Perseus Arcane Academy

Category: Astrology

  • Orlee Stewart on Occult Art, Necromancy, Tantra, and Visionary Magic

    Orlee Stewart on Occult Art, Necromancy, Tantra, and Visionary Magic

    Introduction

    Orlee Stewart is a Gnostic Bishop who works professionally as a witch, priestess, psychic medium, author and artistic creator. Her occult paintings have been exhibited at galleries and events across the world as all her works are enchanted through the powers of spiritual realms, carrying gnosis like an event horizon of creativity from other dimensions to help people become spiritually stronger.

    Orlee’s paintings and illustrations serve as icons to the forces of spiritual energy that exist beyond our world of forms. The purpose of her visionary art is to create an experience for the viewer that will lead to a subjective spiritual awakening. She has had her work published in many grimoires and occult texts while also publishing her own writing and artwork. Orlee’s art also manifests into video psychomagick as she studied experimental video arts in university and creates video content about her magical experiments. Orlee has undergone extensive spiritual training for over 20 years to refine her craft and is always learning more. She has spent that time training her psychic and tarot skills as a medium and also trains in traditional Hatha Yoga with a focus on Tantra and Esoteric Gnosticism. The motivation behind what Orlee does comes from a deep wish to help inspire the spiritual realms in all those who come into contact with her creative works, to reveal the secrets of the void.

    Interview with Orlee Stewart

    General Questions

    PAA: What convinced you, philosophically, that consciousness extends beyond the physical organism?

    When I was a child, I had many experiences with alien entities that would come into my room and inspire me to work as an artist. The way some of them communicate is through emanating themselves energetically out of my physical body into ghost-like formations. They helped me a lot with upgrading my mental and physical body. I also had direct and visceral experiences with non-human consciousness from the beginning of my practice. Through experimenting with ritual magick, before there was the ability to go on the internet and hear or learn about other people’s experiences conjuring spirits. My colleagues and I would try different grimoires and had experiences with forces that were of similar personality and characteristics, which we discovered after comparing notes.

    PAA: Do you work Solomonic magick, folk witchcraft, and theurgy into a personal method? If so, how?

    The method that I use is very personal but it does combine knowledge of how traditions such as Goetia and folk magic function but operating without Abrahamic systems. I combine training my physical body and creating artwork inspired by extraterrestrial forces heavily into my daily practice as well. The base of my spiritual work is Left Hand Path Hinduism with a focus on esoteric tantra.

    PAA: How does your training in Hatha Yoga and Tantra blend into your other fields of work?

    Over the last several years I have been learning traditional yoga and Vedic studies from my guru who is an Aghori. Becoming a teacher in hatha yoga helps me teach occultists how to integrate their physical selves into a holistic practice. This extraordinary and blessed experience of Sanatana Dharma allows me to have a unique perspective on these studies and apply it seamlessly into what I was learning before. A lot of the knowledge I have about magick came from being in Thelema for 10 years and that system was heavily influenced by Crowley’s fascination with Hinduism. It helped me a lot to learn about it directly and this gives energetic understating to all magical work on a technical level.

    PAA: You’ve trained over 20 years in multiple disciplines. Did one discipline kind of unlock the rest?

    Yes, in my case because I try to follow the synchronistic messages from the spirit realm that connect me from one area of knowledge to another. Often we discover that things are more connected than we would possibly conceive.

    PAA: Necromancy is still the most stigmatized of all witchcraft arts. What do you think is the reason so many occultists avoid it while still romanticizing it in theory?

    People are afraid of dying. They also often fear the truths that the dead hold or even the powerful energy of the cemetery when it is listening to you.

    PAA: Is there something you learned from your work in necromancy that completely changed how you view life?

    Working with the spirits of the dead as a catalyst to non-linear time and visions from other dimensions. The work from Leilah Wendell in her book “Our Name is Melancholy” haunted me so deeply after reading about her necromantic visions of Atlantis. The way that the dead will often come through and serve in a spiritual intervention to guide and teach us lessons if we do the work to help remember them.

    PAA: What is the most emotionally charged encounter you’ve ever had with the dead?

    When I lived in New Orleans, there was an area in a cemetery that was very old and full of collapsing tombs. I would go there often to do rituals and work with the dead or even just to hang out and smoke a cigarette and read. One day I was with my friend and she was telling me about a problem she had and she started crying. She confessed she had not cried in a long time so we sat together with the dead. The next day in a complete miracle, the problem she had was solved. We did not even ask to dead to help us but they heard her and helped in a way beyond anything imaginable.

    PAA: Do you feel the occult community’s fear of demons comes from genuine danger, or more from inherited monotheistic trauma?

    All real spiritual work or summoning is going to be dangerous for anyone who is not mentally strong to handle changing or trying to manipulate reality. Most people can not handle their own selves, sit in silence or be alone without a distraction.

    Artistic Mysticism

    PAA: Your art is said to come as an “event horizon of creativity from other dimensions.” What, in your view, is the metaphysical mechanism that allows a painted icon to function as a living gate?

    The intent behind the manifestation and process of its creations, as well as influence from anyone else giving energy into the work over time.

    PAA: Some viewers report paranormal encounters triggered by your art. Which artwork has the strongest power, in your experience?

    I would guess that phenomenon is happening because the artwork can become further enhanced by whatever the individual’s life and practice entail.

    PAA: Have you ever created a piece so powerful you were afraid to keep it in your own home?

    When I was a little girl at summer camp, my friend and I caused a frenzy of fear among the other kids after playing with a Ouija board that the camp hand. The counsellors took it away from us so we painted our own. Other kids were crying and seeing their dead grandparents so we buried it in the ground under our cabin. After that I always have been able to handle things haha.

    PAA: Can you speak more about your process of translating mediumship visions into visual symbols?

    I studied a lot of classical paintings when I was in art university. There is a lot of use of metaphor that serves as a symbol that can then be applied by a witch into a painting with a magical intent, through creating our own symbols and their hidden meanings. When I create an artwork I do not really know how it is going to manifest, I look at the blank paper like a scrying mirror and pull things out of it with a brush stroke until they form something. It usually begins abstractly with color formations or an organic border where life blooms inside.

    PAA: Do you believe the act of witnessing art can be a magical initiation?

    All mediums of art, musical, visual, dance and other methods of creation have the ability to be infused with the energy of magic. Those who view or experience the artwork are then filled with some inspiration or thoughts that cause change and bring that experiencer into the current even if it is just for a moment.

    PAA: And do you believe all true magical paths eventually become artistic, and all true art eventually becomes magical?

    Yes, I believe that a path which raises the life force energy and mystical powers leading to spiritual contact causes inspiration and will make a person develop some abilities artistically or willingness to train themselves in the arts with the energy that transmits from other dimensions through us.

    PAA: What artistic influences contribute to your art?

    Some of the biggest artistic influences in my artwork come from the Renaissance, in particular the morbid religious artwork. I also really love the architecture from the classical Roman, Neoclassical and Gothic periods which are used in alien ways.

    Advanced Occultism

    PAA: You’ve trained in exorcism. What’s the most unbelievable possession case you’ve ever encountered?

    I have experienced a person move in ways that no human physically can, flying up into the air and into furniture, eyes glowing and the entire body moving and speaking in foreign voices. This was an extremely dangerous experience that taught me about how serious exorcism is.

    PAA: Do you use ecstatic trance in your evocations, and how do you calibrate its depth?

    Yes, I use a lot of mantras in my rituals and that allows me to go into deep states. I formulate the path of the experience through training in classical yogic meditation, working through pratyahara, dhyana and mantra to achieve samadhi for spirit contact.

    PAA: What distinctions do you make between interior silence, void-contact, and entity-induced gnosis?

    With a lot of practice and discipline in training the mind to experience silence, turn the senses inward so our life force energy, our prana is going within instead out outwards allows us to gain a deep understanding of the landscape of our mind. This allows for a familiarity with the self and sensing differences that come through in their unique voice or visualization or feeling.

    PAA: Do you believe the soul has a native cosmology, or is the magician a perpetual builder of inner worlds?

    I believe that the soul is the Atman, it is not existing here in our bodies or our energy fields that exist here with us on earth but it is part of us. Reality has its function outside of the common human magician’s understanding to comprehend its quantum mysteries. The magician can use magick to discover true will and refine the self to experience inner worlds and also serve as an artist in building them with maya which is illusion and also the goddess.

