Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter http://ezezine.com
Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter
January 21, 2009
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http://FreeWillAstrology.com
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"There is a muscular energy in sunlight corresponding to the spiritual
energy of wind."
-Annie Dillard
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WHAT'S TO COME?
BRAINSTORM ABOUT THE BIG PICTURE OF YOUR LIFE
with the help of my
Expanded Audio Horoscopes for the Coming Year
Go to http://RealAstrology.com
You can still listen to my long-range, in-depth explorations of your destiny
in 2009. Each report in the three-part series is about 6-9 minutes long.
What will be the story of your life in 2009? How can you exert your free
will to create the adventures that'll bring out the best in you, even as you
find graceful ways to cooperate with the tides of destiny?
If you'd like a high-octane boost of inspiration to fuel you in your quest
for beauty and truth and love and justice and meaning, tune in to my
meditations on your long-term outlook.
A new short-range forecast for this week is also available.
To find out more about Your BIG PICTURE horoscopes, go to
http://RealAstrology.com.
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Dear Readers,
I agree with much of the letter below, written to President Obama by
IntegralLife.com founder Robb Smith. He offers up the hypothesis that
today, January 20, could be a turning point in the history of the human
race.
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Congratulations, President Obama
http://tinyurl.com/78cq7s
by Robb Smith
On behalf of the entire Integral community, I'd like to extend sincere
congratulations to President Obama on his historic election. Today we
witness not only millennia of human progress symbolized in another
peaceful transfer of political power but also the first black American to
accept service in United States' highest office. I believe it possible that
today may be remembered throughout history as a turning point for the
human race. Today may mark the birth of the Integral Age.
A leader today -- whether in business, religion, politics or otherwise -- has
to lead at a time not only when the span in age of those she leads is the
greatest it's ever been (due to longer life spans), but so too is the span in
developmental stages the widest it's ever been (due to the ever-
expanding edge of human evolution). At no time in history has the
diversity of perspectives been greater, or the need more urgent for
leaders who can reach across all perspectives and unite us in a common
vision of responsibility and service.
The leading paradigm for handling this diversity, multiculturalism (and its
insistence that all views are equal), has failed under the weight of its own
absurdity. After all, if all views are equal than we cannot even accept our
own views with any real seriousness, and we're left to cope with our very
own lives with either narcissism ("I am everything") or nihilism ("I am
nothing"). (Today's teenagers are the canaries in this coal mine,
essentially screaming for a way out of the existential crisis they've been
taught to espouse.)
That 2008 provided such frequent and horrific examples of what goes
wrong with both ends of this spectrum only underscores its symbolism as
the year the Information Age ended (sort of loud and painfully, as these
things often do...).
President Obama recognizes this unique moment in history and will call on
all of us to join together in a unity that can be formed only in a cauldron
of deep crisis and grand vision. Out of the ashes of a demoralized
information age, broken as it has been by the limitations of a system too
complex to bring to heel, arises the Integral Age, marked by a
reconstructive paradigm that can integrate truth, values and action at all
levels of diversity.
A reconstructive paradigm can honor what has come before -- tradition,
responsibility, values, and long-cultivated social norms - while also
manifesting a future vision not yet realized -- progressive, compassionate,
liberating and boundary-expanding.
It is with great shock -- and awe! -- that the pundits in Washington are
meeting the first Integral President. In President Obama they find a deep
pragmatist who is concerned with the science of what works, the
empiricism of results. They do not have a name for what he's doing other
than to say he is "post-cultural," "post-racial," and "post-partisan."
They don't know that the word they seek is "Integral," that in the
embodied integral human the rigid walls of singular dogma are
transcended such that all ideologies can be embraced when appropriate.
(After all, all ideologies are real, having something important to contribute
to our understanding of reality.)
This ability to fluently operate among and within all ideological positions
creates a trans-ideological leader, one who can handle immense diversity
through neither imposition of a single ideology as we find in traditional
modes of human action, nor a deconstructive act of making all ideologies
equally meaningful (and thereby meaningless) as we find in postmodern
modes of action, but rather a reconstructive act of calling on the entire
range of ideological positions if, as and when appropriate to address the
task at hand.
That Obama is doing this is suspicious to the traditional conservatives,
scary to the liberals, and just confusing to the intelligentsia. And that he
can do so while also appealing directly to our loftier visions of ourselves,
compelling us to hope, is inspiring.
How can the same leader ask Reverend Warren to provide an inaugural
invocation; seek an unprecedented Keynesian stimulus package; seek to
further socialize health care; have a private dinner with leading
conservative intellectuals; and consider how to rein in devastating and
unrealistic long-term social security and Medicare liabilities?
How, indeed. Embodying an integral view of the world, by definition,
means seeking to integrate, to fully include everyone under the umbrella
while also transcending the narrowness and partiality of each. (This,
incidentally, is why every group that looks at Obama claims him as "one of
them." This is the ultimate litmus test of an integral leader.) A great
leader is one whose sense of self is not threatened by a vigorous war of
ideas, and an integral leader is one who wages the war from a worldview
of love and abundance.
