Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter http://ezezine.com
Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter
August 8, 2012
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Here's a pretty version of this newsletter: http://bit.ly/QBSrvp
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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
Here's an excerpt:
THE OUTLAW CATALOG OF CAGEY OPTIMISM
(The complete text is here: http://bit.ly/CageyOptimism)
Psychiatry and psychotherapy obsess on what's wrong with people and
give short shrift to what's right. The manual of these professions is a
943-page textbook called the *DSM-IV.* It identifies scores of
pathological states but no healthy ones.
Some time back, I began to complain about this fact, and asked readers
to help me compile material for a proposed antidote, the Anti-DSM -- a
compendium of healthy, exalted, positive states of being. As their entries
came in, we at the Beauty and Truth Laboratory were inspired to dream
up some of our own. Below is part one of our initial attempt at creating
an *Anti-DSM-IV,* or as we also like to call it, "The Outlaw Catalog of
Cagey Optimism."
* ACUTE FLUENCY. Happily immersed in artistic creation or scientific
exploration; lost in a trance-like state of inventiveness that's both blissful
and taxing; surrendered to a state of grace in which you're fully engaged
in a productive, compelling, and delightful activity. The joy of this
demanding, rewarding state is intensified by a sense that time has been
suspended, and is rounder and deeper than usual. (Suggested by H. H.
Holiday, who reports that extensive studies in this state have been done
by Mihaly Cziscenmihaliy in his book, *Flow: The Psychology of Optimal
Experience.*)
* AESTHETIC BLISS. Vividly experiencing the colors, textures, tones,
scents, and rhythms of the world around you, creating a symbiotic
intimacy that dissolves the psychological barriers between you and what
you observe. (Suggested by Jeanne Grossetti.)
* AGGRESSIVE SENSITIVITY. Animated by a strong determination to be
receptive and empathetic.
* ALIGNMENT WITH THE INFINITY OF THE MOMENT. Reveling in the
liberating realization that we are all exactly where we need to be at all
times, even if some of us are temporarily in the midst of trial or
tribulation, and that human evolution is proceeding exactly as it should,
even if we can't see the big picture of the puzzle that would clarify how
all the pieces fit together perfectly. (Suggested by Meredith Jones.)
* AUTONOMOUS NURTURING. Not waiting for someone to give you what
you can give yourself. (Suggested by Shannen Davis.)
* BASKING IN ELDER WISDOM. A state of expansive ripeness achieved
through listening to the stories of elders. (Suggested by Annabelle
Aavard.)
* BIBLIOBLISS. Transported into states of transcendent pleasure while
immersed in reading a favorite book. (Suggested by Catherine Kaikowska.)
* BLASPHEMOUS REVERENCE. Acting on the knowledge that the most
efficacious form of devotion to the Divine Wow is tinctured with playful or
mischievous behavior that prevents the buildup of fanaticism.
* BOO-DUH NATURE. Dwelling in the blithe understanding of the fact that
worry is useless because most of what we worry about never happens.
(Suggested by Timothy S. Wallace.)
* COMIC INTROSPECTION. Being fully aware of your own foibles while still
loving yourself tenderly and maintaining confidence in your ability to give
your specific genius to the world. To paraphrase Alan Jones, Dean of
Grace Cathedral: following the Byzantine ploys of your ego with
compassion and humor as it tries to make itself the center of everything,
even of its own suffering and struggle.
* COMPASSIONATE DISCRIMINATION. Having astute judgment without
being scornfully judgmental; seeing difficult truths about a situation or
person without closing your heart or feeling superior. In the words of Alan
Jones: having the ability "to smell a rat without allowing your ability to
discern deception sour your vision of the glory and joy that is everyone's
birthright."
* CRAZED KINDNESS. Having frequent, overpowering urges to bestow
gifts, disseminate inspiration, and perpetrate random acts of benevolence.
* ECSTATIC GRATITUDE. Feeling genuine thankfulness with such
resplendent intensity that you generate a surge of endorphins in your
body and slip into a full-scale outbreak of euphoria.
* EMANCIPATED SURRENDER. Letting go of an attachment without
harboring resentment toward the stimuli that led to the necessity of
letting go. (Suggested by Timothy S. Wallace.)
* FRIENDLY SHOCK. Welcoming a surprise that will ultimately have
benevolent effects.
* HIGHWAY EQUANIMITY. Feeling serene, polite, and benevolent while
driving in heavy traffic. (Suggested by Shannen Davis.)
* HOLY LISTENING. Hearing the words of another human being as if they
were a direct communication from the Divine Wow to you.
* IMAGINATIVE TRUTH-TELLING. Conveying the truth of any specific
situation from multiple angles, thereby mitigating the distortions that
result from assuming the truth can be told from a single viewpoint.