    PAA: Is the dream, to you, a higher ontology than material waking consciousness?

    Not necessarily, depending on the dreamer. The dreamscape functions with providing a bunch of either messy or symbolic aspects of the mind or the person’s life that are atavisms in their subconscious. When a person can work past those things they can access deeper avenues of the dreamscape to higher dimensions than the material plane.

    PAA: The title of your book, Mother of Abominations, exhibits a primal femininity. What does motherhood mean in the context of spirits, demons, and dream-forms?

    It is the concept of bringing them into incarnation here in the physical world so people can witness them. A big aspect of the artworks are things that go beyond any explanation in language but rather what the image evokes out of the viewer for a unique experience. The accompanying pieces of writing are invocations that the reader can use to help focus on the visualization of the artworks in the book.

    PAA: Finally, what is your current magical research, and what are you preparing next?

    Currently I am continuing my education as a yoga teacher and studying the Upanishads to learn more about Vedic scriptures and ancient philosophies of spiritual energy. I also have been roughly planning a tarot deck that will be a long adventure.

    Thank you!

    PAA: Thank you for sharing with us.

    Orlee Stewart creates artwork in many forms, transcending dimensional boundaries to awaken our hidden power. She is a painter, certified hatha yoga teacher and a professional psychic and video creator, teaching holistic spirituality and yoga on her YouTube Channel called Cyber Witch

    Cyber Witch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/andromedanine
    Website: https://thecyberwitch.com/

    A Guide to Sphere Quabbalah

    This book covers aspects of The Key to True Quabbalah, by Franz Bardon, and expands them. It is divided into four parts that serve the magician, the theurgist and the learning quabbalist. 

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    A Guide to Sphere Quabbalah by Andre COnsciencia
  • The Ages of the Zodiac, Magic, and You – Sixty Skills

    The Ages of the Zodiac, Magic, and You – Sixty Skills

    Introduction

    Today we’re going to talk a little bit about the various ages of the zodiac and how their background energies can directly impact magical practice—and why this is important for you now.

    Ages of the zodiac aren’t something in terms of magical practice that you’re going to hear a lot about because quite frankly there isn’t much of a historical record. You need to keep in mind that the great works of the classical Greek and Roman period, if you look at those from the standpoint of original source documents that we actually have access to, they basically fill a single bookshelf. The period of classical antiquity concerned with paganism largely consisted of the period of the age of Aries. Now under the age of Aries, Aries was ruled by Mars and fire.

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    Transition to the Age of Pisces

    At the time of Christ’s death you basically have the beginning of the age of Pisces, which was ruled by, interestingly, both Jupiter and Neptune and water.

    The Coming Age of Aquarius

    Finally, depending upon who you ask we are either at the end of the age of Pisces or alternatively at the beginning of the age of Aquarius, which is ruled by both Saturn and Uranus and governed by air.

    Implications for Magical Practice

    So this is kind of interesting because these background energies will definitely impact what magical effects a practitioner can engage in and perform. If you go back to the classical pagan period and you read or learn about magical effects that were being engaged in—such as the battle between the Egyptian priest and Moses—it’s easy to see in a world whose background energy is Mars, male sexuality, fire and a nearetheric kind of level of existence (ruled by Gebbor, if you’re into Sephirot studies by the way) how very near physical effects that would be visible to the eye would be easy to pull off because there would simply be much more etheric energy available in the background at a near physical level.

    Now as we go into the age of Aquarius, which is in turn ruled by Chesed, Jupiter, Neptune and of course water, well the things that you would be able to pull off would obviously change. This would probably appear or come across as a much more kind of higher level astral kind of thing, maybe nearer to Tiph in terms of the energies involved and, quite frankly, have less of a purely physical character associated with it—hence the rise of what we call spirit magic or deity fusion where you went less from working with these near physical elemental forces and now you were more concerned with merging your essence with another entity such as a deity or a saint or a spirit of some kind.

    We’re coming to the end of the age of Pisces and again we’re moving into this age of Aquarius. Depending upon who you ask, we may in fact already be there. The ruling planets for this are both Saturn and Uranus and the element is air, so this would imply a more mental kind of level of existence and in terms of magic could quite possibly explain a lot of the—let’s call it—psychic phenomena that have been coming up in popular culture and just in popular experience at large that are more about observing in sensory apparatus type things and less about, say, setting a sheet of paper on fire with the power of your mind.

    Temporal and Spatial Considerations

    This is going to become important because when you consider the role of a egregore—and this is a topic point of conversation on this channel—you also need to remember that a egregore that’s older, their magic would have developed in a time period where quite possibly this zodiac energy that is in the background governing things is different. That’s also the reason why you can learn a magic from an older system and it may not work in our time frame or it may work differently now because of that. To the degree that physics changes as a result of these background energies being different, it’s really hard to say. But I would advise you to keep the following in mind: the trick with having a time machine isn’t just that you need a time machine that works, it’s also that you need a spaceship that works because our galaxy, while it’s spinning in a circle and we’re orbiting the center of that galaxy, is also in fact moving through space. So if you were to travel back, say, 8,000 years into the past, you would also need a spaceship that could take you to that point in space where the galaxy actually existed 8,000 years ago. So it’s not a stretch to imagine that as the galaxy is moved from point A to point B that the background energies governing that could very well have changed, and as a result an age of Aries in one point in that celestial journey might actually be a little bit different than an age of Aries in a different point in that celestial journey.

    Working with Ancient Systems

    I bring all of this up because many people who subscribe to this channel like to work with the magics of different classical systems. Keep in mind depending upon how old that classical system is, the background energy availing 60 skills in person for some real life instruction—all you chiongers, meditators, yoga practitioners and magicians out there—can come join us at magiccamp.click where you can learn all about our summertime in-person seminars.

    Concluding Thoughts

    Otherwise, as per usual, train hard and be well. Back to our regular programming. It may or may not be what you need to actually make it work the way it did historically or it may simply work differently now because of that. As any internal power magician will tell you, yes, as an internal power magician we have the ability to generate any energy we want pretty much upon demand, but the part that gets left out on that is because your body is what’s generating that, there’s a tendency for the amount of energy being available to be, well, let’s just call it rather discreet, which is a polite way of saying you don’t really have that much of it. I challenge anyone—and I’ve said this before—to generate fire element very strongly down by the seaboard in the middle of a raging storm. Yeah, I mean you’re going to get a little bit of something but it’s not going to be that much. So these background energies associated with the different ages we live in are in fact rather important.

    A good question to be asked is if I’m pulling on the power reservoir of a very old egregore, is this allowing me access to energies from essentially a different time period because they were stored at some point? It’s a good question—I don’t really know the answer to that—but that’s something that an enterprising practitioner out there might be able to shed some light on. The whole point of this discussion is just because things worked a certain way at a certain point in time does not necessarily mean they work that way now. We already know for a fact that the value of karma is not static; it actually changes over time—that is an interesting discussion in its own right. But for those of you here today I would encourage you to ponder how magic could simply have changed over the different ages based off of the energies that were available to be worked with, hence this relationship between the zodiac magic and you.

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  • Deep Dive into Traditional Astrology: An Interview with Jaime Paul Lamb

    Deep Dive into Traditional Astrology: An Interview with Jaime Paul Lamb

    Introduction

    Jaime Paul Lamb is a dedicated scholar and practitioner within the field of astrology, particularly known for his focus on traditional methods. In this interview, we explore his journey into astrology, his unique cosmological perspective, and his considered approach to chart interpretation. He shares his insights on Hellenistic astrology, his concept of an “Enchanted Tychonic Georeferential” cosmos, and the importance of the “personal daimon” in his practice. We also discuss the ideas that form the basis of his forthcoming book, which explores the intersection of astrology, Qabalistic magic, and Solomonic demonology. Huge thanks to Jaime for taking the time to answer these questions.

    If you enjoy this post, then please let us know in the comments and consider sharing it with others.

    Interview

    Background and Philosophy of Astrology

    PAA: Can you share your journey into astrology? What initially drew you to this field?

