Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter http://ezezine.com
Rob Brezsny's Free Will Astrology Newsletter
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September 1, 2004
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http://www.freewillastrology.com
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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
Week beginning September 2
Copyright 2004 by Rob Brezsny
www.freewillastrology.com
Grammar key: Asterisks equal *italics*
ARIES (March 21-April 19): With gleeful regularity, the tabloids have been
publishing photographic proof that numerous female celebrities have
cellulite. Recent additions to the list include 23-year-old Christina Aguilera
and 22-year-old Britney Spears. I predict that this trend will lead to a
revolutionary shift in perception: Cellulite will be regarded as a mark of
beauty-a seductive tattoo provided by nature itself. Many women will
actively seek to cultivate it. I urge you to adapt this vignette as your
official metaphor of the week, Aries. Take something you've thought of
as a weakness or embarrassment, and turn it into an asset.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): After consulting with my think tank, I've
decided to temporarily decommission the bull as your power animal. Until
the equinox, the rabbit will take its place. It's the only creature that
makes symbolic sense for you right now, when both your libido and
fertility are turned up to record levels. There's also another reason why
the rabbit suits you. In many mythic traditions, the creature is regarded
as a crafty trickster that uses playful stratagems to turn every situation
to its advantage. This approach should be your modus operandi in the
coming weeks.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Historians estimate that at least 25 percent of
all the gold ever mined lies at the bottom of the oceans, stuck inside
ships that have sunk. Similarly, Jungian psychologists believe that in the
depths of our psyches, there are great treasures moldering away,
unclaimed by our conscious egos. For you Geminis, this September is the
diving season - the time when you're most likely to be successful if you
descend into the murky abyss and try to retrieve those lost riches.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): The Cassini-Huygens spacecraft has been
flying around the planet Saturn recently. Reporting on its explorations, a
story in *USA Today* had the headline, "Saturn Offers More Mystery, Less
Certainty." I photocopied it and sent it to my astrological colleagues,
many of whom suffer from a misguided certainty about Saturn's meaning.
They dogmatically insist it's a harbinger of contraction and limitation--an
oppressive tyrant sucking the fun out of life. But my research suggests
the real story is more complex. Saturn can actually be a benevolent guide
that pushes you to be more true to yourself. It helps you shed mediocre
pleasures and trivial goals that distract you from your high-priority
dreams. It forces you to be ruthlessly honest about what's most
important to you. I wanted you to know these fun facts, Cancerian, since
the ringed planet is in your sign, and will remain there, nudging you to
develop the discipline that leads to more freedom, until July, 2005.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In 1810, an inventor in London originated the
technique of sealing food in tin cans to keep it fresh. His idea came into
wide use in 1846, when companies began to mass-produce food in cans.
But there was no such thing as a can opener until 1858. For 12 years,
then, consumers had to make awkward use of hammers and chisels to
liberate their food from the new-fangled containers. This story line is an
apt metaphor for your current situation, Leo. Some time ago, you got
hold of a potentially valuable resource, but you have yet to discover how
to make it work for you in the best possible way. The coming weeks
should change that, though. I bet you'll finally find or create your
equivalent of the can opener.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In Greek mythology, Narcissus was the
gorgeous demigod who had no desire for intimate relationships but fell
desperately in love with his own reflection. From his name comes the
word "narcissist," which refers to a person who is excessively self-
involved, has an inflated sense of importance, and compulsively craves
admiration. I've always suspected that Virgos are the least narcissistic
sign in the zodiac. Many of you underestimate your self-worth and don't
treat yourself with enough loving kindness. In fact, I sometimes get a
mischievous urge to advise you to be *more* of a narcissist - like now,
for instance. Here's an experiment I wish you would do: Spend 20 minutes
in front of a mirror telling yourself how beautiful you are.
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EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPES
Since I put all my heart and soul into the written horoscopes I send out in
this newsletter, they're pretty nutritious. You may never need any of the
other stuff I create.
But if you ever do crave an added boost, you may want to sample my
Expanded Audio Horoscopes. They're different in tone and intent than the
written scopes, imbued with a little more of the psychologist in me, and a
little less of the poet.
The Expanded Audio horoscopes cost $6 if you access them on the Web
via RealAudio, or $1.99 per minute if you want them over the phone.
