How Should We Interpret Omens?
The world is always full of signs for us
Hypothesis: All omens should be interpreted favorably.
All omens should be regarded as revelations about what can be done to successfully wrangle with our problems, perpetrate liberation, ameliorate suffering, find redemption, and perform the tricky maneuvers and ingenious tweaks that enable us to slip free of our mind-forged manacles and discover the deeper meanings behind and beneath our experiences.
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WHAT WELCOMING POSSIBILITIES ARE AHEAD FOR YOU in the coming months? Will there be opportunities disguised as challenges?
EXPLORE THE BIG PICTURE OF YOUR LIFE
with my Expanded Audio Horoscopes for the Second Half of 2021.
How can you exert your free will to create the adventures that will bring out the best in you, even as you find graceful ways to cooperate with the tides of destiny?
To listen to my IN-DEPTH, LONG-TERM AUDIO FORECAST for YOUR LIFE during the next six months, go here, then register and/or sign in:
After you log in through the main page, click on the link "Long Term Forecast for Second Half of 2021."
You can also listen to your short-term forecast for the coming week by clicking on "This week (July 6, 2021)."
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The Expanded Audio horoscopes cost $6 apiece. There are discounts for the purchase of multiple reports.
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MISSION STATEMENT
To celebrate my birthday recently, I wrote a brief summary of the principles that inspire my personal mission. Here they are:
* To be an aspiring Master of Curiosity.
* To know that playing is a consummate spiritual act.
* Being a purveyor of compassionate crazy wisdom.
* Don't suppress and deny and escape desire! Rather, apotheosize and enjoy desire, and channel it to commit transformative mystery and lyrical justice.
* Don't suppress and deny and escape ego! Rather, apotheosize and use ego as a tool to commit smart love.
* Completely identifying and blending my personal self with the One Self whose intelligence permeates all being and things.
* Infusing my writing with the soul of music. Infusing my music with the soul of writing.
* Syngergizing the Christ archetype with the Dionysus archetype.
* Exploring and expressing holy trickster feminism.
* Always asking: What is a masculine version of emotional intelligence?
* Daring to embody and express smart love.
* Know on a visceral level that consciousness is everywhere, in all things, in all creatures. Learn to commune with the myriad kinds of intelligence, not just the human variety.
* Resolved: Listening and empathy are superpowers.
* Figure out how to be more motivated to do good through love than through duty.
* The divine feminine is always here, has never waned. But too many human beings have lost the thread of direct communion with her. How to revive her presence in our hearts and minds?
* There is no such thing as permanent enlightenment—only an ongoing devotion to finding the newest, freshest versions of the raw truth in each moment.
* Practicing sacred activism and spiritual freedom fighting: conspiring to create a paradise on earth through practical political work — inspired by an ecstatic awareness of Divine Intelligence — that fosters justice and fairness for all
* The personal is the political. Every one of our thoughts, feelings, and actions has a political impact far beyond our individual lives.
* Doing what I do best and offering the unique gifts I have been blessed with to dissolve racism, misogyny, militarism, plutocracy, LGBTQ-phobia, ecocide, and all forms of bigotry.
* Love and respect and learn from all the animals. Seek communion with their intelligence.
* Every person and every creature are my teachers.
* One of the greatest gifts I can give to those I engage with is to transmute and refine my own darkness, ignorance, and woundedness.
* There are Other Real Worlds beyond the material realm, and I Iive there as much as I live here.
* Our nightly dreams are unparalleled sources of wisdom about how to become fully real.
* Dedicate my creativity to nurturing, inspiring, and liberating all those who are interested in my self-expression.
* My gratitude goes on forever.
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Cartoon by Bill Watterson
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THREE KINDS OF DARKNESS
Varieties of darkness include:
* pathology and evil;
* the mysterious unknown—the source of the future;
* the shadowy, unripe parts of our psyches that are on their way to becoming more interesting and useful but are still awkward and inarticulate.
Hypothesis: We can help prevent outbreaks of the first kind of darkness by developing a vigorous personal relationship with the second and third types.
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Rebecca Solnit writes: “The future is dark, which is the best thing the future can be, I think. It’s an extraordinary declaration, asserting that the unknown need not be turned into the known through false divination or the projection of grim political or ideological narratives; it’s a celebration of darkness, willing – as that 'I think' indicates—to be uncertain even about its own assertion.