    After having studied the Western esoteric traditions for some time, it dawned on me that astrology was at the root of everything. There’s no effective Solomonic operation, for example, that isn’t made possible without a suitable election. Also, in spagyric alchemy, the herbs are largely chosen for their planetary correspondences and harvested at relatively auspicious moments. It became apparent to me that astrology, being a study of meaningful time, is fundamental to Western occultism – theoretically and practically. So, a number of years ago, I decided to specialize, as most occultists do at some point. I started with modern, psychological astrology – Rudhyar, Hamaker-Zondag, etc. – and took the American Federation of Astrologers (AFA) course, mostly because they’re located near me in Arizona. But I have sort of a compulsion to start at the beginning of things, so I registered for Chris Brennan’s seminal course on Hellenistic astrology. From there, I tried to work forward chronologically, studying Ben Dyke’s translations of the medieval, Perso-Arabic astrologers, then I started studying Renaissance astrology with Chris Warnock – particularly, the horary astrology of William Lilly. I tend to practice traditional, pre-Enlightenment astrology, but I still value the psychological perspective in limited contexts.

    PAA: In your article “Developing an Astrological Worldview,” you discuss the importance of having a coherent cosmology. How do you define your current cosmological perspective?

    Having a conception of the cosmos is integral to a serious study of astrology. You should be able to visualize the mechanism and to imagine it in motion. Obviously, before the Copernican Revolution, most people thought of the Earth as a stationary sphere that sat in the middle of the cosmos. The seven planetary spheres enveloped the Earth, like Russian nesting dolls. And the eighth sphere – the sphere of the fixed stars and the zodiac – surrounded everything. This is the Ptolemaic model, which is geocentric. There was a variation on this model that I really like called the Tychonic model, after the Danish Renaissance astronomer/astrologer, Tycho Brahe. His is basically the Ptolemaic model except he has the spheres of Venus and Mercury enveloping that of the Sun, which accounts for retrogradation, etc. When the heliocentric model took hold, it was a nail in the coffin of astrology. This was a major displacement that affected everything, including philosophy. I tend to think of the cosmos as being georeferential, not geocentric or heliocentric, per se. That is to say that the Earth is the locus of human consciousness – it is the vantage point from which human beings experience the cosmos. I think that’s pretty clear. So, my personal cosmology is what you might call Enchanted Tychonic Georeferentialism. I’ll break that down a bit. It is Enchanted because it retains the numinous and magical, the qualitative as well as the quantitative. It is Tychonic because that makes sense mechanically, regarding Venus and Mercury, and we give props to Tycho. And, lastly, it is Georeferential because I think of the Earth as the center. It’s simple: imagine viewing our solar system from celestial north. You’re looking down at all the planets revolving around the Sun. Now, take the pin out of the Sun and stick it in the Earth, making her the stationary object. All other movements stay exactly the same. That is the georeferential cosmos and it supports and astrological worldview without being contradictory to the modern astronomical evidence.

    Current Work and Approach

    PAA: Your forthcoming book, The Astrological Goetia: The 72 Keys to Angelic and Demonic Astrology (Inner Traditions, August 12th, 2025), blends astrology with Qabalistic magic and Solomonic demons. What inspired you to explore this intersection?

    I had already been involved in Rosicrucianism (SRICF) and the Golden Dawn Tradition (HSGD) for some time before I started to get serious about astrology. I was dabbling – a little irresponsibly, looking back – in the angels of the Shen HaMephorash and the Goetic demons. I knew that 72 was a sexagesimal number, lending itself to astrology, and I learned that each of the angels and demons were associated with a 5° arc-segment of the ecliptic called a quinary (360° ÷ 5 = 72). As I began to study astrology in earnest, it dawned on me that each of someone’s natal placements, for example, were under the rulership of a quinarian pair – an angel and a demon. So, a person’s natal Mars, for example, might be in 26° Capricorn. That’s the 60th quinary, which is ruled by the angel Mizrael and the demon Vapula. We read in the Sepher Raziel HaMalakh that Mizrael works against persecution and in the Ars Goetia that Vapula aids in crafts and professions. We then consider how these significations might color or affect the native’s natal Mars. Obviously, there are many ways to delineate that placement, but I think that illustrates the point. Now, would you believe that no one had ever done that before? Or, if they did, they left no record of the practice. I knew II had to write a book on it. When I pitched it to Inner Traditions, the Acquisitions Editor said, “I can’t believe this isn’t a book already.” It was one of those lucky finds; you get one or two of those in a lifetime.

    Traditional astrology is intellectually and philosophically rigorous. And that’s just the beginning. Classically, astrology was in the hands of some of the greatest polymaths in history – for good reason. 

    Jaime Paul Lamb

    Experiences and Connections to Other Disciplines

    PAA: How has your training in Hellenistic astrology shaped your current approach to chart interpretation?

    Some modern astrological camps, like the AFA, teach a method sometimes called the 12-letter Alphabet. It’s an extreme example of the late-20th century, over-simplification of the art. According to this method Mars = Aries = the 1st house; Venus = Taurus = the 2nd house; etc. So, the significations of Mars, Aries and the 1st house are blurred and essentially thought of as interchangeable, which is a preposterous notion. Anyway, that is the way a lot of people are introduced to astrology – myself included. It wasn’t until I started studying Hellenistic and other forms of traditional astrology that the depth and scope of the art began to reveal itself. In short, the seven visible planets each have their own archetypal complexes; the signs act almost as adjectives to the planets’ nouns, modifying planetary significations; the houses are the terrestrial domains of human activity, wherein the zodiacally-conditioned planetary significations play out in the life of the native; and the aspects are the dialogic communication between the planets. If that sounds complicated, then you’re understanding correctly. Traditional astrology is intellectually and philosophically rigorous. And that’s just the beginning. Classically, astrology was in the hands of some of the greatest polymaths in history – for good reason. 

    Self-Development and Personal Growth

    16. How has studying astrology impacted your personal development and understanding of yourself?

    There’s a Platonic element to astrology that is informed by a section of Book X of the Republic called the “Myth of Er.” It is further developed by the Neoplatonists of late antiquity and involves the preincarnate human soul’s descent through the seven planetary spheres, at each of which the soul takes on planetary accretions corresponding to the significations of the planets. The nativity, being a snapshot of the cosmos at the moment of the soul’s incarnation in the sublunary sphere, acts as what I’ve been calling a schematic of character. Depending on the condition of each of the planets at the moment of incarnation, the native is endowed with attributes and characteristics. For example, if Saturn were in good condition in the chart, the native may acquire positive Saturnian significations such as discipline and prudence. If Saturn were in middling condition, the soul would acquire neutral qualities such as structure and circumscription. And if Saturn were in poor condition, the soul would take on negative Saturnian characteristics such as melancholia and isolation. This happens at each of the seven spheres. Consequently, the natal chart tells us the qualitative composition of the native. I have found this to be perhaps the single most valuable astrological insight. People tend to act within the confines of their character in any given situation and, if we could glean that from a nativity, then we can draw inferences that enable the astrologer not only to make predictions but also to inform us as to what sort of mitigation and remediation is necessary, to “balance” the personality. The chart, as a schematic of character, reveals to us the native’s “inventory” and provides us an opportunity for personal development. This has been the basis of my personal astro-theurgical program. 

    Future Plans and Aspirations

    PAA: Looking ahead, what innovations or changes do you foresee in the field of astrology over the next decade? 

    I definitely see people moving towards a more rigorous, traditional astrology. The age of over simplified Sun sign astrology is rapidly coming to a close. Thanks to translators like Ben Dykes and John Michael Greer, projects like ARHAT and Project Hindsight, critical editions of ancient texts are being rendered in modern languages, making them accessible to today’s astrological community. Consequently, ancient astrological techniques are being reconstructed all the time. We reclaim more and more of the ancient tradition every year it seems. It’s counter to our understanding of progress that systems like astrology would actually become less complex and nuanced over time but, until recently, that’s been the case. My hope is that we restore astrology to its pre-Enlightenment glory while maintaining the best features of the modern, psychologized astrology we’ve inherited from the 19th & 20th century, New Age Theosophical astrologers, like Dane Rudhyar.

    PAA: Are there any particular themes or questions that you feel are currently underexplored within the astrological community that you would like to address in your future work?

