Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter
DECEMBER 12, 2012
FreeWillAstrology.com
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My book
PRONOIA IS THE ANTIDOTE FOR PARANOIA
is available at Powells: bit.ly/PronoiaPowells
Barnes & Noble: tinyurl.com/a8j3h6u
Amazon: bit.ly/Pronoia
Below is an excerpt.
Many visionaries and prophets expect there to be a huge and sudden
shift in the world's story sometime soon. Whether it happens on
December 21, 2012 or a later date, a sizable proportion of them
even predict that it will be "in the twinkling of an eye"
-- a sudden cascade of events that completely changes everything
everywhere.
Some paint the scenario in broad, catastrophic strokes, expecting
something -- they're not sure what -- that will have the impact
of a large meteor strike or nuclear war or pandemic disease. Others
harbor a more benign but equally fuzzy expectation, speculating
that maybe some higher psychic powers will kick in to the multitudes
all at once, or that benevolent extraterrestrials will arrive
to solve our energy crisis.
What very few of the prophets do, however, is make a precise
prediction about exactly will happen. Their visions contain no
assurances, no specifics. And in my view, that's worse than useless.
It fills us with a vague buzz of fear or amorphous sense of hope,
but offers no concrete directions about what to do to prevent
the dreaded thing or help create the hoped-for thing.
And the fact is, as I see it, they can't possibly know what the
Big Shift is -- if, that is, a Big Shift is really looming. The
very nature of any Big Shift will be so unexpected, so beyond
our imaginations, and so utterly alien to what we understand,
that we can't possibly delineate its contours in advance.
I'm reminded of Jung's formula, which is that we don't so much
solve our problems as we outgrow them. We add capacities and experiences
that eventually make us bigger than the problems.
This theory can be applied in reverse: If we have not yet grown
wiser than our current predicament, then we can't see what the
evolved state is beyond the predicament. Our minds are as-yet
incapable of embodying the vision that will catapult us beyond
the problem we're stuck in.
When the Big Shift comes, whether or not it comes in the twinkling
of an eye, it will be something that no one foresaw, let alone
described in detail. It will be beyond our comprehension, unlike
anything we could have visualized headed our way. (Thirty years
ago, did anyone imagine the Internet or the impact it's having?)
And if that's true, then the inescapable conclusion is: There's
no use trying to plan ahead for it. It's counterproductive to
hold a particular scenario in our mind as the likely development.
And it's downright crazy to harbor a chronic sense of dread about
an unknowable, unimaginable series of events.
The best way to prepare for a Big Shift is to cultivate mental
and emotional states that ripen us to be ready for anything:
* a commitment to not getting lost inside our own heads;
* a strategy to avoid being enthralled with the hypnotic lure
of painful emotions, past events, and worries about the future;
* a trust in empirical evidence over our time-worn beliefs and
old habits;
* a talent for turning up our curiosity full blast and tuning
in to the raw truth of every moment with our beginner's mind fully
engaged;
* and an eagerness to dwell gracefully in the midst of all the
interesting questions that tease and teach us.
Everything I just described also happens to be an excellent way
to prime yourself for a chronic, low-grade, always-on, simmering-at-low-heat
brand of ecstasy -- a state of being more-or-less permanently
in the Tao, in the groove, in the zone.
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MORE PRONOIA RESOURCES:
DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THE FORCES OF GOOD
Peace in our time? Scientist makes bold prediction that war is
on the wane and will halve over next 40 years.
tinyurl.com/c88o5kg
DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THE FORCES OF REGENERATION
Mexico City: Now One of Safest Places in Mexico - Once infamous
for its pollution, lawlessness, & chaos, it's at the vanguard
of ecological & civic change. Abortion, gay marriage, &
gay adoption is legalized. Outsiders who once viewed the city
as terrorizing, now want to visit, to live here.
tinyurl.com/bbznnhm
DON'T UNDERSTIMATE YOUR NEED FOR BEAUTY
Jiuzhaigou Valley, China
i.imgur.com/AozdP.jpg
THE EVIDENCE KEEPS ACCUMULATING
A compendium of pronoiac news.