"Most people are afraid of the dark. Literally when it comes to children, while many adults fear, above all, the darkness that is the unknown, the unseeable, the obscure. And yet the night in which distinctions and definitions cannot be readily made is the same night in which love is made, in which things merge, change, become enchanted, aroused, impregnated, possessed, released, renewed.”
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Jody Woodlands adds: "And darkness is nighttime, and underground, and the space between the stars: the simple, restful, beautiful, is-ness of the physical world. Shade and shadows: how I need them especially in summer!
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Tonia Rose adds: "Darkness is the soil and the soul: the deep places of growth and life."
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Art by Georgia O’Keeffe
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THE SPIRITUAL POWER OF PLAY
"Approfondement is a French word that means 'playing easily in the deep.'"
—Tom Robbins
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"We are fully human only while playing, and we play only when we are human in the truest sense of the word."
—Rudolf Steiner
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"The ancient Greeks knew that learning comes from playing," writes Roger von Oech in his book A Whack on the Side of the Head: How You Can Be More Creative. Their word for education, paideia, he says, was close to their word for play, paidia.
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Psychiatrist Stuart Brown has proposed this simple definition: "Play is spontaneous behavior that has no clear-cut goal and does not conform to a stereotypical pattern. The purpose of play is simply play itself; it appears to be pleasurable."
In a study of 26 convicted murderers, Brown discovered that as children, most of them had suffered either "from the absence of play or abnormal play like bullying, sadism, extreme teasing, or cruelty to animals."
Brown's work led him to explore the biological roots of play. "New and exciting studies of the brain, evolution, and animal behavior," he wrote, "suggest that play may be as important to life—for us and other animals—as sleeping and dreaming."
—Stuart L. Brown, "Animals at Play"
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"How much courage is needed
to play forever,
as the ravines play,
as the river plays."
—Boris Pasternak, "Bacchanalia"
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"You can't know fire unless you play with it," says Mark Finney, a math whiz who develops computer models for fighting forest fires.
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Some readers have told me that there is no such word as "approfondement" in French, even though Tom Robbins says there is.
Here are some responses to that:
I'd like to call your attention to the fact that poets and imaginative writers coin new words all the time, in every language. Some of my favorite authors, including Tom Robbins, exult in that playtime activity.
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You can find "The Complete List of Words That Shakespeare Invented" here: https://tinyurl.com/yrrkwja5
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New words added to English in 2021: https://tinyurl.com/wwa79feu
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The French dictionary added a record number of new words: https://tinyurl.com/4j79dxef
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21 New Words in the French Dictionary: https://tinyurl.com/sjvcyxtc
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Every year the directors of the Italian dictionary Devoto-Oli issue a new version to include new words and meanings that have entered popular discourse. In 2021, the dictionary released a 600-new word update. https://tinyurl.com/4w58h8k2
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There is a French organization that decides which new words will be officially allowed to be part of the French language. This group disallows many, many new words. But no one in France pays much attention to its judgments. French people use the disallowed words anyway.
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FRRREEEEEEE !!!!
I have made it possible for subscribers to my newsletter to pay a subscription fee to me for my newsletter, BUT ONLY IF THEY WANT TO AND CAN AFFORD TO!
I have offered my astrology newsletter free of charge for the past 20 years, and I will continue to do so for the next 20 years at least.
If, however, you are sufficiently prosperous and feel comfortable about donating money to me, I welcome it. Please know, though: I am TOTALLY FINE if you don't donate.
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BEE LOVE
I love this story about a beekeeper who gently moved an entire hive of bees into a new home. https://tinyurl.com/3e6ezn4f
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PRACTICING HUMILITY
It's healthy to cultivate humility!
In that spirit, I link to a page on Amazon containing the worst, most scathing reviews for my most recent book, Pronoia Is the Antidote for Paranoia: https://tinyurl.com/37ea3xh5
If you'd also like to read the good reviews, they're here: https://tinyurl.com/3ds88fbv
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ENLIGHTENMENT GAFFES
To all I care about, here’s a friendly tip: enlightenment is gaffe upon error upon blooper.
