Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter http://ezezine.com
Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter
July 25, 2012
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Here's a pretty version of the newsletter: http://bit.ly/NDb936
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My book
*PRONOIA IS THE ANTIDOTE FOR PARANOIA*
is available at Amazon: http://bit.ly/Pronoia
or Powells: http://bit.ly/PronoiaPowells
Below is an excerpt.
HOW IS ENLIGHTENMENT LIKE A MILLION-DOLLAR VACATION HOME?
For some seekers, spiritual enlightenment is the ultimate commodity.
They believe that through diligent meditation and self-improvement,
there will come a day when it will no longer elude their grasp. Breaking
through to the singular state of cosmic consciousness, they will forever
after own it, free and clear. Permanently illuminated! Never to backslide
into the dull ignominy of normal human awareness!
Here's what I have to say about that: It's a delusion.
The fact is, the nature of perfection is always mutating. What constitutes
enlightenment today will always be different tomorrow. Even if you're
fortunate and wise enough to score a sliver of "enlightenment," it's not a
static treasure that becomes your indestructible, everlasting possession.
Rather, it remains a mercurial knack that must be continually re-earned.
If you want to befriend the Divine Wow, you must not only be willing to
change ceaselessly -- you have to love to change ceaselessly.
Lucky you: All of creation is conspiring to help you live like that.
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CERTIFICATE OF EXEMPTION FROM ENLIGHTENMENT
This document certifies that _____________________ is immune to
the lust for enlightenment and is exempt from the need to seek
enlightenment.
This document also certifies that _____________________ has seen
through the fraud of the enlightenment con game and is excused from
further clawing and scraping to own a piece of that specious reward.
This document further certifies that _____________________ is free
from the temptation to be consecrated as enlightened by any guru, saint,
holy person, or religious organization that claims the right to do so.
Finally, this document certifies that _____________________ has
already been enlightened a million times in a million different ways
anyway, and that seeking even further enlightenment would be redundant
and even greedy.
To ensure the continued validity of this document
_____________________ vows to regularly renew these three
understandings: that it is impossible to ever reach a complete and
permanent state of enlightenment; that there is no single state of
awareness that constitutes enlightenment; and that since the nature of
reality keeps changing, the nature of enlightenment keeps changing as
well.
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TO SEE THE ABOVE CERTIFICATE AS IT APPEARS IN THE BOOK, go here:
http://bit.ly/EnlightenmentExempt
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MORE PRONOIA RESOURCES:
MYSTERIOUS UPTICK IN THE SEARCH FOR POSITIVITY
"Internet searches for positive emotions and behaviors are increasing;
searches for negative emotions are staying flat. We don't know why, but
we know people are searching for what's good in humanity."
http://tinyurl.com/6ortjqu
SOCIAL JUSTICE IN DRAMATIC ACTION
"Gay students at America's military service academies wrapped up the
first year when they no longer had to hide their sexual orientation,
benefiting from the end of the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy that used to
bar them from seemingly ordinary activities like taking their partners
openly to graduation events."
http://tinyurl.com/ccvxwxv
GET YOUR MINIMUM DAILY REQUIREMENT OF BEAUTY
Meanwhile, at a gorge in Slovenia . . .
http://tinyurl.com/c6yr973
(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 July 26
Copyright 2012 by Rob Brezsny
http://FreeWillAstrology.com
Grammar key: Asterisks equal *italics*
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The state of Maine has a law that prohibits
anyone from leaving an airplane while it is flying through the air. This
seems like a reasonable restriction until you realize how badly it
discriminates against skydivers. Legal scholars will tell you that examples
like this are not at all rare. Laws tend to be crude, one-size-fits-all
formulations. And as I'm sure you've discovered in your travels, Leo, one-
size-fits-all formulations always squash expressions of individuality. In the
coming weeks, be extra alert for pressures to conform to overly broad
standards and sweeping generalizations. Rebel if necessary. You have
license to be yourself to the tenth power.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): I propose that you try to accomplish the
following clean-up projects in the next four weeks: ten bushels of weeds
yanked out of your psychic landscape; 25 pounds of unused stuff and
moldering junk hauled away from your home; ten loads of dirty laundry
(especially the metaphorical kind) washed free of taint and stains -- and
not blabbed about on social media; at least $5,000 worth of weird
financial karma scrubbed away for good; a forgotten fence mended; and a
festering wound tended to until it heals.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Philosopher William Irwin Thompson says that
we humans are like flies creeping along the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
We literally cannot see the splendor that surrounds us. As a result, we
don't live in reality. We're lost in our habitual perceptions, blinded by our
favorite illusions, and addicted to beliefs that hide the true nature of the
universe. That's the bad news, Libra. The good news is that every now
and then, each of us slips into a grace period when it's possible to
experience at least some of the glory we're normally cut off from. The veil
opens, and previously undetected beauty appears. The weeks ahead will
be the closest you've come to this breakthrough in a long time.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Can you guess which European country has
the best military record in the last eight centuries? It's France. Out of the
185 battles its soldiers have engaged in, they've won 132 and lost only
43. Ten times they fought to a draw. Of all the signs of the zodiac,
Scorpio, I think you have the best chance of compiling a comparable
record in the next ten months. Your warrior-like qualities will be at a peak;
your instinct for achieving hard-fought victories may be the stuff of
legends years from now. But please keep in mind what the ancient
Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu said in his iconic text *The Art of
War*: The smart and powerful warrior always avoids outright conflict if
possible, and wins by using slyer means.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): After consulting the astrological omens,
I've concluded that during the next three weeks, you will deserve the
following titles: 1. Most Likely to Benefit from Serendipitous Adventures;
2. Most Likely to Exclaim "Aha!"; 3. Most Likely to Thrive While Wandering
in Wild Frontiers and Exotic Locales; 4. Most Likely to Have a Wish Come
True If This Wish Is Made in the Presence of a Falling Star. You might want
to wait to fully embody that fourth title until the period between August
9 and 14, when the Perseids meteor shower will be gracing the night skies
with up to 170 streaks per hour. The peak flow will come on August 12
and 13.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You may have to travel far and wide
before you will fully appreciate a familiar resource whose beauty you're
half-blind to. It's possible you'll have to suffer a partial loss of faith so as
to attract experiences that will make your faith stronger than it ever was.
