Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter
Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter
May 27, 2020
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See a pretty version of this newsletter: https://bit.ly/YourMagicTruths
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In some ways, our current world situation seems to be not at all
conducive for any of us to be cultivating and nurturing our ambitions. In
some ways, now doesn't feel like the right time for us to be naming
exactly what it is that we want from life and pushing forward with plans
to experience exactly what it is we want out of life.
Because of the global pandemic, we are in an extended period of deep
uncertainty. We are on our way to a new way of being and living, but no
one knows what it will be.
So how can we realistically cultivate and nurture our ambitions in a
time like this?
How can we even know what will be possible for us to achieve in the
coming months and years?
How can we anticipate which of our personal goals will even make sense
as the unknown transformations unfold?
These are all valid questions. They are essential to ponder.
At the same time, I propose that it's a favorable time for you to feed your
desires to be the best you can be—at whatever tasks and roles you might
end up carrying out in the coming months and years.
I propose that it's a favorable time for you to renew your love of being
alive, and to fuel your yearnings to give back to life in return for all
that life has given to you.
I propose that it's a favorable time for you to identify the unique talents
and gifts you have to offer the world, and to re-consecrate your
commitment to using those talents and gifts to create a beautiful life for
yourself and find specific ways to offer them to the world.
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THE FREEDOM TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND COMPASSIONATE
Dear Rob: I follow your writing, and like a lot of it. But you seem to have
gone off the rails and jumped the shark in your support of the dumb
experts who advocate the lockdowns as a way to allegedly foil the spread
of the coronavirus. I thought you supported freedom. I thought your
concept of "pronoia" was about liberating us from control and
manipulation. Why do you support the government telling us what to do?
—Confused in Tampa
Dear Confused: My approach to freedom derives its inspiration from the
freedom to love and care for and protect and help other people and all the
creatures of the earth. The lockdowns serve the cause of cherishing
life—thereby honoring and celebrating my freedom.
I don't mean to minimize the challenges of the lockdowns. Many of us are
separated from loved ones and have lost our jobs or had our incomes
reduced. Many of us feel alone and have faced dilemmas in our efforts to
remedy non-COVID-19 health concerns.
But those are different issues from the minor inconvenience of having to
wear protective masks in public and being careful to keep sufficient
distance between ourselves and others. They're different from the very
small problems of not being able to gather in groups at parks, salons,
and tattoo parlors.
Those modest constraints on our freedom enable us to express a far-
more robust kind of freedom, which is the freedom to take care of each
other, to ensure we do no harm.
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WHAT WOULD WE DO WITHOUT EACH OTHER?
we will not reveal
our conclusions until
the End of Times, which has
been scheduled repeatedly
and then canceled because
no one can imagine
what we would do
without each other
without these comings and
goings and the little gasp
of recognition that is all
we are allowed to leave behind
—excerpted from Eleanor Lerman's poem, "The Marfa Lights," from her
book *Strange Life*
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CONSPIRACIES
Yes, there are actual conspiracies: Bad people do indeed work in
coordinated ways behind the scenes to carry out nefarious plans.
But those conspiracies are uncovered by trained journaiists with strong
research skills and a highly honed ability to track down objective
evidence — not sloppy thinkers who can't tell the difference between
their fantasies and real data.
More: https://tinyurl.com/y983vxcy and
https://tinyurl.com/ycpqyyxs
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For those who want to learn about real conspiracies, they might stick to
those that are researched and documented by very smart people who
gather actual evidence. One such person is Naomi Klein.
Her book "The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism"
documents a phenomenon that might be described as a "conspiracy" —
how "free market" believers have exploited moments of shock and
extreme violence in order to implement their economic policies.
Good link for where to buy Naomi Klein's book:
http://tsd.naomiklein.org/shock-doctrine/where-to-buy
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YOUR NAMES
Each of us has a name
given by God
and given by our parents
Each of us has a name
given by our stature and our smile
and given by what we wear
Each of us has a name
given by the mountains
and given by our walls
Each of us has a name
given by the stars
and given by our neighbors
Each of us has a name
given by our sins
and given by our longing
Each of us has a name
given by our enemies
and given by our love
Each of us has a name
given by our celebrations
and given by our work
Each of us has a name
given by the seasons
and given by our blindness
Each of us has a name
given by the sea
and given by
our death.
-Israeli poet Zelda Schneurson Mishkovsky
Translated from the Hebrew by Marcia Lee Falk
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FAITH IN THE IMAGINATION
Some people put their faith in religion or science or political ideologies.
English novelist J.G. Ballard placed his faith elsewhere: in the
imagination.
"I believe in the power of the imagination to remake the world," he
wrote, "to release the truth within us, to hold back the night, to
transcend death, to charm motorways, to ingratiate ourselves with
birds, to enlist the confidences of madmen."
How do you use the power of imagination to remake the world?
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WILD KINDNESS
By practicing kindness all over with everyone you will soon come into
the holy trance, definite distinctions of personalities will become what
they really mysteriously are, our common and eternal blissstuff, the
pureness of everything forever, the great bright essence of mind, even
and one thing everywhere the holy eternal milky love, the white light
everywhere everything, emptybliss, svaha, shining, ready, and awake,
the compassion in the sound of silence, the swarming myriad trillionaire
you are.
