Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter
Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter
November 13, 2019
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See a pretty version of this newsletter: https://bit.ly/YourHolyMission
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"Empathy is the most radical of human emotions," wrote activist Gloria
Steinem.
What did she mean by "radical"? The word implies audacity, fierceness,
and courage. It connotes a revolt against the status quo, a transcendence
of what’s normal and habitual.
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Torrential Pronoia Therapy. Experiments and exercises in becoming a
blasphemously reverent, lustfully compassionate, eternally changing
Master of Transgressive Beauty.
1. 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."
Then retrain yourself to say "YES" at least 51 percent of the
time. Start the transformation by saying "YES" aloud 22 times right
now.
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2. In response to our culture's ever-rising levels of noise and frenzy,
rites of purification have become more popular. Many people now
recognize the value of taking periodic retreats. Withdrawing from their
usual compulsions, they go on fasts, avoid mass media, practice celibacy,
or even abstain from speaking. While we applaud cleansing ceremonies
like this, we recommend balancing them with periodic outbreaks of an
equal and opposite custom: the Bliss Blitz.
During this celebration, you tune out the numbing banality of the daily
grind. But instead of shrinking into asceticism, you indulge in
uninhibited explorations of joy, release, and expansion. Turning away
from the mildly stimulating distractions you seek out when you're bored
or worried, you become inexhaustibly resourceful as you search for
unsurpassable sources of cathartic pleasure. Try it for a day or a week:
the Bliss Blitz.
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3. "You can't wait for inspiration," proclaimed writer Jack London. "You
have to go after it with a club." That sounds too violent to me, though I
agree in principle that aggressiveness is the best policy in one's
relationship with inspiration.
Try this: Don't wait for inspiration. Go after it with a butterfly
net, lasso, sweet treats, fishing rod, court orders, beguiling smells, and
sincere flattery.
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4. Have you ever seen the game called "Playing the Dozens"?
Participants compete in the exercise of hurling witty insults at each
other. Here are some examples: "You're so dumb, if you spoke your mind
you'd be speechless." "Your mother is so old, she was a waitress at the
Last Supper." "You're so ugly, you couldn't get laid if you were a brick."
I invite you to rebel against any impulse in you that resonates with the
spirit of "Playing the Dozens." Instead, try a new game, "Paying the
Tributes." Choose worthy targets and ransack your imagination to come
up with smart, true, and amusing praise about them.
The best stuff will be specific to the person you're addressing, not
generic, but here are some prototypes: "You're so far-seeing, you can
probably catch a glimpse of the back of your own head." "You're so
ingenious, you could use your nightmares to get rich and famous." "Your
mastery of pronoia is so artful, you could convince me to love my worst
enemy."
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5. Salvador Dalí once staged a party in which guests were told to come
disguised as characters from their nightmares. Do the reverse. Throw a
bash in which everyone is invited to arrive dressed as a character from
the most glorious dream they remember.
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6. When many people talk about their childhoods, they emphasize the
alienating, traumatic experiences they had, and fail to report the good
times. This seems dishonest—a testament to the popularity of cynicism
rather than a reflection of objective truth.
I don't mean to downplay the way your early encounters with pain
demoralized your spirit. But as you reconnoiter the promise of pronoia,
it's crucial for you to extol the gifts you were given in your early years:
all the helpful encounters, kind teachings, and simple acts of grace that
helped you bloom.
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7. What is the holiest river in the world? Some might say the Ganges in
India. Others would propose the Jordan River or the River Nile. But I say
the holiest river is the one that's closest to where you are right now.
Go to that river and commune with it. Throw a small treasure into it as
an offering. Next, find a holy sidewalk to walk on, praise the holiness in
a bus driver, kiss a holy tree, and shop at a holy store.
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8. Go to the ugliest or most forlorn place you know -- a drugstore
parking lot, the front porch of a crack house, a toxic waste dump, or the
place that symbolizes your secret shame -- and build a shrine devoted to
beauty, truth, and love.
Here are some suggestions about what to put in your shrine: a silk scarf;
a smooth rock on which you've inscribed a haiku or joke with a felt-tip
pen; coconut cookies or ginger candy; pumpkin seeds and an origami
crane; a green kite shaped like a dragon; a music CD you love; a photo of
your hero; a votive candle carved with your word of power; a rubber
ducky; a bouquet of fresh beets; a print of Van Gogh's Starry Night.
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9. Become a rapturist, which is the opposite of a terrorist: Conspire to
unleash blessings on unsuspecting recipients, causing them to feel good.
Before bringing your work as a rapturist to strangers, practice with
two close companions. Offer them each a gift that fires up their
ambitions. It should not be a practical necessity or consumer fetish, but
rather a provocative tool or toy. Give them an imaginative boon they've
been hesitant to ask for, a beautiful thing that expands their self-image,
a surprising intervention that says, "I love the way you move me."
