Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter
Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter
December 17, 2014
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See a pretty version of this newsletter: http://bit.ly/138iWlp
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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 are excerpts.
You are a genius. Maybe not in the same way that Einstein and Beethoven
were, but still: You possess exceptional capacities that are absolutely
unique. You're a masterpiece unlike any other that has ever lived in the
history of the world.
Furthermore, the precise instructions you need to ripen into your genius
have always been with you, even from the time before you were born. In
the words of psychologist James Hillman, you have a soul's code.
You might also call it the special mission you came to Earth to carry out;
the divine blueprint that contains the open secret of how to be perfectly,
unpredictably yourself; the master plan that is your heart's deepest
desire.
Would you like help in deciphering it? The Divine Intelligence Formerly
Known as God is always on call, ready to help. It's your birthright to ask
Her a specific question every day about what you need to do next to
express your soul's code; it's also your birthright to receive a response.
The divine revelation may not be as unambiguous as a little voice in your
head. It might appear in the form of a TV commercial, an odd dream, or
an encounter with a stranger. It could be demanding and difficult,
delivering information you'd rather not have to deal with. Or it might
show up as a clear and simple feeling of knowing exactly what to do, and
it could be easy and fun.
What's the most important question for you to ask today?
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Take inventory of the extent to which your "No" reflex dominates your
life. Notice for 24 hours (even in your dreams) how often you say or
think:
"No."
"That's not right."
"I don't like them."
"I don't agree with that."
"They don't like me."
"That should be different from what it is."
Wherever you find that NO is a habit, a reflex, a conditioned compulsion,
consider the possibility of rebelling against the habit, reflex, or
conditioned compulsion with a big red YES.
What would it be like for you to say "YES" at least 51 percent of the
time?
Invitation: Say "YES" aloud 22 times right now.
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Thank you for creating your own fantastic reality. It inspires me to make
my own.
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Featured emotions of the week: compassionate ecstasy and ecstatic
compassion.
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From Pema Chodron:
"This body that we have, this very body that's sitting here right now in
this room, this very body that perhaps aches, and this mind that we have
at this very moment, are exactly what we need to be fully human, fully
awake, and fully alive.
"Furthermore, the emotions that we have right now, the negativity and
the positivity, are what we actually need. It is just as if we looked around
to find out what would be the greatest wealth that we could possibly
possess in order to lead to a decent, good, completely fulfilling, energetic,
inspired life, and found it right here."
—Pema Chödrön, "The Wisdom of No Escape and the Path of Loving
Kindness"
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MORE PRONOIA RESOURCES:
This 19-Year Old Has A Plan To Clean Up Half of The Pacific Garbage Patch
In 10 Years
http://tinyurl.com/ljjnpm5
Activists are transforming outrage into community organizing projects,
voter registration drives and mass protests.
http://bit.ly/1yzoVZq
Malaria deaths have been cut in half: a tremendous achievement.
http://www.bbc.com/news/health-30375202
(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 December 18
Copyright 2014 by Rob Brezsny
http://FreeWillAstrology.com
Grammar key: Asterisks equal *italics*
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): I have lived near an open space preserve
for five years. Up until the last two months, it has been a peaceful, quiet
place. But then the coyotes moved in. Just after dusk every evening, a
pack of them start yipping and yowling in the distance. At first I found
the racket to be eerie and unsettling. It activated some primal unease in
me. And yet the coyotes have never actually been a problem. They don't
roam into my neighborhood and try to bite people or prey on pets. So
now I've come to relish the situation: The wild things are close and
exciting, but not dangerous. I'm guessing this has a metaphorical
resemblance to what your life will be like in the next six months,
Capricorn.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Stanstead, Quebec and Derby Line, Vermont
are really a single town that straddles the border between the U.S. and
Canada. Many of the people who live there have dual citizenship, but
they're still supposed to carry their passports with them at all times. I
suspect you may experience a metaphorical version of this split in the
coming months, Aquarius. You will be in a situation that has a split down
the middle or a seemingly unnatural division. Whether it turns out to be a
problem or an opportunity will depend on your adaptability and flexibility.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): When a dead tree topples over in the woods,
its withered branches may get entangled with the branches of a living
tree that's standing nearby. As years go by, the living tree must grow the
best it can with the decaying wood trapped in its midst. Has something
like that ever happened to you? Are you still carrying the rot that other
people have burdened you with? If so, the coming months will be an
excellent time to get disentangled. A tree isn't capable of freeing itself
from the dead weight of the past, but you are -- especially in the first half
of 2015.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): "Too much happiness can make you unhappy,"
reported journalist Marta Zaraska in the *Washington Post.* Citing
research by psychologists, she concluded that being super-extra cheerful
can make you selfish, gullible, and more prone to stereotyped thinking. On
the other hand, she said, maintaining merely moderate levels of happiness
is pretty damn good for your mental and physical health. So here's the
takeaway, Aries: The astrological omens suggest you're due for a surge of
joy and pleasure. Just be careful it doesn't spill over into rash, delirious
excess. Here's your watchword: well-grounded delight.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In the 19th century, the Grimm brothers
gathered over 200 old fairy tales from a variety of sources and published
them in an unprecedented collection. Many of their stories are still
popular, including "Cinderella," "Snow White," "Hansel and Gretel," and
"Rapunzel." Around the same time they did their work, a storyteller
named Franz Xaver von Schönwerth assembled his own compendium of
fantastic myths, fables, and folklore. Unlike the Grimm brothers' book, his
work faded into obscurity. But it was rediscovered in 2011, and 500 lost
fairy tales are now finding their way into newly published books. I foresee
a comparable phenomenon happening for you in 2015, Taurus. Forgotten
stories will return. Raw material from the depths will resurface. Interesting
news from the past will come flowing into the present.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Your first task is to ascertain the half-truth,
the whole half-truth, and nothing but the whole half-truth. Only then will
you be able to find the other half of the truth. I realize it may be
frustrating to use this approach. You'd probably prefer to avoid wrangling
with the deceptions and misdirections. But I think it's the only way to
jostle loose the hidden or missing information. For best results, be a
cunning and unsentimental detective who's eager to solve the mystery.
