Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter http://ezezine.com
Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter
June 4, 2008
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http://FreeWillAstrology.com
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MANIC SCREAMING
We should make all spiritual talk
Simple today:
God is trying to sell you something,
But you don't want to buy.
That is what your suffering is:
Your fantastic haggling,
Your manic screaming over the price.
- Hafiz, translated by Daniel Ladinsky, *I Heard God Laughing*
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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
Here's an excerpt:
EVIL IS BORING
When an old tree in the rain forest dies and topples over, it takes a long
time to decompose. As it does, it becomes host to new saplings that use
the decaying log for nourishment.
Picture yourself sitting in the forest gazing upon this scene. How do you
describe it? Would you dwell on the putrefaction of the fallen tree while
ignoring the fresh life sprouting out of it? If you did, you'd be imitating
the perspective of many modern storytellers, especially the journalists
and novelists and filmmakers and producers of TV dramas.
They devoutly believe that tales of affliction and mayhem and corruption
and tragedy are inherently more interesting than tales of triumph and
liberation and pleasure and ingenuity. Using the machinery of the media
and entertainment industries, they relentlessly propagate this covert
dogma. It's not sufficiently profound or well thought out to be called
nihilism. Pop nihilism is a more accurate term. The mass audience is the
victim of this inane ugliness, brainwashed by a multibillion-dollar
propaganda machine that in comparison makes Himmler's vaunted soul-
stealing apparatus look like a child's backyard puppet show.
At the Beauty and Truth Laboratory, we believe that stories about the rot
are not inherently more captivating than stories about the splendor. On
the contrary, given how predictable and omnipresent the former have
become, they are actually quite dull. Obsessing on evil is boring. Rousing
fear is a hackneyed shtick. Wallowing in despair is a bad habit. Indulging in
cynicism is akin to committing a copycat crime.
Most modern storytellers go even further in their devotion to the rot,
implying that breakdown is not only more interesting but far more
common than breakthrough. We reject this assumption as well. We don't
believe that entropy dominates the human experience. Even factoring in
the prevailing misery in the Middle East and Africa, we doubt that the
Global Bad Nasty Ratio ever exceeds 50 percent. And here in the West,
where most of you reading this live, the proportion is lower.
Still, we're willing to let the news media fill up half their pages and
airwaves and bandwidths with poker-faced accounts of decline and
degeneration. We can tolerate a reasonable proportion of movies and
novels and TV dramas that revel in pathology. But we also demand EQUAL
TIME for stories about integrity and joy and beauty and bliss and renewal
and harmony and love. That's all we ask: a mere 50 percent . . . .
For the rest of "EVIL IS BORING," excerpted from
*PRONOIA Is the Antidote for Paranoia,*
go here:
http://tinyurl.com/2crfdf
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To read 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
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OTHER PRONOIA RESOURCES:
SACRED ACTIVISM
"Sacred activism is the fusion of the mystic's passion for God with the
activist's passion for justice, creating a third fire, which is the burning
sacred heart that longs to help, preserve, and nurture every living thing."
"Andrew Harvey on Sacred Activism, the Divine Feminine, and Loving
George W. Bush" by Andrew Lawler in *The Sun*
http://tinyurl.com/6e7x9k
MUSIC TO OUTWIT CYNICISM BY
"I Love Everyone" by Phil Roy
from his album *The Great Longing*
http://tinyurl.com/6o6prc
GOD'S NOT SERIOUS?
*I Heard God Laughing* by Hafiz, translated by Daniel Ladinsky,
http://tinyurl.com/4fjkhd
ARCHIVES OF THESE PRONOIAC RESOURCES
This is a website that is in the process of archiving all the pronoaic
resources I call your attention to in this newsletter. The posts are
categorized and tagged, and there's built-in search.
http://pronoiaresources.wordpress.com
(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 June 5
Copyright 2008 by Rob Brezsny
http://FreeWillAstrology.com
Grammar key: Asterisks equal *italics*
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): "The truth is *always* more interesting that
your preconception of what it might be," says author Steven Levy.
Journalists "should not have the stories written out in their heads before
they report them. Preconceptions can blind you to the full, rich human
reality that awaits you when you actually listen to your subjects and
approach the material with an open mind." I think that's an excellent
strategy to use even if you're not a journalist -- and especially for you
right now, while you're in a phase when the healing shock of the new is
available everywhere you go.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Whatever you do, Cancerian, DON'T open the
door of that closet that hasn't been opened in years. DON'T poke your
nose into the funny business that has been going on behind the scenes.
DON'T peek inside Pandora's *other* box, or pick the fruit of temptation
off the tree of knowledge, or rush in, like a trusting fool, where angels
fear to tread. DON'T do any of these controversial, forbidden things, my
dear Crab -- unless you want to risk embarking on some enigmatic,
elemental, enlightening adventures.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): I happen to like *The Bees Made Honey in the
Lion's Skull,* a CD by sludge rockers Earth. But I'm not urging you to get
a copy of it so much as I'm suggesting that you carry out a metaphorical
equivalent of what the album's title describes. This is a perfect time for
you to create something sweet in a situation that once scared the sleep
out of you.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In the ancient text known as the *Sutra of
Forty-two Chapters,* the Buddha is quoted as saying, "My doctrine is to
think the thought that is unthinkable, to practice the deed that is
unperformable, to speak the speech that is inexpressible, and to be
trained in the discipline that is beyond discipline." Those happen to be
your tough assignments in the coming week, Virgo. You will actually have
a good chance at succeeding if you refuse to be excessively sober and
serious in your approach. The more fun you have and the more playful
your style is, the greater the likelihood is that you will pull off subtle yet
spectacular feats that may seem impossible to more no-nonsense people.
