Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter http://ezezine.com
Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter
September 12, 2007
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http://FreeWillAstrology.com
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"As is demonstrated by a wealth of historical examples, every form of
fanaticism, every dogma and every type of compulsive one-sidedness is
finally overthrown by precisely those elements which it has itself
repressed, suppressed, or ignored."
- Erich Neumann, *Depth Psychology and a New Ethic*
"The shadow, which is in conflict with the acknowledged values, cannot
be accepted as a negative part of one's own psyche and is therefore
projected -- that is, it is transferred to the outside world and experienced
as an outside object. It is combated, punished, and exterminated as 'the
alien out there' instead of being dealt with as one's own inner problem."
- Erich Neumann, *Depth Psychology and a New Ethic*
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
My book
"PRONOIA IS THE ANTIDOTE FOR PARANOIA:
How the Whole World Is Conspiring to Shower You with Blessings"
is available for sale at http://tinyurl.com/qaj62
To read news and features from the book, go here:
http://tinyurl.com/lhwx2
Here's an excerpt:
80 PERCENT RULE
Readers of my horoscope column "Free Will Astrology" are sometimes
surprised when I say I only believe in astrology about 80 percent. "You're
a quack?!" they cry. Not at all, I explain. I've been a passionate student of
the ancient art for years. About the time my overeducated young brain
was on the verge of desertification, crazy wisdom showed up in the guise
of astrology, moistening my soul just in time to save it.
"But what about the other 20 percent?" they press on. "Are you saying
your horoscopes are only partially true?"
I assure them that my doubt proves my love. By cultivating a tender,
cheerful skepticism, I inoculate myself against the virus of fanaticism. This
ensures that astrology will be a supple tool in my hands, an adaptable art
form, and not a rigid, explain-it-all dogma that over-literalizes and distorts
the mysteries it seeks to illuminate.
*
During the question-and-answer segment of one of my performances, an
audience member got hostile. "Why do you diss science so much?" he
complained. "Science is the source of a lot of pronoia, so I would think
you'd love it."
My accuser obviously hadn't read much of my work. Otherwise he'd have
gathered many clues that belied his theory. In my column, for instance, I
often quote reverently from peer-reviewed scientific journals like *Nature*
and *Scientific American.* And I regularly extol the virtues of the
scientific method. "Some of my best friends are scientists," I teased the
heckler.
The fact is, I critique science no more than I do all of the systems of
thought I respect and use. I believe in science about 80 percent--the
same as I do in astrology, psychology, Deconstructionism, feminism,
Qabalah, Buddhism, left-wing political philosophy, and 22 others.
I do think science has the greatest need of loving skepticism, though. As
the dominant ideology of our age, it has a magisterial reputation
comparable to the infallibility accorded to the medieval Church. Its priestly
promoters sell it as the ultimate arbiter of truth; as an approach to
gathering and evaluating information that trumps all others.
Here's another problem: Though science is an elegant method of
understanding the world, only a minority of its practitioners live up to its
high standards. The field is dominated by men motivated as much by
careerism and egotism as by a rigorous quest for excellence. This is
common behavior in all spheres, of course, but it's a special problem for a
creed that the intellectual elite promotes as the premier method for
knowing the truth.
There's a further complication: Scientists are no less likely to harbor
irrational biases and emotional fixations than the rest of us. They purport
to do just the opposite, of course. But in fact they simply hide their
unconscious motivations better, aided by the way the scientific
establishment relentlessly promotes the myth that its practitioners are in
pure service to objective truth. This discrepancy between the cover story
and the actual state of things is, again, a universal tendency, not confined
to science. But it's particularly toxic in a discipline that presents itself as
the very embodiment of dispassionate investigation.
There are many scientists who, upon reading these words, might
discharge a blast of emotionally charged, non-scientific derision in my
direction. Like true believers everywhere, they can't accept half-hearted
converts. If I won't buy their whole package, then I must be a
superstitious, fuzzy-brained, New Age goofball.
To which I'd respond: I love the scientific approach to understanding the
world. I aspire to appraise everything I experience with the relaxed yet
eager curiosity and the skeptical yet open-minded lucidity characteristic
of a true scientist.
*
SACRED ADVERTISEMENT
"The 80 Percent Rule" is brought to you by this excerpt from Deena
Metzger's prayer:
"Let us learn the secret language of light again. Also the letters of the
dark. Learn the flight patterns of birds, the syllables of wolf howl and bird
song, the moving pantomime of branch and leaf, valleys and peaks of
whale calls, the long sentences of ants moving in unison, the
combinations and recombinations of clouds, the codices of stars. Let us,
thus, reconstitute the world, sign by sign and melody by melody.
