Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter http://ezezine.com
Rob Brezsny's Free Will Astrology Newsletter
"When you make the two one, and when you make the inside like the
outside and the outside like the inside, and the above like the below
and the below like the above, and when you make the male like the
female and the female like the male, then you will enter the Kingdom."
—Jesus Christ, *Gospel of Thomas
+
November 16, 2005
+
http://www.freewillastrology.com
+
PUBLIC APPEARANCES
On the radio: Saturday, November 19
In New York City: Sunday, November 20
Here are the details:
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19
West Coast Live radio show
10 am - noon
streamed live at www.KALW.org
I'll be on during the first hour
If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area you can see the show live at
the Freight and Salvage coffee house, 1111 Addison Street in Berkeley
(off University and San Pablo).
To get tickets, call 415-664-9500 or go to http://www.ticketweb.com
West Coast Live is aired in the S.F. Bay Area on KALW, 91.7 FM, as well
as 50 public radio stations nationwide, and the Sirius Satellite
Network. A list of affiliates and info about the show can be found at
http://www.WCL.org.
*
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20
8 pm
Continental
25 Third Avenue (between St. Marks Place & 9th St.)
New York, NY 10003
(212) 529-6924
http://www.continentalnyc.com
Also on the November 20 bill
is the Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping
http://www.revbilly.com/
********************************************
Here's an excerpt from my book
"PRONOIA IS THE ANTIDOTE FOR PARANOIA:
How the Whole World Is Conspiring to Shower You with Blessings"
available at
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1583941231/qid=1117646708/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-0132506-6764676?v=glance&s=books
or get direct links at http://www.freewillastrology.com
PRONOIA NEWS NETWORK
These are our top stories.
TOP SECRET MASS GATHERING
History's largest meeting of world religious leaders was virtually
unreported by the media. The top-secret event transpired in January
2002, when 200 representatives from every major faith gathered in
Assisi, Italy. At the end of the conference, they issued the Assisi
Decalogue for Peace, a document denouncing all violence committed in
the name of God or religion. It declared, "We commit ourselves to stand
at the side of those who suffer poverty and abandonment, speaking out
for those who have no voice, and to working effectively to change these
situations."
Eclipsing this rare outbreak of unity were many stories the media
deemed more important: Mike Tyson got his boxing license; John Walker
Lindh made a court appearance; the Enron hearings began. (Source: David
Waters, religion columnist)
+
EVOLUTION OF AN AXIOM
The fundamental laws of physics may evolve as the cosmos grows older.
That was the conclusion of a paper published by a team of
astrophysicists in the prestigious Physical Review Letters.
Using the giant Keck Telescope in Hawaii, the researchers investigated
the absorption of light by metal atoms in gas clouds billions of light
years away. Their results showed apparent variations in the value of
the "fine structure constant," which measures the strength of the
electromagnetic force that controls how electrons and photons interact.
The scientists were effectively looking back in time, gazing at light
that left its point of origin billions of years ago. The fine structure
constant seemed to be a smaller number then than it is now. Until their
study, this constant was thought to be as immutable as the speed of
light.
The implications are clear: If one supposed axiom has changed over
time, others may have done so also. (Source: James Glanz and Dennis
Overbye, "Anything Can Change, It Seems, Even an Immutable Law of
Nature," *New York Times,* August 15, 2001)
+
INTEGRITY INVENTORY
Finland, Iceland, and Denmark are the least corrupt nations, according
to Transparency International’s annual survey. (Source:
http://www.transparency.org/)
MIDWIFE GENIUS ABROAD
Around the age of 17, students in Denmark take a standardized test that
determines their educational fate and, ultimately, their career path.
In an article in *National Geographic,* raconteur Garrison Keilor noted
that Danish teens who earn a little less than the highest scores are
eligible to become physicists, chemists, and theologians. The very
smartest kids become doctors, psychologists, and midwives.
+
COSMOS-GENERATING INTIMACY
Western science and religion have differing views on how the universe
was created, but they agree that it happened a long time ago. The
mystery schools of the West, on the other hand, assert that the
universe is recreated anew in every moment through the divinely erotic
play of God and Goddess. They say that if we humans treat lovemaking as
an experimental sacrament, we can attune ourselves to the union of the
two primal deities and, in a sense, participate in the ongoing creation
of the world.
+
DOLPHIN LOVE CONSPIRACY
Jerry Langley likes to play his guitar for the spinner dolphins in
Maui's La Perouse Bay. They appreciate it. When he runs out of songs,
he often joins them for a convivial swim.
One day in 2003, a commotion at sea moved Jerry to interrupt his
concert. Paddling out for a closer look, he found a woman swimmer
surrounded by the dolphins. The normally friendly creatures had hemmed
her in, as if herding her. But when their buddy Jerry showed up, they
parted their tight circle to let him through, and he was able to escort
the woman back to shore.
The two hit it off instantly—she was a singer looking for a gig. They
began dating and eventually got married.