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The above is excerpted from "Pronoia Is the Antidote for Paranoia: How
the Whole World Is Conspiring to Shower You with Blessings" -
https://bit.ly/PowellsPronoia or https://bit.ly/Pronoia
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WANT TO GET YOUR ASTROLOGICAL CHART READ?
If you want your personal chart done, I recommend a colleague whose
approach to reading astrology charts closely matches my own. She's my
wife, RO LOUGHRAN. She's at http://www.roloughran.com.
Ro utilizes a blend of well-trained intuition, emotional warmth, and
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.
In addition to over 30 years of astrological experience, Ro has been a
licensed psychotherapist for 17 years. She integrates psychological
insight with astrology's cosmological perspective.
Ro is based in California, but can do phone consultations and otherwise
work with you regardless of geographic boundaries.
Check out Ro's website at http://www.roloughran.com
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TELLING YOUR OWN STORY
The ability to tell your own story, in words or images, is already a
victory, already a revolt.
—Rebecca Solnit
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HUMAN BIOLOGY HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY
Human biology has changed dramatically in the past three centuries,
says Nobel Prize-winning economic historian Robert Fogel -- and
especially in the last 100 years. People in the developed world live
twice as long as they used to. They weigh more and grow taller. They're
far hardier and healthier and smarter. When sickness comes, they're
better at defeating it than their ancestors were, and they're not as likely
to contract diseases in the first place.
"We're just not falling apart like we used to," says Fogel. "Even our
internal organs are stronger and better formed." What has occurred is
"not only unique to humankind, but unique among the 7,000 or so
generations of human beings who have inhabited the earth."
We're talking about a revolution. In the mid-19th century, Americans of
all ages were much sicker than they are now. Child mortality was almost
25 percent, and of those kids lucky enough to survive into adolescence,
15 percent more expired before age 15. Chronic malnutrition was a
horrendous curse, compromising immune systems from birth.
During the Civil War, one-sixth of the teenagers who applied to serve in
the Union army were rejected because of chronic ailments like malaria,
tuberculosis, arthritis, cardiovascular problems, and hernias. As for
the older folks, the average ex-soldier in his 60s had at least six health
problems, four more than a sexagenarian is likely to have today.
What happened between then and now? First, we harnessed electricity,
made it universally available, and used it in a myriad ways to improve
our lot. All of the other boons I'm about to name -- improvements in our
diet, medicine, sanitation, and workload -- were organized around this
fantastic, unprophesied new resource.
Our relationship with food has changed dramatically in the last century
and a half. We discovered more accurate information about our
nutritional needs and gained access to a greater variety and abundance of
food. The perfection of the science of refrigeration and the eventual
universal availability of refrigerators made a big difference, too.
Victory over widespread malnutrition meant that infants got a better
start on building strong bodies, making them less susceptible to sickness
throughout the course of their lives.
The drastic upgrade in the state of the human body was also made
possible by steadily growing medical expertise, including the discovery
of the germ theory of disease and radical new treatments like antibiotics
and vaccination. Physicians got better training, large numbers of new
hospitals opened, and more people made medicine their career. Among
the diseases that were wiped out were diphtheria, typhoid, cholera,
whooping cough, tetanus, tuberculosis, smallpox, and polio.
Innovations in sanitation have been key to the upgrades in the way our
bodies work. Everything and everyone are far cleaner than they used to
be. People bathe more frequently and devote more attention to their
hygiene. Among the most important developments in this triumph were
two practical miracles: indoor plumbing and the installation of
municipal sewer systems.
It took a while. As late as 1920, only one in 100 American homes had a
toilet or even a bathroom -- outhouses were standard -- and toilet
paper was a luxury. For those few with bathtubs, a full-body cleanse
was often a once-a-week ritual, and entire families might use the same
bathwater. Fogel says that even into the early 1900s, "Chicago exported
a lot of typhoid down to St. Louis," by disposing wastewater in the
Illinois River.
Garbage disposal used to be a hit-and-miss proposition until the 20th
century. Private citizens might bury their refuse in their backyards,
take it to public incinerators, or offer it to pigs at local farms. But
eventually, local governments took over the task. During my lifetime,
every city where I've lived has done a stellar job of hauling my trash
away.
In the middle of the 19th century, the average American worked 78
hours a week, often at exhausting manual labor and without the help of
machines. As work became easier and of shorter duration, our health
soared. Technological aids like washing machines and automatic heating
systems also contributed to the rising tide of physical well-being.
All of the improvements I've mentioned have flourished because of the
most important change of all: greater wealth and more available
resources. Despite periodic economic downturns, per capita income in
the developing nations has grown enormously in the last 150 years.