"Let us sing the world back into the very Heart of the Holy Name of God."
--Deena Metzger, *Prayers for a Thousand Years,* edited by Elizabeth
Roberts and Elias Amidon
++++++++++++++++++++++++
To read other news and features from my book, go here:
http://tinyurl.com/lhwx2
You can buy the book here:
AMAZON
http://tinyurl.com/qaj62
POWELLS
http://tinyurl.com/3dsx6q
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
OTHER PRONOIA RESOURCES:
SMART QUESTIONS TO SUPERCHARGE YOUR LIFE
"One of the most effective ways to achieve success is to ask yourself the
right questions. So why not ask yourself smart questions that will make
you happier, more confident, more powerful, and more successful?"
http://tinyurl.com/38f2jn
INTUITION IS GAINING CREDIBILITY
*Gut Feelings: The Intelligence of the Unconscious* by Gerd Gigerenzer
"Gerd Gigerenzer locates specific strategies that the unconscious mind
uses to solve problems. These are not impulsive or capricious responses,
but evolved methods that lead to superior choices."
http://tinyurl.com/ytk89r
STILL FREE
Marc Ecko Tags Air Force One
http://tinyurl.com/3byqjz
http://www.stillfree.com/
(Note: I endorse these because I like them. These are not advertisements,
and I get no kickbacks.)
Please tell me your own personal nominations for PRONOIA RESOURCES.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
Week beginning September 13
Copyright 2007 by Rob Brezsny
http://FreeWillAstrology.com
Grammar key: Asterisks equal *italics*
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Writing in Salon.com, Scott Rosenberg recalled
how in his youth he loved to play the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons
& Dragons. "You'd have to choose not one but two 'alignments' for your
character," he mused. "Good and evil, of course, but also 'law' and
'chaos.' And among the people I ran with, 'chaotic/good' was the thing to
be, because it let you trust other people and still have fun." Your
assignment in the coming week, Virgo, is to adopt the "chaotic/good"
approach for the character you will be playing in your actual life.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Plagued by back problems, my friend Eduardo
went to a psychic healer in Brazil. He got his treatment while seated on a
chair in a room crowded with other patients. The shaman massaged
Eduardo's spine for a few minutes. Suddenly, out of nowhere, streams of
black mud appeared all over his back. Was this some sort of stage magic?
The healer announced that the mud had been the cause of the pain, and
that he had exorcised it from Eduardo's body. My friend rested there a
while, musing on the improbable event that had apparently happened, and
enjoying a new feeling of ease in his back. His bewilderment at the
mystery of his own cure turned to stupefaction when he saw what the
shaman pulled from the next patient's belly: an old shoe. Now here's an
odd coincidence, Libra: One of the best gifts you can give yourself right
now is to visualize a psychic healer (or your guardian angel) removing a
load of mud and an old shoe from your body.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The experiment I'm proposing is something
you should try only if you're feeling adventurous. Don't do it if you're in a
timid or self-pitying mood. Here it is. Empty yourself out completely, and
do it gladly. With impish daring, lower your expectations all the way down
to zero. Surrender every remnant of hope you might be tempted to cling
to. With a jaunty nonchalance, pretend you have nothing to lose. And
then open an enormous welcome in your heart for the messy,
unpredictable sweetness of life exactly as it is. Say yes to the beauty of
ambiguity and paradox. Free yourself to accept every person and every
situation on its own terms. If you try what I've suggested, I bet you will
be united with a potent blessing you didn't even know you needed.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Right now you have what it takes to be
a liberator. You can free people who are enslaved to their fears. You could
also be a bridge-builder who provides wandering souls with the means to
escape from of the middle of nowhere. If you're feeling especially heroic,
you might even be able to serve as both a liberator and bridge-builder. To
do so would almost certainly require you to be more of a leader than
you've ever been before. But if I'm reading the astrological omens
correctly, you have more than enough cosmic juju at your disposal to do
just that.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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.
Try them at http://RealAstrology.com.
They're available by phone at 1-877-873-4888
or 1-900-950-7700.
"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
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): "Dear Rob: In your book 'PRONOIA,' you
say, 'The universe always gives us exactly what we need, exactly when we
need it.' I have a different view. I often find that I disagree with what the
Universe decides is best for me. But that turns out to be a good thing.
