Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter http://ezezine.com
Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter
August 13, 2008
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http://FreeWillAstrology.com
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All night I could not sleep
Because of the moonlight on my bed.
I kept on hearing a voice calling:
Out of Nowhere, Nothing answered "yes."
- Zi Ye, translated by Arthur Waley, *A Hundred and Seventy Chinese
Poems*
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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:
RECEPTIVITY REMEDIES
Alert, relaxed listening is the radical act at the heart of our pronoiac
practice. Curiosity is our primal state of awareness. Wise innocence is a
trick we aspire to master. Open-hearted skepticism is the light in our
eyes.
*
If you choose to become a practitioner of pronoia, your life will suck. It
has to suck.
Let me explain. As you cultivate the arts of gathering and bestowing the
blessings that the universe is always conspiring to send your way, your
life will suck in the best senses of the word.
First, your life will suck in the same way that you use a straw to compel a
thick milk shake to disobey gravity and squirt into your mouth.
Metaphorical translation: You'll work hard to pull toward you the resources
you need, perhaps even exerting yourself with a force that goes against
the natural flow.
Your pronoiac life will suck in a second way: like a powerful vacuum
cleaner that inhales dirt from the floor and makes it disappear. You will
have a sixth sense about getting rid of messes that are contaminating
your clarity.
Here's a third interpretation: Once you commit yourself to the art of
pronoia, you will most likely develop an unusually dynamic form of
receptivity. Whether you're a man or woman, you'll be like a macho male
with a willful intention to be like a welcoming female. As a result, you'll be
regularly sucked into succulent opportunities you would never have come
upon if you had let your pop nihilistic conditioning continue to dominate
you. Your openness to uplifting adventures will make it easier for
serendipitous miracles to find you and draw you in.
Let's take one more poetic leap of faith as we meditate on the metaphor.
As you devote yourself to the art of making yourself available, your life
will suck in the way that movements of the mouth and lips and tongue
during close encounters with intimate partners stimulate pleasurable
feelings.
*
I've tried a wide variety of meditative practices from many traditions. I've
calmed myself through rhythmic breathing; watched with amusement as
the nonstop procession of images paraded across my mind; visualized
images of deities; cultivated unconditional love; chanted mantras; and
taken rigorous inventories to determine whether the integrity of my
actions matches my high ideals.
But in my years of study, I've never heard of a form of meditation that
would ask me to go to a public place, take my attention off myself, and
observe other people with compassionate objectivity. That's why I was
forced to invent it. Hereafter known as Sacred Eavesdropping, this
meditation builds one's ability to pray in the manner described by poet W.
H. Auden: "The definition of prayer is paying careful and concentrated
attention to something other than your own constructions."
*
Here's one of the Beauty and Truth Laboratory's favorite rules for
evaluating the information that comes our way: Assume that it's a blend
of truth and falsehood and every shade of half-truth in between. That
applies equally to stories in *The New York Times* and to the raving spiels
of the homeless Gulf War vet who hangs out at the local post office.
While I suspect that the *Times* has a much higher proportion of
accurate data, I can never be sure what distortions are embedded in its
reports. Its unconscious devotion to pop nihilism means that it routinely
ignores vast realms of human experience. And there are odd days when
the homeless guy's rants spit out gems of poetic wisdom that give me
the chills and change the way I understand the world.
Moral of the story: Useful messages may come from anywhere. I'm more
likely to recognize them if I'm simultaneously curious and discriminating.
*
Many of the debunkers who deride astrology have done no research on
the subject. They haven't read smart astrological philosophers like Dane
Rudhyar, don't know that seminal astronomer Johannes Kepler was a
skilled astrologer, and aren't aware that eminent psychologist C.G. Jung
cast horoscopes and believed that "astrology represents the summation
of all the psychological knowledge of antiquity." The closest approach the
fraudulent "skeptics" usually make to the ancient art is to glance at a
tabloid horoscope column. To match their carelessness, I might make a
drive-by of a strip mall and declare that the profession of architecture is
shallow and debased.
That's one reason why these ill-informed "skeptics" spread so many
ignorant lies. For instance, they say that astrologers think the stars and
planets emit invisible beams that affect people's lives. The truth is, most
Western astrologers don't believe any such thing.
Is there any way in which you engage in behavior similar to the lazy
debunkers? What subjects do you speak about with authority even
though you really don't know much about them? Do you ever spout
opinions about situations you've never experienced first-hand? Do you
pass judgment on ideas you've never studied and people you've never
spent time with? We all do these things -- I confess to being guilty of it
myself. But there is a cure.
