Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter July 23, 2014

Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter
July 23, 2014
FreeWillAstrology.com

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My book
PRONOIA IS THE ANTIDOTE FOR PARANOIA
is available at Amazon: bit.ly/Pronoia
or Powells: bit.ly/PronoiaPowells

Here's an excerpt:

THE OUTLAW CATALOG OF CAGEY OPTIMISM
(The complete text is here: bit.ly/CageyOptimism)

Psychiatry and psychotherapy obsess on what's wrong with people and give short shrift to what's right. The manual of these professions is a 991-page textbook called the DSM-V. It identifies scores of pathological states but no healthy ones.

Some time back, I began to complain about this fact, and asked readers to help me compile material for a proposed antidote, the Anti-DSM -- a compendium of healthy, exalted, positive states of being. As their entries came in, we at the Beauty and Truth Laboratory were inspired to dream up some of our own. Below is part one of our initial attempt at creating an Anti-DSM-V, or as we also like to call it, "The Outlaw Catalog of Cagey Optimism."

* ACUTE FLUENCY. Happily immersed in artistic creation or scientific exploration; lost in a trance-like state of inventiveness that's both blissful and taxing; surrendered to a state of grace in which you're fully engaged in a productive, compelling, and delightful activity. The joy of this demanding, rewarding state is intensified by a sense that time has been suspended, and is rounder and deeper than usual. (Suggested by H. H. Holiday, who reports that extensive studies in this state have been done by Mihaly Cziscenmihaliy in his book, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience.)

* AESTHETIC BLISS. Vividly experiencing the colors, textures, tones, scents, and rhythms of the world around you, creating a symbiotic intimacy that dissolves the psychological barriers between you and what you observe. (Suggested by Jeanne Grossetti.)

* AGGRESSIVE SENSITIVITY. Animated by a strong determination to be receptive and empathetic.

* ALIGNMENT WITH THE INFINITY OF THE MOMENT. Reveling in the liberating realization that we are all exactly where we need to be at all times, even if some of us are temporarily in the midst of trial or tribulation, and that human evolution is proceeding exactly as it should, even if we can't see the big picture of the puzzle that would clarify how all the pieces fit together perfectly. (Suggested by Meredith Jones.)

* AUTONOMOUS NURTURING. Not waiting for someone to give you what you can give yourself. (Suggested by Shannen Davis.)

* BASKING IN ELDER WISDOM. A state of expansive ripeness achieved through listening to the stories of elders. (Suggested by Annabelle Aavard.)

* BIBLIOBLISS. Transported into states of transcendent pleasure while immersed in reading a favorite book. (Suggested by Catherine Kaikowska.)

* BLASPHEMOUS REVERENCE. Acting on the knowledge that the most efficacious form of devotion to the Divine Wow is tinctured with playful or mischievous behavior that prevents the buildup of fanaticism.

* BOO-DUH NATURE. Dwelling in the blithe understanding of the fact that worry is useless because most of what we worry about never happens. (Suggested by Timothy S. Wallace.)

* COMIC INTROSPECTION. Being fully aware of your own foibles while still loving yourself tenderly and maintaining confidence in your ability to give your specific genius to the world. To paraphrase Alan Jones, Dean of Grace Cathedral: following the Byzantine ploys of your ego with compassion and humor as it tries to make itself the center of everything, even of its own suffering and struggle.

* COMPASSIONATE DISCRIMINATION. Having astute judgment without being scornfully judgmental; seeing difficult truths about a situation or person without closing your heart or feeling superior. In the words of Alan Jones: having the ability "to smell a rat without allowing your ability to discern deception sour your vision of the glory and joy that is everyone's birthright."

* CRAZED KINDNESS. Having frequent, overpowering urges to bestow gifts, disseminate inspiration, and perpetrate random acts of benevolence.

* ECSTATIC GRATITUDE. Feeling genuine thankfulness with such resplendent intensity that you generate a surge of endorphins in your body and slip into a full-scale outbreak of euphoria.

* EMANCIPATED SURRENDER. Letting go of an attachment without harboring resentment toward the stimuli that led to the necessity of letting go. (Suggested by Timothy S. Wallace.)

* FRIENDLY SHOCK. Welcoming a surprise that will ultimately have benevolent effects.

* HIGHWAY EQUANIMITY. Feeling serene, polite, and benevolent while driving in heavy traffic. (Suggested by Shannen Davis.)

* HOLY LISTENING. Hearing the words of another human being as if they were a direct communication from the Divine Wow to you.

* IMAGINATIVE TRUTH-TELLING. Conveying the truth of any specific situation from multiple angles, thereby mitigating the distortions that result from assuming the truth can be told from a single viewpoint.