* IMPULSIVE LOVE SPREADING. Characterized by a fierce determination to
never withhold well-deserved praise, inspirational encouragement, positive
feedback, or loving thoughts; often includes a tendency to write love
letters on the spur of the moment and on any medium, including napkins,
grocery bags, and skin. (Suggested by Laurie Burton.)
* INADVERTENT NATURE WORSHIP. Experiencing the rapture that comes
from being outside for extended periods of time. (Suggested by Sue Carol
Robinson.)
* INGENIOUS INTIMACY. Having an ability to consistently create deep
connections with other human beings, and to use the lush, reverential
excitement stimulated by such exchanges to further deepen the
connections. A well-crafted talent for dissolving your sense of
separateness and enjoying the innocent exultation that erupts in the wake
of the dissolution. (Suggested by Sue Carol Robinson.)
* JOYFUL POIGNANCE. Feeling buoyantly joyful about the beauty and
mystery of life while remaining aware of the sadness, injustices, wounds,
and future fears that form the challenges in an examined life. (Suggested
by Alka Bhargava.)
* LATE LATE-BLOOMING. Having a capacity for growth spurts well into old
age, long past the time that conventional wisdom says they're possible.
* LEARNING DELIGHT. Experiencing the brain-reeling pleasure that comes
from learning something new. (Suggested by Sue Carol Robinson.)
* LUCID DREAM PATRIOTISM. A love of country rooted in the fact that it
provides the ideal conditions for learning lucid dreaming. (Suggested by
Kenneth Kelzer, author of *The Sun and the Shadow: My Experiment With
Lucid Dreaming.*)
* LYRICAL CONSONANCE. Experiencing the visceral yet also cerebral
excitement that comes from listening to live music played impeccably by
skilled musicians. (Suggested by Susan E. Nace.)
TO SEE THE REST OF THE EXALTED, POSITIVE STATES, GO HERE:
http://bit.ly/CageyOptimism
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MORE PRONOIA RESOURCES:
GENEROSITY GONE WILD
There is a golden temple in India that provides free meals for thousands
of people of every race, religion and class
http://tinyurl.com/chpg434
IS THERE A CONSPIRACY TO USE RENEWABLE ENERGY?
Germany produced a record high amount of renewable energy in the first
half of 2012, an increase of 19.5 percent from the same period last year.
http://tinyurl.com/chqo6vt
HAVE YOU GOTTEN YOUR MINIMUM DAILY REQUIREMENT OF BEAUTY?
A purple and orange starfish called the royal starfish
http://i.imgur.com/Afedm.jpg
(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 9
Copyright 2012 by Rob Brezsny
http://FreeWillAstrology.com
Grammar key: Asterisks equal *italics*
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): When Tchaikovsky wrote the musical score for his
famous *1812 Overture,* it included 16 cannon shots. Literally. These
blasts weren't supposed to be made by, say, a sledgehammer pounded
against a wooden mallet, but rather by the detonation of an actual
cannon. As crazy as that is, you've got to admire Tchaikovsky's creative
gall. He was going way out of the box, calling on a source of sound no
other composer had ever done. In accordance with the astrological
omens, I invite you to be inspired by his example, Leo. In your own chosen
field, mess with the rules about how to play in your chosen field.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): "And if nothing is repeated in the same way,"
says poet Antonio Porchia, "all things are last things." That's a good
principle to adapt for your own purposes, Virgo. A few weeks from now, I
bet you'll be enmeshed in an orgy of novelty, creating yourself from
scratch and exploring experiences you've never heard of before. But in
the meantime, as you bring this cycle to a close, be equally inventive
about how you finish things off. Don't imitate the approach you used in
tying up loose ends in the past. Don't put stale, boring karma to rest in
stale, boring ways. Nothing repeated! All things last things!
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): All of us feel bad sometimes -- sad,
discouraged, helpless, unloved, and all the rest. It's a natural part of being
human. Here's the good news: I am not predicting you will go through a
phase like that anytime soon. Here's the even better news: The coming
week will be an excellent time to come up with effective strategies for
what to do in the future when you go through a rough period. For
example, instead of wallowing in self-pity or berating yourself for your
weakness, maybe you can resolve, next time, to amble aimlessly out in
nature, dance to cathartic music for three hours, or go to the gym and
smack around a punching bag.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): When a domesticated weasel captures some
treasure or beats out a competitor for food, it performs a celebratory
dance that's referred to as the "weasel war dance." During this
triumphant display, it might hiss, arch its back, fluff out its tail, and hop
around madly. I encourage you to come up with your own private version
of this ritual, Scorpio. It can be more dignified if you like: snapping your
fingers, singing a magical phrase, or raising your arms in a V-for-victory
gesture. Whatever you choose, do it after every accomplishment, no
matter how small: buying groceries, arriving at an appointment on time,
getting a good new idea, or any other success.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): One out of every four of us is afraid that
we have missed our calling -- that we have misread our soul's code and
failed to identify the labor of love that would provide our ultimate fuel for
living. If you're among this deprived group, I have good news: The next six
weeks will be an excellent time to fix the problem -- to leave the niche
where you don't belong and go off to create a new power spot. And if
you are among the 75 percent of us who are confident you've found your
vocation, the next six weeks will be prime time to boost your efforts to a
higher level.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You can take this as a metaphor if you like,
but I'm getting a psychic impression that you will soon be drawing on the
energy of one of your past lives. Will it be a 13th-century Chinese lute
player or a kitchen maid from 15th-century France? Will you be high on
the vitality you had when you were a Yoruba priest living in West Africa
300 years ago or when you were a 16th-century Guarani herbalist in
what's now Paraguay? I invite you to play with fantasies like these, even if
you don't believe they're literally true. You might be surprised at the
boost you get from imagining yourself alive in a different body and
historical era.
