Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter
SEPTEMBER 24, 2008
FreeWillAstrology.com
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Check out this week's podcast here:
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You can also subscribe to future podcasts at that URL.
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Podcasts from previous weeks are available here:
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"Though human industry in the past 150 years has resorted
to brute force rather than elegant design, the making and trading
of goods can still be a wellspring of creativity, productivity,
and pleasure. Think of the thriving marketplaces that have enlivened
the world's great cities, the cherished objects and materials
that transform shelter into soulful dwelling. These need not be
sacrificed to protect our forests, rivers, soil and air. Indeed,
human industry and habitations can be designed to celebrate interdependence
with other living systems, transforming the making and consumption
of things into a regenerative force. Design can perform and preserve
the extravagant gesture -- in the marketplace, in the human community,
and in the natural world."
- William McDonough and Michael Braungart, Cradle to Cradle:
Remaking the Way We Make Things
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My book
PRONOIA IS THE ANTIDOTE FOR PARANOIA:
How the Whole World Is Conspiring to Shower You with Blessings
is available for sale at
tinyurl.com/qaj62
Here's an excerpt:
PRONOIA NEWS NETWORK
These are our top stories.
WAR, GENOCIDE, ARMS SALES IN PRECIPITOUS DECLINE
The world has become dramatically more peaceful since 1992. The
number of wars, coups, and acts of genocide has declined by 40
percent. In 1991, there were 51 wars at various places on the
planet. Now there are 30.
Weapons sales between countries have dropped 33 percent during
the same time, and the number of refugees has diminished by 45
percent.
The cause of these shocking developments is the unprecedented
upsurge of international activism, spearheaded by the United Nations.
The data comes from the Human Security Report, written by the
University of British Columbia's Andrew Mack and his team.
For a full report: tinyurl.com/cl8j5
And see the Human Security Report's website at humansecurityreport.info
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GENDER REVOLUTION LEGALIZED
Sweden has been a pioneer in bringing gender balance into government.
Forty-five percent of its parliament is female.
Other nations have finally begun to follow its lead. In 2003,
the Welsh assembly became the first legislative body in history
to have as many women as men. Meanwhile, Denmark, Finland, Norway,
Iceland, the Netherlands, Germany, Argentina, Costa Rica, South
Africa, and Mozambique have at least 30 percent of their parliamentary
seats filled by women, largely due to legally mandated quotas.
Rwanda's new constitution calls for 30 percent of decision-making
positions to be held by women. In the parliamentary elections
of 2003, that quota was exceeded, as women captured 49 percent
of the legislative seats.
The corporate domain is proceeding toward equality more slowly.
Norway is the first and only nation to pass laws mandating female
representation on corporate boards, requiring a 40 percent quota.
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SACRED GENIUS OF GENEROSITY
"The Sun, each second, transforms four million tons of itself
into light, giving itself over to become energy that we, with
every meal, partake of. For four million years, humans have been
feasting on the Sun's energy stored in the form of wheat or reindeer,
as each day the Sun dies as Sun and is reborn as the vitality
of Earth. Every child of ours needs to learn the simple truth:
She is the energy of the Sun. And we adults should organize things
so her face shines with the same radiant joy.
"Human generosity is possible only because at the center
of the solar system a magnificent stellar generosity pours forth
free energy day and night without stop and without complaint and
without the slightest hesitation. This is the way of the universe.
This is the way of life. And this is the way in which each of
us joins this cosmological lineage when we accept the Sun's gift
of energy and transform it into creative action that will enable
the community to flourish."
- Brian Swimme, The Hidden Heart of the Cosmos, video
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BLASPHEMOUS OPTIMISM
"The biggest event of the last 20 years - the collapse of
the Soviet Union - occurred without violence: the first nonviolent
revolution of that size in all of human history, extending from
Berlin to Siberia.
"Nelson Mandela went from a prison cell to the President's
office in a country that evolved from white supremacy to power-sharing
in only seven years.
"The Internet more and more evolves toward the planetary
brain once only imagined by visionary scientists like Tielhard
de Chardin and Arthur Clarke.
"What some call my 'blasphemous cheerfulness' or my 'cockeyed
optimism' just depends on my basic agnosticism. We don't know
the outcome of the current worldwide transformation, so it seems
sick and decadent (in the Nietzschean sense) when fashionable
opinion harps on all the gloomy alternatives and resolutely ignores
the utopian possibilities that seem equally likely (and, on the
basis of past evolution, perhaps a little more likely)."
