Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter
August 12, 2020
FreeWillAstrology.com
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Good exercise each morning: Ask yourself, "What do I love, and how can I serve and enhance and enrich my relationship with what I love?"
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THE VIRTUES OF HIDING
by David Whyte
HIDING is a way of staying alive. Hiding is a way of holding ourselves until we are ready to come into the light. Even hiding the truth from ourselves can be a way to come to what we need in our own necessary time. Hiding is one of the brilliant and virtuoso practices of almost every part of the natural world: the protective quiet of an icy northern landscape, the held bud of a future summer rose, the snow bound internal pulse of the hibernating bear.
Hiding is underestimated. We are hidden by life in our mother’s womb until we grow and ready ourselves for our first appearance in the lighted world; to appear too early in that world is to find ourselves with the immediate necessity for outside intensive care.
Hiding done properly is the internal faithful promise for a proper future emergence, as embryos, as children or even as emerging adults in retreat from the names that have caught us and imprisoned us, often in ways where we have been too easily seen and too easily named.
We live in a time of the dissected soul, the immediate disclosure; our thoughts, imaginings and longings exposed to the light too much, too early and too often, our best qualities squeezed too soon into a world already awash with too easily articulated ideas that oppress our sense of self and our sense of others.
What is real is almost always to begin with, hidden, and does not want to be understood by the part of our mind that mistakenly thinks it knows what is happening. What is precious inside us does not care to be known by the mind in ways that diminish its presence.
Hiding is an act of freedom from the misunderstanding of others, especially in the enclosing world of oppressive secret government and private entities, attempting to name us, to anticipate us, to leave us with no place to hide and grow in ways unmanaged by a creeping necessity for absolute naming, absolute tracking and absolute control.
Hiding is a bid for independence, from others, from mistaken ideas we have about our selves, from an oppressive and mistaken wish to keep us completely safe, completely ministered to, and therefore completely managed.
Hiding is creative, necessary and beautifully subversive of outside interference and control. Hiding leaves life to itself, to become more of itself. Hiding is the radical independence necessary for our emergence into the light of a proper human future.
Excerpted from David Whyte: "HIDING" in CONSOLATIONS: The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words
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TEST OF INTELLIGENCE
F. Scott Fitzgerald's test of intelligence: "the capacity to hold conflicting ideas in the mind at the same time and continue to function."
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PUT YOURSELF IN THE PATH OF BEAUTY
Essayist Elaine Scarry defines "the basic impulse underlying education" as the "willingness to continually revise one's own location in order to place oneself in the path of beauty."
I'd love that to be your educational strategy. I'd love you to forever be on the lookout for signs that beauty is near. Sound like a fun plan?
If so, do the research to find out where beauty might be hiding or ripening. Learn about what kinds of conditions attract beauty. Hang around beautiful infiuences.
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WHAT IF YOUR DESIRES ARE HOLY?
Listen to my brief meditation on the subject: bit.ly/1MPMODh
Here are excerpts:
Some religious traditions teach the doctrine, "Kill off your longings." In their view, attachment to desire is at the root of human suffering.
But the religion of materialism takes the opposite tack, asserting that the meaning of life is to be found in indulging desires. Its creed is, "Feed your cravings like a French foie gras farmer cramming eight pounds of maize down a goose's gullet every day."
At the Beauty and Truth Lab, we walk a middle path. We believe there are both degrading desires that enslave you and sacred desires that liberate you.
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Psychologist Carl Jung believed that all desires have a sacred origin, no matter how odd they may seem. Frustration and ignorance may contort them into distorted caricatures, but it is always possible to locate the divine source from which they arose.
In describing one of his addictive patients, Jung said: "His craving for alcohol was the equivalent on a low level of the spiritual thirst for wholeness, or as expressed in medieval language: the union with God."
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Psychotherapist James Hillman echoes the theme: "Psychology regards all symptoms to be expressing the right thing in the wrong way."
A preoccupation with porn, for instance, may come to dominate a passionate person whose quest for love has degenerated into an obsession with images of love.
"Follow the lead of your symptoms," Hillman suggests, "for there's usually a myth in the mess, and a mess is an expression of soul."
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Like all of us, you have desires for things that you don't really need and aren't good for you. But you shouldn't disparage yourself for having them, nor should you conclude that every desire is tainted.
Rather, think of your misguided longings as the bumbling, amateur expressions of a faculty that will one day be far more expert. They're how you practice as you work toward the goal of becoming a master of desire.
It may take a while, but eventually you will get the hang of wanting things that are really good for you, and good for everyone else, too.
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"The only way anyone is ever cured of desiring nonsensical things is by getting the nonsensical things and then experiencing the unpleasant but educational consequences."
—Ann Davies
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To become a master of desire, keep talking yourself out of being attached to trivial goals and keep talking yourself into being thrilled about the precious few goals that are really important.
Here's another way to say it: Wean yourself from ego-driven desires and pour your libido into a longing for beauty, truth, goodness, justice, integrity, creativity, love, and an intimate relationship with the Wild Divine.