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LISTEN TO AN EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPE
Factual information and reasonable thinking alone are not sufficient to
guide you through life's labyrinthine tests. You need and deserve regular
deliveries of uncanny revelation.
One of your inalienable rights as a human being should therefore be to
receive mysteriously useful omens on a regular basis. In this spirit, I offer
you the free weekly horoscopes you read here.
If you ever want more, and think it's worth paying for, try my EXPANDED
AUDIO HOROSCOPES. They're available here:
http://RealAstrology.com
You can also access them by phone:
1-877-873-4888
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AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The Italian mattress company Sogniflex has
created a bed with features designed to facilitate love-making. It has
straps and handles, plus a trench that helps you get better traction. The
extra-strong springs produce an exceptional bouncing action. You might
consider buying one for yourself. The astrological omens suggest it's time
to play with more intensity in the intimate clinches. You could also try
these things: 1. Upgrade your licking and sucking skills. 2. Cultivate your
ability to listen receptively. 3. Deepen your sincere appreciation for
what's beautiful about anyone you're attracted to. 4. Make yourself even
more lovable than you already are.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): My $10-an-hour counsel only requires a few
seconds to deliver. Here it is: "Never try to be someone you're not.
Discover what you were made for, and do it with all of your passionate
intensity." On the other hand, Pisces, my $100-a-minute wisdom is more
complicated, subtle, and hard to impart in less than an hour of
storytelling. Here's a hint of it: There are times when you can get
interesting and even brilliant results by experimenting with being
something you're not. Going against the flow of your instinctual urges and
customary tendencies might tweak you in just the right way -- giving you
an exotic grace and wild depth when you ultimately return to the path
you were born to tread.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Apollo astronaut Russell Schweickart had a
vision of loveliness while flying through outer space in his lunar module.
"One of the most beautiful sights is a urine dump at sunset," he testified.
He said it resembles a "spray of sparklers," as ten million little ice crystals
shoot out into the void at high velocity. As you feed your quest for a
lusty life, Aries, I urge you to be as quirky and resourceful as Schweickart.
Come up with your own definitions about what's gorgeous and revelatory.
Take epiphanies any way you can get them.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): At the heart of this horoscope is a quote
from Maya Angelou. While it may seem schmaltzy, I assure you that its
counsel will be essential to your success in the coming weeks. "I've
learned that people will forget what you said," said Angelou, "people will
forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them
feel." Can you see how valuable this principle might be for you, Taurus? If
you hope to get what you desire, you should turn your empathy on full
blast. If you'd like to supercharge your vitality, hone your skills as a judge
of character. If you want to get the love you think you deserve, be a
master at making people feel good in your presence.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The coming week will be prime time to
celebrate your eccentricities and cultivate your idiosyncrasies. Do you like
ketchup on your bananas? Is heavy metal the music you can best relax
to? Do you have a tendency to break out in raucous laughter when people
brag about themselves? I really think you should make note of all the
qualities that make you odd or unique, and express those qualities with
extra intensity. That may grate on some people, true, but it should have a
potent healing effect on you.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Here are my questions: Will you thrust your
foot across that imaginary line, or will you back away from it, scouting
around for an escape route? Will you risk causing a commotion in order to
scratch the itch in your ambition? Or will you shuffle on back to your
comfort zone and caress your perfect daydreams? Personally, Cancerian,
I'm hoping you will elect to do what's a bit unsettling. But that doesn't
necessarily mean you should. If you make a bold move, make sure you're
not angling to please or impress me -- or anyone else, for that matter. Do
it as a way to express your respect for yourself -- or don't do it.
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Homework: If you could change your astrological sign, what would you
change it to and why? Write: FreeWillAstrology.com.
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Contents of the Free Will Astrology Newsletter are Copyright
2012 Rob Brezsny
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