- Robert Anton Wilson, rawilson.com
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DANCING THE REVOLUTION
Black South Africans fought for 40 years to dismantle the oppressive
system of apartheid. One of their most potent weapons was toyi-toyi,
a militantly exuberant form of singing and dancing. It served
to mobilize the energy of crowds at the large protest demonstrations
that ultimately broke the will of the white minority rulers. Imagine
how confounded their authoritarian minds must have been when confronted
by thousands of high-spirited activists passionately singing and
dancing in unison.
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SACRED ADVERTISEMENT
PNN is brought to you by the renegade Sufis who say they're as
likely to bask in the sweetness of enlightenment while cooking
a frozen burrito in a microwave oven under the fluorescent lights
of a convenience store as when they're meditating on a straw mat
in a remote mountain sanctuary.
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NEWS IN BRIEF
In the next 24 hours, 200 million people will make love on this
planet, as they do every day of every year.
Wired magazine reports that vast supplies of frozen
natural gas lie beneath the oceans, harboring more potential energy
than all of the world's oil reserves.
China and India, which comprise one-third of the earth's population,
have more than twice the wealth they had in 1989.
Rising rates of intermarriage are helping to dissipate ethnic
and religious strife worldwide.
Death rates from cancer are shrinking.
Acreage devoted to organic farming is increasing rapidly.
Levels of literacy and education and political freedom are steadily
growing all over the world.
If forced to decide between having a bigger penis and living
in a world where there was no war, 90 percent of all men would
pick universal peace.
With every dawn, when first light penetrates the sea, many seahorse
colonies perform a dance to the sun.
An average cloud is the same weight as 100 elephants.
There are always so many fragments of spider legs floating in
the air that you are constantly inhaling them wherever you go.
A river requires a million years to move a grain of sand 100
miles.
Diamonds rain from the skies on the planets Uranus and Neptune.
The five most beautiful words in the English language are luminous,
crucible, melody, undulates, and gratitude.
THIS WEEK IN PRONOIAC HISTORY
Lady Godiva was more than a seminal performance artist. She
was also a humanitarian and patron of the arts. When she doffed
her clothes and rode a white horse through the English town of
Coventry in 1057, her purpose was philanthropic. Her husband,
the local assessor, had promised to abolish all taxes on the local
folk if she did the daring deed.
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To read news and features from my book, go here: tinyurl.com/lhwx2
You can buy the book here:
AMAZON
tinyurl.com/qaj62
POWELLS
tinyurl.com/3dsx6q
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OTHER PRONOIA RESOURCES:
SPIRITUAL REVOLUTION, PLEASE!
Vote for Hope
Free download of an artful Obama anthem by MC Yogi
tinyurl.com/5uz2fo
SOUL VOTING
WiseUSA is a global non-partisan program working to invoke an
outpouring of wisdom during the election season.
gaiafield.net
"We the people call forth the deepest wisdom and the highest
compassion from the heart and soul of America, for the benefit
of the entire Earth community and the next seven generations.
May Wisdom Prevail in the USA. May Peace Prevail on Earth."
ADD SOME DIRT TO YOUR PURITY, SOME GRIT TO YOUR OPTIMISM
tinyurl.com/6zdrhg
The Extraordinary Healing Power of Ordinary Things: Fourteen
Natural Steps to Health and Happiness by Larry Dossey
"It may seem odd that a book promising to reveal the keys
to happiness as well as health lists unhappiness as one of those
keys, but Dossey contends that unhappiness is as necessary for
the preservation of good health as, say, periodic tetanus shots.
Add healthy doses of such other common but oft-overlooked good
things as optimism, novelty, music, plants, and miracles, and
one can expect a longer, happier life, Dossey says. Going further
than promoting the obvious, Dossey also believes that including
a bit of dirt, some bugs, a few tears, and a certain amount of
forgetfulness can also significantly add to life's length and
breadth."
- Donna Chavez
(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 September 25
Copyright 2008 by Rob Brezsny
FreeWillAstrology.com
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):
Against all odds, you are finally finding a way to quit that
nagging "addiction." You're shedding a dependency that
isn't worthy of you. You're weaning yourself from a passion that
hasn't brought out the best in you. Congratulations on your hard,
meticulous work, you epic hero, you. In the aftermath of your
exacting struggle, please don't immediately initiate another obsessive
relationship with a new mania. Enjoy the benefits of being blank
and clean and empty for a while.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):
What reasons might you have to celebrate your own private holy
day? Why might you want to go off by yourself or in the company
of special people and conduct a reverent ritual that reinvigorates
your knack for having fun? Here are some possible answers: 1.