— Jack Kerouac
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IT'S NOT JUST THE DEATH; IT'S THE DECIMATION
Virologist Peter Piot, director of the London School of Hygiene &
Tropical Medicine says: "Many people think COVID-19 kills 1% of
patients, and the rest get away with some flulike symptoms.
"But the story gets more complicated. Many people will be left with
chronic kidney and heart problems. Even their neural system is
disrupted. There will be hundreds of thousands of people worldwide,
possibly more, who will need treatments such as renal dialysis for the
rest of their lives.
"The more we learn about the coronavirus, the more questions arise. We
are learning while we are sailing. That’s why I get so annoyed by the
many commentators on the sidelines who, without much insight,
criticize the scientists and policymakers trying hard to get the epidemic
under control."
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ANIMAL SMARTS
I'm always striving to upgrade my ability to commune with non-human
intelligences.
See the fantastic photos: https://tinyurl.com/AnimalSmarts
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WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE TO ME
1. Visit my Gift Page — https://paypal.me/GiftsForRob — and contribute
to me now and then via the "Friends and Family" option.
2. Commit to offering me a regular donation through my Patreon page at
https://Patreon.com/FreeWillAstrology
3. Send checks or cash to me at P.O. Box 4400, San Rafael, CA 94913.
4. Buy my Expanded Audio Horoscopes and/or Daily Text Message
Horoscopes. Go here: https://RealAstrology.com
P.S.: No pressure, though! I understand that some of you don't have
enough money yourself, and it wouldn't make sense for you to give some
to me.
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MORE PRONOIA RESOURCES:
Here Are A Few Things To Feel Optimistic About Right Now:
https://tinyurl.com/y7tpm238
* Smog is clearing up. There has been nearly a 17% decline in global
carbon dioxide emissions since last year, potentially the largest drop in
pollution ever recorded.
* Crisis is breeding innovation. There are over 250 trials currently
looking at various drugs and treatments for COVID-19. There are new
technologies that can sanitize personal protective equipment and medical
equipment for reuse. Old drugs are being repurposed; new drugs are
being developed.
* The world is united in a big way. The pandemic has ushered in an
unprecedented era of cooperation and innovation from the private and
public sector and medical community towards achieving common goals.
* Live entertainment is, in a way, more accessible.
* You can pretty much tune in to a performance every night of the week
if you plan it right.
* You have a chance to reconnect with friends and family from afar.
* You can pick up new and old hobbies.
(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 May 28
Copyright 2020 by Rob Brezsny
https://FreeWillAstrology.com
Grammar key: Asterisks equal *italics*
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): I've got a message for you, courtesy of poet
Lisel Mueller. I think her wisdom can help you thrive in the coming
weeks. She writes, "The past pushed away, the future left unimagined,
for the sake of the glorious, difficult, passionate present." Of course, it's
always helpful for us to liberate ourselves from the oppressive thoughts
of what once was in the past and what might be in the future. But it'll be
especially valuable for you to claim that superpower in the coming
weeks. To the degree that you do, the present will be more glorious and
passionate and not so difficult.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): When Lewis Carroll's fictional heroine
Alice visits an exotic underground realm, she encounters two odd men
named Tweedledee and Tweedledum. The latter tells her, "You know very
well you’re not real." He's implying that Alice is merely a character in
the dream of a man who's sleeping nearby. This upsets her. "I am real!"
she protests, and breaks into tears. Tweedledum presses on, insisting
she's just a phantom. Alice summons her courageous wisdom and thinks
to herself, "I know they're talking nonsense, and it's foolish to cry about
it." I suspect you Cancerians may have to deal with people and influences
that give you messages akin to those of Tweedledum. If that happens, be
like Alice.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): "The less you fear, the more power you will
have," says the rapper known as 50 Cent. I agree with him. If you can
dissolve even, say, 25 percent of your fear, your ability to do what you
want will rise significantly, as will your influence and clout. But here's
the major riddle: How exactly can you dissolve your fear? My answers to
that question would require far more room than I have in this horoscope.
But here's the really good news, Leo: In the coming weeks, you will
naturally have an abundance of good insights about to dissolve your own
fear. Trust what your intuition tells you. And be receptive to clues that
serendipity brings you.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): For his film *Parasite*, Virgo filmmaker
Bong Joon-ho received Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director,
and Best Original Screenplay. In his natal horoscope, Joon-ho has Pluto
conjunct his sun in Virgo, and during the time *Parasite* began to score
major success, Saturn and Pluto were making a favorable transit to that
powerful point in his chart. I'm expecting the next six months to be a
time when you can make significant progress toward your own version of
a Joon-ho style achievement. In what part of your life is that most likely
to happen? Focus on it. Feed it. Love it.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): According to my analysis of the astrological
omens, the coming weeks will be a favorable time for you to seek out,
seduce, and attract luck. To inspire you in this holy task, I'll provide a
prayer written by Hoodoo conjurer Stephanie Rose Bird: "O sweet luck, I
call your name. Luck with force and power to make change, walk with me
and talk through me. With your help, all that can and should be will be!"