    I have worked on this pretty extensively over the past several years but, in the near future, I intend to do more work around the concept of the “personal daimon,” which can be calculated from the natal chart. This entity acts as a personal mystagogue (“expounder of Mysteries”) and psychopomp (“guide of the soul”). And it is through the theurgic intercession of this entity that the soul may be purified and relieved of its vices and passions. This, according to the late-Platonist Macrobius’ Commentary of Scipio’s Dream, could lead to a phenomenon known as the Philosophical Death, whereby the soul is able to rise through the planetary spheres to a henostic union with “the One” without tasting physical death. I feel that this may have been the lost central project of ancient astrology – at least in the Hermetic and Neoplatonic iterations of the art. This doctrine has yet to be sufficiently recovered but I’m working on piecing it back together.

    PAA: If you could impart one piece of wisdom from your extensive study of astrology to future generations of astrologers, what would it be?

    At the risk of sounding overly technical, I would say to experiment with focusing on the seven visible planets in natal astrology. The outer planets move so slowly that they really only matter in a mundane context. People get so freaked out about their natal Pluto placement, for example. The influences of Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto (as well as other dwarf planets and asteroids) are negligible in a nativity. You’ve got bigger fish to fry, as they say, in terms of the seven classical planets. I could understand if we’re talking about transits in super tight aspect but, otherwise, the visible planets should tell you everything you need to know in a natal chart.

    PAA: This has been a wonderful dive into the depth of astrology. Thank you very much for your time in answering our questions.

    Further Information

    Jaime Paul Lamb Website
    The Astrological Goetia: The 72 Keys to Angelic and Demonic Astrology

    The Three Transformations – Free Course

    The ancient Chinese sages spoke of jing, chi and shen. The Hermeticists of old spoke of vital, astral and mental energies. Both spoke of ways to convert one energy into another. And the Three Transformations were born!

    Ever wonder how to do this exactly? Wonder no more. It turns out this is not some mysterious thing that exists only for the greatest of saints. All the details behind how to convert one of the basic natal energies into another, why you would want to perform the Three Transformation and the various issues involved are included in this SixtySkills course.

    Join the Course

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  • Exploring the Fusion of Tropical and Sidereal Astrology: Vic Dicara’s Journey and Insights

    Exploring the Fusion of Tropical and Sidereal Astrology: Vic Dicara’s Journey and Insights

    Introduction

    Vic Dicara’s journey into astrology began through his immersion in alternative subcultures and spiritual practices, eventually leading him to Vedic astrology. Over the years, he has developed a unique approach that bridges tropical and sidereal astrology, offering fresh insights into the relationships between planetary positions, nakshatras, and the zodiac. In this post, Vic shares his personal path, philosophical evolution, and how he integrates these two systems to deepen astrological understanding.

    Please let us know your thoughts in the comments and if you like the post, share it with others.

    PAA: Please introduce yourself, your training, how you learned and how you found yourself involved in Astrology.

    Finding the beginning of any situation is impossible, because everything is a chain of cause and effect which stretches back infinitely. But we can start by saying that I was into alternative music, which put me in contact with alternative subcultures, which put me in contact with the Hare Krishnas, back in the later 80s. Which took me to India, got me living in Ashrams, practicing sādhana, learning śāstra, etc.

    Fast forward to 1997 I got married to someone with a similar background.

    Fast forward to 2007, since I hadn’t yet found a career that really suited me, she suggested Vedic Astrology. Fast forward 3 days and I knew it was the perfect idea.

    Foundations of Astrology

    PAA. Your work bridges tropical and sidereal astrology. How do you define the relationship between these systems, and what insights have you gained from integrating them?

    Siderus means star. Sidreal means stellar. Sidereal space is stellar space. Like when you look at the night sky and see stars, you are seeing sidereal patterns. So all of those constellations (they are called “nakshatra” in Sanskrit) are best mapped using stellar (aka. sidereal) coordinates. Because they are all based, literally, on stars.

    The zodiac is NOT something you look up and see in the sky. Of course, some people might think that the constellations name after the zodiac ARE the zodiac, but on even the briefest examination we can easily see that they are only a very abstract approximation of the 12 zodiacs of 30° each. The zodiac is not about stellar space, it is about solar space. It is a measure of light/dark, and its anchor are the milestones (lit. “tropos”) in that cycle of light/dark. There are four: 2 points where light and dark are equal (equinox), and 2 where the difference between them is the most extreme (solstice).

    Every single classical text, including and especially the Sanskrit texts of Vedic astrology, define things this way.

    So, when referencing the 12 zodiacs, we should anchor the coordinates to the equinoxes. And when referencing the 27 constellations (nakshatra), we should reference them to a useful star (most commonly, Spica / Citra).

    PAA: What was the pivotal moment or research that made you question the traditional use of the sidereal zodiac in Indian astrology?

    When I took the time to read what is taught in the actual texts that form the foundation of Vedic Astrology, instead of just playing follow the leader and listening to what the current trusted voices were saying.

    Tropical Vedic Astrology Methodology

    PAA: The idea that the Vedic zodiac is solstice-based is groundbreaking. Can you elaborate on how this influences the interpretation of planetary positions?

    Well, its only “groundbreaking” in an archeological sort of motif. Like if you have to break the ground and dig to find an ancient civilization. Its not a new idea at all. Its not “groundbreaking” in that sense. It is the simple, straightforward concept of all classical astrology, including Vedic / Sanskrit astrology.

    PAA: What role do nakshatras play in your tropical Vedic framework, and how has your interpretation evolved over time?

    There is the basic approach that anyone would probably think of, which is basically to treat them like signs and therefore try to interpret planets occupying them. This approach is useful enough, and I have programmed a report people can get, to see how their planets would be interpreted in Nakshatra, rather than in zodiac signs.

    But, I feel, much more interesting and natural is an entirely nakshatra-based technique called “Tārābala” (lit. “Star Strength”) which is a system of using 9 “houses” (so to speak) relative to any particular nakshatra. I also programmed a report for people to see what this technique would tell them about their planets. I am particularly happy with this report and think it is a fantastic, extremely useful technique.

    PAA: Ayanamsha is a central concept in sidereal astrology. How do you reconcile its historical role with your tropical perspective?

    The term “ayanāṁśa” is a compound with two roots: ayana+aṁśa. “aṁśa” means “partition.” In the context of math it refers to denominators. In the context of geometry and astronomy (and hence astrology) it refers to a collection of degrees – a “part” of a circle.

    “Ayana” means solstice!

    Ayana is a measure of how many degrees are between a sidereal point (a star) and the tropical anchor (a solstice).

    The purpose of ayanamsha today is to leverage the precision of zodiacal calculation to the relatively appromimative visual calculation of stellar coordinates. In other words, the exact theoretical borders of nakshatra are more accurately determined using ayanamsha from the zodiac borders than by directly estimating by eye from the anchor-star itself.

    Originally, ayanamsha had the opposite purpose. To improve and perfect the mathematics involved in zodiacal calculations, the scientists of the day needed something visual they could reference to check if their calculations were correct. For example, if their calculations said that 0° Libra should be rising, they needed some way to visually confirm if it was accurate. Or if the Moon should be at 2° cancer, they needed to check and see if they had got it right. So they correlated stars to zodiacal points (hence the seed of the confusion about the sidereal zodiac). Ayanamsha was used for this.

    PAA: When working with clients, how do you address questions or skepticism about tropical Vedic astrology compared to more mainstream approaches?

    I don’t address it. If you have come to me for a report or some advice or guidance, I expect you to trust me. If you are unsure, then you should first study and conider all the info I have made about the subject (for example, see http://vicdicara.com/tropical), and ask or, if necessary, debate me first, before becoming a querent. 

    PAA: Your courses cover both foundational and advanced astrology. How do you integrate tropical Vedic concepts into your curriculum without overwhelming students?

    Its not overwhelming at all. The tropical zodiac is very logical, and all the quadruplicities, triplicities, and rulerships involved are very easy to memorize and comprehend in reference to their relationship with the four cardinal directions, established by the four cardinal tropos.

    PAA: What common misconceptions do your students have about tropical or Vedic astrology, and how do you help them understand these complexities?

    People tend to not realize that nakshatras and zodiac are different ways of looking at the sky. They tend to think that nakshatras are like another navamasha, another zodiac subdivision. So it takes them, sometimes, a few talkings-to before they even start to realize that YES sidereal things ARE valid, IN RELATION to the nakshatra. And NO sidereal is NOT valid IN RELATION to the zodiac.

    They tend to think it is either yes or no, good or bad. But really sidereal is correct for nakshatra and incorrect for zodiac, and conversely tropical is incorrect for nakshatra and correct for the zodiac.

