How’s your fight for freedom going?

Are you making progress in liberating yourself from your unconscious obsessions, bad habits, and conditioned responses?

Do you find that you’re getting more skillful at minimizing your suffering?

Are you turning out to be the hero of your own life?

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A SIMPLE ACT OF FREEDOM

Is there one simple thing you could do to bring a bit more freedom into your life?

An elegant rebellion against an oppressive circumstance?

A compassionate breakaway from a poignant encumbrance?

A flash of unpredictable behavior that would help you escape a puzzling compromise?

I'm not talking about a huge, dramatic move that would completely sever you from all of your burdens and limitations.

I'm imagining a small step you could take to get a taste of spaciousness and a hint of greater fluidity.

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WHAT LIFE STORY WILL YOU CREATE FOR YOURSELF IN THE COMING MONTHS?

Get inspired by listening to my 3-part EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPES about your LONG-RANGE FUTURE.

These forecasts will be available for just one more week.

Who do you want to become between now and January 2024? Where do you want to go and what do you want to do? How can you exert your free will to create adventures that'll bring out the best in you, even as you find graceful ways to cooperate with the tides of destiny?

To listen to my three-part, in-depth reports, go here:

https://RealAstrology.com

Register and/or log in through the main page, click "Play Readings", and then select "Part 1, Part 2, or Part 3" of the "Long Term Prediction for 2023."

Each of the three parts is a separate report, though related to the other two.

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Each of the three-part reports is seven to 13 minutes long. The cost is $7 per report. There are discounts for the purchase of multiple reports.

P.S. You can also listen to a short-term Expanded Audio Horoscope for the coming week.

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THE FREEDOM TO MUTATE YOUR IDENTITY

"They are trying to make me into a fixed star," complained religious leader Martin Luther a few centuries ago. "I am an irregular planet." I invite you to use that declaration as your own.

You have every right to avoid being pinned down, pigeonholed, and forced to be consistent.

You need abundant freedom to mutate your identity.

You deserve a poetic license that allows you to play a variety of different roles and explore the pleasures of unpredictable self-expression.

You're also under no obligation to be different from who you were five minutes ago. The point is: Be exactly who you want to be!

Art by Scott Bergey

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HOW FREE DO YOU WANT TO BE?

How free do you want to be? A tiny bit free, hemmed in by comfortable complications that require you to rely on white lies?

Or would you rather be moderately free in ways that aren't too demanding -- politely, sensibly free?

Maybe you feel brave and strong enough to flirt with a breathtaking version of liberation -- a pure, naked freedom that brings you close to the edge of wild abandon and asks you to exercise more responsibility than you're used to.

I'm not telling you which kind you should opt for, but I am suggesting that it might be best if you make a conscious choice.

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WORKING ON YOUR FREEDOM

What I propose is that you scan your memories and identify everyone who has ever tried to limit your options or dampen your enthusiasm or crush your freedom.

Take a piece of paper and write down a list of the times someone insinuated that you will forever be stuck in a shrunken possibility, or made a prediction about what you will supposedly never be capable of, or said you had a problem that was permanently beyond your ability to solve.

Once you've compiled all the constricting ideas about yourself that other people have tried to saddle you with, burn that piece of paper and declare yourself exempt from their curses.

In the days after you do this ritual, all of life will conspire with you to expand your freedom.

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FREEDOM EXPERIMENT

Here's an experiment for you to try.

Whenever you feel a tinge of frustration, immediately say, "I am an irrepressible source of power and freedom and love."

Anytime you notice a trace of inadequacy rising up in you, or a touch of blame, or a taste of anger, declare, "I am an irresistible magnet for power and freedom and love."

If you're bothered by a mistake you made, or a flash of ignorance expressed by another person, or a maddening glitch in the flow of the life force, stop what you're doing, interrupt the irritation, and proclaim, "I am awash in power and freedom and love."

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AS A FREE DEED . . .

In his book Start Now!, Christopher Bamford says: “As a free deed, meditation is naturally individual, uniquely our own. It is where we most fully become ourselves. Its practice is also always individual. There are no rules.

"Just as every potter will elaborate his or her own way of making pots, so every person who meditates will shape his or her own meditation. No two people will do a given meditation in exactly the same way. The same meditation practiced daily will be different every time.

"Every meditation is experimental. One never knows what is going to happen. Improvisation is essential. Meditation is something to play with. There is no ‘wrong’ way of doing the meditation, except not doing it!”

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Image is from L’Inferno (a film directed by Giuseppe de Liguoro): the first film adaptation of Dante’s epic poem and first full-length Italian film.