* IMPULSIVE LOVE SPREADING. Characterized by a fierce determination to never withhold well-deserved praise, inspirational encouragement, positive feedback, or loving thoughts; often includes a tendency to write love letters on the spur of the moment and on any medium, including napkins, grocery bags, and skin. (Suggested by Laurie Burton.)

* INADVERTENT NATURE WORSHIP. Experiencing the rapture that comes from being outside for extended periods of time. (Suggested by Sue Carol Robinson.)

* INGENIOUS INTIMACY. Having an ability to consistently create deep connections with other human beings, and to use the lush, reverential excitement stimulated by such exchanges to further deepen the connections. A well-crafted talent for dissolving your sense of separateness and enjoying the innocent exultation that erupts in the wake of the dissolution. (Suggested by Sue Carol Robinson.)

* JOYFUL POIGNANCE. Feeling buoyantly joyful about the beauty and mystery of life while remaining aware of the sadness, injustices, wounds, and future fears that form the challenges in an examined life. (Suggested by Alka Bhargava.)

* LATE LATE-BLOOMING. Having a capacity for growth spurts well into old age, long past the time that conventional wisdom says they're possible.

* LEARNING DELIGHT. Experiencing the brain-reeling pleasure that comes from learning something new. (Suggested by Sue Carol Robinson.)

* LUCID DREAM PATRIOTISM. A love of country rooted in the fact that it provides the ideal conditions for learning lucid dreaming. (Suggested by Kenneth Kelzer, author of The Sun and the Shadow: My Experiment With Lucid Dreaming.)

* LYRICAL CONSONANCE. Experiencing the visceral yet also cerebral excitement that comes from listening to live music played impeccably by skilled musicians. (Suggested by Susan E. Nace.)

TO SEE THE REST OF THE EXALTED, POSITIVE STATES, GO HERE:
bit.ly/CageyOptimism

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MORE PRONOIA RESOURCES:

The Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education investigates methods for cultivating compassion and promoting altruism within individuals and society through rigorous research, scientific collaborations, and academic conferences.
See its "Compassion Wiki" at tinyurl.com/lfnrlgf

12 African nations have come together pledging to build a 9-mile-wide band of trees that will stretch all the way across Africa, 4750 miles, in order to stop the progressive advancement of the Sahara.
tinyurl.com/oc8hjs4

American Quakers are Running an 'Underground Railroad' to Help LGBT Ugandans Flee.
tinyurl.com/q553thl

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 July 24

Copyright 2014 by Rob Brezsny
FreeWillAstrology.com

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):

According to the legends about Camelot and the Knights of the Round Table, the boy who would ultimately become King Arthur didn't know he was heir to the throne while he was growing up. His future destiny was hidden from him. The wizard Merlin trained him but made sure he never found out he was special. When the old King Uther Pendragon died, a tournament was staged to find a replacement. The winner would be whoever was able to withdraw the enchanted sword that was embedded in a large stone. Quite by accident, our hero got a chance to make an attempt. Success! I have reminded you of the broad outlines of this tale, Leo, because at least one of its elements resembles your destiny in the next 11 months.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):

When a crocodile slams its jaws shut, the energy it summons is powerful. But when the beast opens its jaws, the force it exerts is weak. That's because the muscles used to close are much more robust than the muscles used to open. I'm wondering if an analogous story might be told about you these days, Virgo. Are you more prone to close down than to open up? Is it easier for you to resist, avoid, and say no than it is to be receptive, extend a welcome, and say yes? If so, please consider cultivating a better balance. You need both capacities running at full strength in the coming days.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):

In the latter part of the 18th century, American rebels and rabble-rousers used to gather regularly in the basement of the Green Dragon Tavern in Boston. There they plotted the Boston Tea Party, Paul Revere's ride, and other dissident adventures that opposed British Rule. That's why the Green Dragon became known as the "Headquarters of the Revolution." I think you and your cohorts need a place like that, Libra. It's high time for you to scheme and dream about taking coordinated actions that will spur teamwork and foster liberation.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):

"When one has not had a good father, one must create one," said philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. What does that mean? How might you go about "creating" a good father? Well, you could develop a relationship with an admirable older man who is an inspiring role model. You could read books by men whose work stirs you to actualize your own potentials. If you have a vigorous inner life, you could build a fantasy dad in your imagination. Here's another possibility: Cultivate in yourself the qualities you think a good father should have. And even if you actually had a pretty decent father, Scorpio, I'm sure he wasn't perfect. So it still might be interesting to try out some of these ideas. The coming weeks will be an excellent time to get more of the fathering energy you would thrive on.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):

"If I seem free, it's because I'm always running." So said Sagittarian musician Jimi Hendrix, widely regarded as one of the most inventive and electrifying guitarists who ever lived. Does that prospect have any appeal to you, Sagittarius? I don't, of course, recommend that you keep running for the rest of your long life. After a while, it will be wise to rest and ruminate. But I do think it might be illuminating to try this brazen approach for a week or two. If it feels right, you might also want to mix in some dancing and skipping and leaping with your running.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):

In the next 11 months, Capricorn, you will be given some choice riddles about the art of togetherness. To solve them, you will have to learn much more about the arts of intimacy -- or else! It's up to you: Either work your ass off as you strengthen your important relationships, or else risk watching them unravel. But don't take this as a grim, sobering assignment. On the contrary! Play hard. Experiment freely. Be open to unexpected inspiration. Have fun deepening your emotional intelligence. That approach will work best.

