Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter
Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter
February 1, 2017
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See a pretty version of this newsletter: http://bit.ly/2kMkcs1
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A little more than a year ago, at the beginning of 2016, I wrote several
big-picture horoscopes that envisioned the opportunities and challenges
you would face in the coming year. I thought you might like to re-read
them now and see how accurate or apropos they turned out to be.
http://bit.ly/BigPicture2016
And if you'd like to check out your big-picture horoscopes for 2017, go
here: http://bit.ly/BigPicture2017
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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.
I invite you to meditate on the relentlessness of your yearning for love.
Recognize the fact that your eternal longing will never leave you in peace.
Accept that it will forever delight you, torment you, inspire you, and
bewilder you -- whether you are alone or in the throes of a complicated
relationship.
Understand that your desire for love will just keep coming and coming and
coming, keeping you slightly off-balance and pushing you to constantly
revise your ideas about who you are.
Now read this declaration from the poet Rilke and claim it as your own:
"My blood is alive with many voices that tell me I am made of longing."
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WHERE DO YOU FIND REAL NOURISHMENT?
There are thousand of things in the world that provide you with only
mediocre nourishment; the influences that deeply enrich you with their
blessings are much smaller in number.
To say it another way: You derive a bare amount of inspiration and
teaching from the great majority of people, songs, images, words, stories,
environments, and sights; whereas you draw life-sustaining illumination
and spirit-ennobling motivation from just a precious few.
I invite you to identify that special minority, and take aggressive steps to
be in ongoing communion with it.
The way I see it, tending to my sanity and being in service to the world
require me to be in a chronic state of rebellion.
But here's an important caveat: While the rebellion can and should be
partially fueled by anger at the consensual mass hallucination that's
mistakenly referred to as "reality," it must be primarily motivated by love
and joy and the desire to bestow blessings. A healthy proportion, at least
for me, seems to be 15% rage, indignation, and complaint, and 85%
compassion, celebration, and lust for life.
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ROSE-COLORED GLASSES VERSUS CRAP-COLORED GLASSES
"I've found a nice balance," writes EarthMover, one of my readers,
"between living like someone who has overdosed on delusional optimism
and someone who thinks everything and everyone sucks. I can see things
as they really are instead of through either rose-colored glasses or crap-
colored glasses.
"That means I can cultivate true objectivity, not the fake cynical kind. I
free myself from negative emotional biases that used to cloud my ability
to see the partially hidden beauty all around me.
"At the same time, I'm not addicted to the idea that I should be eternally
happy and blithe and sweet. When the dark moods descend on me, I trust
them. I know they are openings into equally sacred perceptions and
insights."
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IN PURELY SPIRITUAL MATTERS, GOD GRANTS ALL DESIRES
"In purely spiritual matters, God grants all desires," said philosopher and
activist Simone Weil. "Those who have less have asked for less." I think
this is a worthy hypothesis for you to try out.
To be clear: It doesn't necessarily mean you will get a dream job and
perfect lover and ten million dollars. What it does suggest is this: You can
have any relationship with the Divine Wow that you dare to imagine; you
can get all the grace you need to understand why your life is the way it is;
you can make tremendous progress as you do the life-long work of
liberating yourself from your suffering.
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MORE PRONOIA RESOURCES:
Spain's "Robin Hood Restaurant" Charges The Rich And Feeds The Poor.
http://tinyurl.com/gozwakv
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More than 1% of the U.S. population joined the Women’s March on
January 21. It was the biggest protest in U.S. history, and included
demonstrations in many cities worldwide.
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As Trump vows to kill climate plan, California pushes back.
http://tinyurl.com/hyjh9ea
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California, the state where I live, is the world’s sixth most powerful
economy. One out of every eight Americans lives here, and 27 percent of
us were born in a foreign land. 8.7 million of us voted for Clinton, and 4.5
million voted for Trump: 61% to 31%.