While there is a minefield of massive structural problems that we
collectively face, this is also Obama's real opportunity: great trauma
yields great open-mindedness to meaningful change. I believe that since
the election Obama has been an Integral leader, and if he can continue to
navigate the landscape of open-mindedness that exists while integrating
all the perspectives that are already there waiting for him, than he can
lead us through the birth of the Integral Age and may significantly evolve
the dominant mode of political discourse and action.
Loving regards,
by Robb Smith
http://tinyurl.com/78cq7s
Read another message from Robb Smith here:
http://tinyurl.com/9vzzue
Disclaimer from Rob Brezsny: I'm not a member of the Integral
community, and don't know the people in it. I simply share many of their
ideals.
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This newsletter is also available via RSS. Go here to sign up:
http://FreeWillAstrology.com/newsletter/
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PRONOIA says that evil is boring. Cynicism is idiotic. Fear is a bad habit.
Despair is lazy. Joy is fascinating. Love is an act of heroic genius. Pleasure
is our birthright. Receptivity is a superpower.
MORE PRONOIA RESOURCES:
GO DOWN BELOW AND DEEPER IN TO FIND HIDDEN PRONOIA
Earth's Most Beautiful Caves
http://tinyurl.com/5zthz3
PRONOIA ISN'T NECESSARILY ABOUT BIGGER AND MORE
Thriving on Less
http://tinyurl.com/7mjjtx
SINGING IS GOOD MEDICINE
Open That Gate
http://tinyurl.com/8a9zmt
(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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To read news and features from my book,
*PRONOIA IS THE ANTIDOTE FOR PARANOIA:
How the Whole World Is Conspiring to Shower You with Blessings*
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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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
Week beginning January 22
Copyright 2009 by Rob Brezsny
http://FreeWillAstrology.com
Grammar key: Asterisks equal *italics*
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In the ancient Chinese book *Poets' Jade
Splinters,* Lu Ji says: "Avoid the morning flower in full blossom and
gather instead evening buds which are not yet open." He's telling his
fellow poets not to rely on what has already ripened, but rather to
concentrate on what's still in embryonic form. Lu Ji's colleague Song
Zijing adds a complementary thought: "If you always use a compass to
draw a circle and a ruler to draw a square, you will always remain a slave."
Both Lu Ji's and Song Zijing's counsel will work very well for you in the
coming year, Aquarius, even if you're not a poet. (Source:
http://tinyurl.com/5qu7fv.)
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Once every few years, a panel of Hindu and
Buddhist judges in Nepal chooses a new "living goddess," a young girl who
serves, until she reaches puberty, as an incarnation of the deity Taleju.
One of the tests each candidate must pass in order to be eligible for the
role is this: She must show no fear as she spends a night alone in a room
filled with the bloody heads of ritually killed buffaloes and goats. I'd like
you to consider the possibility of carrying out a more humane equivalent
of that ceremony, Pisces. For one night, keep symbols of what you're
afraid of in the place where you sleep. To do so would be an excellent way
to earn the right to graduate to the next level of your spiritual evolution.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): In *The Devil's Dictionary,* Ambrose Bierce
defines history as follows: "an account mostly false, of events mostly
unimportant, which are brought about by rulers, mostly knaves, and
soldiers, mostly fools." Bear that in mind as you interpret what I mean by
the following: You won't make history in the coming weeks. Instead, you
will help generate an interesting and important story that will involve
unfamous people who have little political power or military skill but have a
great deal of potent grace and nuanced strength and soulful intelligence.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): "Dear Rob: Are you holding back some painful
truth from us Tauruses? I feel like you're going too easy on us, and as a
result I'm missing some clue I desperately need. Please tell us what it is so
we can face it and get on with life. - Semi-Elegant Bull in a China Shop."
Dear Semi-Elegant: I'm not aware of having withheld a painful truth from
you Tauruses. The only thing I can think of is that maybe I haven't been
forceful or clear enough in saying the following: One of your primary tasks
is to study hard and think deeply as you learn more about how to create
peace and serenity in your life.
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EXPLORING YOUR LONG-RANGE FUTURE
Would you like some inspiration as you muse and wonder about your
upcoming adventures in 2009?
You can still listen to my long-range, in-depth explorations of your destiny
in 2009. Each report in the three-part series is about 6-9 minutes long.
Go to http://RealAstrology.com
for these EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPES
A new short-range forecast for this week is also available.
