Healthy Obsessions . . .

not Melodramatic Compulsions

Jan 31, 2023

Dear Readers —

During my career as a creative artist, I have published over 2,000 astrology columns—12 weekly horoscopes that have appeared in newspapers all over the world as well as on my website and newsletters.

I have also published a poetry book, a novel, and two editions of my uncategorizable joyride, Pronoia Is the Antidote for Paranoia: How the Whole World Is Conspiring to Shower You with Blessings.

Now, for the first time, I am gearing up to publish an astrology book. The title is ASTROLOGY IS REAL: REVELATIONS FROM MY LIFE AS A HOROSCOPE COLUMNIST.

It's a blend of a memoir, essays about the art of astrology, and a whole lot of oracles for YOU, dear reader.

The new book will emerge this spring. In the meantime, I will serialize it here on Substack for paid subscribers, beginning this week. It will be available as a bonus newsletter once a week.

You can wait to buy ASTROLOGY IS REAL until it arrives full-blown sometime in the coming months. Or you can get sneak peeks before it officially arrives.

Meanwhile: As I have for the past 22 years, I will continue to provide my regular weekly newsletter, which includes the Free Will Astrology horoscopes and a whole lot of other fun stuff.

It’s free for everyone who wants it to be free, though you can choose to be a paid subscriber if you'd like to contribute to my financial well-being. If you do become a paid subscriber, you will have access to the serialized book ASTROLOGY IS REAL.

Subscribe here: https://newsletter.freewillastrology.com/

Rowdy blessings,

Rob

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HEALTHY OBSESSIONS

I invite you to experiment with the theme “Healthy Obsessions.” Not “Melodramatic Compulsions” or “Exhausting Crazes” or “Manias That Make You Seem Interesting to Casual Bystanders,” but “Healthy Obsessions.

To do it well, you will have to take really good care of yourself as you concentrate extravagantly on tasks that fill you with zeal.

This may require you to rebel against the influences of role models, both in your actual life and in the movies you’ve seen, who act as if getting sick and imbalanced is an integral part of being true to one’s genius.

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As the Chinese Year of the Rabbit begins:

Meme words by Anna Goldstein. Art by Lily Seika Jones

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HIDING

All the words in this section are written by David Whyte:

HIDING is a way of staying alive. Hiding is a way of holding ourselves until we are ready to come into the light. Even hiding the truth from ourselves can be a way to come to what we need in our own necessary time.

Hiding is one of the brilliant and virtuoso practices of almost every part of the natural world: the protective quiet of an icy northern landscape, the held bud of a future summer rose, the snow bound internal pulse of the hibernating bear.

Hiding is underestimated. We are hidden by life in our mother’s womb until we grow and ready ourselves for our first appearance in the lighted world; to appear too early in that world is to find ourselves with the immediate necessity for outside intensive care.

Hiding done properly is the internal faithful promise for a proper future emergence, as embryos, as children or even as emerging adults in retreat from the names that have caught us and imprisoned us, often in ways where we have been too easily seen and too easily named.

We live in a time of the dissected soul, the immediate disclosure; our thoughts, imaginings and longings exposed to the light too much, too early and too often, our best qualities squeezed too soon into a world already awash with too easily articulated ideas that oppress our sense of self and our sense of others.

What is real is almost always to begin with, hidden, and does not want to be understood by the part of our mind that mistakenly thinks it knows what is happening. What is precious inside us does not care to be known by the mind in ways that diminish its presence.

Hiding is an act of freedom from the misunderstanding of others, especially in the enclosing world of oppressive secret government and private entities, attempting to name us, to anticipate us, to leave us with no place to hide and grow in ways unmanaged by a creeping necessity for absolute naming, absolute tracking and absolute control.

Hiding is a bid for independence, from others, from mistaken ideas we have about our selves, from an oppressive and mistaken wish to keep us completely safe, completely ministered to, and therefore completely managed.

Hiding is creative, necessary and beautifully subversive of outside interference and control. Hiding leaves life to itself, to become more of itself. Hiding is the radical independence necessary for our emergence into the light of a proper human future.

Excerpted from “HIDING” in CONSOLATIONS: The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words by David Whyte

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THE FUTURE IS THE GARDEN OF THE PAST

Great song to move you and uplift you:

https://tinyurl.com/2p8u8j8a

Song aboiut pronoia:

https://tinyurl.com/2dckvryr

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SECRET OF MAGIC

"The real secret of magic is that the world is made of words," said Terence McKenna, "and that if you know the words that the world is made of, you can make of it whatever you wish."

Here's my version of that hypothesis: What world you end up living in depends at least in part on your use of language.