Elsewhere, too: Wealth in India and China has doubled since 1989,
according to The Economist magazine. As a result, more of us have been
able to afford to take better care of ourselves. And more of us have been
able to do the research and experimentation and development that
advance the common good.
Even poor people are better off than they used to be. During the 17 years
when my annual income was less than $10,000, well below the official
poverty line, I had many amenities the average American didn't have in
1900: electricity, telephone, bathtub, toilet, hot running water,
refrigerator, radio, electric hotplate, space heater, TV, cassette player,
shampoo, public transportation, asthma medicine, access to a
laundromat, garbage collection, and sewer system.
The above is excerpted from "Pronoia Is the Antidote for Paranoia: How
the Whole World Is Conspiring to Shower You with Blessings" -
https://bit.ly/PowellsPronoia or https://bit.ly/Pronoia
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I got what I needed instead of what I wanted and that's just about the best
kind of luck you can have.
—Cormac McCarthy
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MORE PRONOIA RESOURCES:
US green economy has 10 times more jobs than the fossil fuel industry
https://tinyurl.com/y3axgzrb
California's Sausalito Marin City District return to session this August,
they will be the first in the nation to serve their students 100 percent
organic meals and sustainably sourced.
https://tinyurl.com/y2njfdyc
Trees Are Healing Our Planet. A recent study found that new forests
might be our best shot at saving the world.
https://tinyurl.com/yxjd7h9k
(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 November 14
Copyright 2019 by Rob Brezsny
https://FreeWillAstrology.com
Grammar key: Asterisks equal *italics*
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Poet Robert Bly tells us that the door to the
soul is unlocked. You don't have to struggle through any special
machinations to open it or go through it. Furthermore, the realm of the
soul is always ready for you. Always! It harbors the precise treasure
you need in order to be replenished and empowered. I bring this to your
attention, Scorpio, because I think that during the next two weeks, you
should abide as much as possible in the soul's realm—the cornucopia of
holy truths and ever-fresh riches.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In my estimation, what you've
experienced lately has been akin to a fermentation process. It's as if
you're undergoing a transformation with resemblances to the way that
grapes turn into wine or milk becomes yogurt or dough rises before
being baked into bread. You may have had to endure some discomfort,
which is the case for anything in the midst of substantial change. But I
think you'll ultimately be quite pleased with the results, which I expect
will be ready no later than ten days after your birthday—and quite
possibly sooner.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Many books have been written about
Joan of Arc, a fifteenth-century teenage peasant girl whose improbable
ascent to military leadership, under the guidance of her divine visions,
was crucial in France's victory over the English. Among the many
miraculous elements of her story was the fact that less than a year
before she led troops into battle on horseback, she didn't know how to
ride a horse. She learned by riding around her father's farm astride his
cows. I foresee an equivalent marvel in your future, Capricorn. By this
time next year, you will have developed an aptitude that might seem
unimaginable now. (P.S. There's evidence Joan was a Capricorn.)
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The *Divine Comedy* is one of history's
greatest literary works. Its author, Dante Alighieri, was 43 when he
began writing the *Inferno*, the first part of his three-part
masterpiece. Up until that time, he had published just one book and a few
poems, and had also abandoned work on two unfinished books. Early on in
the *Inferno*, the not-yet-renowned author presents a fictional scene
in which he meets with the spirits of antiquity's most famous authors:
Virgil, Homer, Horace, Ovid, and Lucan. Those illustrious five tell Dante
he is such an important writer that he ranks sixth, after them, in his
excellence. I'm going to encourage you to dare indulging in behavior like
Dante's: to visualize and extol—and yes, even brag about—the virtues and
skills that will ultimately be your signature contribution to this world.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): The Latin word for sea is *mare*.
*Flustra* is the calm sea. *Undisonus* means "resounding with waves."
*Caeruleus* is the sea's deep shade of blue, *aestus* is the tide, and
*aequoreus* means "connected with the sea." My hope is that as you
meditate on these lyrical terms, you'll be moved to remember the first
lakes, rivers, and oceans you ever swam in. You'll recall your time
floating in your mother's womb and your most joyous immersions in
warm baths and hotsprings. Why? It's a favorable time to seek the
healing and rejuvenating powers of primal waters—both metaphorically
and literally.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): If there are any potential Aries heroes or
leaders or saviors out there, the coming weeks will be a favorable time
for you to fully bloom and assert your practical magnificence. The
lessons you have learned while improvising workable solutions for
yourself are ripe to be applied to the riddles that are puzzling your tribe
or group or gang. I want to let you know, however, that to achieve
maximum effectiveness, you should be willing to do good deeds for people
who may not be able to pay you back.