It's fun for me to always be arguing with God! I learn a lot and generate a
lot of high energy from trying to outmaneuver the divine will. What do
you think about that? -Cagey Capricorn." Dear Cagey: Whatever works! I
think your approach may be especially useful for your fellow Capricorns to
try now. Thanks for articulating it.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): I want to call your attention to the title of a
Christian-themed inspiration book by John Ortberg: *If You Want to Walk
on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat.* You don't really need to
read it, because simply meditating on the theme will yield all the insight
you need. To jumpstart your intuition, I'll add a corollary: If you want to
talk to a burning bush, you should initiate the conversation. Don't wait for
the bush to break the ice.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): "Dear Rob: I love your compassionate
contrarianism. Your horoscopes are so spiritual they're practical. They're
so earthy they're cosmic. They're anti-hero horoscopes for heroes, or
maybe heroic horoscopes for anti-heroes. Here's my question: Do you
have any advice for my psychotherapist? You're doing a better job than
he is, and I'd like to give him some tips from you. -Pisces Gamer." Dear
Gamer: Tell your psychotherapist that what you Pisceans need these days
is a dose of *reversalism.* That means you should experiment freely with
seeing the other side of every story and tuning in to the opposite of what
you've tried before.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
AUDIO HOROSCOPES
In addition to the horoscopes that you're reading here, I create more in-
depth audio horoscopes for your inspiration. Find out more at
http://RealAstrology.com.
The audio horoscopes are also available by phone at 1-877-873-4888 or
1-900-950-7700.
"You told me the truth when no one else in my life would." -Darren H.,
Minneapolis
"Your wake-up calls keep me from getting stale." -Arris T., Aspen, CO
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Metaphorically speaking, I foresee glacier ice
melting and molten rock flowing in your immediate future, Aries. I expect
that hard solids will become fluid; permanent fixtures will be in flux. This is
a good thing, believe me. Though it may unnerve you at first, you will
have the power to change things you never thought could be changed in
a hundred years. You will have the freedom to create new vessels for
energy that has outgrown its old vessels.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Here's the problem as I see it: You're not
feeling sufficiently confident to trust your unique insights, and so you
haven't dared to communicate them. But it's crucial that you do speak
up. Even though you may not be as knowledgeable about the big picture
as other people are, you possess a missing piece of the puzzle that
they've got to have. You may even be an outsider or a latecomer with
relatively little credibility in the eyes of those in the inner circle, but still:
You know something they don't know and need to know.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): "I wish I had a holy grail to quest for, even it
was really small," writes my Gemini reader Marta, who describes herself as
a "wannabe Prometheus." I have good news for her, as well as for all the
rest of you wannabe Prometheans who have been pining for a raison
d'etre, a burning desire, or a-not-quite-impossible dream to throw yourself
into with 110 percent commitment: Look out of the corners of your eyes
to spot the strange attractor (also known as the unauthorized magic)
that is bobbing ever-so-seductively on the far horizon.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): According to a report in "The Onion,"
behavioral scientists in Chicago have proved that many people are in fact
*not* entitled to their opinions. "On topics from evolution to immigration
reform, we found that 38 percent of the opinions people expressed were
so off-base and ill-informed that they actually hurt society by being
voiced," said one researcher. I'm betting, however, that only a small
proportion of these unfounded beliefs and spurious theories will originate
from Cancerians in the coming weeks. Your tribe is likely to be more
scrupulous in your data-gathering and more rigorous in your reasoning
than the rest of the population. In fact, I suggest you regard yourself as a
role model whose job it is to demonstrate the beauty of thinking deeply.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Can you feel the moon tugging at the fluids in
your body? Usually, you can't. Are you aware of how large-scale cultural
influences affect your day-to-day rhythms? Again, that's typically beyond
your capacity to sense in any immediate way. But this week, you just
might be able to do both of those things. You're more attuned than usual
to the subtle currents that are unfolding within you. You're also more
alert to the impact that big cosmic energies and long-term historical
trends are making on your unconscious mind. I advise you to take
maximum advantage of this extra sensitivity. You could discover
important clues about how to position yourself to thrive in the face of
upcoming social transformations. (P.S. Listen reverently to the secrets
your body tells you.)
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HOMEWORK: Compose an exciting prayer in which you ask for something
you're not "supposed" to. Tell me by going to
http://www.RealAstrology.com; click on "Email Rob."
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WANT TO GET YOUR CHART DONE?
I'm not doing personal charts these days, but I highly recommend my
favorite astrological colleague, RO LOUGHRAN. Her approach closely
matches my own. In our many discussions about astrology over the years,
we've had a major influence on each other's work.
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.
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.YourSoulJourney.com
She can also be reached at roloughran@comcast.net
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Contents of the Free Will Astrology Newsletter are Copyright
2007 Rob Brezsny
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