Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter http://ezezine.com
Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter
March 10, 2010
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New song, "Prayer for Us": http://bit.ly/PrayerforUs
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Dear Readers,
I've been working on the soundtrack for my book *PRONOIA* since 2005.
Why is it taking forever to finish it? One reason is that in order to even
begin, I had to set up a home recording studio and learn how to use the
technology.
Another reason is that I work verrrry slowwwwwly.
So here it is 2010, five years later, and the project isn't polished to my
satisfaction. It's still a work in progress. But I've decided to release parts
of it anyway.
This week I'm offering the song "Prayer for Us." You can access it here:
http://bit.ly/PrayerforUs
It's based on a piece from the revised and expanded version of my book
*PRONOIA IS THE ANTIDOTE FOR PARANOIA,* which I'm also excerpting
below.
In addition to my music and vocals, "Prayer for Us" also features the
singing of my friend Jessica Rice and guitar work by my friend Josh Brill.
Enjoy!
In the weeks to come, I'll be announcing the release of other new songs.
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I'm very grateful that you responded so heartily to my requests in last
week's newsletter. You went out and bought lots of copies of *PRONOIA,*
at one point bumping it up to #576 in the Amazon rankings. And you
added more than 20 new reviews of the book to the Amazon page. Your
show of support was generous. Thank you!
Rob
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Push hard to get better, become smarter, grow your devotion to the
truth, fuel your commitment to beauty, refine your emotional intelligence,
hone your dreams, negotiate with your shadow, cure your ignorance, shed
your pettiness, heighten your drive to look for the best in people, and
soften your heart -- even as you always accept yourself for exactly who
you are with all of your so-called imperfections.
- *PRONOIA*
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The revised and expanded version of my book *PRONOIA IS THE
ANTIDOTE FOR PARANOIA* is available at Amazon: http://bit.ly/Pronoia
Below is an excerpt of "PRAYER FOR US." To read the whole text of the
prayer, go here:
http://bit.ly/OurPrayer
To hear the song based on "PRAYER FOR US," go here:
http://bit.ly/PrayerforUs
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PRAYER FOR US
This is a perfect moment. It's a perfect moment because I have been
inspired to say a gigantic prayer. I've been roused to unleash a divinely
greedy, apocalyptically healing prayer for each and every one of us --
even those of us who don't believe in the power of prayer.
And so I am starting to pray right now to the God of Gods . . . the God
beyond all Gods . . . the Girlfriend of God . . . the Teacher of God . . . the
Goddess who invented God.
DEAR GODDESS, you who always answer our very best questions, even if
we ignore you:
Please be here with us right now. Come inside us with your sly slippery
slaphappy mojo. Invade us with your silky succulent salty sweet haha.
Hear with our ears, Goddess. Breathe with our lungs. See through our
eyes.
DEAR GODDESS, you who never kill but only change:
I pray that my exuberant, suave, and accidental words will move you to
shower ferocious blessings down on everyone who reads or hears this
benediction.
I pray that you will give us what we don't even know we need -- not just
the boons we think we want, but everything we've always been afraid to
even imagine or ask for.
DEAR GODDESS, you wealthy anarchist burning heaven to the ground:
Many of us don't even know who we really are.
We've forgotten that our souls live forever.
We're blind to the fact that every little move we make sends ripples
through eternity. Some of us are even ignorant of how extravagant,
relentless, and practical your love for us is.
Please wake us up to the shocking truths. Use your brash magic to help
us see that we are completely different from we've been led to believe,
and more exciting than we can possibly imagine.
Guide us to realize that we are all unwitting messiahs who are much too
big and ancient to fit inside our personalities . . . .
To READ THE REST of "PRAYER FOR US," go here:
http://bit.ly/OurPrayer
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MORE PRONOIA RESOURCES:
LET'S CELEBRATE WHAT WORKS
Read about real heroes, and nominate your own.
http://tinyurl.com/cefezd
THERE'S MORE GOOD HEALTH NEWS THAN BAD
Norway conquers infections by cutting use of antibiotics
http://tinyurl.com/ybyj4po
THE EVIDENCE IS THAT LIFE IS AT LEAST 51% FANTASTIC
See all the pronoia resources in one radiant place.
http://pronoiaresources.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 March 11
Copyright 2010 by Rob Brezsny
http://FreeWillAstrology.com
Grammar key: Asterisks equal *italics*
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): I used to have an acupuncturist who, as she
poked me with needles, liked to talk about her understanding of Chinese
medicine. Once she told me that every human being needs a "heart
protector," which is a body function that's "like a holy warrior who serves
as the queen's devoted ally." But the heart protector is not something
you're born with. You've got to grow it by building your fortitude and
taking care of your body. I think the heart protector will be an apt
metaphor for you to play with in the coming weeks, Pisces. It's going to
be an excellent time for you to cultivate any part of your life that gives
your heart joy, strength, peace, and integrity.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Sarah Bernhardt (1844-1923) was called "the
most famous actress the world has ever known." She did a few films in
the early days of the cinema, but most of her work was in the theater. At
age 70, she played the role of the 13-year-old Juliet in Shakespeare's
*Romeo and Juliet.* I commend her on her refusal to act her age, and
recommend that you make a comparable effort in the coming weeks. For
example, if you're in your twenties, try something you thought you
wouldn't do until you were at a very ripe age. If you're over 50, be 25 for
a while. It's an excellent time to do this kind of time-traveling.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You might have to use primitive means to
accomplish modern wonders. It may be necessary to hearken back to
what worked in the past in order to serve the brightest vision of the
future. Take your cue from Luis Soriano, a saintly teacher who carries a
library of 120 books on the back of a donkey as he meanders around the
back country of Colombia, helping poor kids learn how to read.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Humans have been baking and eating bread for
at least 5,000 years. But it wasn't until the 20th century that anyone
figured out a fast and easy way to cut it into thin, precise pieces. Then
Otto Rohwedder, who had been working on the project for 16 years,
produced a machine that cut a loaf into individual slices. I bring him to
your attention, Gemini, because I think you are in a phase of your life
when you could very possibly create an innovation that would be as
intimately revolutionary as Rohwedder's was for the masses. In fact, why
aren't you working on it right now?