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OUR COLLABORATION
I really do feel that you're here with me as I create these horoscopes. In
a sense, you're my assistant. Our telepathic connection is utterly
palpable and practical. The hopes and questions you project my way
stream into my higher mind, coloring my psychic environment and
enriching my desire to give you exactly what you need.
If you ever want more inspiration generated in that same collaborative
spirit -- beyond the horoscopes you're reading here -- keep in mind
that every week I also offer EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPES for you.
They're four-to-five-minute meditations on the current state of your
destiny.
These forecasts are different in tone and format from the written
horoscopes you read here in the newsletter. They're longer and more
leisurely in tone.
To listen to your Expanded Audio Horoscope online, go to
https://freewillastrology.sparkns.com
Register and/or log in through the main page.
You can also listen over the phone by calling 1-877-873-4888.
The cost is $6 per sign on the On the Web. (Discounts are available for
bulk purchases.) You can also access them for $1.99 per minute by
phone
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"Your Expanded Audio Horoscopes seem to have the effect of activating my
inner teacher. Thanks!" - Eleanor A., Toronto
"Your expanded audio horoscopes are the next best thing to actually
having you here next to me to remind me who I really am." - Alyssa R.,
Des Moines, Iowa
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TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You're entering a phase of your
astrological cycle when it's crucial that your receptivity be as robust as
possible. To guide you in this delightful but perhaps challenging work,
here are good questions for you to pose. 1. Do you know what help and
support you need most, and are you brave and forthright enough to ask
for it? 2. Is there any part of you, perhaps unconscious, that believes
you don't deserve gifts and blessings? 3. Do you diligently cultivate your
capacity to be refreshed and restored? 4. Are you eagerly responsive
when life surprises you with learning experiences and inspirations?
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): "Many people will not be honest because
they fear loss of intimacy and togetherness," writes self-help author
Henry Cloud. But the truth, he adds, is that "honesty brings people
closer together," because it "strengthens their identities." Therein lies
the tender paradox: "The more you realize your separate identities, the
closer you can become." Living according to this principle may not be as
easy or convenient as being deceptive and covert, but it's ultimately
more gratifying. Henry Cloud concludes, "Telling loved ones what is
really on your mind and telling others what you really think is the
foundation of love."
CANCER (June 21-July 22): "Maturity is having the ability to escape
categorization," said poet Kenneth Rexroth. That's the opposite of the
conventional wisdom. For many people, the process of growing up and
becoming a seasoned adult means trying to fit in, to find one's category,
to be serious and steady and stable. Rexroth, on the other hand, suggested
that when you fully ripen into your potentials, you transcend standard
definitions; you don't adhere to others' expectations; you are uniquely
yourself, outside and beyond all pigeonholes and classifications. The
coming weeks will be an excellent time for you to practice and cultivate
this sacred art.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Is there an event from your past that would be
empowering for you to remember in detail? Is there a neglected but still
viable dream you could resurrect, thereby energizing your enthusiasm
for the future? Are there old allies you've lost touch with but who, if
you called on them, could provide you with just the boost you need? Is
there a familiar pleasure you've grown numb to but could reinvigorate
by visualizing the original reasons you loved it? The coming weeks will
be a favorable time to meditate on these questions.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Catholic saint St. Francis (1181–1226)
loved animals and the natural world. According to one folkloric tale, he
was once traveling on foot with several companions when they came upon
a place where the trees were filled with birds. Francis said, "Wait for
me while I go preach to my sisters the birds." He proceeded to do just
that. The birds were an attentive audience for the duration of his
sermon, apparently captivated by his tender tones. Seven centuries
later, author Rebecca West offered a critique of the bird-whisperer.
"Did St. Francis preach to the birds?" she asked. "Whatever for? If he
really liked birds he would have done better to preach to the cats." In the
coming weeks, Virgo, I encourage you to do the metaphorical equivalent
of preaching to both the birds and the cats.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Every now and then I authorize you Libras to
shed your polite, tactful personas and express the angst you sometimes
feel but usually hide. That's now! To egg you on, read this mischievous
rant by Libran blogger Clary Gay (claryfightwood.tumblr.com): "We
Libras are constantly thinking about how to make everyone else
comfortable and happy. There's not a minute going by when we’re not
worrying about radiating a soothing and comforting aura so everyone can
have a good time. If a Libra is cranky, it’s because they snapped! Because
of some non-Libra who doesn't appreciate them! If a Libra is mean to
people, it’s their own damn fault!"
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Homework: "How easy it is to make people happy when you don't want or
need anything from them," said Gail Godwin. Give an example.
FreeWillAstrology.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
the right to edit submissions for length, style, and content.
Requests for anonymity will be honored. We are not responsible for
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Contents of the Free Will Astrology Newsletter are Copyright
2019 Rob Brezsny
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