PronoiaResources.com
(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 December 13
Copyright 2012 by Rob Brezsny
FreeWillAstrology.com
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):
For the last six decades of his life, Pablo Picasso created
art that was adventurous and experimental. He didn't invent abstract
painting, but he was instrumental in popularizing it. And yet
in his early years he was a master of realism, and had an impressive
ability to capture the nuances of human anatomy. Commenting on
Picasso's evolution, travel writer Rick Steves says that when
he was young, "he learned the rules he would later so skillfully
break." I suspect you're in a phase of your own development
when you could profit from doing the same thing. So I ask you,
Sagittarius: What are the rules that are so ripe for you to bend
and twist as you graduate to a more mature level of self-expression?
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):
Through some cosmic intervention, a sad or bad or mad story will
get tweaked prior to the final turn of the plot. Just as you're
getting ready to nurse your regrets, an X-factor or wild card
will appear, transforming the meaning of a series of puzzling
events. This may not generate a perfectly happy ending, but it
will at least result in an interesting and redemptive climax.
What is the precise nature of that X-factor or wild card? Perhaps
a big secret will be revealed or some missing evidence will arrive
or a mental block will crumble. And it's likely that you will
have an epiphany abut how valuable your problem has actually been.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):
Be honest. Have you had any of the following symptoms? 1. Lack
of interest in trivial matters and a yearning for big, holy mysteries.
2. Unfamiliar but interesting impulses rising up in you and demanding
consideration. 3. Fresh insights into people and situations you've
known a long time. 4. An altered sense of the flow of time. 5.
Out-of-the-blue recall of long-forgotten memories. If you haven't
experienced any of the above, Aquarius, I must be totally off
in my analysis and this horoscope isn't for you. But if you've
had even two of these symptoms, you are on schedule to get what
those of us in the consciousness industry call a "religious
experience."
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):
You just might be able to teach a statue to talk this week --
or at least coax a useful message out of a stone-like person.
You could also probably extract a delicious clue from out of the
darkness or wrangle a tricky blessing from an adversary or find
a small treasure hidden in a big mess. In short, Pisces, you now
have a knack for accessing beauty and truth in unexpected sources.
You can see what everyone else is blind to and love what everyone
else has given up on. You're practically a superhero. Use your
powers wisely, my friend. Be benevolently unpredictable.
ARIES (March 21-April 19):
Can you manage to be both highly alert and deeply relaxed? Could
you be wildly curious and yet also serenely reflective? Can you
imagine yourself being extra hungry to crack life's secrets but
also at peace with your destiny exactly the way it is? If you
can honestly answer yes to those questions, you'll get a lot of
help in the coming week. The universe may even seem to be conspiring
to educate you and heal you. You will receive a steady flow of
clues about how to get closer to living your dreams.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20):
In the coming week, you would be wise to deal with your vulnerability,
your fallibility, and your own personal share of the world's darkness.
If you refuse to do that, either out of laziness or fear, I'm
worried that you will reinforce a status quo that needs to be
overthrown. You may end up rationalizing your mistakes, clinging
to false pride, and running away from challenges that could make
you smarter and stronger. Don't do that, Taurus! Be brave. Be
willing to see what's difficult to see. There will be big rewards
if you choose to explore the weaker and less mature parts of your
personality.
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YOU'VE ALWAYS GOT MORE HELP AVAILABLE THAN YOU IMAGINE
What do you want to be when you grow up? Is it possible that
you will eventually develop beautiful capacities and sublime understandings
that you can't even imagine right now?
I might be able to help you move in the direction of becoming
more of the person you were born to be.
Tune in to my EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPES
Find out more at RealAstrology.com.
