Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter
December 3, 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
Below are several excerpts.
You can drink a glass of water. You can spread butter on a slice
of toast. You can wash your hair and prune your plants and draw
infinity signs on a piece of paper. Your hands work wonderfully
well! Their intricate force and sustained grace are amply supported
by your heart, which circulates your blood all the way out to
replenish the energy of the muscles and nerves in your fingers
and palms and wrists. After your blood has delivered its blessings,
it finds its way back to your heart to be refreshed. This masterful
mystery repeats itself over and over again without you ever having
to think about it.
Contemplate the unfathomable prowess of your digestive system.
Countless chemical reactions have to unfold with alacrity in order
for it to work as well as it does. The gastric juice has to be
composed of just the right mix of pepsin, rennin, mucus, and hydrochloric
acid. The bile and pancreatic juice must arrive at the right spot
and at the right time. The enterocytes in your small intestine
always have to remember anew how to carry out their uptake of
ions, lipids, and peptides. How can they possibly be so good at
knowing exactly what to do and when to do it?
The circulation of blood and the conversion of food into fuel
are just two of many alchemical feats that the secret intelligence
within you takes care of. Thousands of other exchanges and transformations
and syntheses are ceaselessly working their wizardry inside your
body without your conscious participation.
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What causes happiness? Brainstorm about it. Map out the foundations
of your personal science of joy. Get serious about defining what
makes you feel good. To get you started, I'll name some experiences
that might rouse your gratification: engaging in sensual pleasure;
seeking the truth; being kind and moral; contemplating the meaning
of life; escaping your routine; purging pent-up emotions, doing
practical work that helps others or that serves your high ideals.
Do any of these work for you? Name at least ten more.
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When many people talk about their childhoods, they emphasize
the alienating, traumatic experiences they had, and fail to report
the good times. This seems dishonest -- a testament to the popularity
of cynicism rather than a reflection of objective truth.
I don't mean to downplay the way your early encounters with pain
demoralized your spirit. But as you reconnoiter the promise of
pronoia, it's crucial for you to extol the gifts you were given
in your early years: all the helpful encounters, kind teachings,
and simple acts of grace that helped you bloom.
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In Homer's epic tale The Odyssey, he described nepenthe,
a mythical drug that induced the forgetfulness of pain and trouble.
I'd like to imagine, in contrast, a potion that stirs up memories
of delight, serenity, and fulfillment. Fantasize that you have
taken such a tonic. Spend an hour or two remembering the glorious
moments from your past.
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Mark Morford explains why militant optimism is essential to fighting
back against entrenched power:
"The system isn't nearly as powerful as it wants you to
believe. It is, in fact, far more feeble, fallible, terrified
(just ask the GOP). It's also changing by the minute. It can change
again in a single act, law, cultural tipping point. Happens all
the time. For better, for worse. It's happening right now.
"This is why the Ferguson protests, or Cosby's belated takedown,
the #YesAllWomen phenom, the onrush of legal gay marriage or even
Obama's China environmental agreement, health care battle or immigration
plan, are all so vital. They snap us back to attention. They nudge
the disruptive energy awake. And they remind us of the most important
takeaway of all:
"Want to help keep the system as it is? Believe all is lost.
Want to ensure the system's eventual, perpetual, ongoing annihilation?
Believe the exact opposite."
Read Morford's whole essay: tinyurl.com/ku92k5g
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MORE PRONOIA RESOURCES:
"Urban Comeback: How Cities Are Leading Us Into the Future.
At a time when nations are gridlocked and corrupted by special
interests, cities are taking on poverty, social isolation, and
the climate crisis."
tinyurl.com/py9w2u3
Scientists predict green energy revolution after incredible new
graphene discoveries.
tinyurl.com/mgk5spz
Gates Foundation Will Require All Its Research To Be Freely Accessible.
tinyurl.com/ln67u78
(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 4
Copyright 2014 by Rob Brezsny
FreeWillAstrology.com
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):
With both symbolic and practical actions, Sagittarius-born Pope
Francis has tried to reframe the message of the Catholic Church.
He's having public showers installed for the homeless in Vatican
City. He has made moves to dismantle the Church's bigotry toward
gays. He regularly criticizes growing economic inequality, and
keeps reminding politicians that there can be no peace and justice
unless they take care of poor and marginalized people. He even
invited iconic punk poet Patti Smith to perform at the Vatican
Christmas Concert. You now have extra power to exert this kind
of initiative in your own sphere, Sagittarius. Be proactive as
you push for constructive transformations that will benefit all.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):
The limpet is an aquatic snail. When it's scared, it escapes
at a rate approaching two inches per hour. If you get flustered
in the coming week, Capricorn, I suggest you flee at a speed no
faster than the limpet's. I'm making a little joke here. The truth
is, if you do get into a situation that provokes anxiety, I don't
think you should leave the scene at all. Why? There are two possibilities.
First, you may be under the influence of mistaken ideas or habitual
responses that are causing you to be nervous about something there's
no need to be nervous about. Or second, if you are indeed in an
authentic bind, you really do need to deal with it, not run away.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):
Science-fiction novelist Philip K. Dick has been one of my favorite
authors since I discovered his work years ago. I love how he reconfigured
my mind with his metaphysical riffs about politics and his prophetic
questions about what's real and what's not. Recently I discovered
he once lived in a house that's a few blocks from where I now
live. While he was there, he wrote two of his best books. I went
to the place and found it was unoccupied. That night I slept in
a sleeping bag on the back porch, hoping to soak up inspiration.
It worked! Afterwards, I had amazing creative breakthroughs for
days. I recommend a comparable ritual for you, Aquarius. Go in
quest of greatness that you want to rub off on you.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):
Do you enjoy telling people what to do? Are you always scheming
to increase your influence over everyone whose life you touch?