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LISTEN TO AN EXPANDED HOROSCOPE
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 audio horoscopes help me love myself better, and I mean that in a
non-narcissistic way."
-Deva P., Indianapolis
"I'm really grateful for the way you pick up my telepathic requests and
answer them in your expanded audio 'scopes."
-Marion H., Birmingham, AL
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LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): "Dear Dr. Brezsny: I love my weekly dose of
astrological wit, but I've got to say that if I had all the fun and revelry you
predict, I wouldn't be a morose meandering malcontent, as I am now. And
if I had even half of the flirting and romance that your prophecies
promise, I certainly wouldn't be home on Saturday nights playing World of
Warcraft. I must conclude that you're living in a different dimension than I
am. So how do I get over there to where you are? - Up-in-the-Air Libra."
Dear Up-in-the-Air: Funny you should mention this. Due to a rare crack in
the space-time continuum, there's currently a wormhole between my
dimension and the dimension where up-in-the-air Libras live. Come on
over! You'll know you're near the portal when you feel an urge to
exuberantly leap up off your feet for no reason.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Please join me in a boycott of horoscope
columns and astrology books that insinuate all Scorpios are cruel,
perverted, power-mad jealousy freaks. Let's refuse to read those
propagandists until they cease and desist from brainwashing the masses
into directing bigotry toward your tribe. It's true that there are some less-
evolved Scorpios who speed up their cars to run over small animals and
treat romance as a game in which there can be only one winner. But do
we demonize all scientists simply because a few mad physicists created
weapons of mass destruction? Of course not. I hereby proclaim June to
be Scorpio Pride Month -- a time to celebrate your winning qualities,
especially your unparalleled skill at helping to activate the dormant
potentials of people you care about. Promise me you'll do that even more
intensely than usual.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): "Take time to stop and smell the
flowers," says an old homily. Albert Hoffman, the Swiss scientist who
discovered LSD and lived to age 102, had a different approach. "Take the
time to stop and *be* the flowers," he said. That's my advice to you,
Sagittarius. Don't just set aside a few stolen moments to sniff the
snapdragons, taste the rain, chase the wind, watch the hummingbirds,
and listen to a friend. Use your imagination to actually BE the
snapdragons and rain and wind and hummingbirds and friend. It's time to
not just behold the Other, but to *become* the Other.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): What Martin Luther King Jr. said about
epic struggles in the political arena is also apt for you in your private life,
especially now: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do
that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." I recommend
that you translate his advice into the intimate details of your
relationships. If you really do that with the irresistible force of your
burning conviction, you will prove another one of King's excellent
thoughts: "Unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word
in reality."
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LISTEN TO AN EXPANDED HOROSCOPE
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.
"The best part about your audio horoscopes is that they pat me on the
head and kick me in the ass at the same time." - Rita L., San Diego
"Your audio oracles go beyond helping me find the truth -- they inspire
me to find the WILD truth." - Patrick K., Montreal
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AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Scientists used to believe that a butterfly
has no recollection of its previous life as a caterpillar. The pupa breaks
down into primal goo during its metamorphosis, they said, erasing all
trace of its caterpillar brain. But new research suggests that there is in
fact continuity. At least some of what the caterpillar learned remains
available to the butterfly. As you carry out your own personal mutation in
the coming months, Aquarius, I believe you will experience a similar
process, thus ensuring that the New You has most of the wisdom that the
Old You possessed.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): It's Blame All Your Problems on God Week.
You have license to shun responsibility for the pain you feel and the
messes you've made, and instead ascribe it all to the Divine Mischief
Maker. The secret of achieving success in this enterprise is to act as if
your dilemmas really do have nothing to do with anything you've done,
but have been entirely caused by God's mistakes, his intentional cruelty,
or his wicked sense of humor. By the way, Accept Total Responsibility for
Your Problems Week is coming up next, and to observe that holiday
correctly you will have to be thoroughly sincere about this week's. P.S.
It's crucial that you really do blame everything on God, and not on actual
human beings. P.P.S. If you're an atheist, it's Blame All Your Problems on
Your Parents Week.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Since authoring the book *Brazen Careerist:
The New Rules for Success,* Penelope Trunk has written a blog that
offers further advice. Recently she wrote about a subject I'd love for you
to think about: mentors. You're in a phase when you have a heightened
knack for identifying and attracting and learning from the guides you
need. Here's one of Trunk's most crucial points: To take maximum
advantage of your teachers, ask them what questions you should be
asking them. Don't assume you always know what you need to find out.
(You can read Trunk's post at tinyurl.com/5ofj9x.)
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): "Woodsman Claims: 'Lady Bigfoot Kept Me as
Her Love Slave!'" That was the headline of a report in the *Weekly World
News.* In addition to providing fascinating details about the man's
captivity, the article also had a helpful section on the jobs most likely to
get someone kidnapped by a female sasquatch. They included lumberjack,
surveyor, landscape artist, and ornithologist. In my astrological opinion,
that list should be amended, at least for the next few weeks, to note that
*Taurus* lumberjacks, surveyors, landscape artists, and ornithologists are
especially susceptible. Why do I say that? Because according to my
projections, many of you Tauruses will be swept up in or profoundly
influenced by powerful feminine energy.
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HOMEWORK: Talk yourself into being proud about something you've
always felt sheepish or shy about. Go to http://FreeWillAstrology.com
and click on "Email Rob."
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WANT TO GET YOUR CHART DONE?
I'm not doing personal charts, but I highly recommend my 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://YourSoulJourney.com
She can also be reached at roloughran@comcast.net
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Contents of the Free Will Astrology Newsletter are Copyright
2008 Rob Brezsny
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