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FREEDOM TO EXPAND YOUR INTELLIGENCE

“We have subtle subconscious faculties we are not using. Beyond the limited analytic intellect is a vast realm of mind that includes psychic and extrasensory abilities; intuition; wisdom; a sense of unity; aesthetic, qualitative and creative faculties; and image-forming and symbolic capacities.

“Though these faculties are many, we give them a single name with some justification for they are working best when they are in concert. They comprise a mind, moreover, in spontaneous connection to the cosmic mind. This total mind we call ‘heart.‘”

—Kabir Helminski quoted in “The Way of the Heart,” by Cynthia Bourgeault in Parabola’s Spring 2017 Issue: The Search for Meaning

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FREEDOM TO DEEPEN YOUR AWARENESS

“Accept the possibility that there is a limitless range of awareness for which we now have no words; that awareness can expand beyond range of your ego, your self, your familiar identity, beyond everything you have learned, beyond your notions of space and time, beyond the differences which usually separate people from each other and from the world around them.”

—Walter Evans-Wentz, The Tibetan Book of The Dead

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Do you have any predictions about the liberated life you are going to create for yourself in the coming years?

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FREEDOM TO ENJOY MYSTERY

“What would happen to our relationships, our experience of difference and conflict, to our faith, or our approach to social action –- if we consciously applied mystery to all things?”

—Justine Huxley

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THE ETIQUETTE OF FREEDOM

In his essay "The Etiquette of Freedom," poet Gary Snyder says that wildness "is perennially within us, dormant as a hard-shelled seed, awaiting the fire or flood that awakes it again."

The fact that it's a "hard-shelled" seed is a crucial detail. The vital stuff inside the stiff outer coating may not be able to break out and start growing without the help of a ruckus.

A fire or flood? They might do the job. But I propose that you find an equally vigorous but less disruptive prod to liberate your dormant wildness.

Like what? You could embark on a brave pilgrimage or quest. You could dare yourself to escape your comfort zone.

Are there any undomesticated fantasies you've been suppressing? Unsuppress them!

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FUTURE FREEDOMS

"The people of future generations will win many a liberty of which we do not yet even feel the want," said German philosopher Max Stirner.

See if you can become aware of an interesting freedom that has not previously been on your radar screen.

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My upcoming book is titled ASTROLOGY IS REAL: REVELATIONS FROM MY LIFE AS A HOROSCOPE COLUMNIST.

It blends memoir, essays about astrology, and oracles for YOU, dear reader.

The book will emerge this spring. Meanwhile, I’m serializing it on Substack for paid subscribers. It’s available as a bonus newsletter every Tuesday.

This week, Part Seven is available. You can also read Parts One, Two, Three, Four Five, and Six.

Part One is here: https://tinyurl.com/RealAstrology1

Read Part Two: https://tinyurl.com/RealAstrology2

Read Part Three: https://tinyurl.com/RealAstrology3

Read Part Four: https://tinyurl.com/RealAstrology4

Read Part Five: https://tinyurl.com/RealAstrology5

Read Part Six: https://tinyurl.com/RealAstrology6

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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

Week beginning March 16

Copyright 2022 by Rob Brezsny

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In describing her process, Piscean sculptor Anne Truitt wrote, "The most demanding part of living a lifetime as an artist is the strict discipline of forcing oneself to work steadfastly along the nerve of one’s own most intimate sensitivity." I propose that many Pisceans, both artists and non-artists, can thrive from living like that. The coming weeks will be an excellent time to give yourself to such an approach with eagerness and devotion. I urge you to think hard and feel deeply as you ruminate on the question of how to work steadfastly along the nerve of your own most intimate sensitivity.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): I highly recommend the following experiences: 1. ruminating about what you learned in a relationship that ended—and how those lessons might be useful now. 2. ruminating about a beloved place you once regarded as home—and how the lessons you learned while there might be inspiring now. 3. ruminating about a riddle that has long mystified you—and how clarifying insights you receive in the coming weeks could help you finally understand it.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): For "those who escape hell," wrote Charles Bukowksi, "nothing much bothers them after that." Believe it or not, Taurus, I think that in the coming weeks, you can *permanently* escape your own personal version of hell—and never, ever have to return. I offer you my congratulations in advance. One strategy that will be useful in your escape is this idea from Bukowski: “Stop insisting on clearing your head—clear your f*cking heart instead.”