If you are a typical Pisces, the answer to those questions is
no. The kind of power you are interested in is power over yourself.
You mostly want to be the boss of you. Right now is a favorable
time to intensify your efforts to succeed in this glorious cause.
I suggest you make aggressive plans to increase your control over
your own destiny.
ARIES (March 21-April 19):
The National Science Foundation estimates that we each think
at least 12,000 thoughts per day. The vast majority of them, however,
are reruns of impressions that have passed through our minds many
times before. But I am pleased to report that in the coming weeks,
you Aries folks are primed to be far less repetitive than normal.
You have the potential to churn out a profusion of original ideas,
fresh perceptions, novel fantasies, and pertinent questions. Take
full advantage of this opportunity. Brainstorm like a genius.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20):
I enjoy getting spam emails with outrageous declarations that
are at odds with common sense. "Eating salads makes you sick"
is one of my favorites, along with "Water is worse for you
than vodka" and "Smoking is healthier than exercising."
Why do I love reading these laughable claims? Well, they remind
me that every day I am barraged by nonsense and delusion from
the news media, the Internet, politicians, celebrities, and a
host of fanatics. "Smoking is healthier than exercising"
is just a more extreme and obvious lie than many others that are
better disguised. The moral of the story for you in the coming
week: Be alert for exaggerations that clue you in to what's going
on discreetly below the surface. Watch carefully for glitches
in the Matrix.
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YOU NEED MAGIC EVERY DAY
Every day, you have to wade through a relentless surge of soul-less
facts. The experience tends to shut down your sense of wonder.
Every day, you're over-exposed to narratives that have been sucked
free of delight and mystery. That's why you have to make such
strenuous efforts to keep your world enchanted.
I like to think I can contribute to the sacred cause of feeding
your sense of wonder and enchantment. In fact, that's one of my
prime motivations for offering you the free weekly horoscopes
you read in this newsletter.
If you ever want more of that good stuff, and think it's worth
paying for, please consider trying out my EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPES.
They're four-to-five-minute meditations on the current state of
your destiny.
Register and/or sign in at RealAstrology.com.
They're available on your tablets and smart phones as well as
your computers.
You can also listen over the phone by calling
1-877-873-4888
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GEMINI (May 21-June 20):
Every one of us, including me, has blind spots about the arts
of intimacy and collaboration. Every one of us suffers from unconscious
habits that interfere with our ability to get and give the love
we want. What are your bind spots and unconscious habits, Gemini.
Ha! Trick question! They wouldn't be blind spots and unconscious
habits if you already knew about them. That's the bad news. The
good news is that in the next six weeks you can catch glimpses
of these blocks, and make a good start toward reducing their power
to distort your relationships.
CANCER (June 21-July 22):
Now and then, it is in fact possible to fix malfunctioning machines
by giving them a few swift kicks or authoritative whacks. This
strategy is called "percussive maintenance." In the
coming days, you might be inclined to use it a lot. That's probably
OK. I suspect it'll work even better than it usually does. There
will be problems, though, if you adopt a similar approach as you
try to correct glitches that are more psychological, interpersonal,
and spiritual in nature. For those, I recommend sensitivity and
finesse.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):
What feelings or subjects have you been wanting to talk about,
but have not yet been able to? Are there messages you are aching
to convey to certain people, but can't summon the courage to be
as candid as you need to be? Can you think of any secrets you've
been keeping for reasons that used to be good but aren't good
any more? The time has come to relieve at least some of that tension,
Leo. I suggest you smash your excuses, break down barriers, and
let the revelations flow. If you do, you will unleash unforeseen
blessings.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):
In 1662, Dutch painter Rembrandt finished The Oath of Claudius
Civilis. It was 18 feet by 18 feet, the largest painting
he ever made. For a short time, it hung on a wall in Amsterdam's
Town Hall. But local burgomasters soon decided it was offensive,
and returned it to the artist to be reworked. Rembrandt ultimately
chopped off three-fourths of the original. What's left is now
hanging in a Stockholm museum, and the rest has been lost. Art
critic Svetlana Alpers wishes the entire painting still existed,
but nevertheless raves about the remaining portion, calling it
"a magnificent fragment." I urge you to think like Alpers.
It's time to celebrate your own magnificent fragments.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):
You now have a special talent for connecting things that have
never been connected. You also have a magic touch at uniting things
that should be united but can't manage to do so under their own
power. In fact, I'm inclined to believe that in the next three
weeks you will be unusually lucky and adept at forging links,
brokering truces, building bridges, and getting opposites to attract.
I won't be surprised if you're able to compare apples and oranges
in ways that make good sense and calm everyone down.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):
In 1989, Amy Tan birthed her first novel, The Joy Luck Club.
Her next, The Kitchen God's Wife, came out in 1991. Both
were bestsellers. Within a few years, the student study guide
publisher CliffsNotes did with them what it has done with many
masterpieces of world literature: produced condensed summaries
for use by students too lazy to read all of the originals. "In
spite of my initial shock," Tan said, "I admit that
I am perversely honored to be in CliffsNotes." It was a sign
of success to get the same treatment as superstar authors like
Shakespeare and James Joyce. The CliffsNotes approach is currently
an operative metaphor in your life, Scorpio. Try to find it in
your heart to be honored, even if it's perversely so. For the
most part, trimming and shortening and compressing will be beneficial.
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HOMEWORK:
What gifts do you want for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, Yule,
and the winter solstice? Write to Buddha Claus at uaregod@comcast.net.
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Contents of the Free Will Astrology Newsletter are Copyright
2014 Rob Brezsny
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