. . . To read the rest of
"RECEPTIVITY REMEDIES," go here:
http://tinyurl.com/32zwl6
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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:
THE HIDDEN REALITY IS BEAUTIFUL AND INTERESTING
"The Power of Myth" series with Bill Moyers and Joseph Campbell
http://tinyurl.com/566lb9
http://tinyurl.com/6a9a3k
http://tinyurl.com/5k2ch2
http://tinyurl.com/5b7jnp
PRONOIA REQUIRES FIERCE DISCIPLINE
*The Return of the Prodigal Son* by Henri J. M. Nouwen
"I am not accustomed to rejoicing in things that are small, hidden, and
scarcely noticed by the people around me. I am generally ready and
prepared to receive bad news, to read about wars, violence, and crimes,
and to witness conflict and disarray. I always expect my visitors to talk
about their problems and pain, their setbacks and disappointments, their
depressions and their anguish. Somehow I have become accustomed to
living with sadness, and so have lost the eyes to see the joy and the ears
to hear the gladness that belongs to God and which is to be found in the
hidden corners of the world.
"I have a friend who is so deeply connected with God that he can see joy
where I expect only sadness. He travels much and meets countless
people. When he returns home, I always expect him to tell me about the
difficult economic situation of the countries he visited, about the great
injustices he heard about, and the pain he has seen. But even though he is
very aware of the great upheaval of the world, he seldom speaks of it.
When he shares his experiences, he tells about the hidden joys he has
discovered. He tells about a man, a woman, or a child who brought him
hope or peace. He tells about little groups of people who are faithful to
each other in the midst of all the turmoil. He tells about the small wonders
of God. At times I realize that I am disappointed because I want to hear
'newspaper news,' exciting and exhilarating stories that can be talked
about among friends. But he never responds to my need for
sensationalism. He keeps saying: 'I saw something very small and very
beautiful, something that gave me much joy.'
"This is a real discipline. It requires choosing for the light even when there
is much darkness to frighten me, choosing for life even when the forces
of death are so visible, and choosing for the truth even when I am
surrounded with lies. I am tempted to be so impressed by the obvious
sadness of the human condition that I no longer claim the joy manifesting
itself in many small but very real ways. The reward of choosing joy is joy
itself. Living among people with mental disabilities has convinced me of
that. There is so much rejection, pain, and woundedness among us, but
once you choose to claim the joy hidden in the midst of all suffering, life
becomes celebration. Joy never denies the sadness, but transforms it to a
fertile soil for more joy."
(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 August 14
Copyright 2008 by Rob Brezsny
http://FreeWillAstrology.com
Grammar key: Asterisks equal *italics*
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Douglas Engelbart got the idea for the computer
mouse in 1950 and actually invented it in 1964. But it was slow to be
recognized for the brilliant technology it was, and didn't begin to reach a
mass audience for another 20 years. Luckily, he was persistent, never
losing faith in his vision. I suspect you're on the cusp of a comparable
experience, Leo. One of your good ideas is either ahead of its time, or
beyond the capacity of your cohorts to imagine. I'm sure you won't have
to wait as long as Engelbart did, but the fruition of your brainchild may
take more time than you'd like. Let's see how dogged and determined you
can be.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Do you believe in invisible things? No? You say
you only trust information that comes to you through your five senses?
Then what's your position on radio waves, infrared light, electricity, and X-
rays? Do you believe in them, even though your senses have no contact
with them whatsoever? It's true that scientists have developed
instruments that detect those invisible things. But what if there are other
hidden forces and secret energies the scientists have yet to develop
instruments to find? Let these thoughts be the starting point for your
meditations in the coming week, Virgo. It's prime time for you to
recognize, engage with, and benefit from what has been concealed from
you up until now.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Twenty years ago, I ran for city council in Santa
Cruz, California. As one of my campaign promises, I told voters I would
regularly consult with the spirit of America's third president, Thomas
Jefferson, with whom I'd established a telepathic rapport. I fell a few
hundred votes short of winning a council seat, but I kept my pledge
anyway: I've been communing with Jefferson ever since. Last night I met
with him in my dreams. I told him you're in an astrological phase that's
favorable for seeking out new teachers and teachings, and I asked if he
had any advice. He suggested that you do what I do: Have conversations,
either in dreams or fantasies, with an historical figure you deeply respect.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The most striking feature on the planet
Jupiter is the Great Red Spot, a storm that resembles a giant unblinking
eye. It has lasted over 300 years and is wider than the planet Earth. I
invite you to regard it as your symbol of power in the coming weeks.
Think of it whenever you'd like to use your eyes to see in bigger and
better ways, or whenever you want to draw on the inspirational power of
a beautiful storm, or whenever you'd like to transform some disturbance
in your life into a long-lived source of dazzling energy.
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LISTEN TO AN EXPANDED HOROSCOPE
In addition to the horoscopes that you read here, I create additional in-
depth audio horoscopes for your inspiration.