And I'm guessing that you may need to slip outside your comfort zone for
a while in order to learn what you need to know next about the arts of
intimacy. These are tricky assignments, Capricorn. I suggest you welcome
them without resentment.
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THE OTHER VERSION OF FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
In addition to the horoscopes that come to you in this newsletter, I create
audio horoscopes for your inspiration. They discuss themes and cover
material that I don't have room to deal with in the written horoscopes.
They're $6 if you access them on the Web (with discounts for multiple
buys), or $1.99 per minute over the phone.
Try them at http://RealAstrology.com.
By phone: 1-877-873-4888
"I always feel like I know myself better after listening to your audio
'scopes."
-June R., Austin, TX
"Your audio horoscopes calm me down when I'm too manic and pep me up
when I'm down."
-Arthur T., Cleveland, OH
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AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): My daughter Zoe has been writing some fine
poetry these last few years. I regard it as professional-grade stuff that
has been born of natural talent and developed through discipline and hard
work. You might ask, quite reasonably, whether my evaluation of her
literary output is skewed by fatherly pride. I've considered that possibility.
But recently, my opinion got unbiased corroboration when her school
awarded her with the "All-College Honor" for her poetry manuscript. I
predict you will soon have a comparable experience. Your views or
theories will be confirmed by an independent and objective source.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): The critic Dorothy Parker didn't think highly
of Katherine Hepburn's acting skills. "She runs the emotional gamut from
A to B," said Parker. I realize that what I'm about to suggest may be
controversial, but I'm hoping you will be Hepburn-like in the coming week,
Pisces. This is not the right time, in my astrological opinion, for you to
entertain a wide array of slippery, syrupy, succulent feelings. Nor would it
be wise to tease out every last nuance of the beguiling vibes rising up
within you. For the time being, you need to explore the pleasures of
discerning perception and lucid analysis. Get lost in deep thought, not
rampant passion.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): In your personal chart, the planet Uranus
symbolizes those special talents you have that are especially useful to
other people. Which aspects of your soulful beauty are potentially of
greatest service to the world? How can you express your uniqueness in
ways that activate your most profound generosity? If you learn the
answers to these questions, you will make great progress toward solving
the riddle that Uranus poses. I'm happy to report that the coming years
will provide you with excellent opportunities to get to the bottom of this
mystery. And now would be a good time to launch a concerted effort.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In the coming weeks, I'm afraid there's only a
very small chance that you'll be able to turn invisible at will, shapeshift
into an animal form and back, or swipe the nectar of immortality from the
gods. The odds of success are much higher, though, if you will attempt
less ambitious tasks that are still pretty frisky and brazen. For example,
you could germinate a potential masterpiece where nothing has ever
grown. You could legally steal from the rich and give the spoils to the
poor. And you could magically transform a long-stuck process that no one
thought would ever get unstuck.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Are there are any weaknesses or problems in
your approach to communication? They will be exposed in the coming
weeks. If you're even slightly lazy or devious about expressing yourself,
you will have to deal with the karmic consequences of that shortcoming.
If there's more manipulativeness than love in your quest for connection,
you'll be compelled to do some soul-searching. That's the bad news,
Gemini. The good news is that you will have far more power than usual to
upgrade the way you exchange energy with others. In fact, this could be
the time you enter into a golden age of communication.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): If you narrow your focus now, the world will
really open up for you in the second half of October and November. To
the degree that you impose limitations on your desire to forever flow in all
directions, you will free up creative ideas that are currently buried. So
summon up some tough-minded discipline, please. Refuse to let your
moodiness play havoc with your productivity. Dip into your reserve supply
of high-octane ambition so you will always have a sixth sense about
exactly what's important and what's not.
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Homework: Each of us has a secret ignorance that's burning a hole in our
soul. What's yours, and what are you going to do about it? Testify at
Freewillastrology.com.
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to anyone.
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Submissions sent to the Free Will Astrology Weekly Newsletter
or in response to "homework assignments" may be
published in a variety of formats at Rob Brezsny's discretion,
including but not limited to newsletters, books, the Free Will
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Requests for anonymity will be honored with submissions;
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Please be sure to note your preference when sending to us. We
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Contents of the Free Will Astrology Newsletter are Copyright
2012 Rob Brezsny
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