Our governor, Jerry Brown, recently gave his “State of the State”
speech. He said "California is Not Turning Back, Not Now, Not Ever" on
immigration, universal health care, and climate change.
Brown vowed to fight any attempt to deport undocumented immigrants,
retreat from the fight against climate change, or repeal the Affordable
Care Act.
(Note: I endorse these because I like them. They aren't advertisements,
and I get no kickbacks.)
Please tell me your own nominations for PRONOIA RESOURCES:
Truthrooster@gmail.com.
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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
Week beginning February 2
Copyright 2017 by Rob Brezsny
http://FreeWillAstrology.com
Grammar key: Asterisks equal *italics*
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Who would have guessed that Aquarian
Charles Darwin, the pioneering theorist of evolution, had a playful streak?
Once he placed a male flower's pollen under a glass along with an
unfertilized female flower to see if anything interesting would happen.
"That's a fool's experiment," he confessed to a colleague. "But I love
fools' experiments. I am always making them." Now would be an excellent
time for you to consider trying some fools' experiments of your own,
Aquarius. I bet at least one of them will turn out to be both fun and
productive.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In Shakespeare's play *MacBeth,* three
witches brew up a spell in a cauldron. Among the ingredients they throw
in there is the "eye of newt." Many modern people assume this refers to
the optical organ of a salamander, but it doesn't. It's actually an archaic
term for "mustard seed." When I told my Piscean friend John about this,
he said, "Damn! Now I know why Jessica didn't fall in love with me." He
was making a joke about how the love spell he'd tried hadn't worked.
Let's use this as a teaching story, Pisces. Could it be that one of your
efforts failed because it lacked some of the correct ingredients? Did you
perhaps have a misunderstanding about the elements you needed for a
successful outcome? if so, correct your approach and try again.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Once upon a time, Calvin of the *Calvin and
Hobbes* comic strip made this bold declaration: "Happiness isn't good
enough for me! I demand euphoria!" Given your current astrological
aspects, Aries, I think you have every right to invoke that battle cry
yourself. From what I can tell, there's a party underway inside your head.
And I'm pretty sure it's a healthy bash, not a decadent debacle. The bliss
it stirs up will be authentic, not contrived. The release and relief it
triggers won't be trivial and transitory, but will generate at least one long-
lasting breakthrough.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The coming weeks will be an excellent time to
ask for favors. I think you will be exceptionally adept at seeking out
people who can actually help you. Furthermore, those from whom you
request help will be more receptive than usual. Finally, your timing is likely
to be close to impeccable. Here's a tip to aid your efforts: A new study
suggests that people are more inclined to be agreeable to your appeals if
you address their right ears rather than their left ears. (More info:
tinyurl.com/intherightear)
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Here are your five words of power for the next
two weeks, Gemini. 1. *Unscramble.* Invoke this verb with regal
confidence as you banish chaos and restore order. 2. *Purify.* Be inspired
to cleanse your motivations and clarify your intentions. 3. *Reach.* Act as
if you have a mandate to stretch out, expand, and extend yourself to
arrive in the right place. 4. *Rollick.* Chant this magic word as you
activate your drive to be lively, carefree, and frolicsome. 5. *Blithe.* Don't
take anything too personally, too seriously, or too literally.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): The 17th-century German alchemist Hennig
Brand collected 1,500 gallons of urine from beer-drinkers, then cooked
and re-cooked it till it achieved the "consistency of honey." Why? He
thought his experiment would eventually yield large quantities of gold. It
didn't, of course. But along the way, he accidentally produced a
substance of great value: phosphorus. It was the first time anyone had
created a pure form of it. So in a sense, Brand "discovered" it. Today
phosphorus is widely used in fertilizers, water treatment, steel production,
detergents, and food processing. I bring this to your attention, my fellow
Cancerian, because I suspect you will soon have a metaphorically similar
experience. Your attempt to create a beneficial new asset will not
generate exactly what you wanted, but will nevertheless yield a useful
result.
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VISUALIZE YOUR BEST POSSIBLE FUTURE
Would you like some inspiration as you muse and wonder about your
upcoming adventures in 2017?