+
SIMPLE GIFTS
Habitat for Humanity is a grass roots organization devoted to
eliminating substandard housing and homelessness. During 2002, its
affiliates built or renovated 4,776 homes in the United States, and
11,545 elsewhere, mostly in South America, Africa, the Middle East, and
the Asia-Pacific region. Since its inception in 1976, it has
constructed 135,000 houses.
+
THIS WEEK IN PRONOIAC HISTORY
Lady Godiva was more than a seminal performance artist. She was also a
humanitarian and patron of the arts. When she doffed her clothes and
rode a white horse through the English town of Coventry in 1057, her
purpose was philanthropic. Her husband, the local assessor, had
promised to abolish all taxes on the local folk if she did the daring
deed.
+
This edition of PNN is brought to you by James Joyce's *Finnegans
Wake,* and especially this passage: "The Gracehoper was always jigging
ajog, hoppy on akkant of his joyicity."
+
There are hundreds more stories like this in *PRONOIA Is the Antidote
for Paranoia: How the Whole World Is Conspiring to Shower You with
Blessings*
To read other pieces from the book, go here:
http://freewillastrology.com/beauty/beauty.main145.shtml
To buy the book, use the links to Amazon.com and Powells, which are on
my homepage at http://www.freewillastrology.com
Or cut and paste the direct links below:
AMAZON
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1583941231/qid=1123690660/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-1737423-7631942?v=glance&s=books&n=507846
POWELLS
http://www.powells.com/biblio/2-1583941231-2
+
OTHER PRONOIA RESOURCES:
BOOK
*Crazy Wisdom* by Wes Scoop Nisker
PAINTING
"The Village and I" by Marc Chagall
WEBSITE
The Daily Grail
http://www.dailygrail.com
ARTICLE
"Evangelical Scientists Refute Gravity With New 'Intelligent Falling'
Theory"
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/39512
(Note: I endorse these because I like them. They're not advertisements,
and I get no kickbacks.)
Please tell me your own personal nominations for PRONOIA RESOURCES.
**********************************************
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
Week beginning November 17
Copyright 2005 by Rob Brezsny
http://www.freewillastrology.com
Grammar key: Asterisks equal *italics*
ARIES (March 21-April 19): The Kyoto Protocol is an international
treaty designed to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases and thereby
slow global warming. Though 157 nations have ratified it, a notable
exception has been the United States, which is the planet's leading
polluter. To their credit, millions of American citizens have launched
a grassroots movement to rebel against the federal government's
puzzling stubbornness. One hundred sixty-six cities have agreed to the
Kyoto Protocol. I suggest you take a similar approach in your own
sphere, Aries. When a powerful authority acts stupid or when a foggy
bureaucracy threatens to paralyze progress, take matters into your own
hands. Ignore the mediocrity at the top as you mobilize everyone else
to do what's right.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The *Fortean Times* reported on the odd case
of Dixie, a British donkey that brays backwards. Instead of the usual
hee-haw, she expresses herself with the sound of haw-hee. I nominate
her to be an inspirational role model for your own inner donkey in the
coming week, Taurus. Encourage that tireless, steady, hard-working part
of you to be playfully deviant, fond of reversals, and on the lookout
for upside-down and inside-out forms of expression--while still
remaining devoted to completing the demanding tasks at hand.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): "Motivation will almost always beat mere
talent," says businessman Norman R. Augustine. You've been a victim of
that fact on several occasions, Gemini. People with less skill than you
have won out because they had more raw drive than you. Now I'm alerting
you to the possibility that the same damn thing could happen again soon
unless you take vigorous action. Please ask your imagination to come up
with a batch of fresh, hot ideas for ramping up your ambition.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Antonio Favaro (1847-1922) edited a 20-volume
work that collected the writings of seminal astronomer Galileo Galilei.
"There's not the slightest doubt that Galileo was involved with
astrology," Favaro wrote. "He was famous for his great ability in that
art, so that distinguished people consulted him with complete
confidence, in many cases asking for horoscopes and predictions."
Celebrating the re-emergence of this lost truth, I hereby proclaim
Galileo to be my spiritual forefather and the patron saint of my
efforts to integrate the aims of science and mysticism. I urge you to
follow my lead, Cancerian. Forge new links to inspirational role models
from the past. Turbocharge your quest for success by drawing on the
example of those who fulfilled dreams that resembled yours. Connect
your destiny to heroes and teachers who remind you of you.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Psychotherapists talk about how each of us has a
false self and an authentic self. When we're in the grip of the false
one, we don't love ourselves unless other people love us. We're
addicted to status and other superficial standards of success, and we
chase after all sorts of meaningless desires that can't possibly bring
any lasting gratification. When we're anchored in our authentic self,
on the other hand, our motivations are rooted in a love of life. We
pursue our dreams because they're interesting and exciting, not in
order to impress anyone. The coming weeks will bring a showdown between
your false self and authentic self, Leo. If I were a betting man, I'd
put my money on the authentic one.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Actress Jennifer Connelly confessed to
*Esquire* magazine that she gets a lot done while enjoying conjugal
relations with her husband. "I like to read a book while having sex.