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GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Kenneth Koch wrote the poem "The Boiling
Water." Read this excerpt: "A serious moment for the water is when it
boils / And though one usually regards it merely as a convenience / To
have the boiling water available for bath or table / Occasionally there is
someone around who understands / The importance of this moment for
the water -- maybe a saint, / Maybe a poet, maybe a crazy man, or just
someone temporarily disturbed / With his mind 'floating,' in a sense, away
from his deepest / Personal concerns to more 'unreal' things." In the
weeks ahead, Gemini, I encourage you to be one of those crazy floaters --
someone who tunes in to the serious moments that are normally outside
your personal concerns. You need a strong dose of the hidden reality
behind the obvious reality.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): "When I grow up," writes Ramona McNabb, "I
want to be a river." In the coming year, that would be a worthy aspiration
for you as well, Cancerian. You'd generate a flood of benefits, some
unexpected, by cultivating your ability to be perfectly yourself as you
flow ever onward in rhythm with the sky and earth, unimpeded by the
fluctuations of light and darkness, and in love with the ceaseless
movement of your own strong currents.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): For the citizens of Switzerland, it's immoral to
absentmindedly pluck wildflowers out of the ground and throw them
aside. That's because this enlightened country has a Bill of Rights for
plants. The 22-page document, drawn up by a panel of theologians,
philosophers, geneticists, and lawyers, strongly urges respect for the
feelings and dignity of all vegetation. I wish you would think about
including this mindset in your ethical code, Leo. It's high time for you to
expand and refine your sense of right and wrong -- not just in relation to
plants but to everyone and everything in the world.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): "Many people feel guilty about things they
shouldn't feel guilty about," wrote journalist Sydney J. Harris, "in order to
shut out feelings of guilt about things they should feel guilty about." Your
assignment is to figure out whether this description applies to you. If it
does, be brave as you expose the truly guilt-worthy stuff you've
repressed. Helpful cosmic energies will flow your way if you uncover what
you need to atone for and then atone for it.
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LET'S IMAGINE WHAT BEAUTIFUL MYSTERIES
MIGHT COME YOUR WAY IN 2009
What hidden factors will be massaging your destiny in 2009? Could you
use some hints about how to prepare for the adventures awaiting you in
the next 12 months?
You can still listen to my long-range, in-depth explorations of your destiny
in 2009. Each report in the three-part series is about 6-9 minutes long.
Go to http://RealAstrology.com
for these EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPES
A new short-range forecast for this week is also available.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): While working on his first draft of the
Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson hung out at a tavern in
Philadelphia and drank beer. While contemplating how best to motivate
you Libras to seek more autonomy and self-determination, I was strolling
along a California beach sipping a piƱa colada and watching windsurfers. In
the grand tradition of Jefferson and me, I hope you will put yourself in a
relaxed and playful mood as you dream and scheme about all the things
you could do to emancipate yourself in the coming months. For God's
sake, don't make it a grave and ponderous meditation.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): If you use a cell phone, you have in your
possession a metal called coltan, a component that's essential to the
phone's function. Most of the world's coltan comes from the Congo, and
is mined by Rwandans who survived their country's genocide in the
1990s. They often work for militias that sell coltan illegally to finance
their military operations. It so happens that the land where this metal lies
is also the home of the Mountain gorilla, an endangered species that is
being decimated as the miners and militias kill them for food and savage
their habitat. Keep this in mind the next time you call a friend. While
you're at it, Scorpio, use Google and your imagination to meditate on the
origins of *all* the important resources in your life. It's prime time to
know more about their origins. You will benefit from getting familiar with
the roots of whatever gives you power.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Ninety-seven percent of all youth play
video games, dwarfing the number of kids who participate in activities like
basketball, track, and javelin throwing. That's why I'm an advocate of
making video games an Olympic sport. We should recognize where the
real future of competitive sports lies. I mention this, Sagittarius, because
it would be a good time for you to start upgrading your video game
prowess in preparation for a possible berth in the 2012 or 2016
Olympics. In fact, the moment is right to plan on getting the training
you'd need to become a master of *any* skills that may eventually win
you rewards, even if they're not yet getting their rightful due from our
culture.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Most art critics long regarded Gustav Klimt
(1862-1918) as a second-tier modern painter, writes Don Thompson in
his book *The $12 Million Stuffed Shark.* But that estimation got
upgraded in 2006, when one of Klimt's paintings sold for $135 million.
Art history was rewritten with a checkbook, says Thompson. According to
my reading of the astrological omens, there's a possibility that your worth
will also jump to a higher octave in 2009, Capricorn. But unlike Klimt, who
didn't do anything new, you'll have to take action to earn your rise in
status. How? Some suggestions: 1. Practice forgiveness with more
intensity. 2. Be more tolerant of imperfection in yourself and others. 3.
Expand your capacity to give.
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HOMEWORK: What would be the most fun and interesting thing for you to
make next? 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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P.S. I totally respect your privacy. I'll never sell or give away your address
to anyone.
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Submissions sent to the Free Will Astrology Weekly Newsletter
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Contents of the Free Will Astrology Newsletter are Copyright
2009 Rob Brezsny
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