—poet Ikkyu
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NON-BINARY FUTURES
There are about 1.2 million non-binary LGBTQ adults in the United States, according to the first broad-based population estimate of this kind. That’s the population of Dallas, Texas. https://tinyurl.com/3zh8f2n4
A Guide to Being an Ally to Transgender and Nonbinary Youth: https://tinyurl.com/4ytt4s97
Beginner's guide to being an ally to trans people: https://tinyurl.com/x6875pu4
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MORE PRONOIA RESOURCES:
Nigerian Homes Built From Thousands of Plastic Bottles –12x Stronger Than Brick And Earthquake Strong. https://tinyurl.com/85vkh8st
One-legged Woman is a World Class Salsa Dancer and Inspiration to All. https://tinyurl.com/bc7cvjwv
MacKenzie Scott Has Given Away Another $2.7 Billion to 286 Charities. https://tinyurl.com/5wtukhy8
US Honors 98-yo Irish Woman Whose Storm Forecast Fortuitously Delayed D-Day Landings, Changing Course of WWII. https://tinyurl.com/6m66yrjt
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For a lot more pronoiac resources and ideas, read my book Pronoia Is the Antidote for Paranoia: How the Whole World is Conspiring to Shower You with Blessings
Available at Bookshop.org: https://tinyurl.com/548hp8y8
Available at Barnes & Noble: https://tinyurl.com/PronoiaBN
Available at Amazon: https://bit.ly/Pronoia
A free preview of the book is available here: https://tinyurl.com/PronoiaPreview
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Please tell me your own nominations for PRONOIA RESOURCES: Truthrooster@gmail.com.
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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
Week beginning July 1
Copyright 2021 by Rob Brezsny
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche said that when our rational minds are working at their best, they inspire us to cultivate our most interesting and enlivening passions. They also de-emphasize and suppress any energy-draining passions that might have a hold on us. I'm hoping you will take full advantage of this in the coming weeks, Cancerian. You will generate good fortune and sweet breakthroughs as you highlight desires that uplift you and downgrade desires that diminish you.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Leo author Wendell Berry suggests, "It may be that when we no longer know what to do, we have come to our real work, and when we no longer know which way to go, we have begun our real journey." Although there's wisdom in that formulation, I don't think it's true a majority of the time. Far more often we are fed by the strong, clear intuitions that emerge from our secret depths—from the sacred gut feelings that give us accurate guidance about what to do and where to go. But I do suspect that right now may be one of those phases when Berry's notion is true for you, Leo. What do you think?
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In 1750, more than 250 years after Columbus first visited the New World, Native Americans were still a majority of the continent's population. But between 1776 and now, the United States government stole 1.5 billion acres of land from its original owners—25 times the size of the United Kingdom. Here's another sad fact: Between 1778 and 1871, America's federal administrations signed over 500 treaties with indigenous tribes—and broke every one of them. The possibility that these sins will eventually be remedied is very small. I bring them up only to serve as possible metaphors for your personal life. Is there anything you have unfairly gained from others? Is there anything others have unfairly gained from you? The next six months will be prime time to seek atonement and correction.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Libran Zen teacher Thich Nhat Hanh advises you and me and everyone else to "seek the spiritual in every ordinary thing that you do every day." You have to work at it a bit, he says; you must have it as your firm intention. But it's not really hard to do. "Sweeping the floor, watering the vegetables, and washing the dishes become holy and sacred if mindfulness is there," he adds. I think you Libras will have a special knack for this fun activity in the coming weeks. (Thich Nhat Hanh wrote a series of "Mindfulness Essentials" books that includes How to Eat, How to Walk, How to Relax, and How to Connect. I invite you to come up with your own such instructions.)
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): My unexpected interpretation of the current astrological omens suggests that you will be wise to go naked as much as possible in the coming weeks. Being skyclad, as the pagans say, will be healing for you. You will awaken dormant feelings that will help you see the world with enhanced understanding. The love that you experience for yourself will soften one of your hard edges, and increase your appreciation for all the magic that your life is blessed with. One important caveat: Of course, don't impose your nakedness on anyone who doesn't want to witness it.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): If you analyzed the best-selling songs as measured by *Billboard* magazine, you'd think we were in the midst of a dangerous decline in population. The vast majority of those popular tunes feature lyrics with reproductive themes. It's as if there's some abject fear that humans aren't going to make enough babies, and need to be constantly cajoled and incited to engage in love-making. But I don't think you Sagittarians, whatever your sexual preference, will need any of that nagging in the coming days. Your Eros Quotient should be higher than it has been in a while.
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BRAINSTORM ABOUT THE BIG PICTURE OF YOUR LIFE
with my Expanded Audio Horoscopes for the Second Half of 2021.
In the coming months, what areas of your life are likely to receive unexpected assistance and divine inspiration?
Where are you likely to find most success?
How can you best cooperate with the cosmic rhythms?
What questions should you be asking?
To hear my LONG-TERM AUDIO FORECAST, register and/or sign in here:
After you log in through the main page, click on the link "Long Term Forecast for Second Half of 2021."