    PAA: What advice would you give to someone looking into the modern abundance of astrological systems and interpretations?

    If it wasn’t broken, why would it have gotten “fixed”? All the modern proliferation of systems is just a panic of people trying to fix the things that werent working / that they diddnt comprehend. Instead of just being humble and realizing they didnt understand, and trying to get deeper and see if they had missed something very basic.

    Also, people need to opt-out of the very pro-modern mindset that is pretty Greek, and certainly flourished since the renaissance: that we are “moving forward.” Instead, if we entertain the idea that maybe the ancient people know at least a few things much better than we did, we might stop so greviously undervaluing the ancient and classical schools of astrology.

    My advice, which is radical, is to ignore all the modern stuff, and seek the classical roots.

    PAA: Astrology often faces skepticism. How do you deal with the critiques or defend its relevance in today’s world?

    I did a short series on this, “astrology vs. science”:

    PAA: How has your understanding of astrology deepened as you’ve integrated the tropical framework into your personal and professional practice?

    Honestly, I did that in 2012, so its been 12 years. So if my understanding of anything using any approach hadn’t deepened after 12 years of trying, I would have just given up a long time ago. =)

    PAA: What challenges have you faced in advocating for tropical Vedic astrology within the larger astrological community?

    I didn’t set out to advocate for it. But people opposed to the idea attacked it. They are intolerant. I defended, and then they claim that my defense was an attack. This is typical politics of a person who lacks in actual content.

    All I do is explain what is and isn’t really in the classical texts; and explain what is and isn’t logical and systematic. It tends to catch on right away with people whose own minds are oriented to notice the difference between genuine and disingenuine, and the difference between rational and irrational.

    People say this is a very arrogant attitude I have. I can see how it sounds arrogant. Strangely I don’t feel arrogant. Its just that the position is so strong, and I am just saying what I say with such bluntness and little tact. Because, honestly, that’s not my forte.

    PAA: What long-term changes do you hope to see in the astrological community regarding the acceptance or exploration of tropical Vedic astrology?

    If people would value authenticity, rationality, logic, system, and scientific process more – the rest would happen automatically.

    PAA: Are there any upcoming projects, books, or courses you’re developing to further explore or explain tropical Vedic concepts?

    Soon, I will release a new report exploring the Vedic subdivisions and subcharts (“aṁśa” like “navāṁśā”).

    PAA: Looking ahead, what legacy do you hope your work leaves for future astrologers and students of this field?

    I hope I am setting (or helping to set) a precedent for the value of being systematic, rational, honest, and scientific in process.

    I hope that people who are very talented in astrology will pick up on the doors that my systems and techniques are opening. I devote most of my time to opening those doors, and I don’t have much left over for fully exploring what is on the other side of each, and the many, many ways that the content of those techniques can be beneficially used to help people in general. If several excellent practicing astrologers can pick up the torches there and run with them, I think we may see a significant improvement in the quality of astrological guidance and information that becomes available to the population in general. I really hope for that.

    PAA: Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge with us.

    Further Information

    Vic’s Website
    Vic’s YouTube

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  • David Coleman on Astrology, Magic and the Mysterious

    David Coleman on Astrology, Magic and the Mysterious

    In this post I want to share the latest episode of ‘Perseus Conversations’ that I did with David Coleman, as well as sharing a lot of other information from David. He is really productive and has so much information freely available that he has been sharing now for years. I want anyone new to this world of magic and astrology to discover David and his work. (See his blog)

    • 00:41 ? David Coleman, author of “The 26 Keys,” discusses his background in magic and astrology, focusing on astrological magic.
    • 01:36 ? David delves into his involvement with emerging groups sharing anomalous experiences, providing support and guidance.
    • 02:45 ? His blog, supported by Patreons, offers extensive material on astrology and magic, free for readers.
    • 04:23 ? His interest in magic and astrology began in childhood, with tarot card exploration alongside his mother.
    • 05:19 ? He transitioned to astrology in his early twenties, eventually intertwining his passions into astrological magic.
    • 08:28 ? “The 26 Keys” merges astrology and magic, offering a practical system usable alongside or independent of Bardon’s “Initiation into Hermetics.”
    • 09:12 ? While not focusing on chart creation, the book teaches interpretation, catering to various audiences, including those unfamiliar with astrology or magic.
    • 10:36 ? The book empowers readers to experience astrological energies, fostering personal growth and understanding beyond traditional astrological readings.
    • 13:25 ? Understanding and consciously interacting with astrological energies allows individuals to transform experiences and reactions, shaping outcomes.
    • 16:23 ?️ Astrology offers a vast toolbox for Bardon practitioners, aiding in elemental work and maintaining astral equilibrium.
    • 17:48 ⚖️ Astrology provides forewarning, enabling individuals to prepare for and manage life events, thus altering reactions and outcomes.
    • 22:00 ? Astrology, a dynamic and evolving field, offers various systems and interpretations, validated by skilled practitioners.
    • 24:04 ? Astrology sees parallels between the solar system and the inner self, emphasizing fundamental truths.
    • 24:44 ? Astrological consultations vary based on individual needs, ranging from spiritual understanding to future predictions.
    • 26:05 ? Astrology serves as a gateway for individuals experiencing anomalous or paranormal phenomena seeking understanding and guidance.
    • 31:43 ? An increasing number of people are seeking help for anomalous experiences, leading to the formation of groups like the experiencer group.
    • 35:47 ? The current astrological era, characterized by themes like the coronavirus pandemic and technological advancements, is transitioning to a new era marked by futuristic and revolutionary changes.
    • 39:21 ? Aquarian themes of technology, AI, UFOs, and science fiction are becoming increasingly prevalent, signaling a shift towards a new paradigm for humanity.
    • 42:39 ? Astrologically, major changes are anticipated for countries like the United States and Russia, with potential disruptions in governance and societal structures.
    • 45:06 ? Economic systems are expected to undergo transformation, with the rise of electronic currencies and a shift towards a digital economy.
    • 47:50 ? David discusses updates on his blog, including recent articles and interviews, highlighting the wealth of information available.
    • 48:30 ? David recommends exploring the “26 Keys,” a book related to magic, providing insights and techniques, available for free on his website.
    • 49:26 ? David announces his return to providing tarot card readings alongside astrological consultations through astrovvisions.org, emphasizing accessibility and scheduling options.
    • 51:02 ? David plans to create more video content in addition to written articles, recognizing the modern preference for multimedia formats, while encouraging support for his free archive.

    Mystery College Interview with David

    The 26 Keys: The Magic of the Astral Light: A new approach to astrology

    From the Author: ‘This book presents a new and yet very ancient approach to astrology. Unlike the vast numbers of ‘how to do astrology’ books that have already been written, the course in this book is not merely an intellectual journey, but one which embraces the whole being in a dynamic magical interaction…Instead of being told about the influences over your life shown in a chart and having them described to you, this book enables you to actually experience the meaning of astrological influences for yourself and encourages you to draw your own conclusions. Within the pages of this book you will find all you need to begin exploring the astral Light. This new Kindle edition is viewable on any iOS or android device (i.e. a phone or tablet) with the Kindle app.’

    Now you learn from the interview that I posted at the top of this post that David is not only a highly skilled practitioner of Astrology but he is also a practitioner of Franz Bardon’s work after first being introduced to the books by a friend in Germany. So, this book really is a great resource if you are on your journey of working through ‘Initiation into Hermetics’ and feel like you would like to understand how astrology can aid you in this challenging path.

    One of Davids latest posts does a great job at showing deeply we can delve into reality with the aid of this knoweldge. Have a look at this post by David, just one of hundreds that are available on his blog.

    Get Davids book here.

    Davids first interview on Perseus

    Prior to this recent discussion on Perseus Conversations, David had alread generously participated in an interview with us back in 2022.

    ‘We are very excited to have David Coleman join us in the blog. He is well known in the Franz Bardon community for his generous sharing through his writing and for his exceptional book The 26 Keys: The Magic of the Astral Light. In this interview David answers a variety of questions about Astrology in general, how it relates to Hermetic training as well as giving us insight into his own personal approach.‘

    Read the original interview here.

    Patreon: Support Davids work

    If you look over on Davids blog you will see dozens of not hundreds of posts that go into tremendous detail about all manner of magical and astrological subjects. David routinely writes posts that go beyond the surface and end up being7 or 8 thousand words long! This is 8 thousand words of useful, indepth and instructional information that you can go off and apply to your work. All available for anyone with the curiosity to look. A handful of Patreon supporter’s generously support this effort.