Do you want to move and breathe amidst infertile chaos where nothing makes sense and no one really loves anyone? Then speak with unconscious carelessness, expressing yourself lazily. Constantly materialize and entertain angry thoughts in the privacy of your own imagination, beaming silent curses out into eternity.

Or would you prefer to live in a realm that's rich with fluid epiphanies and intriguing coincidences and mysterious harmonies? Then be discerning and inventive in how you speak, primed to name the unexpected codes that are always being born right in front of your eyes.

Turn your imagination into an ebullient laboratory where the somethings you create out of nothings are tinctured with the secret light you see in your dreams of invisible fire.

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SAY THIS

Say this:

“I am an essential nonentity. I am one of many trillions of centers of expression for the Divine Wow.

“Even as I muddle through the everyday vexations that make my soul ooze greasy sweat and my eyes shy away from brave perception, I am also an ecstatic catalyst furthering the good fortune of the Primal Throb.

“I am the unsprouted seed of secret mystery even as I blossom crazily with fertile brilliance in the Primal Elysium.”

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GOOD ERRORS

In his book The Medusa and the Snail, science writer Lewis Thomas said that the English word “error” developed from a root meaning “to wander about, looking for something.” That’s why he liked Darwin’s idea that error is the driving force in evolution.

Lewis also wrote this: “The capacity to blunder slightly is the real marvel of DNA. Without this special attribute, we would still be anaerobic bacteria and there would be no music.”

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Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published

AND I WAS ALIVE
by Osip Mandelstam

And I was alive in the blizzard of the blossoming pear,
Myself I stood in the storm of the bird-cherry tree.

It was all leaflife and starshower, unerring, self-shattering power,
And it was all aimed at me.

What is this dire delight flowering fleeing always earth?
What is being? What is truth?

Blossoms rupture and rapture the air,
All hover and hammer,

Time intensified and time intolerable, sweetness raveling rot.
It is now. It is not.

—by Osip Mandelstam, translated by Christian Wiman

Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published

Pear Tree in Blossom by Vincent van Gogh

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YOU ARE A HEALER

Here’s a fun hypothesis: Absolutely everyone in the world has the power to heal someone else.

At one end of the spectrum are the doctors and shamans and therapists who can summon the means to cure lots of people.

At the other end are individuals with the power to improve the health or smooth out the distortions in just one other person.

Wherever you fit in this range, you can decide right now that your healing mojo is now at a peak.

I invite you to invoke it in all of its intensity and point it in the direction of whomever can benefit.

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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

Week beginning February 2

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “I want to raise up the magic world all round me and live strongly and quietly there,” wrote Aquarian author Virginia Woolf in her diary. What do you think she meant by "raise up the magic world all round me"? More importantly, how would you raise up the magic world around you? Meditate fiercely and generously on that tantalizing project. The coming weeks will be an ideal time to attend to such a wondrous possibility. You now have extra power to conjure up healing, protection, inspiration, and mojo for yourself.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Before going to sleep, I asked my subconscious mind to bring a dream that would be helpful for you. Here's what it gave me: In my dream, I was reading a comic book titled Zoe Stardust Quells Her Demon. On the first page, Zoe was facing a purple monster whose body was beastly but whose face looked a bit like hers. On page two, the monster chased Zoe down the street, but Zoe escaped. In the third scene, the monster was alone, licking its fur. In the fourth scene, Zoe sneaked up behind the monster and shot it with a blow dart that delivered a sedative, knocking it unconscious. In the final panel, Zoe had arranged for the monster to be transported to a lush uninhabited island where it could enjoy its life without bothering her. Now here's my dream interpretation, Pisces: Don't directly confront your inner foe or nagging demon. Approach stealthily and render it inert. Then banish it from your sphere, preferably forever.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Theoretically, you could offer to help a person who doesn’t like you. You could bring a gourmet vegan meal to a meat-eater or pay a compliment to a bigot. I suppose you could even sing beautiful love songs to annoyed passersby or recite passages from great literature to an eight-year-old immersed in his video game. But there are better ways to express your talents and dispense your gifts—especially now, when it's crucial for your long-term mental health that you offer your blessings to recipients who will use them best and appreciate them most.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In esoteric astrology, Taurus rules the third eye. Poetically speaking, this is a subtle organ of perception, a sixth sense that sees through mere appearances and discerns the secret or hidden nature of things. Some people are surprised to learn about this theory. Doesn't traditional astrology say that you Bulls are sober and well-grounded? Here’s the bigger view: The penetrating vision of an evolved Taurus is potent because it peels away superficial truths and uncovers deeper truths. Would you like to tap into more of this potential superpower? The coming weeks will be a good time to do so.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The ingredient you would need to fulfill the next stage of a fun dream is behind door #1. Behind door #2 is a vision of a creative twist you could do but haven't managed yet. Behind door #3 is a clue that might help you achieve more disciplined freedom than you've known before. Do you think I'm exaggerating? I'm not. Here’s the catch: You may be able to open only one door before the magic spell wears off—*unless* you enlist the services of a consultant, ally, witch, or guardian angel to help you bargain with fate to provide even more of the luck that may be available.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): I trust you are mostly ready for the educational adventures and experiments that are possible. The uncertainties that accompany them, whether real or imagined, will bring out the best in you. For optimal results, you should apply your nighttime thinking to daytime activities, and vice versa. Wiggle free of responsibilities unless they teach you noble truths. And finally, summon the intuitive powers that will sustain you and guide you through the brilliant shadow initiations. (PS: Take the wildest rides you dare as long as they are safe.)