If there are further invocations you'd like to add to hers, Libra, please
do. The best way to ensure that good fortune will stream into your life is
to have fun as you draw it to you.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Scorpio comedian John Cleese does solo
work, but many of his successful films, albums, stage shows, and TV
programs have arisen from joining forces with other comedians. "When
you collaborate with someone else on something creative," he testifies,
"you get to places that you would never get to on your own." I propose
you make this your temporary motto, Scorpio. Whatever line of work or
play you're in, the coming weeks will offer opportunities to start getting
involved in sterling synergies and symbioses. To overcome the potential
limitations of social distancing, make creative use of Zoom and other
online video conferencing. (Here's more from Cleese: "The way an idea
builds as it careens back and forth is so unpredictable. Sometimes it
depends on people misunderstanding each other, and that's why I don't
think there's any such thing as a mistake in the creative process. You
never know where it might lead.")
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WHAT IF JOY AND PLEASURE ARE ESSENTIAL SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES?
Assume that your drive to experience pleasure and happiness 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.
To listen to your Expanded Audio Horoscope online, go to
https://RealAstrology.com
Register and/or log in through the main page.
You can also listen over the phone by calling 1-877-873-4888.
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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 provide me with the Rest of the Story.
I'm not necessarily a believer in the scientific accuracy of astrology, but
I do think you've got a lot of practical wisdom to impart."
- M. Tennenbaum, New York
"No one knows more about me than me. But you're right up there near
the top of the list of people who do understand something about how I
tick. How is that possible?"
- R. Goren, Albuquerque
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SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): "Wherever I am, let me never forget
to distinguish want from need," vows author Barbara Kingsolver. "Let
me be a good animal," she adds. That would be a stirring prayer to keep
simmering at the forefront of your awareness in the next six weeks.
According to my understanding of the astrological omens, you'll be
getting clear signals about the differences between your wants and needs.
You will also discover effective strategies about how to satisfy them both
in the post-pandemic world, and fine intuitions about which one to
prioritize at any particular time.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Writing some Chinese characters can be
quite demanding. To make "biáng," for example, which is used in the
name for a certain kind of noodle, you must draw 58 separate strokes.
This is a good metaphor for exactly what you should avoid in the coming
weeks: spending too much time and devoting too much thought and getting
wrapped up in too much complexity about trivial matters. Your focus
should instead be on simple, bold approaches that encourage you to be
crisp and decisive.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Singer-songwriter Jill Scott is strongly
committed to her creative process. She tells us, "I was once making a
burger for myself at my boyfriend’s house and a lyric started pouring
out and I had to catch it, so I ran to another room to write it down, but
then the kitchen caught fire. His cabinets were charred, and he was
furious. But it was worth it for a song." My perspective: Scott's level of
devotion to the muse is too intense for my tastes. Personally, I would
have taken the burger off the stove before fleeing the scene to record my
good idea. What about you, Aquarius? According to my analysis, you're in
a phase when creative ideas should flow even better than usual. Pay close
attention. Be prepared to capture as much of that potentially life-
altering stuff as possible.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): To protect ourselves and others from the
pandemic, most of us have been spending more time than usual at
home—often engaged in what amounts to enforced relaxation. For some of
us, that has been a problem. But I'm going to propose that it will be the
opposite of a problem for you in the next three weeks. In my astrological
opinion, your words to live by will be this counsel from author and
philosopher Mike Dooley: "What if it was your downtime, your
lounging-in-bed-too-long time, that made possible your greatest
achievements? Would they still make you feel guilty? Or would you
allow yourself to enjoy them?"
ARIES (March 21-April 19): "The best of my nature reveals itself in
play, and play is sacred," wrote the feisty Aries author Karen Blixen,
who sometimes used the pen name Isak Dinesen. The attitude described in
that statement helps illuminate the meaning of another one of her famous
quotations: "I do not think that I could ever really love a woman who had
not, at one time or another, been up on a broomstick." In my
interpretation of this humorous remark, Blixen referred to the fact that
she had a strong preference for witchy women with rascally magical
ways. I bring this to your attention, Aries, because I'm inviting you to
cultivate a Blixen-like streak of sacred play and sly magic in the coming
days.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Taurus music legend Willie Nelson has
played the same guitar since 1969. He calls it "my horse," and named it
after Trigger, a famous horse in Hollywood films. Although Nelson still
loves the tones that come from his instrument, it's neither sleek nor
elegant. It's bruised with multiple stains and has a jagged gash near its
sound hole. Some Tauruses want their useful things to be fine and
beautiful, but not Willie. Having said that, I wonder if maybe he will
finally change guitars sometime soon. For you Bulls, the coming months
will be time to consider trading in an old horse for a new one.
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Homework: What's the story or song that provides you with your
greatest consolation? FreeWillAstrology.com
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Contents of the Free Will Astrology Newsletter are Copyright
2020 Rob Brezsny
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