CANCER (June 21-July 22): In order to heal deep-seated problems, people
may need to engage in long-term psychotherapy, patiently chipping away
at their mental blocks for many years. But some lucky sufferers get their
neuroses zapped virtually overnight, either with the help of a monumental
event that shocks them out of their malaise or through the work of a
brilliant healer who uses a few strokes of kamikaze compassion to
creatively destroy their deluded fixations. I think you're now a candidate
for this type of correction, Cancerian.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): To discover the most useful truths, you will have
to peek behind the curtains and root around to see what's cloaked in the
dark and maybe even explore messes you'd rather not touch. What
complicates your task is that the fake truths may be extra loud and shiny,
distracting you from the down and dirty stuff with their relentless come-
ons. But I have confidence in your ability to outmaneuver the propaganda,
Leo. You shall know the hype, and knowing the hype will set you free.
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WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPES ARE LIKE?
To get an idea of how my EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPES might make
you feel, tune in to my podcast, "Fear Versus Intuition."
It's here: http://bit.ly/FearVersusIntuition
"Fear Versus Intuition" is a meditation about the difference between your
fearful fantasies and your authentic, accurate intuitions.
My approach there has a close resemblance to the style of my weekly
EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPES. Go here to access them:
http://RealAstrology.com
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VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The evil geniuses of the advertising industry
are hard at work in their labs dreaming up seductive new mojo to
artificially stimulate your consumer lusts. Meanwhile, the media's
relentless campaign to get you to believe in debilitating fantasies and
divert you from doing what's really good for you has reached a fever
pitch. And here's the triple whammy: Even more than usual, some of your
relatives and cohorts are angling to convince you that what pleases them
is what pleases you. So is there any hope that you will be able to hone in
on what truly excites you? (It's especially important that you do so right
now.) The answer, in my opinion, is a qualified yes -- IF you're willing to
conduct intensive research into the idiosyncratic secrets of what makes
you happy; and IF you're not scared to discover who you are when you're
turned on all the way.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): If you were living in Greece in the fifth century
B.C., I'd urge you to bathe in the healing spring at the shrine of Asklepios
in Athens. If you were in 19th-century France, I'd recommend that you
trek to the sacred shrine at Lourdes -- being sure to crawl the last half-
mile on your hands and knees -- and sip from the curative waters there.
But since you're a busy 21st-century sophisticate and may have a limited
belief in miracles, I'll simply suggest that you visit the most interesting
tree you know and spill a bottle of pristine water over your head as you
confess your sins and ask the sky for forgiveness and sing songs that
purify you to the bone.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): It's quite possible that the nature of
consciousness is in the midst of a fundamental transformation. The
human race seems to be getting more empathetic, more compassionate,
and even more psychic. Many of us are having experiences that were
previously thought to be the province of mystics, such as epiphanies that
give us visceral perceptions of the interconnectedness of all life. Even as
some traditional religions lose members and devolve into cartoony
fundamentalism, there are ever-increasing numbers of intelligent seekers
who cultivate a more discerning spiritual awareness outside the decrepit
frameworks. If you haven't been on this bandwagon, Scorpio, now's a
good time to jump on. If you're already on board, get ready for an
accelerated ride.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): This week you'll be working overtime
while you sleep. Your dreaming mind will be playing around with solutions
to your waking mind's dilemmas. Your ally, the wild conjurer in the
ramshackle diamond-encrusted sanctuary at the edge of the deep dark
forest, will be spinning out medicine stories and rounding up help for you.
So of course you should keep a pen and notebook by your bed to record
the dreams that come. I suggest that you also try to keep the first part
of your mornings free of busy work so you can integrate the full impact of
the nights' gifts. And don't despair if you can't actually remember any of
your nocturnal adventures. Their tasty after-images will remain with you
subliminally, giving your logical mind an intuitive edge.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): There'll be an abundance of unambiguous
choices for you to make in the coming days. I'm not implying they'll be
easy, just that the different alternatives will be clearly delineated. To get
you warmed up for your hopefully crisp decisions, I've compiled a a few
exercises. Pick one of each of these pairs: 1. exacting homework or free-
form research; 2. pitiless logic or generous fantasies; 3. precise and
disciplined communication or heedless self-expression; 4. grazing like a
contented sheep or rambling like a restless mountain goat.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Among Eastern religions, some traditions
preach the value of getting rid of your desires. To be righteously attuned
to current cosmic rhythms, however, I think you should rebel against that
ideal, and instead cultivate a whole host of excellent desires. Use your
imagination, please! Here are a few I highly recommend: a desire for a
revelation or experience that will steer you away from becoming more like
a machine; a desire for a fresh blast of purity from a primal source; a
desire for an imaginary pet snake that teaches you how to be more
playful with your libidinous energy; and a desire for a jolt of unexpected
beauty that reminds you how important it is to always keep a part of your
mind untamed.
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HOMEWORK: Wes Nisker says, "If you don't like the news, go out and
make some of your own." I'd love to hear about your efforts to create
good news. Tell me at Truthrooster@gmail.com. For inspiration, check out
these sources of good news: http://bit.ly/PronoiaNetwork
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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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Contents of the Free Will Astrology Newsletter are Copyright
2010 Rob Brezsny
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