For Web access, go here:
http://www.relationshipnetwork.com/horo/index.asp?client_id=50700
From the United States, call
1-900-950-7700
or if you prefer to pay by credit card
1-877-873-4888
If you live in Canada, call 1-888-499-4425 to purchase a Block of Time
with your credit card.
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LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Libran author William Faulkner (1897-1962)
regarded his book, *The Sound and the Fury,* as his "most splendid
failure." For a long time, the public didn't do much to dissuade him from
that view. The book sold just 3,300 copies in the 15 years after it was
published, and by that time most of Faulkner's other books were out of
print. I believe the current state of your fate has some resemblances to
that time in his life. On the other hand, your destiny in the next 12
months will have more in common with what happened for Faulkner in
1949, when he won the Nobel Prize for Literature, and sales began to
pick up. Just as *The Sound and the Fury* had much to do with his award,
I believe one of your own "splendid failures" will be a key to the
renaissance you'll enjoy.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In reviewing the film, "Catwoman," the *San
Francisco Chronicle's* Mick LaSalle coined a phrase that describes a mood
many of you Scorpios are now prone to: festive pessimism. Frankly, my
dear, I would love to talk you into shedding that state. It may give you an
aura of murky intrigue, but it's so much less than what the astrological
omens say you could possess. The fact of the matter is that the cosmos
wants to bless you with an abundance of emotional riches right now. If
you agree to suspend some of your jaded attitudes and cynical ideas,
you'll be showered with experiences that will justify a full-blown outbreak
of festive optimism.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Soon the stakes will be higher, the
rewards greater, and the judges tougher. You'll have a chance to show
who you *really* are in a bigger, bolder way, and that will be exhilarating.
But you'll also be *expected* to show who you *really* are in a bigger,
bolder way, which could be daunting. The key to success is for you to
concentrate so hard on the fun parts of the challenge that you'll render
the scary parts irrelevant.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Between North and South Korea is a long,
narrow strip of land called the DMZ. Designed to be a buffer zone where
all human activity is prohibited, it has accidentally become a nature
preserve beloved by white-naped cranes. The area is a paradise for the
birds because it has an abundance of undisturbed marshland and is free of
predators. Luckily, the cranes are so lightweight that they're in no danger
of detonating the many land mines buried throughout the 370-square -
mile area. Everything I just described is an apt metaphor for a situation or
state of mind that's now available for your use, Capricorn.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): "If you want to give God a good laugh, tell
Him your plans." So says an old Yiddish proverb. While that rule often
holds true for most people, I believe you'll be exempt from it in the
coming weeks. God is currently very receptive to your schemes, especially
if they emphasize your readiness to give more beauty, truth, and love to
the world. In fact, the more precisely you formulate an intention to be
generous and soulful in everything you do, the more likely it is that the
Creator will laugh *with* you, not *at* you, and cheerfully conspire to
assist you.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): "Creativity is allowing yourself to make
mistakes," says "Dilbert" cartoonist Scott Adams. "Art is knowing which
ones to keep." According to my analysis of the astrological omens, Pisces,
August was your time to embody the first part of Adams' formula. During
these past few weeks, I hope you gave yourself permission to unleash
many fertile booboos. September, on the other hand, should be devoted
to carrying out Adams' second proposal. Which of August's missteps
might have marked the raw, imperfect appearance of ideas that will
eventually turn out to be useful and brilliant?
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HOMEWORK:
Imagine that ten years from now you might want a new career or line of
work. What will it be? Testify by going to www.freewillastrology.com and
clicking on "Email Rob."
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WANT TO GET YOUR CHART DONE?
I'm not doing charts these days. In addition to writing my weekly column
and expanded audio horoscopes, I'm also working on a book and CD.
But I can recommend a colleague whose astro-aesthetics closely match
my own. She's RO LOUGHRAN.
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. In addition to over 20 years of
astrological experience, Ro is also a licensed psychotherapist, allowing her
to integrate psychological insight with the cosmological perspective that
astrology offers.
Ro is based in California, but can do phone consultations and otherwise
work with you regardless of geographic boundaries.
Ro's website is at
http://www.astrology-psychotherapy.com/
She can also be reached at roloughran@comcast.net
Namaste,
Rob
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Contents of the Free Will Astrology Newsletter are Copyright
2004 Rob Brezsny
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