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MY DAILY HOROSCOPES
Some people don't know that I write daily horoscopes, available as text messages sent to your cell or smart phone.
They're shorter than the weekly 'scopes, but on the other hand they're more frequent -- every day of the week.
My weekly horoscopes are free, but the dailies cost about 67 cents a day if you sign up for a subscription.
If you think you might enjoy getting regular bursts of inspiration from me to illuminate your adventures, check them out.
Go to RealAstrology.com. Register or log in. On the new page, click on "Subscribe / Renew" under "Daily Text Message Horoscopes" in the right-hand column.
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TOTALLY OPPOSED
I hate to have to contradict and paradox myself again, but I must make it very clear: I am totally opposed to duality. See more: tinyurl.com/TotallyOpposed
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THE FULL FEMININE
“Living without the full feminine for so many centuries, we don’t know what it would be like to live within a society where the feminine voice is not repressed, women’s bodies are not distorted, controlled or sold, and where both men and women live with balanced psyches.
"It’s as if humanity has lived with one side of its body atrophied. The return of the feminine may be the most significant development of the new millennium. Although there have been steps to begin this process it would naive to think the reintegration is by any means complete.”
~ Lama Tsultrim Allione
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BLACK WOMEN RUNNING FOR CONGRESS
In the US, here is a record number of Black women running for Congress in 2020. Black women have historically won majority-Black districts, but many now are running in mostly white or mixed districts.
tinyurl.com/y3ejpnbh
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THE GENIUS PROJECT
Michael Meade's "Genius Project": "Much has been said and written about having a vocation or calling in life; but often overlooked is the idea that a true calling is aimed at the genius qualities already set within each person. Most know that the call to awaken to a genuine path in life begins in youth; but fewer know that the calling keeps calling even in later life. Not only that, but in mythic terms, the Fountain of Youth that people have roamed the earth seeking waits to be found within oneself."
tinyurl.com/mduldjx
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MORE PRONOIA RESOURCES:
How to Keep Going. Embracing uncertainty may be the survival tactic that gets us through this.
tinyurl.com/yxt62knw
History Shows That Sustained, Disruptive Protests Work
tinyurl.com/y3u7lf7t
In The Wake Of Lockdowns Coal and Natural Gas May Look Like the Biggest Covid-19 Casualties
www.goodnewsnetwork.org/coal-and-gas-look-like-covid-19-casualties/
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For a lot more pronoiac resources and ideas, read my book Pronoia Is the Antidote for Paranoia: How the Whole World is Conspiring to Shower You with Blessings
Available at Barnes & Noble: tinyurl.com/PronoiaBN
Available at Amazon: bit.ly/Pronoia
A free preview of the book is available here: tinyurl.com/PronoiaPreview
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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
Week beginning August 13
Copyright 2020 by Rob Brezsny
FreeWillAstrology.com
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):
In the dictionary, the first definition of "magic" is "the art of producing illusions as entertainment by the use of sleight of hand and deceptive devices." A far more interesting definition, which is my slight adjustment of an idea by occultist Aleister Crowley, doesn't appear in most dictionaries. Here it is: "Magic is the science and art of causing practical changes to occur in accordance with your will—under the rigorous guidance of love." According to my analysis of the astrological omens, the latter definition could and should be your specialty during the next four weeks.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):
"The soul, like the moon, is new, and always new again," wrote 14th-century mystic poet Lalleswari. I will amend her poetic formulation, however. The fact is that the soul, unlike the moon, is always new in different ways; it doesn't have a predictable pattern of changing as the moon does. That's what makes the soul so mysterious and uncanny. No matter how devotedly we revere the soul, no matter how tenderly we study the soul, it's always beyond our grasp. It's forever leading us into unknown realms that teem with new challenges and delights. I invite you to honor and celebrate these truths in the coming weeks, Virgo. It's time to exult in the shiny dark riddles of your soul.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):
"I have one talent, and that is the capacity to be tremendously surprised," writes Libran author Diane Ackerman. I advise you to foster that talent, too, in the weeks ahead. If you're feeling brave, go even further. Make yourself as curious as possible. Deepen your aptitude for amazements and epiphanies. Cultivate an appreciation for revelations and blessings that arrive from outside your expectations. To the degree that you do these things, the wonderments that come your way will tend to be enlivening and catalytic; unpredictability will be fun and educational.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):
Author and theologian Frederick Buechner writes, "If we are to love our neighbors, before doing anything else we must see our neighbors. With our imagination as well as our eyes, we must see not just their faces but also the life behind and within their faces." The coming weeks will be prime time for you to heed Buechner's advice, Scorpio. You're in a phase when you'll have extra power to understand and empathize with others. Taking full advantage of that potential will serve your selfish aims in profound ways, some of which you can't imagine yet.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):
“Refine your rapture,” advised occultist Aleister Crowley. Now is an excellent time to take that advice. How might you go about doing it? Well, you could have a long conversation with your deep psyche—and see if you can plumb hidden secrets about what gives it sublime pleasure. You could seek out new ways to experience euphoria and enchantment—with an emphasis on ways that also make you smarter and healthier. You might also take inventory of your current repertoire of bliss-inducing strategies—and cultivate an enhanced capacity to get the most out of them.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):
Are you ready to make the transition from slow, deep, subtle, and dark to fast, high, splashy, and bright? Are you interested in shifting your focus from behind-the-scenes to right up front and totally out in the open? Would it be fun and meaningful for you to leave behind the stealthy, smoldering mysteries and turn your attention to the sweet, blazing truths? All these changes can be yours—and more. To get the action started, jump up toward the sky three times, clicking your heels together during each mid-leap.