Don't focus on finding fault or assigning blame.
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FEELING JOY STIMULATES YOUR COMPASSION?
Assume that your drive to experience pleasure isn't a barrier to your
spiritual growth, but is in fact essential to it. Proceed on the hypothesis
that cultivating joy can make you a more ethical and compassionate
person. Imagine that feeling good has something important to teach you
every day.
For inspiration in practicing this approach, tune in to your Expanded Audio
Horoscopes. They're four-to-five-minute meditations on the current state
of your destiny. The cost is $6 per reading, with a discount for multiple
purchases.
Go here to register and/or sign in: http://RealAstrology.com/
They're available on your tablets and smart phones as well as your
computers.
You can also listen over the phone by calling
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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CANCER (June 21-July 22): One of the ingredients that makes yoga mats
so soft and springy is the chemical azodicarbonamide. The same stuff is
added to the soles of shoes. There's a third place where it's used, too: in
the burger buns sold by McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, and other fast
food joints. I'm not suggesting that you order a big supply of
azodicarbonamide and ingest it. But I do hope you will consider the
metaphorical equivalent: doing whatever's necessary to make yourself
bouncy and fluffy and pliable and supple and resilient.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): "There are two kinds of light," said author James
Thurber, "the glow that illuminates, and the glare that obscures." Lately
you have been an abundant source of that first kind of light, Leo. The fire
in your heart and the gleam in your eyes have not only brightened the
mood wherever you've gone. They have also clarified confusing situations,
warmed chilly attitudes, and healed dispirited allies. Thank you! In the
coming weeks, I'd love to see you continue on your hot streak. To help
ensure that you do, keep your ego under control. Don't let it pretend that
it owns the light you're emitting. With a little introspection, you will
continue to generate illumination, not glare.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Studies suggest that 57 percent of all people
with access to the Internet have engaged in the practice known as ego-
surfing. This modern art form consists of searching Google for mentions
of one's own name. This is a suspiciously low figure unless we factor in
the data uncovered by my own research -- which is that a
disproportionately small amount of Virgos go ego-surfing: only 21
percent. If you are one of the 79 percent of your tribe who does not
indulge, I invite you to remedy the situation. It's an excellent time to risk
exploring the potential benefits of increased self-interest and self-regard.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): When I started writing horoscopes many years
ago, I was a good astrologer but an unexceptional writer. Eventually, the
practice of composing 12 packets of pithy prose every week allowed me
to improve my authorial skills. The stuff I composed in the early years
wasn't bad, but I wouldn't want to present it as my work any more. So
should I feel guilty that I got paid and appreciated for those old efforts
even though I was less than perfect? Did I get away with something I
shouldn't have gotten away with? I don't think so. I was doing the best I
could at the time. And even my unpolished astrological musings were
helpful to many people. Now, Libra, I invite you to apply these meditations
to you own unfolding destiny.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You may already know what I'm about to tell
you. It's a core principle at the root of your Scorpio heritage. But I want
to focus your attention on it. In the coming months, you'll be wise to
keep it at the forefront of your conscious awareness. Here it is, courtesy
of philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche: "You have it in your power to invest
everything you have lived through -- your experiments, false starts,
errors, delusions, passions, your love and your hope -- into your goal, with
nothing left over."
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): "A savage desire for strong emotions
and sensations burns inside me: a rage against this soft-tinted, shallow,
standardized and sterilized life." So says Harry Haller, the protagonist of
Herman Hesse's novel *Steppenwolf.* His declaration could serve as an
interesting point of reference for you in the coming months, Sagittarius --
not as a mood for everyday use, but as a poetic inspiration that you
periodically call on to invigorate your lust for life. My invitation has a
caveat, however. I advise you *not* to adopt the rest of Harry Haller's
rant, in which he says that he also has "a mad craving to smash
something up, a department store, or a cathedral, or myself."
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Homework: What's the one feeling you want to feel more than any other
in 2015? Tell all: Truthrooster@gmail.com.
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Contents of the Free Will Astrology Newsletter are Copyright
2014 Rob Brezsny
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