- The suspicion the Universe is a conspiracy on your behalf.1
- On the terrestrial level, pronoia should be defined as the opposite of paranoia: the sneaking suspicion others are conspiring to help you (and you them!). Symptoms include: sudden attacks of optimism and outbreaks of goodwill.2
Writings
- PRONOIA Is the Antidote for Paranoia by Rob Brezsny
Listen
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The RU Sirius Show #11:
Rob Brezsny’s Pronoia
Rob Brezsny joined us this afternoon and charmed the pants off of all of us. Brezny is the author of Pronoia is the Antidote to Paranoia, and the popular syndicated column Free Will Astrology. He also rocks the globe with his band World Entertaiment War.—MP3
The RU Sirius Show #23:
Is The Universe Conspiring To Shower YOU With Blessings?
Rob Brezny, our favorite optimist and magic man, returns to talk more about his book, Pronoia Is The Antidote to Paranoia and about his Free Will Astrology.—MP3
Watch
History
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PRONOIA was an OKEANIS NYMPHE of Mount Parnassos in Phokis. She was the wife of the Titan Prometheus, and the goddess of foresight.
Pronoia was closely identified with the goddess Athena who, according to several ancient writers, was worshipped as Athena Pronoia at Delphoi. As an Okeanis Nymphe, she also bears a close resemblance to Athene's mother Metis. Prometheus' wife was also named Asia.—[1]
Cult of Athena
"Pronoia: A particular temple of Athena at Delphoi was named Pronoia, because of its being situated pro tou naou "in front of the temple". Herodotos names her Proneie in his book eight."—Suidas Pronoia
"Pronoia Athena (Athena of Foresight): Some say that her statue was so-called because it stood before (pro) the temple (naos) at Delphoi; others because she foresaw that Leto would give birth."—Suidas Pronoia Athena
"When you enter the city [of Delphoi] you see temples in a row. The first of them was in ruins ... the fourth is called the temple of Athena Pronoia (Forethought). Of its two images the one in the fore-temple is a votive offering of the Massiliots, and is larger than the one inside the temple. The Massiliots are a colony of Phokaia in Ionia ... The votive offering of the Massiliots is of bronze. The gold shield given to Athena Pronoia by Kroisos the Lydian was said by the Delphians to have been stolen by Philomelos."—Pausanias 10.8.6
"On the right of the gate [of Thebes, Boiotia] is a hill sacred to Apollon. Both the hill and the god are called Ismenion ... First at the entrance are [statues of] Athena and Hermes, stone figures and named Pronai (Of the fore-temple). The Hermes is said to have been made by Pheidias, the Athena by Skopas."—Pausanias 9.10.2
Hippocrates
Prognosis comes from the Greek word pronoia, which means knowing things before you are told them. It means foreknowing and foretelling in the presence of the sick, the past, the present, and the future of their symptoms.