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MAYBE JOY AND BLISS ARE CATALYTIC SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES
Assume that pleasure and happiness doesn't interfere with your spiritual growth, but may in fact stimulate it.
Proceed on the hypothesis that cultivating delight and wonder might make you a more ethical and compassionate person.
Imagine that feeling good has something important to teach you every day.
For inspiration in practicing this approach, tune in to your EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPES. They're four-to-five-minute meditations on the current state of your destiny.
To listen to your Expanded Audio Horoscope online, go to RealAstrology.com
Register and/or log in through the main page.
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The cost is $6 per sign online. (Discounts are available for bulk purchases.)
You can also listen over the phone by calling 1-877-873-4888. The cost is $1.99 per minute. Each forecast is 4-5 minutes long.
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"I always feel like I know myself better after listening to your audio 'scopes."
-June R., Austin, TX
"Your audio horoscopes calm me down when I'm too manic and pep me up when I'm down."
-Arthur T., Cleveland, OH
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AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):
Greenland is a mostly autonomous territory within the nation of Denmark. In 2019, US President Donald Trump announced that his government was interested in buying the massive island, describing it as "a large real estate deal" that would add considerable strategic value to his country. A satirical story in The New Yorker subsequently claimed that Denmark responded with a counter-offer, saying it wasn't interested in the deal, but "would be interested in purchasing the United States in its entirety, with the exception of its government." I offer this as an example for you to be inspired by. The coming weeks will be a favorable time for you to flip the script, turn the tables, reverse the roles, transpose the narrative, and switch the rules of the game.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):
Author Doris Lessing told us, "It is our stories that will recreate us." Whenever we're hurt or confused or demoralized, she suggested, we need to call on the imagination to conjure up a new tale for ourselves. "It is the storyteller, the dream-maker, the myth-maker, that is our phoenix," she believed. The fresh narratives we choose to reinvent ourselves may emerge from our own dreams, meditations, or fantasies. Or they might flow our way from a beloved movie or song or book. I suspect you're ready for this quest, Pisces. Create a new saga for yourself.
ARIES (March 21-April 19):
Motivational speaker Les Brown says his mission in life is to help people become uncomfortable with their mediocrity. That same mission is suitable for many of you Rams, as well. And I suspect you'll be able to generate interesting fun and good mischief if you perform it in the coming weeks. Here's a tip on how to make sure you do it well: Don't use shame or derision as you motivate people to be uncomfortable with their mediocrity. A better approach is to be a shining example that inspires them to be as bright as you are.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20):
Taurus musician and visual artist Brian Eno has a practical, down-to-earth attitude about making beautiful things, which he has done in abundance. He says that his goal is not to generate wonderful creations nonstop—that's not possible—but rather to always be primed to do his best when inspiration strikes. In other words, it's crucial to tirelessly hone his craft, to make sure his skills are constantly at peak capacity. I hope you've been approaching your own labors of love with that in mind, Taurus. If you have, you're due for creative breakthroughs in the coming weeks. The diligent efforts you've invested in cultivating your talents are about to pay off. If, on the other hand, you've been a bit lazy about detail-oriented discipline, correct that problem now. There's still time to get yourself in top shape.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20):
In his 2010 album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Gemini musician Kanye West confesses the decadent and hedonist visions that fascinate and obsess him. Personally, I'm not entertained by the particular excesses he claims to indulge in; they're generic and unoriginal and boring. But I bet that the beautiful dark twisted fantasies simmering in your imagination, Gemini, are more unique and intriguing. In accordance with astrological omens, I invite you to spend quality time in the coming weeks diving in and exploring those visions in glorious detail. Get to know them better. Embellish them. Meditate on the feelings they invoke and the possibility that they have deeper spiritual meanings. (P.S. But don't act them out, at least not now.)
CANCER (June 21-July 22):
"Make all your decisions based on how hilarious it would be if you did it," advises Cancerian actor Aubrey Plaza. I wish it were that simple. How much more fun we might all have if the quest for amusement and laughter were among our main motivating principles. But no, I don't recommend that you always determine your course of action by what moves will generate the most entertainment and mirth. Having said that, though, I do suspect the next few weeks may in fact be a good time to experiment with using Plaza's formula.
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HOMEWORK:
What is a blessing you can realistically believe life might bestow on you in the coming months? Testify at FreeWillAstrology.com.
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Submissions sent to Rob Brezsny's Astrology 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 submissions for length, style, and content. Requests for anonymity will be honored. We are not responsible for unsolicited submission of any creative material.
Contents of the Free Will Astrology Newsletter are Copyright 2020 Rob Brezsny
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