Rob Brezsny

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rob Brezsny

Occupation Astrologer
Author
Poet
Musician
Nationality American
Official website

Rob Brezsny (a.k.a. Ray Foreplay, a.k.a. Pope Artaud) is an American astrologer, writer, poet, and musician. Currently his weekly horoscope column "Free Will Astrology", published for more than 28 years, runs in 120 periodicals. [1]

Contents

[edit] Astrologer

Brezsny has been one of the most influential astrology writers in some generations. His horoscopes broke the mold on the dry predictions of most writers, bringing a literate quality to the work, engaging readers in narrative, and taking a more creative approach to astrology writing than nearly anyone before him. He is the first well-known horoscope writer to enter the column in the first person, giving personal impressions of both astrology and life, telling stories and quoting many other writers. He encourages reader participation and has fierce loyalty of both his readers and the editors who publish him. This combination of factors -- in addition to offering many surprisingly accurate, astute forecasts -- has made him an enduring institution among horoscope writers.

Many have attempted to imitate him, but it rarely comes off. However, the leading British horoscope writer Jonathan Cainer credited Brezsny with being the exclusive inspiration for his beginning his own column in the mid 1980s, saying in a recent interview with Eric Francis that Brezsny was the first person who showed him that a horoscope could be done intelligently.

[edit] Writer and Poet

Brezsny is author of the books Images Are Dangerous, The Televisionary Oracle, and Pronoia Is the Antidote for Paranoia: How All of Creation Is Conspiring To Shower You with Blessings.[2] His most recent work explores the concept of pronoia, a term John Perry Barlow defined as the suspicion the Universe is a conspiracy on your behalf.[3]

[edit] Singer and Songwriter

Brezsny was also the primary singer/songwriter for the early 1990's band World Entertainment War[4] and the late 70's / early 80's bands Tao Chemical, Mystery Spot, and Youth In Asia.[5]

[edit] Awards and Reviews

Utne Reader named Brezsny a "Culture Hero" observing "With a blend of spontaneous poetry, feisty politics, and fanciful put-on, Brezsny breathes new life into the tabloid mummy of zodiac advice columns".[6] Robert Anton Wilson described Brezsny's book The Televisionary Oracle as "A book so weird it just might drive you stark raving sane." [7] Tom Robbins stated "I've seen the future of American literature, and its name is Rob Brezsny."[8]

[edit] References

 This article needs additional citations for verification.
Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2008)
  1. ^ disinformation | rob brezsny: divine fool for the modern age
  2. ^ Google Book Search
  3. ^ Pronoia. Retrieved on 2008-06-11.
  4. ^ "Give Too Much" on Amazon
  5. ^ Santa Cruz Underground Music Wiki
  6. ^ "Subversive Stargazer Rob Brezsny" (1997-08-01). Utne Reader (September/October 1997). Ogden Publications, Inc.. 
  7. ^ Televisionary Oracle (Paperback). http://www.amazon.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-23.
  8. ^ Pronoia Is the Antidote for Paranoia: How the Whole World Is Conspiring to Shower You with Blessings (Paperback). http://www.amazon.com. Retrieved on 2008-06-10.

[edit] External links

[edit] Articles

[edit] Books by Rob Brezsny


Persondata
NAME Brezsny, Rob
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION American astrologer, poet, writer, and musician
DATE OF BIRTH
PLACE OF BIRTH
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH