Rob Brezsny

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARIES (Mar 21-Apr 19) During the coming weeks, everything that needs to happen will indeed happen only if you surprise yourself on a regular basis. So I hope you will place yourself in unpredictable situations where you won’t be able to rely on well-rehearsed responses. I trust that you will regard innocence and […]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PISCES (February 19 – March 20) In 2014, NASA managed to place its MAVEN spacecraft into orbit around Mars. The cost of the mission was $671 million. Soon thereafter, the Indian government put its own vehicle, the Mangalyaan, into orbit around the Red Planet. It spent $74 million. As you plan your own […]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PISCES (Feb 19-Mar 20) Until the 16th century in much of Europe and the 18th century in Britain, the new year was celebrated in March. That made sense given the fact that the weather was growing noticeably warmer and it was time to plant the crops again. In my astrological opinion, the month […]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PISCES (Feb 19-Mar 20) Cartographers of Old Europe sometimes drew pictures of strange beasts in the uncharted regions of their maps. These were warnings to travellers that such areas might harbour unknown risks, like dangerous animals. One famous map of the Indian Ocean shows an image of a sea monster lurking, as if […]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AQUARIUS (Jan 20-Feb 18) “A freshness lives deep in me which no one can take from me,” wrote poet Swedish poet Gunnar Ekelöf. “Something unstilled, unstillable is within me; it wants to be voiced,” wrote philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. In accordance with your astrological omens, I propose we make those two quotes your mottoes […]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AQUARIUS (Jan 20-Feb 18) Can you sit on your own head? Not many people can. It takes great flexibility. Before comedian Robin Williams was famous, he spontaneously did just that when he auditioned for the role of the extraterrestrial immigrant Mork, hero of the TV sitcom Mork and Mindy. The casting director was […]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AQUARIUS (Jan 20-Feb 18) A motivational speaker and author named Nick Vujicic was born without arms or legs, although he has two small, unusually shaped feet. These facts didn’t stop him from getting married, raising a family of four children and writing eight books. One book is entitled Life Without Limits: Inspiration for […]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAPRICORN (Dec 22-Jan 19) Writing at The Pudding, pop culture commentator Colin Morris reveals the conclusions he drew after analyzing 15,000 pop songs. First, the lyrics of today’s tunes have significantly more repetitiveness than the lyrics of songs in the 1960s. Second, the most popular songs, both then and now, have more repetitive […]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAPRICORN (Dec 22-Jan 19) In 1984, singer-songwriter John Fogerty released a new album whose lead single was “The Old Man Down the Road.” It sold well. But trouble arose soon afterward when Fogerty’s former record company sued him in court, claiming he stole the idea for “The Old Man Down the Road” from […]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) What themes and instruments do people least want to hear in a piece of music? Composer Dave Solder determined that the worst song ever made would contain bagpipes, cowboy music, tubas, advertising jingles, operatic rapping and children crooning about holidays. Then he collaborated with other musicians to record such […]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) Until 1920, most American women didn’t have the right to vote. For that matter, few had ever been candidates for public office. There were exceptions. In 1866, Elizabeth Cady Stanton was the first to seek a seat in Congress. In 1875, Victoria Woodhull ran for president. Susanna Salter became […]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) “What is the point of being alive if you don’t at least try to do something remarkable?” Author John Green asked that question. I confess that I’m not entirely comfortable with it. It’s a bit pushy. I find I’m more likely to do remarkable things if I’m not trying […]