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VISUALIZE YOUR BEST POSSIBLE FUTURE

Would you like some inspiration as you muse and wonder about your upcoming adventures in 2023?

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 13 minutes long.

Go to https://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.

The cost is $7 per sign, with discounts for bulk purchases.

"I don't much believe in astrology. But that doesn't seem to get in the way of me deriving a whole lot of benefits from your expanded audio horoscopes."

—A. Arrosto, Indianapolis

"You have an amazing aptitude for cutting through the lies I tell myself. Thanks for the gentle shocks."

—T. Preneris, Toronto

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LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Fate has decreed, "Leos must be wanderers for a while." You are under no obligation to obey this mandate, of course. Theoretically, you could resist it. But if you do indeed rebel, be sure your willpower is very strong. You will get away with outsmarting or revising fate only if your discipline is fierce and your determination is intense. OK? So let's imagine that you will indeed bend fate's decree to suit your needs. What would that look like? Here's one possibility: The "wandering" you undertake can be done in the name of focused exploration rather than aimless meandering.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): I wish I could help you understand and manage a situation that has confused you. I'd love to bolster your strength to deal with substitutes that have been dissipating your commitment to the Real Things. In a perfect world, I could emancipate you from yearnings that are out of sync with your highest good. And maybe I'd be able to teach you to dissolve a habit that has weakened your willpower. And why can’t I be of full service to you in these ways? Because, according to my assessment, you have not completely acknowledged your need for this help. So neither I nor anyone else can provide it. But now that you've read this horoscope, I'm hoping you will make yourself more receptive to the necessary support and favors and relief.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): I can't definitively predict you will receive an influx of cash in the next three weeks. It's possible, though. And I'm not able to guarantee you'll be the beneficiary of free lunches and unexpected gifts. But who knows? They could very well appear. Torrents of praise and appreciation may flow, too, though trickles are more likely. And there is a small chance of solicitous gestures coming your way from sexy angels and cute maestros. What I can promise you for sure, however, are fresh eruptions of savvy in your brain and sagacity in your heart. Here's your keynote, as expressed by the Queen of Sheba 700 years ago: "Wisdom is sweeter than honey, brings more joy than wine, illumines more than the sun, is more precious than jewels."

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Your assignment, Scorpio, is to cultivate a closer relationship with the cells that comprise your body. They are alive! Speak to them as you would to a beloved child or animal. In your meditations and fantasies, bless them with tender wishes. Let them know how grateful you are for the grand collaboration you have going, and affectionately urge them to do what's best for all concerned. For you Scorpios, February is Love and Care for Your Inner Creatures Month.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Revamped and refurbished things are coming back for another look. Retreads and redemption-seekers are headed in your direction. I think you should consider giving them an audience. They are likely to be more fun or interesting or useful during their second time around. Dear Sagittarius, I suspect that the imminent future may also invite you to consider the possibility of accepting stand-ins and substitutes and imitators. They may turn out to be better than the so-called real things they replace. In conclusion, be receptive to Plan Bs, second choices, and alternate routes. They could lead you to the exact opportunities you didn't know you needed.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Author Neil Gaiman declared, "I've never known anyone who was what he or she seemed." While that may be generally accurate, it will be far less true about you Capricorns in the coming weeks. By my astrological reckoning, you will be very close to what you seem to be. The harmony between your deep inner self and your outer persona will be at record-breaking levels. No one will have to wonder if they must be wary of hidden agendas lurking below your surface. Everyone can be confident that what they see in you is what they will get from you. This is an amazing accomplishment! Congrats!

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I gathered all the long-term, big-picture horoscopes I wrote for you, and bundled them in one place. Here they are: https://tinyurl.com/BigPicture2023

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Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter

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