    Join his Patreon here



  • Astrology, Magic of the Astral Light and The 26 Keys: An Interview with David Coleman

    Astrology, Magic of the Astral Light and The 26 Keys: An Interview with David Coleman

    We are very excited to have David Coleman join us in the blog. He is well known in the Franz Bardon community for his generous sharing through his writing and for his exceptional book The 26 Keys: The Magic of the Astral Light. In this interview David answers a variety of questions about Astrology in general, how it relates to Hermetic training as well as giving us insight into his own personal approach.

    Interview

    PAA: We have already given a brief intro and you almost need no introduction as you are well known in this field, but for the newbies could you introduce yourself and your work.

    David: Well thank you and others first of all for helping me to become as known as I may be because it could only happen with the help of people like you. It’s very difficult to find enough time to engage with the public and do any kind of promotion. Even so I’m sure there are still plenty of people that don’t even know I exist, but I can confidently state that I do in fact exist :-)

    I was born in London, grew up in the 70s and have always been interested in the general field of the unknown and mysterious. My father encouraged this interest from the earliest possible age and my mother joined me in these interests as an adult, a fact for which I count myself extremely lucky as over the years I have seen others have had great difficulty in even admitting their interest in these fields, let alone their experiences. In my youth I was also very interested in the arts and had a career in the arts until my early 20s, but at that point I abruptly left, partly for family reasons but also because I felt something else calling me. I didn’t know what it was at the time and it took some courage to leave my friends and everything I had worked for up until that point, but I only had to wait a couple of years before I found astrology through my mother, who handed me Jeff Mayos book ‘How to Do Astrology’ to pass the time while looking for employment, which is where my new career path began. In the 90s I also came across the works of Franz Bardon and set up my first business, White Dog Horoscopes, which later became Astral Visions when I moved to Berlin at the turn of the millennium. I have worked to help others through both astrology and magic for over 30 years now. The bulk of my work is in writing and is free to all but I have also met with many hundreds of people for personal consultations and for 20 years I also wrote astrological interpretations of people’s birth charts. I no longer do this because the documents I was producing expanded to over 4-500 pages in length, a task that would take me a year or 2 to complete. It simply became impossible to take on board. So now I am focused on face-to-face meetings with people and my online journal/blog, Journeys in the Astral Light, where I take deep dives every month into topics related to both magic and astrology. This written output is made possible by generous supporters on Patreon who also receive a monthly astrological forecast. Folks can read about all these services at my website, astralvisions.org.

    PAA: The first thing I want to discuss is your book. It is an amazing piece of work. Could you provide us with some more information about the book, its aims, what it presents, and why it is a new approach to Astrology?

    David: Thank you that is very kind of you! The 26 Keys is a book I wrote in 2011. It is basically an approach to astrology that has been informed by my magical initiation through Bardon. It is a system of synthetic astrology, by which I mean two things, first that it synthesizes the magical tradition with the astrological one and secondly that its focus on synthesizing our awareness with the astrological energy, interacting and communicating with it. To put it simply the traditional experience of learning about your astrology involves going to an astrologer who is skilled in interpreting the symbols and then exploring it with them. This is still a valid approach but my approach is to additionally provide you with a set of tools, crafted from your birth chart, which enable you to dynamically interact with astrological influences as they happen, in effect learning from them yourself in real time. The advantage of this approach is that it removes you from the position of being a passive observer and places you in a position of being an interactive participant, eventually able to shape the way that astrological influences manifest in your life. In this way it is designed intentionally to be particularly useful for people seeking to use astrology in the course of magical instruction provided by France Bardon, but it also stands by itself as a tool that anyone can use to bring the magic of astrology into their lives. I have seen it used successfully by business people and artists, spiritual seekers and healers, writers and athletes – part of the beauty of astrology is its adaptability to any kind of activity.

    PAA: For those not aware of the main aspects of Astrology and the different approaches/origins can you provide some information and show us where 26 Keys fits into this?

    David: Those are huge topics so this will just be an overview, and I will refer people to Journeys to learn more about the specifics. The main parts of astrology, at least as far as the Western variety is concerned, are fourfold – the 12 signs, the planets (including the Sun, Moon, asteroids etc.), the 12 houses (which I also call temples) and the aspects (which are the geometric relationships between the different planets in the zodiac, for example the Sun opposite the Moon in the zodiac is an aspect).

    It’s important to understand that the 12 signs in Western astrology are not the same thing as the constellations of stars that we see in the sky that share their names. For example the zodiac sign of Leo is not the same thing as the constellation of stars that we call Leo. To differentiate the two we can refer to one as Leo and the other as the Celestial Lion. The 12 signs then are not the stars that we see in the sky but regions of the sky through which the Sun passes every year at the same time and they are connected to the passing of seasons. In the northern hemisphere where this astrology emerged, the first day of Aries is the first day of spring, the first day of Libra is the first day of autumn, the first day of Cancer is the first day of summer, the first day of Capricorn is the first day of winter. Therefore the signs are connected to seasons and the cycle of life on Earth. They are connected to the Earth Zone, the astral garden girdling the Earth, and the signs are symbols representing its major creatures or entities. They are alive in the same way that the seasons are alive and the year is alive and nature is alive.

    The planets of our solar system represent dimensions accessible by the awareness of creatures that live upon the Earth. For example, the planet Venus represents the dimension of feeling and emotion, the planet Mercury the dimension of thought and reason or intellect. Every creature has access to the same dimensions of awareness because every creature is born with the same planets in their birth charts, just in different placements and with different emphasis.

    The houses or temples are where the planet is located visually in the sky – rising in the east, overhead, setting, etc – and these show where the energies of each planet descend into manifestation as experience, such as our income, our relationships, our ambitions and the aspects between the planets show how the various dimensions of awareness interact within us, for example the access we feel to the emotional realm of Venus might be inhibited by an aspect from Saturn or increased by an aspect from Jupiter. Planets also have affinities with signs that can make them stronger or weaker in overall expression.

    These four parts of a birth chart, interacting together, symbolically describe both the inner and outer life of the person, from birth to death. The chart is subjected to change from the ongoing movements of planets in the sky, which form temporary influences that teach and guide the soul throughout its journey in life. This continuous influx of ever changing influences upon the natal chart also describes the life of the magical equilibrium, the path a magician experiences as they adjust the equilibrium to changing life circumstances. Astrology is one of the only tools we have that can do this with such impressive timing accuracy.

    This is only Western astrology – India uses an entirely different system with a zodiac that is actually tied to constellations rather than the seasons and Chinese astrology goes with an entirely different zodiac and a system based on lunar cycles. Many ancient cultures also had their own forms of astrology, for example the Mayans. Additionally this is also only modern Western astrology – there have been many changes over the thousands of years it has existed. For much of our history these changes have been shrouded and unknown, but over the last 30 years the first translations into English have been made of astrological texts from the Hellenistic period, when modern natal astrology began, and so we are finally gaining insight on the way natal astrology was originally practiced and its history. The changes are quite drastic given the time involved. This presents modern astrologers with a dilemma, whether to follow the way it was originally practiced in a culture that is now long gone, ignoring modern discoveries about other planets in the solar system, or to instead consider the developments and changes of history to have greater precedent and more applicability to the modern world than the ancient ways. Many astrologers are now considering both the ancient and modern way of looking at charts and comparing them, allowing us to test various systems against one another. Great changes are in progress in modern astrology and it is unclear where these will lead it. What is clear is that the Hellenistic writers were drawing on ancient sources we no longer have, works they say were written by Egyptians, one of which is the fabled Hermes. Astrological research is unable to date when Hermes lived, but it has uncovered reasonable evidence that he was a real historical figure (or perhaps several of them) who invented the system of astrology we have today. However, some sources also state that the Egyptians learned it from the Mesopotamians, and this seems likely to me.