And talk on the phone. You can get so much done. If the room's dark
enough, I like to do some online shopping." In the coming week, Virgo,
I suspect you'll be tempted to indulge in a Connelly-style marathon of
multitasking. And though that might feel natural and wise, I'm here to
advise you against it. To place yourself in maximum alignment with
cosmic rhythms, you should specialize in diving deep into one
fascinating mission at a time.
**********************************************
AUDIO LOVE LETTERS
In addition to the horoscopes that come to you in this newsletter, I
create more in-depth audio horoscopes for your inspiration. I think of
them as my love letters to you. They're $6 if you access them on the
Web, or $1.99 per minute 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.
"Your expanded astrology thingees help me remember who I really am."
-Gareth N., Toronto
"I never knew it was possible to get my butt kicked and my head patted
at the same time -- until I listened to you, Rob." -Kristi P.,
Portland, OR
**********************************************
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Americans who decry the flow of "illegal"
immigrants into their country choose to ignore important details, like
for instance the fact that each year the illegals pay about $6.4
billion into the Social Security fund, [reserve, the nation's
collective retirement fund]. Use this as a starting point for your own
meditations in the coming week, Libra. Is there any way in which you
actually benefit from people or things you complain about? Are there
influences that you resist or oppose even though they ultimately
enhance your environment? Correct the flaws in your logic about your
adversaries and scapegoats.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In 1837, Frederick Froebel started the first
school for four and five year olds in Germany. He called it
"kindergarten," or child's garden, and made it into a paradisiacal
sanctuary where teachers read kids poetry and stories, led them in
singing songs, and oversaw them as they gardened and played outdoors.
Government authorities later shut the place down, citing the "dangerous
freedom" of the experiment. I expect you may soon run into comparable
opposition as you practice your own personal brand of "dangerous
freedom," Scorpio. How should you respond? Do whatever it takes to keep
your dream alive, even if it means you have to cool it for a while.
Just as the concept of kindergarten eventually revived and thrived, so
too must your innovation.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In ancient Greek mythology, Tantalus got
into trouble with the gods for spilling some of their secrets to human
beings. As punishment, he was condemned to spend eternity standing in a
pool of water surrounded by trees full of ripe pears, apples, and
pomegranates. Whenever he bent down to take a drink, the pool dried up.
When he reached out for a fruit, the branch would recede out of his
grasp. He was always parched and famished even though nourishment was
inches away. His name is the origin of the English word "tantalize."
There has been a situation in your life with a certain resemblance to
his, Sagittarius. Luckily, I see it ending soon. I'm not guaranteeing
that you will finally sip the water or eat the fruit, though that's a
possibility. At the very least, you'll be allowed to walk away from the
accursed place and start fresh elsewhere.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In their new book *The Truth Will Out:
Unmasking the Real Shakespeare,* Brenda James and William Rubinstein
make an interesting case for the theory that the real author of
Shakespeare's works was the diplomat and courtier Sir Henry Neville.
I'm not sufficiently knowledgeable about the subject to evaluate their
arguments, but I'm pretty sure that you will soon have a feeling
similar to what Neville might be having if he were alive. Some reward
or credit that has long been denied you will finally be yours.
Vindication is nigh.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): A few weeks ago, a teenage Chinese boy put
on a blindfold and walked backwards across a 650-foot steel cable
suspended over the lairs of lions and tigers at a zoo. If there is an
equivalent feat you've been dreaming about trying, Aquarius, you might
want to schedule it for the coming week. Luck and magic will be
available to you in abundance. Please keep in mind, though, that you'll
still need to perform your special skills with an excellence that
surpasses anything you've managed in the past.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): From 1989 through 1991, revolution swept
through the countries behind the Iron Curtain, bringing radical reform
in its wake. In the West, the closest modern approximation to this
outbreak was the insurrection that rocked France in 1968. At that time,
millions of students and workers led protests that brought business as
usual to a halt. One of the famous pieces of graffiti that appeared on
public walls during the uprising was "Be realistic: Demand the
impossible." I suggest you make that your slogan in the coming weeks,
Pisces. Imagine you have the power to instigate near-miraculous changes
as you fight to inject more of your highest ideals into the
institutions that affect you so much.
*********************************************
HOMEWORK:
What good old thing could you give up in order to attract a great new
thing into your life? Testify by going to
http://www.freewillastrology.com and clicking on "Email Rob."
*********************************************
NEED TO CHANGE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS?
To subscribe or unsubscribe to this newsletter, or to change the
address where you receive it, go to:
http://www.freewillastrology.com/newsletter/
Once you do subscribe, be sure to add my address,
televisionary@comcast.net, to your address book or spam filter
"whitelist" so that my newsletter won't be treated as spam and filtered
out. Or tell your company's IT group to allow this address to pass
through any filtering software they may have set up.
If my emails don't reach your inbox, you should also look in your "Bulk
Mail" or "Junk Mail" folder.
I totally respect your privacy. I'll never sell or give away your
address to anyone.
*********************************************
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
2005 Rob Brezsny
********************************************