You're overdue for a break from everything you usually do. 2.
You're hungry for the magic that happens when you take refuge
in the sacred. 3. It's time to stop the world and jump off long
enough to break the trance you're in. 4. You would generate uncanny
blessings by paying tender attention to your origins, returning
to your sources, and examining the foundations of your life.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):
Many Americans regard the Pledge of Allegiance as a supreme oath
of loyalty to the United States. When I was a kid, we used to
recite it to start each school day. Members of Congress still
make it their opening salutation at every session. It's not well-known,
though, that the Pledge was composed by a Socialist, Baptist minister
Francis Bellamy. Republicans might swoon in apoplexy if you presented
them with this proof that an extreme left-winger was a fervent
patriot. But doing that would be right in alignment with your
assignment in the coming week, Sagittarius. You will receive encouragement
from the cosmos whenever you seek out and express facts that disprove
prevailing biases and mistaken beliefs.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):
Norepinephrine is a hormone that can make you feel good even
when it's generated by stress. According to a study by the Positive
Health Center in London, successful women produce that hormone
in abundance. I have no medical research, just astrological guesswork,
to back up my claim that you Capricorns will have a special relationship
with norepinephrine in the coming weeks. As a result, high-pressure
situations that might have sapped your energy or frayed your nerves
in the past may actually energize you. You could find yourself
having a blast as you push harder to foster excellence.
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LISTEN TO AN EXPANDED HOROSCOPE
In addition to the horoscopes that you read here, I create additional
in-depth audio horoscopes for your inspiration.
They're not repeats or elaborations of the stuff you find here,
but entirely fresh explorations of your astrological omens, designed
to help you tune in to your soul's code.
Try them at RealAstrology.com.
They're available by phone at 1-877-873-4888 or 1-900-950-7700.
They're $6 if you access them on the Web, or $1.99 per minute
over the phone.
"Your audio horoscopes help me love myself better, and
I mean that in a non-narcissistic way."
- Deva P., Indianapolis
"I'm really grateful for the way you pick up my telepathic
requests and answer them in your expanded audio 'scopes."
- Marion H., Birmingham, AL
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AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):
Aquarian hockey mom and Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin
is a "cocky wacko," according to former Republican Senator
Lincoln Chafee. While it's no surprise that a member of your tribe
would be referred to as a wacko, the "cocky" designation
is atypical. Many Aquarians never build a strong enough ego structure
to feel as confident as they'd like, let alone slip into the realm
of having too damn much confidence. So even though I disagree
with most of Palin's political positions, and harbor a deep sadness
that a more thoughtful and compassionate person didn't make it
onto the Republican ticket, I urge you to cop some of her attitude
in the coming days. Conduct experiments that will help you feel
what it's like to cruise around with more than your usual amount
of pride.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):
Here's one way to reduce global warming: inject huge amounts
of sulfur into the atmosphere. So says Professor Tim Flannery,
an Australian sustainability activist. What's the best way to
accomplish that? Add sulfur to jet fuel. The atmosphere would
then repel a portion of the sun's rays, leading to an effect called
"solar dimming." Oh, by the way: As a side effect, the
planet's sky would probably turn yellow -- a rather extreme shift,
Flannery acknowledges, but necessary if we want to save the environment.
Are you contemplating an equally drastic step in your own personal
sphere, Pisces? Before you decide to go in that direction, why
not try a series of smaller, incremental actions with less dramatic
consequences?
ARIES (March 21-April 19):
Every day for 44 years, the German writer Karl Wilhelm von Humboldt
composed a poem for his wife, the lively and brilliant Karoline
von Dachroden. In accordance with your astrological potentials,
Aries, I will ask you to briefly imitate his prodigious outpouring
of creative love. Every day for the next two weeks, please find
it in your wild heart to make a sublime, or at least gorgeous,
offering to someone or something you adore.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20):
A recent National Geographic article reported on nudibranches:
colorful, oddly shaped slugs that live in the sea. The members
of a typical species, Nembrotha kubaryana, are whimsical
blobs of neon green swirled with orange and purple. The slugs
are "blind to their own beauty," however, because their
eyes can only register the difference between light and dark.
