which refers to the drone
of the daily rhythm.
These meanings provide the root of our new definition of the
word. As of now, when used in the context of a discussion of pronoia,
"kairos" will have the sense of "a good crisis,
rich problem, productive difficulty."
*
"We should feel excited about the problems we confront and
our ability to deal with them," says Robert Anton Wilson.
"Solving problems is one of the highest and most sensual
of all our brain functions."
*
The definition of "happiness" in the Beauty and Truth
Laboratory's "Outlaw Dictionary of Pronoiac Memes" is
"the state of mind that results from cultivating interesting,
useful problems."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
To read news and features from my book, go here: tinyurl.com/lhwx2
You can buy the book here:
AMAZON
tinyurl.com/qaj62
POWELLS
tinyurl.com/3dsx6q
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
OTHER PRONOIA RESOURCES:
SACRED ACTIVISM
Taking the compulsive anger out of the fight for beauty, truth,
justice, equality, and peace . . . .
tinyurl.com/355u9t
LOW-COST PRONOIA
Happiness Comes Cheap -- Even for Millionaires
tinyurl.com/36z2jy
OUTBREAK OF MAINSTREAM TOLERANCE
Dear Abby says YES to gay marriage
tinyurl.com/2u39nu
(Note: I endorse these because
I like them. These are not advertisements,
and I get no kickbacks.)
Please tell me your own personal
nominations for PRONOIA RESOURCES.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
Week beginning November 1
Copyright 2007 by Rob Brezsny
FreeWillAstrology.com
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):
A drunk dominatrix sidled up to me at a party and said, "Reverend,
please absolve me of my sins." I'm not officially a priest,
but in the spirit of fun and games I replied, "Why, my dear?
Have you seen the error of your ways?" She spread her arms
wide as she bowed, hissing like a serpent through a toothy smile.
"Not at all, Reverend," she said. "I just want
to clear the docket so I can go out and commit a slew of fresh,
new sins with crazy abandon." I sprinkled a few drops of
her Heineken on her head and channeled William Blake: "You'll
never know what is enough unless you know what is more than enough.
The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom. If the fool
would persist in her folly she would become wise." And now,
Scorpio, I'm channeling the same blessing for you.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):
"Dear Rob: Thanks for being in my dream last night. We
were in a beat-up, barely running old Chevy on a windy, dusty
trail. You explained that it would be highly beneficial for a
Sagittarian like myself to demolish this junker. With me behind
the wheel and you riding shotgun, we slowly and gently smashed
it again and again into the side of the cliff, cracking and denting
and tearing it up. Then we got out and hammered it with logs.
I felt free when I woke up, like I'd achieved some great feat.
-Liberated Wrecker." Dear Liberated: I'm pleased I could
join in the work that you (and all Sagittarians) are best suited
for right now: creative destruction. It was smart of you to dismantle
a symbol of what you'll no longer settle for and that wouldn't
drive you to where you need to go anyway.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):
The number of TV channels we have to choose from is growing steadily.
Where I live, for example, there were a mere 61 options in 2000.
Now I can choose from 104. And yet surveys show that most of us
watch no more than 15 percent of what's available. If you'd like
to be in alignment with cosmic rhythms in the coming week, Capricorn,
you will make a concerted effort to sample a much larger selection
than you usually do -- of TV channels and everything else. I suggest
you expose yourself to an exuberant variety of foods, personalities,
landscapes, styles, and cultures. Take in sights and sounds you
don't normally even think of tuning in to.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):
Neurobiologists at a university in Berlin have conducted experiments
that strongly suggest fruit flies have free will. If that awesome
capacity can thrive in the tiny brains of short-lived insects,
I think it's safe to assume that you and I also have it -- and
probably in much larger amounts. In a separate study reported
on by Scientific American, researchers at the University
of Kentucky demonstrated that you can boost your willpower simply
by using it a lot, in the same way that you strengthen a muscle
by exercising it. I present you with these two bolts of good news,
Aquarius, just in time for the Build-Your-Free-Will phase of your
astrological cycle.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
AUDIO LOVE LETTERS
In addition to the horoscopes
that come to you in this newsletter,
I create
more in-depth audio horoscopes
for your inspiration. I think of
them as
my love letters to you. They're
$6 if you access them on the Web,
or
$1.99 per minute over the phone.
Try them at RealAstrology.com.
They're available by phone at
1-877-873-4888
or 1-900-950-7700.
"Your expanded astrology thingees help me remember who
I really am." -Gareth N., Toronto
"I never knew it was possible
to get my butt kicked and my head
patted
at the same time -- until I listened
to you, Rob." -Kristi P.,
Portland, OR
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):
"As a European in the movie industry," writes actor
W. Morgan Sheppard, "I've learned to think in terms of questions
(as in European films) rather than in terms of answers (as in
American films). That's why I love this quote from the play 'Marat-Sade,'
which I use when I'm teaching acting: 'For me the last word cannot
ever be spoken. I am always left with a question that is open.'"