    Whatever the case may be it is clear that in the ancient world astrology and magic were intertwined not just at the philosophical level but at the practical one as well. It is clear that we have lost an entire system of magical astrology (probably several), much as we have lost many other things that were taught within the Mystery schools. Astrology and magic took separate paths over the centuries, paths that now make it difficult to recombine them in the original way, however they always maintained their core philosophical connections and shared theory, the law of “as above, so below, as within, so without”. It might be possible eventually to reconstruct the ancient systems of magical astrology, however doing so would require not only the recovery of many volumes of long lost texts (many of which are probably only sand by now) but also the reactivation of many physical sites that were a key part of that system such as Stonehenge and the Pyramids, the ritual places on the ground that hold and transmit the astrological energies. The 26 Keys is my contribution to bringing the astrology of today with all the new discoveries about the solar system and magic back into practical alignment again using a new system based on traditional principles.

    PAA: Astrology, is it something that can be taught systematically with measurable results OR is it something that requires some natural gifting in order to get results?

    David: Very much the former. It’s amazing actually how quickly someone with no psychic ability or any magical training at all can make accurate predictions and forecasts about the future or the future of other people within a very short period of time studying astrology. It is quite revelatory for people in this respect. I have seen for example some of my friends look into astrology and have their mechanistic, materialistic world view completely obliterated. Astrology should not work according to the scientific paradigms and theories we have, excepting quantum mechanics. The fact that it does work and can be shown to work with very little skill or instruction makes people question their entire reality. It is like seeing a UFO in this respect.

    That said, the very best astrologers do have psychic ability or magical training because it is not merely a science and technology but (like magic) also an art, one that involves interpreting symbols into real issues and experiences. Whereas having a technical and intellectual training in astrology quickly allows any student to identify when in time certain kinds of things happen, i.e. to say that big changes happened in your life in year X, it doesn’t enable you to know the specifics of those big changes, only that they are big, they change things, and they happen in year X. It’s also easy to map the recurrence of cycles through time, so that for example you require no psychic ability to identify when the major karmic tests of your life will play out – you just wont be able to interpret much of what those will look like. To get the specifics of how big and what changes, you need the interpretive arts. Venus, example, can represent all kinds of emotions and feelings, and though it is an easy matter to figure out when these arise and become more significant it takes time and experience to be able to interpret what kind of feelings and emotions the chart expresses at different times and how that plays out. This is where the psychic and magical training comes in. However one of the lovely things about astrology is that someone who studies it from the technical point of view, just learning how to do it, will eventually be trained in these interpretive arts through time and experience, mostly as they learn how the symbols play out in their own natal astrology and life as well as those around them. So astrology enables and supports psychic and magical development on its own through its symbols and has done so for many astrologers over the centuries, leading them to greater and greater spiritual wisdom. There is an extremely beautiful relationship between magic and astrology when seen in that context that reveals that at a fundamental level they were never parted. It was only an intellectual divergence on our part.

    PAA: If Astrology is something that can be taught how should someone go about approaching this? Books? Courses? Divine Intervention?

    David: Ultimately, whatever method works is best for you. I learned it from a book. I’ve written a book to help people learn astrology from their own experience and to help magicians training who want to incorporate astrology. Some people might not like that adventure of empirical learning. Perhaps they prefer to use an online course to develop their knowledge. Really I think people learn from all kinds of sources these days, including Internet videos and online communities, mentors, books, each other, meditation and inspiration, and other ways, and that seems to be common among astrologers too.

    PAA: How important is this knowledge of Astrology to a student of Franz Bardon’s work? Is it required? Is knowledge of our own charts enough or should we have the ability to do it ourselves?

    David: It’s not a requirement. If it were a requirement, Bardon would have said so. Bardon is clearly conscious of the difference between the magical use of astrology (which he terms synthetic astrology) and the popular use of astrology as a mantic device. The system in The 26 Keys can be used either way. However, even though astrological knowledge is not a requirement I would say it is an invaluable tool with no equal, especially in the early stages before the magical equilibrium but also after that point. Just knowing the content of your chart and having a rudimentary knowledge of what it expresses is a significant help, but being able to understand the principles involved and investigating it for yourself is not only the best way of learning astrology but the hermetic way as well. But it’s a very deep well and it’s up to you as an individual how far down the rabbit hole you will go.

    PAA: What does the future have in store from an Astrological perspective? What can you tell us?

    David: I have no idea what exactly will transpire which suits me fine but it’s very exciting! That is, assuming we manage to overcome the many challenges facing us in the world today, many of which threaten everything in the future. I have some speculations about the future of astrology which I have written about in a previous Journey (https://astralvisions.wordpress.com/2021/07/31/21st-century-astrology-and-beyond/), but it boils down to an explosion of astronomical discovery about our solar system combined with excavation of the past and history of astrology which I mentioned earlier alongside major advances in communications and technology and the way that information will be displayed graphically in the future (hologram charts and 3D displays rather than flat charts, augmented reality charts and V.R., etc.). The astrological community is going through a series of transformations as a result of all of this happening at the same time. It is a hugely exciting time to get involved, the early stages of a modern Renaissance in the field, I feel.

    PAA: Lastly are there any personal projects that you would like to talk about? What have you been working on?

    David: I recently opened my website at astralvisions.org and publish a new Journey at the end of each month on a topic related to magic and astrology at my WordPress site, Journeys in the Astral Light . I will continue monthly posts for the foreseeable future and with the help of others am currently also in the process of collecting some of the past articles and updating them into digital and print editions for people to own. The site will always be free to read. I am working quietly on developing online classes and will notify people through Journeys about those in the future. I am also working on two new books, but those have to remain a bit of a secret for now. I’m always open to meet with people online to discuss, offer guidance and teach, and in my spare time I like to engage with the younger generation of people (late teens and early 20s) interested in learning about astrology as I find this very satisfying to do both personally and intellectually. I also like painting. For me, with most of my life invested in the world of words one way or another, painting is an escape to a world where they have no place.

    PAA: Is there anything else you would like to mention? If people would like to follow what you do, is the Astral Visions website the place to go?

    David: Astral Visions is where people should go to learn about my services and to book some time with me. It will evolve as time goes by, for example as new books are published they will become available there. Journeys in the Astral Light is where I engage the public regularly, posting once a month and fielding comments and public questions. Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/astrallight) is the funding for Journeys and people who join me there also get a monthly post where I muse about current events and post an astrological calendar for the upcoming month, like a weather forecast. Patrons also get their 26 keys calculated for them on request. I plan to offer more benefits to Patrons in the future as thanks for all they have made possible. The public archive at Journeys is approaching 1,000,000 words now, thanks to them.

    Aside from this… Yes, there is something I’d like to mention. Everything stands at the brink with us. We are facing catastrophes. It’s easy to lose hope and to feel despair and lose faith in humanity and the future. The challenges can seem so overwhelming that we turn away from them unable to cope. In walking the path of initiation, I have learned that when we turn away from our darkness it only grows stronger, but when we face into it with conviction and courage, with love not only for ourselves but for others, we always find within us hidden resources that kindle themselves into life revealing that we are brighter and more powerful than we ever imagined. We are complex creatures with a complex history and many differences but in our innermost being what unites us all is that we love to love and to be loved. The Facebook page for The 26 Keys is another place where you can interact with me, I post a link to the monthly article there when it is published.

    PAA: Thank you very much for your time.

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  • Vedic Astrology: An Interview with Jesse Woodward

    Vedic Astrology: An Interview with Jesse Woodward

    Today we welcome Jesse Woodward to the blog. He is a practitioner of Franz Bardons Tradition as well as a practitioner of Vedic Astrology. Today we focus on Vedic Astrology and how it can be used to bring clarity into a person’s life.

    Interview

    PAA: Thank you for agreeing to this interview. Could you firstly provide us with your background in Hermetics, the Franz Bardon system and Vedic Astrology.

    Jesse: I started practicing Initiation Into Hermetics as a daily practice back when I was 12 or 13 and have been at it daily ever since. I have other systems of training that IIH had let me into which have fleshed out and given me a great deal of other techniques and training which IIH and the other systems have complimented. I started studying Vedic astrology some time later and have been studying and using it practically since 2014. Vedic astrology provides incredible precision and remedial measures to work magically using mantras, rings, and other magical techniques which provide very easy and natural methods to work with life situations which I find more ideal since you can get insights into and work with the karmic situations with a great deal of knowledge of the soul and its purpose. I spent a tremendous amount of time on the accumulation practices and have a great deal of skill in creating talismans in Bardons methods, but I still find it far more effective and work more naturally with someone’s life to use astrological remedies.

    PAA: Could you explain the main differences between what we know of as Astrology in the West and Vedic Astrology. Is it vastly different or just some small differences?