You can also listen to your short-term forecast for the coming week by clicking on "This week (July 6, 2021)."
The horoscopes cost $6 apiece. Discounts are available for multiple purchases.
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"Your audio horoscopes are somehow both a balm for my soul and a call to action. How do you do that?"
—David G., Coral Gables, FL
"Your audio horoscopes fill in the gaps in my imagination. They wake up the fun plot twists that have been just on the tip of my ability to visualize."
—Ani Kraft, Brattleboro, VT
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CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Pulitzer Prize-winning author Donna Tartt, born under the sign of Capricorn, writes, “Beauty is rarely soft or consolatory. Quite the contrary. Genuine beauty is always quite alarming.” In my view, that's an unwarranted generalization. It may sometimes be true, but is often not. Genuine beauty may also be elegant, lyrical, inspiring, healing, and ennobling. Having said that, I will speculate that the beauty you encounter in the near future may indeed be disruptive or jolting, but mostly because it has the potential to remind you of what you're missing—and motivate you to go after what you've been missing.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): On July 21, 1969, Aquarian astronaut Buzz Aldrin was the second human to walk on the moon. It happened during a spectacular astrological aspect, when transiting Jupiter and Uranus in Libra were trine to Aldrin's natal Sun in Aquarius. But after this heroic event, following his return to earth, he found it hard to get his bearings again. He took a job as a car salesman, but had no talent for it. In six months, he didn't sell a single car. Later, however, he found satisfaction as an advocate for space exploration, and he developed technology to make future trips to Mars more efficient. I hope that if you are now involved in any activity that resembles Aldrin's stint as a car salesman—that is, a task you're not skilled at and don't like—you will spend the coming weeks making plans to escape to more engaging pursuits.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Astronomers say the Big Bang birthed the universe 13.8 billion years ago. But a star 190 light years away from Earth contradicts that theory. Its age seems to be 14.5 billion years, older than the universe itself. Its scientific name is HD 140283, but it's informally referred to as Methuselah, named after the Biblical character who lived till age 969. Sometimes, like now, you remind me of that star. You seem to be an impossibly old soul—like you've been around so many thousands of lifetimes that, you, too, predate the Big Bang. But guess what: It's time to take a break from that aspect of your destiny. In the next two weeks, you have cosmic permission to explore the mysteries of playful innocence. Be young and blithe and curious. Treasure your inner child.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Columnist Linda Weltner says that there's a dual purpose to cleaning your home, rearranging the furniture, adding new art to the walls, and doting on your potted plants. Taking good care of your environment is a primary way of taking good care of yourself. She writes, "The home upon which we have lavished so much attention is the embodiment of our own self love.” I invite you to make that your inspirational meditation for the next two weeks.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): "For peace of mind, I will lie about any thing at any time," said author Amy Hempel. Hmmmm. I'm the opposite. To cultivate peace of mind, I try to speak and live the truth as much as I can. Lying makes me nervous. It also seems to make me dumber. It forces me to keep close track of my fibs so I can be sure to stick to my same deceitful story when the subject comes up later. What about you, Taurus? For your peace of mind, do you prefer to rely on dishonesty or honesty? I'm hoping that for the next four weeks, you will favor the latter. Cultivating judicious candor will heal you and boost your intelligence.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In her essay about education, "Don't Overthink It," philosopher Agnes Callard reminds us, "No matter how much we increase our investment at the front end—perfecting our minds with thinking classes, long ruminations, novel-reading, and moral algebra—we cannot spare ourselves the agony of learning by doing.” That will be a key theme for you in the next four weeks, dear Gemini. You will need to make abundant use of empiricism: pursuing knowledge through direct experience, using your powers of observation and a willingness to experiment.
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Homework. Send your suggestions about how I might be able to serve you better. Newsletter@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.
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Contents of the Free Will Astrology Newsletter are Copyright 2021 Rob Brezsny
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I am watching a "super natural" drama tv series called Manifest, where folks are experiencing "callings", such as hearing their own voice in their head, seeing a vision, or having a gut feeling about something important. Good writing and the direction it the takes the viewer is positive.
CALLINGS feel personal, though in this drama they are often shared simultaneously with "the group", who all were passengers on flight 828 from Jamaica to NY. This flight experienced an anomaly in space-time which connected the crew and passengers in mysterious ways.
We all inhabit a Web we Weave and oh how grandmother spider tangentially explores the unknown when exploring a Calling.