You can still listen to my long-range, in-depth explorations of your destiny
in the coming months. Each report in the three-part series is 7 to 9
minutes long.
Go to http://RealAstrology.com.
Register and/or log in through the main page, and then access the
horoscopes by clicking on "Long Range Prediction." (Choose from Part 1,
Part 2, Part 3.)
A new short-range forecast for this week is also available.
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LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In the documentary movie *Catfish,* the
directors, Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman, present a metaphor drawn
from the fishing industry. They say that Asian suppliers used to put live
codfish in tanks and send them to overseas markets. It was only upon
arrival that the fish would be processed into food. But there was a
problem: Because the cod were so sluggish during the long trips, their
meat was mushy and tasteless. The solution? Add catfish to the tanks.
That energized the cod and ultimately made them more flavorful. Moral of
the story, according to Joost and Schulman: Like the cod, humans need
catfish-like companions to stimulate them and keep them sharp. Do you
have enough influences like that in your life, Leo? Now is a good time to
make sure you do.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The city of Boston allows an arts organization
called Mass Poetry to stencil poems on sidewalks. The legal graffiti is done
with a special paint that remains invisible until it gets wet. So if you're a
pedestrian trudging through the streets as it starts to rain, you may
suddenly behold, emerging from the blank grey concrete, Langston
Hughes' poem "Still Here" or Fred Marchant's "Pear Tree In Flower." I
foresee a metaphorically similar development in your life, Virgo: a pleasant
and educational surprise arising unexpectedly out of the vacant blahs.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): When he was in the rock band Devo, Mark
Mothersbaugh took his time composing and recording new music. From
1978 to 1984, he and his collaborators averaged one album per year. But
when Mothersbaugh started writing soundtracks for the weekly TV show
*Pee-Wee's Playhouse,* his process went into overdrive. He typically
wrote an entire show's worth of music each Wednesday and recorded it
each Thursday. I suspect you have that level of creative verve right now,
Libra. Use it wisely! If you're not an artist, channel it into the area of your
life that most needs to be refreshed or reinvented.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Many vintage American songs remain
available today because of the pioneering musicologist, John Lomax. In
the first half of the 20th century, he traveled widely to track down and
record obscure cowboy ballads, folk songs, and traditional African
American tunes. "Home on the Range" was a prime example of his many
discoveries. He learned that song, often referred to as "the anthem of the
American West," from a black saloonkeeper in Texas. I suggest we make
Lomax a role model for you Scorpios during the coming weeks. It's an
excellent time to preserve and protect the parts of your past that are
worth taking with you into the future.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The mountain won't come to you. It will
not acquire the supernatural power to drag itself over to where you are,
bend its craggy peak down to your level, and give you a free ride as it
returns to its erect position. So what will you do? Moan and wail in
frustration? Retreat into a knot of helpless indignation and sadness?
Please don't. Instead, stop hoping for the mountain to do the impossible.
Set off on a journey to the remote, majestic pinnacle with a fierce song in
your determined heart. Pace yourself. Doggedly master the art of slow,
incremental magic.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Who can run faster, a person or a horse?
There's evidence that under certain circumstances, a human can prevail.
In June of every year since 1980, the Man Versus Horse Marathon has
taken place in the Welsh town of Llanwrtyd Wells. The route of the race
weaves 22 miles through marsh, bogs, and hills. On two occasions, a
human has outpaced all the horses. According to my astrological analysis,
you Capricorns will have that level of animalistic power during the coming
weeks. It may not take the form of foot speed, but it will be available as
stamina, energy, vitality, and instinctual savvy.
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Homework: Even if you don't send it, write a letter to the person you
admire most. Share it with me at Truthrooster@gmail.com.
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Submissions sent to Rob Brezsny's Astrology 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
Astrology column, and Free Will Astrology website. We reserve
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Contents of the Free Will Astrology Newsletter are Copyright
2017 Rob Brezsny
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