    Jesse: I have exclusively studied Jyotish or Vedic astrology as it was what my root teacher had studied and presented so I can’t say a great deal about Western Astrology. Western astrology didn’t appeal to me as the logic behind using the position of the constellations at 0 AD over 2000 years ago didn’t make as much sense as using their current positions. Since we are making decisions that affect today it didn’t make sense to me to study Western, as even a 1 degree difference can cause major differences the Tropical system is now about 24 degrees in the sky different than Sideral since it has moved slightly every year since it was created.

    PAA: What made you seek out training in Vedic Astrology? Did you feel it brought additional clarity to your work in Hermetics?

    Jesse: My Root teacher practices and studies Vedic astrology so when he began teaching a class I was very interested and started learning it gradually then. I had a few readings from him previously and saw how accurate and effective it was myself in recovering my health during a major life threatening illness. I have learned a tremendous amount about the nature of life from astrology. The lesson that your life might be completely different than some one else’s or some ideal version of your life yet still can turn out to be the best thing for your soul as it is specific to your karmas. Having the opportunity to see strengths, weaknesses, remedial measures that can be applied to strengthen different innate faculties, relationships, or life situations with great precision has been a huge help. I often am able to provide remedies which cause external life situation improvement along with remedies and consoling which benefits someone spiritually, physically, and psychologically. One thing that Vedic astrology also shows is that it is impossible for someone to see themselves fully accurately from their own perception no matter how well they think they do. It is always beneficial to get perspectives from other people, but the study of our natal chart can provide insights into our weakness, strengths, and areas we are able to grow in. This is hugely beneficial for anyone working on their soul mirror practices to get insights not only into their innate weaknesses, but the areas that can be utilized in the chart to most easily lean on to strengthen and support the weaknesses. There is no single right personality or way to live. Every life is individual and fresh, our life purpose isn’t to live an idealized life, but to be the best version of ourselves in this incarnation that we could be.

    PAA: Could you explain how you would apply Vedic Astrology to various situations? For example, what would you need from a person to do a reading and how could the information gleaned from the reading assist the individual? Also, would the reading be able to look at subjects like past lives/future lives or just this incarnation?

    Jesse: It is possible to find out about some aspects of the past and future lifes from Vedic astrology. I have not specialized in that though as I find remedial measures and way to grow in our current life to be the best way to help others. Though any planet in a negative position can provide insights into struggles with that archetype and a relationship in a previous life. For instance, betraying a father figure can result in an afflicted Sun which causes low vitality and a lack of confidence. However, it is best to look at these things as a relationship in a past life which has caused a lack of healthy communication with the universal archetype and repairing that through mantras, charity work, ritual offerings, and working with those archetypes in our current life can repair that for future incarnations and alleviate the issues caused from the damage to that relationship in the past. Similarly those actions can build healthy relationships to carry with us into future incarnations.

    PAA: How would a practitioner of Franz Bardon’s Initiation into Hermetics utilize Vedic Astrology? If you are working on Bardons 2nd and 3rd book PME And KTQ, does this knowledge of Vedic Astrology assist you in the work of those books?

    Jesse: Vedic astrology can be turned to in many aspects of the practitioner’s life. In many cultures it is traditional to time major life events, marriages, beginning new businesses, etc. with astrological considerations. Even the name of a child should be picked out astrologically as a syllable which is incompatible with their energies can cause illness and other issues throughout life which could have been prevented. Life is meant to be much more magical than the Western world has resulted in, as a result of becoming out of sync with nature and the spirit world we do great damage to ourselves individually and as a global community as is witnessed by mass extinction, pollution, etc. Astrology shows us that we are not the initiators of actions but a vehicle for the planetary energies. The spirits in Bardons PME largely see themselves in this way and for a Solar Spirit there is no difference between the rays of the sun giving life to a person on earth and the Sun itself. There are countless practical ways to use astrology, but the reminder that we are the Universe and not an individual is one of the greatest. That is really how humans are meant to live and experience reality. Our brains form around the “I” concept the first-person pronoun, many languages and cultures, as well as all of the spirit world thing more in the term “We” astrology can help you train your brain to see the universe as one moving mechanism and us all as individual rays which make it up and see the true nature of the soul beneath the astrology. The Astral body translates to “Starry body” and just as our lives are ruled by astrology this shows us that if we have other incarnations our minds, personality, and bodies are only a temporary part of us and there is something deeper which is more unified with the whole. Health, Finance, Love, Family, Children, Difficult relationships, Obstacles, all of which are areas you can look into to find direction, remedies, and clarity on. I think every magician requires a healthy life or a very healthy psychological relationship with a difficult life in order to make ideal progress.

    PAA: How far forward can Vedic Astrology be applied? Can we look hundreds or thousands of years into the future? Is it very specific and personal or a general outlook?

    Jesse: Astrology could technically be used as far into the future as we have astronomical data to look. Hundreds or thousands of years easily, once you get into the hundreds of thousands or millions of years it would be best to look at the Yuga cycles. There are Macro and Micro versions of the Yuga cycle which show us the nature of life on this planet over millions of years and the fluctuations it goes through. At points planets cannot sustain intelligent life and at other points it can. We are currently on a small ascending Yuga and a large descending Yuga. Which can be seen in that our technology is improving, but our spirituality and connection to the universe is being cut off through excessive use of technology and the “I” pronoun. There are actual physical changes happening to our body from this which have resulted in the closing down of psychic faculties, health, and other energetic processes which are damaged and have to be manually repaired in the current era. Some of which like the pallete not opening causing us to need wisdom teeth removal which prevents many things in the brain from opening up for instance.

    PAA: With what we see are the very general currents of the universe that will bring certain conditions regardless of our actions or are these conditions avoidable through preparation?

    Jesse: The energies can work out in life in many different ways, while there are specific events which have to happen they can happen in various ways. Some charts have more wandering and free will for instance than others. Some charts are very focused and direct. There are always certain things that need to happen. For instance a period of poverty in someone’s chart can be relative, if they had bad financial luck in a dasa, but worked very hard and used the energies available to them in a positive way they could be a millionaire with a bad investment or two in that period that brings them to a humbler financial level. While if they were already overspending and not working hard that could lead to them becoming homeless. There are always different ways we can use the energies available to us and a number of careers for instance someone could go into, but the energies may make someone very analytical or very artistic and someone who is one or the other may not be able to choose to go into the opposite style of career successfully.

    PAA: I remember reading a comment made by Franz Bardon (vaguely paraphrased here), about us being locked into our destiny that it takes a lot of work to come out of the Astrological forces that are acting upon us? The comment was made in reference to telling someone where they would be that evening. Does Vedic Astrology have this same idea that we are under these forces regardless of what we do?

    Jesse: As I mentioned in the previous question there is some free will, however the amount of free will is fixed by the planets. There may be more or less, and some parts may be completely fixed. However even in a chart with what seems like extreme free will that is provided by the planets and is temporary and allowed in order to truly have free will requires significant attainment that few ever reach on this planet. Free will in a chart is like a hall pass, you have a certain amount of freedom, but that is a temporary provision. To truly be free you must graduate.

    PAA: Are there any other important points you would like to share regarding this science?

    Jesse: There are many and I could talk about astrology and magic for hours. I think the ones I have mentioned so far should be helpful for many people. There are countless life lessons that can be learned through studying astrology in conjunction with other magical practices. For PME practitioners getting insights into their charts can show what planets may be more or less difficult for them to contact as they may have healthy quantity and quality of energy from a planet, likewise you could have a very damaged energy in your astral body making it difficult or more likely to come into contact with the malefic aspects of that planet first. If anyone wants to schedule an astrology reading with me you can reach me through my Instagram account “Bytharetes” which is my Imitate name through a Theurgic Lineage I practice. I do full readings which is 1 hour of discussion and review over video chat after I do a 1-2 hour deep dive into the chart. Due to the time I spend I charge $150 for that. I also do smaller readings or as appropriate email responses for specific inquires into a chart at a lower rate. If anyone has specific questions I may make some posts on my Instagram related to Astrology, Magic, Health, and the Spiritual Path.

    PAA: Many thanks for spending your time answering our questions. To our readers, if you have further questions that you would like answered in regard to Vedic Astrology then please post them in the comments below. Jesse has agreed to return for a follow up if we get enough interest, he can then dig deeper into readers areas of interest.

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