I urge you to take your next assignment from these thoughts, Pisces.
According to my reading of the astrological omens, answers are
utterly useless to you in the coming days. Certainty is a sham.
What you desperately need are ripe, rounded, provocative questions.
ARIES (March 21-April 19):
A top official at the European Robotics Research Network predicts
that humans will "be having sex with robots" sooner
than anyone expected -- probably within four years. I hope this
little shocker will help motivate you to follow my astrological
advice for the coming week, which is to flee in the opposite direction
of that trend. Start by phasing out any robotic, machine-like
behavior that may have crept into the way you make love. For that
matter, deprogram yourself of any automatic, lifeless habits that
are infecting your approach to expressing intimacy, tenderness,
and togetherness.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20):
Moths, hummingbirds, and bats love to drink the nectar that flowers
offer. In return, these pollinators are expected to get some pollen
stuck on their bodies and carry it away to fertilize other plants.
While the nectar is tasty, it's usually not pure sweetness. If
it were, the first pollinator to come along would suck it all
dry, leaving nothing for further visitors. And that wouldn't be
good from the plant's point of view, because it would limit the
number of places where its pollen would be disseminated. To keep
nectar-drinking sessions short, therefore, most plants include
just a touch of bitterness in the blend. Regard this entire scenario
as a useful metaphor for you to keep in mind during the coming
weeks, Taurus.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20):
Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Seymour Hersh told CNN's Wolf
Blitzer that the governments of the U.S. and Israel were slavering
for a bombing raid on Iran. "The Israeli position is very
firm," he said. "They want us to go into Iran. And they
want us to hit hard . . . If you run into a lion, you either shoot
it or ignore it. You don't pluck out its eyebrows." Keep
that last image in mind, Gemini. In the coming weeks, I advise
you to take a similar attitude toward the enemy within you. Don't
mess around with cosmetic changes or half-assed measures. Either
go all the way or don't go at all. (P.S. It's OK if you're not
quite ready for a full-scale showdown. You'll have another chance
in January.)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
AUDIO HOROSCOPES
In addition to the horoscopes
that you're reading here, I create
more in-depth audio horoscopes
for your inspiration. Find out
more at RealAstrology.com.
The audio horoscopes are also
available by phone at 1-877-873-4888
or 1-900-950-7700.
"You told me the truth when
no one else in my life would."
-Darren H., Minneapolis
"Your wake-up calls keep
me from getting stale." -Arris
T., Aspen, CO
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
CANCER (June 21-July 22):
Best days this month for smart love, healing beauty, and uplifting
adventure: 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23,
24. Best days for creative outbreaks and ingenious self-expression:
5, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17, 25. Best days to search for the
loot from a 1967 bank robbery hidden in a metal box stashed inside
a hollowed-out log in the woods: 2, 3, 9, 10, 11. Best days to
dream about a dancing rhinoceros whose careening around a giant
ouija board gives you information about an opportunity to manifest
one of your most ambitious dreams: 6, 7, 13, 15, 18, 21, 22.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):
When a plant needs help, mused filmmaker David Lynch, "the
experienced gardener doesn't worry about the leaves. He gets at
the problem from the roots." That thought should be a central
guide for you in the coming week, Leo. Don't attack the symptoms
of your dilemma with money, tears, or accusations. Instead, find
the hidden causes and gently massage them with crafty compassion.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):
The owners of a parts supply store in South Carolina billed the
Pentagon $998,798 for sending two 19-cent washers to a Texas army
base. Let's install them as your symbolic reminder not to overpay
for anything in the coming week, no matter how crucial it may
be to your operations. And when I invoke that word "overpay,"
I'm referring not only to forking over money, but also to giving
away your emotional energy, directing your attention, or offering
up your help. Make sure that you're getting equal value for your
contributions.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):
In the realm of competitive swimming, it's a big deal when an
athlete shaves a fraction of a second off an existing world record.
At a championship meet in Melbourne earlier this year, Michael
Phelps was virtually canonized when he beat the previous mark
for the 200-meter freestyle by two-tenths of a second. I predict
that you will achieve a comparable feat in the coming week, Libra.
Some tiny improvement you accomplish will make a major difference.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
HOMEWORK:
The media love bad news because they think it's more interesting
than good news. Is it? Send your interesting good news to uaregod@comcast.net.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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 www.YourSoulJourney.com
She can also be reached at roloughran@comcast.net
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Submissions sent to the Free
Will Astrology Weekly 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 such submissions
for length, style, and content.
Requests for anonymity will be
honored with submissions;
otherwise, reader names, screen
names, or initials will be used.
Please be sure to note your preference
when sending to us. We
are not responsible for unsolicited
submission of any creative
material.
Contents of the Free Will Astrology
Newsletter are Copyright
2007 Rob Brezsny
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
|