The audio horoscopes are also available by phone at 1-877-873-4888.
"The best part about your audio horoscopes is that they
pat me on the head and kick me in the ass at the same time."
- Rita L., San Diego
"Your audio oracles go beyond helping me find the truth
-- they inspire me to find the WILD truth."
- Patrick K., Montreal
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GEMINI (May 21-June 20):
In the 1968 Olympics, Bob Beamon broke the world record for
the long jump. His leap was so far beyond the previous mark that
the optical device designed to calculate it didn't work. Officials
had to resort to an old-fashioned measuring tape. After that,
the word "Beamonesque" came to signify a feat that vastly
outstripped all previous efforts. According to my analysis, you
Geminis will have an excellent chance to be Beamonesque in 2013.
I expect that you will at least surpass your own peak levels of
accomplishment. If you have not yet launched your ascent, get
started now.
CANCER (June 21-July 22):
The fire ants that invaded the southern U.S. back in the 1930s
are an annoyance. They swarm and bite and sting. The venom they
inject makes their victims feel like they've been burned. Two
communities have decided to make the best of the situation. Auburn,
Georgia and Marshall, Texas both stage annual Fire Ant Festivals,
with events like the Fire Ant Call, the Fire Ant Round-Up, and
the Fire Ant Chili Cook-Off. (To win the latter, your dish must
contain at least one fire ant.) Maybe their example could inspire
you, Cancerian. Is there any pest you could develop a more playful
and festive relationship with? Could you possibly turn into the
equivalent of a Fire Ant Whisperer?
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):
While reading William Kittredge's book The Nature of Generosity,
I learned about the oldest known sentence written in ancient Greek.
It was inscribed on a wine jug that dates back to 740 B.C. Translated
into English, it says, "Who now of all dancers sports most
playfully?" Another possible translation is "Which of
these dancers plays most delicately?" I'd love to make something
like that be your mantra in the coming week, Leo. The time is
right for you to do more dancing and playing and sporting than
usual -- and to seek out companions who'd like to help you achieve
record-breaking levels of those recreational activities.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):
In the movie Groundhog Day, Bill Murray plays a man
who gets trapped in a timeloop. Over and over again, he experiences
the same 24 hours. When he wakes up each morning, it's still February
2. At first it drives him crazy, pushing him to the verge of suicide.
But eventually he decides to use his time wisely. He becomes a
skilled pianist and a fluent French-speaker. He does good deeds
and saves people's lives. He even learns what he needs to do to
win the heart of the woman he desires. This transformation turns
out to be the key to gaining his freedom. Near the end of the
film, he escapes to February 3. A comparable opportunity is looming
for you, Virgo. You have a chance to break a spell you've been
under or slip away from a rut you've been in. Generosity may play
a major role.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):
Events in the immediate future may have resemblances to reading
a boring book that's packed with highly useful information. You
might feel that there's a disjunction between the critical clues
you need to gather and the ho-hum style in which they are offered.
It's OK to be a bit disgruntled by this problem as long as you
promise to remain alert for the partially disguised goodies. Don't
fall asleep in the middle of the unspectacular lesson.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):
"Instinct tells us that sharks are more deadly than delicious
fatty foods," writes Jason Daley in Discover magazine.
But "instinct is wrong," he adds. In fact, eating food
that tastes good but is actually bad for us is a far greater threat
than shark bites. That's just one example of how our uneducated
urges can sometimes lead us astray. I invite you to keep this
possibility in mind during the coming week, Scorpio. It's by no
means certain that you will be misled by your natural inclinations,
but it is crucial that you monitor them with acute discernment.
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HOMEWORK:
In the astrological worldview, this week is the last gasp of
the yearly cycle. A good way to celebrate is to bid farewell to
outworn approaches and lost causes. Tell me if you do. Freewillastrology.com
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Contents of the Free Will Astrology Newsletter are Copyright
2012 Rob Brezsny
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