Pronoia

Seeds IX, 34

Seed: Pronoia

Rob Brezsny, the founder of Free Will Astrology online coined this word; I read it in the March/April 2006 issue of Utne Reader. According to Rob, pronoia is the antidote to paranoia. See last week’s Seeds; paranoia is one of the feelings that can go with feeling estranged.

Pronoia means the philosophy that the world is conspiring to shower one with blessings. It’s not in the OED, but paranoia is. It means mental derangement. Could pronoia mean mental arrangement?

In Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!, that musical of musicals, the opening song has a line in it, Everythin’s goin’ my way. That’s pronoia, and we can foster it for ourselves—dear one, enter into the conspiracy! Sing to yourself that everything is going your way.

The truth is that paranoia is an option, and so is pronoia. You get to pick. I’m putting my energy into the Conspiracy-For-My-Good Theory. How about you?

Be serene,

Dr. Susan Corso

Seeds are remarkable gifts. Sown in consciousness, they bring you to the most important part of your being—your Divine Spark.

When you have friends you would like added to the Seeds e-mail list, send their addresses to me at SeedsDrCorso@comcast.net and please visit my blog at Ode Magazine.