The "blind to their own beauty" thing reminds me of
you, Taurus -- especially these days. Would you do me a favor
and acknowledge your own charms more aggressively?
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LISTEN TO AN EXPANDED HOROSCOPE
In addition to the horoscopes that you're reading here, I create
more in-depth audio horoscopes for your inspiration. Find out
more at RealAstrology.com.
The audio horoscopes are also available by phone at 1-877-873-4888
or 1-900-950-7700.
"The best part about your audio horoscopes is that they
pat me on the head and kick me in the ass at the same time."
- Rita L., San Diego
"Your audio oracles go beyond helping me find the truth
-- they inspire me to find the WILD truth."
- Patrick K., Montreal
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GEMINI (May 21-June 20):
Jack Kerouac made a "list of 30 essentials," themes
that guided him as a writer. To mark your entry into the most
expressive phase of your astrological cycle, I offer you a few
of his guidelines. Even if you're not a writer, they can be applied
to how you create your life. 1. Submissive to everything, open,
listening. 2. Be in love with yr life. 3. Something that you feel
will find its own form. 4. Be crazy dumbsaint of the mind. 5.
Blow as deep as you want to blow. 6. Visionary tics shivering
in the chest. 7. Write what you want bottomless from bottom of
the mind. 8. Telling the true story of the world in interior monolog.
9. Accept loss forever. 10. Believe in the holy contour of life.
11. No fear or shame in the dignity of yr experience, language
& knowledge. 12. You're a Genius all the time. (The whole
list is here: tinyurl.com/6e93sm.)
CANCER (June 21-July 22):
The tabloids report that Cancerian Tom Cruise has plans to build
a $10 million bunker designed to save him and his family when
the evil alien overlord Xenu attacks Earth, fulfilling a prophecy
of his religion, Scientology. If the reports do have a grain of
truth, and Cruise has in fact been considering the project, now
would be an excellent time for him to begin construction. I'm
not saying that I believe Xenu's on his way. My point is that
you Crabs will place yourself in harmony with cosmic rhythms if
you attend to matters that will bolster your security, help you
feel safe and peaceful, and foster domestic bliss.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):
"I do not seek, I find." Pablo Picasso said that many
years ago, and I hope you will use it as your motto in the coming
days. It could help you keep your conscious mind out of the way
while your unconscious mind works to bring you what you really
require. In other words, Leo, you may miss the point if you're
obsessed with a specific answer or goal. It'll be more important
to stay alert for what you don't even realize you need to know.
Here's a corollary to add to your main theme. "The true worth
of an experimenter," wrote physiologist Claude Bernard, "consists
in his pursuing not only what he seeks, but also what he did not
seek."
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):
Many people who pray don't limit their conversations with God
to purely spiritual and ethical matters. In fact, money is one
of the main subjects the Divine Wow is asked to address. If you've
never had the chutzpah to do this yourself, I suggest you try
it soon. Higher powers of all kinds, from your boss to the loan
officer at the bank to the Creator Herself, may be unusually receptive
to your pleas. I'm guessing you'll be able to tap into financial
help "from above," or that you will make a connection
with an elevated source of wealth that has previously been out
of your reach.
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HOMEWORK:
True or false: Your deep psyche knows exactly what to do to transform
your biggest problem into a mysterious teaching. Testify by going
to FreeWillAstrology.com
and clicking on "Email Rob."
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WANT TO GET YOUR CHART DONE?
I'm not doing personal charts, but I highly recommend my astrological
colleague, RO LOUGHRAN. Her approach closely matches my own. In
our many discussions about astrology over the years, we've had
a major influence on each other's work.
Ro utilizes a blend of well-trained
intuition, emotional warmth, and
a high
degree of 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.
Ro is based in California, but
can do phone consultations and
otherwise
work with you regardless of geographic
boundaries.
Ro's website is at YourSoulJourney.com
She can also be reached at roloughran@comcast.net
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Submissions sent to the Free
Will Astrology Weekly Newsletter
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assignments" may be
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including but not limited to newsletters,
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Astrology column, and Free Will
Astrology website. We reserve
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Requests for anonymity will be
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Please be sure to note your preference
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are not responsible for unsolicited
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material.
Contents of the Free Will Astrology Newsletter are Copyright
2008 Rob Brezsny
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