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Gemini paleontologist Louis Agassiz (1807–1883) was a foundational contributor to the scientific tradition. Among his specialties was his hands-on research into the mysteries of fossilized fish. Though he was meticulously logical, he once called on his nightly dreams to solve a problem he faced. Here’s the story: A potentially crucial specimen was largely concealed inside a stone. He wanted to chisel away the stone to get at the fossil, but was hesitant to proceed for fear of damaging the treasure inside. On three successive nights, his dreams revealed to him how he should approach the work. This information proved perfectly useful. Agassiz hammered away at the slab exactly as his dreams suggested and freed the fossilized fish. I bring this marvel to your attention, Gemini, because I suspect that you, too, need to carve or cut away an obstruction that is hiding something valuable. Can you get help from your dreams? Yes, or else in deep reverie or meditation.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Will you flicker and sputter in the coming weeks, Cancerian? Or will you spout and surge? That is, will you be enfeebled by barren doubts, or will you embolden yourself with hearty oaths? Will you take nervous sips or audacious guzzles? Will you hide and equivocate, or else reveal and pounce? Dabble gingerly or pursue the joy of mastery? I’m here to tell you that which fork you take will depend on your intention and your willpower, not on the caprices of fate. So which will it be: Will you mope and fritter or untangle and illuminate?

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): I applaud psychologists who tell us how important it is to feel safe. One of the most crucial human rights is the confidence that we won't be physically or emotionally abused. But there's another meaning of safety that applies to those of us who yearn to express ourselves creatively. Singer-songwriter David Bowie articulated the truth: "If you feel safe in the area you’re working in, you’re not working in the right area. Always go a little further into the water than you feel you’re capable of being in. Go a bit out of your depth, and when you don’t feel that your feet are quite touching the bottom, you’re in the right place to do something exciting." I think this is a wise strategy for most of us, even those who don't identify as artists. Almost everyone benefits from being imaginative and inventive and even a bit daring in their own particular sphere. And this will be especially applicable to you in the coming weeks, Leo.

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YOUR LONG-TERM, BIG-PICTURE HOROSCOPES

I’ve gathered all the long-term, big-picture horoscopes I’ve written for you and bundled them in one place: https://tinyurl.com/BigPicture2023

What will be the story of your life in the coming months? What new influences will be headed your way? What fresh resources will you be able to draw on? How can you conspire with life to create the best possible future for yourself?

Get inspired!

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VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You are in the sweet, deep phase of the Receiving Season. And so you have a right and a duty to show the world you are ready and available to be blessed with what you need and want. I urge you to do everything necessary to become a welcoming beacon that attracts a wealth of invigorating and healing influences. For inspiration, read this quote by author John Steinbeck: "It is so easy to give, so exquisitely rewarding. Receiving, on the other hand, if it be well done, requires a fine balance of self-knowledge and kindness. It requires humility and tact and great understanding of relationships . . . It requires a self-esteem to receive—a pleasant acquaintance and liking for oneself."

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Libran poet E. E. Cummings wrote that daffodils "know the goal of living is to grow." Is his sweet sentiment true? I would argue it's only partially accurate. I believe that if we want to shape our destinies with courage and creativity, we need to periodically go through phases of decay and decline. They make periods of growth possible. So I would say, "The goal of life is to grow and wither and grow and wither and grow." Is it more fun to grow than to wither? Maybe. But sometimes, withering is educational and necessary. Anyway, Libra, I suspect you are finishing a time of withering and will soon embark on a series of germinations and blossoms.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): All of us have elements of genius. Every person on the planet possesses at least one special talent or knack that is a gift to others. It could be subtle or unostentatious, like a skill for communicating with animals or for seeing what's best in people. Or maybe it's more spectacular, like composing beautiful music or raising children to be strong and compassionate. I mention this, Scorpio, because the coming weeks will be an excellent time to identify your unique genius in great detail—and then nurture it and celebrate it in every way you can imagine.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The emblem associated with Sagittarius is an archer holding a bow with the arrow pointed upwards. This figure represents your tribe’s natural ambition to always aim higher. I bring this to your attention because your symbolic quiver is now full of arrows. But what about your bow? Is it in tip-top condition? I suggest you do some maintenance. Is the bow string in perfect shape? Are there any tiny frays? Has it been waxed recently? And what about the grip? Are there any small cracks or wobbles? Is it as steady and stable as it needs to be? I have one further suggestion as you prepare for the target-shooting season. Choose one or at most two targets to aim at rather than four or five.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): It’s prime time to feel liberated from the urge to prove yourself to anyone. It’s a phase when your self-approval should be the only kind of approval you need, a period when you have the right to remove yourself from any situation that is weighed down with gloomy confusion or apathetic passivity. This is exciting news! You have an unprecedented opportunity to recharge your psychic batteries and replenish your physical vitality.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): I suspect you can now accomplish healthy corrections without getting tangled up in messy karma. Here are my recommendations: 1. As you strive to improve situations that are awry or askew, act primarily out of love rather than guilt or pity. 2. Fight tenderly in behalf of beautiful justice, but don't fight harshly for ugly justice. 3. Ask yourself how you might serve as a kind of divine intervention in the lives of those you care about—and then carry out those divine interventions.

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Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter

How’s your fight for freedom going?