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LOVE YOUR LIFE

"Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show." So begins Charles Dickens' novel "David Copperfield." So let me ask you: Are you becoming the hero of your own life? Are you figuring out the secrets of how to create your destiny -- and not just waiting around for destiny to happen to you?

If you'd like help in this noble work, consider trying my EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPES. They're four-to-five-minute meditations on the current state of your destiny and where you're headed.

They are not repeats or extensions of the written 'scopes you read here for free. They are entirely fresh explorations of your astrological omens, and are designed to help you tune in to your soul's code. (P.S. They're not free.)

Register and/or sign in at RealAstrology.com

They're available on your tablets and smart phones as well as your computers.

"Your Expanded Audio Horoscopes provide me with the Rest of the Story. I'm not necessarily a believer in the scientific accuracy of astrology, but I do think you've got a lot of practical wisdom to impart."
- M. Tennenbaum, New York

"No one knows more about me than me. But you're right up there near the top of the list of people who do understand something about how I tick. How is that possible?"
- R. Goren, Albuquerque

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AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):

Hypothesis: The exciting qualities that attract you to someone in the first place will probably drive you a bit crazy if you go on to develop a long-term relationship. That doesn't mean you should avoid seeking connections with intriguing people who captivate your imagination. It does suggest you should have no illusions about what you are getting yourself into. It also implies that you should cultivate a sense of humor about how the experiences that rouse your passion often bring you the best tests and trials. And why am I discussing these eccentric truths with you right now? Because I suspect you will be living proof of them in the months to come.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):

In 1961, Paul Cezanne's painting The Artist's Sister was on display at a museum in Aix-en-Provence, France. Then a lucky event occurred: It was stolen. When it was finally recovered months later, it had been ripped out of its frame. An art restorer who was commissioned to repair it discovered that there was a previously-unknown Cezanne painting on the back of the canvas. As a result, the appraisal of the original piece rose $75,000. Now both sides are on view at the St. Louis City Art Museum. I foresee a comparable progression in your life, Pisces. An apparent setback will ultimately increase your value.

ARIES (March 21-April 19):

A report in the prestigious British medical journal BMJ says that almost one percent of young pregnant women in the U.S. claim to be virgins. They testify that they have conceived a fetus without the benefit of sex. That's impossible, right? Technically, yes. But if there could ever be a loophole in natural law, it would happen for you Aries sometime in the coming weeks. You will be so exceptionally fertile, so prone to hatching new life, that almost anything could incite germination. A vivid dream or captivating idea or thrilling adventure or exotic encounter might be enough to do the trick.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20):

As you weave your way through the next chapter of your story, I suggest you take inspiration from the turtle. You may even want to imagine that the turtle is your animal ally, a guide that helps you access the gradual and deliberate kind of intelligence you will need. Moving quickly will not be appropriate for the leisurely lessons that are coming your way. The point is to be deep and thorough about a few things rather than half-knowledgeable about a lot of things. There's one other turtle-like quality I hope you will cultivate, too: the ability to feel at home wherever you are.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20):

America's biggest winery is E & J Gallo. It sells more wine than any other company, and has been named the planet's "Most Powerful Wine Brand" four different years. Ernest and Julio Gallo launched the enterprise in 1933 after studying the art of winemaking in pamphlets they found in the basement of a public library in Modesto, California. I foresee a less spectacular but metaphorically similar arc for you, Gemini. Sometime soon -- maybe it has already happened -- information or inspiration you come across in a modest setting will launch you on the path to future success. There is one caveat: You must take seriously the spark you encounter, and not underestimate it because it appears in humble circumstances.

CANCER (June 21-July 22):

Diamonds are not rare. They are so numerous that if they were evenly distributed, you and me and everyone else on the planet could each have a cupful of them. And if you are ever in your lifetime going to get your personal cupful, it may happen in the next 11 months. That's because your hard work and special talent are more likely than usual to be rewarded with tangible assets. Strokes of luck will tend to manifest in the form of money and treasure and valuable things you can really use. Be alert for the clues, Cancerian. One may appear momentarily.

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HOMEWORK:

Make up a secret identity for yourself. What is it? How do you use it? Testify at Truthrooster@gmail.com.

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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 2014 Rob Brezsny

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