They're not repeats or elaborations of the stuff you find here, but entirely
fresh explorations of your astrological omens, designed to help you tune
in to your soul's code.
Try them at http://RealAstrology.com.
They're available by phone at 1-877-873-4888
or 1-900-950-7700.
They're $6 if you access them on the Web, or $1.99 per minute over the
phone.
"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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SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): For over a decade, members of the
worldwide Garden Gnome Liberation Front have been stealing garden
gnomes from the yards of people's homes and relocating them into their
natural home in the forests. While I admire their pranks, I can't in good
conscience advise you to join their ranks. Your instinct for freedom is
exceptionally high these days, true, but it would be a shame to waste it
on helping inanimate objects. Instead, please devote your tremendous
emancipatory energies to practical causes and living beings.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): It's clear to me that a part of you needs to
come out of hiding. I'm not exactly sure what that means, though. Maybe
there's a talent you've buried that's ready to emerge into the light. It
could be that a question you've been trying to ignore is finally ripe to be
asked. Perhaps you've been stoically putting up with a tweaked situation
that you really should rise up and transform. What do you think it is,
Capricorn?
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): My favorite places on the Moon are the Sea
of Clouds, Sea of Fertility, Sea of Ingenuity, and Sea of Nectar. They're
not actual bodies of water. The old astronomers who named them didn't
know they were actually dark plains formed by ancient volcanic eruptions.
But the great thing about the moon is that it piques our imaginations and
massages our dreams as much as it speaks to our rational minds. And I
encourage you to take advantage of that power now. Here's one possible
way: Daydream a story about a heroic quest in which you acquire four
magical boons, one each at the Sea of Clouds, Sea of Fertility, Sea of
Ingenuity, and Sea of Nectar.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of the UK,
chose an unlikely context to propose marriage to his future wife: She was
kneeling in front of the toilet wielding a scrub brush. I expect a
comparable event in your near future, Pisces: An appealing invitation or
big opening will come your way while you're in a humble position. The only
advice I have is to put down your scrub brush before responding.
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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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ARIES (March 21-April 19): Golden Globe-winning actress Edith Evans had
some advice for actors who were just coming into their full power: "Don't
indulge yourself by showing off; the moment that you begin to find that
you can do something well, you must control it and do it more
selectively." This recommendation would serve you well in the coming
weeks, Aries, no matter what your work is. You have reached a higher
level of self-expression; you have achieved a degree of mastery in a skill
you've been struggling to learn. Now it's time to practice wielding your
new command with enhanced discernment and discipline. (Evans' quote
comes from John Gielgud's book *An Actor and His Time.*)
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): By the time Cal was seven years old, he was
lit up with a desire to know how things work. Sometimes that caused
problems. When he dismantled the toaster to examine its innards, for
instance, his parents reprimanded him. In a working-class family of 12
kids, losing a valued appliance caused a financial crunch. But Cal kept
taking things apart to understand them better. In time his research led
him to develop a skill for putting things back together again, often in
better shape than they were before he got a hold of them. As an adult,
Cal creates interactive robots that perform in shows all over the world;
he's a master builder. I hope you'll try a telescoped version of his story in
the coming week, Taurus: disassembling stuff in order to ultimately make
it work even better.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus advises his
disciples to be "as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves" as they
do their work in the world. (A different translation says "as wise as
serpents and harmless as doves.") That's the two-toned attitude I
suggest you embody in the coming week, Gemini. Evaluate every situation
with all the cunning at your disposal, but don't act like a scheming
strategist. Rather, be open-hearted and humble, almost child-like in your
willingness to see with fresh eyes. Mastering this combination will allow
you to avoid the pitfalls and reap the blessings of the paradoxes you
encounter.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): A teacher at an all-girl Japanese elementary
school decided her class would put on a performance of Snow White and
the Seven Dwarfs. But when she selected a certain student to play Snow
White, the parents of the other 24 kids went ballistic. Through a
campaign of harassment, they bullied the teacher into changing the script
so that there would be 25 Snow Whites, no dwarfs, and no wicked witch.
In my opinion, that's the wrong way to apply democratic principles. I'm
more anti-hierarchical than anyone I know, and yet even I would draw the
line at, say, no more than five Snow Whites. Please be vigilant for the
possibility that a similar misapplication of egalitarianism will take place in
your personal sphere. Make sure there's at least one dwarf.
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HOMEWORK: Every one of us creates something every day. Keep a list of
all the things you create this week, and send it to me. Testify by going to
http://FreeWillAstrology.com and clicking 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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to anyone.
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Contents of the Free Will Astrology Newsletter are Copyright
2008 Rob Brezsny
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