An interesting question came up on Saturday while I was giving a presentation on the Golden Dawn's Opening of the Key spread. It's been said that, due to its extreme complexity (and, I might add, its redundancy), the members of the Order almost never did all five operations of the OotK, contenting themselves with the … Continue reading Personalizing the Astrological Spread
Astrology
Casting Lots
There are many forms of divination I know little about, but I'm constantly trying to educate myself. One such practice is lithomancy (the art of casting stones), for which these is very little published literature. One of the best resources I've found is this one by Gary Wimmer. http://garywimmer.com/writer/litho_book.htm Although Gary uses stones thrown onto … Continue reading Casting Lots
Are We Having Fun Yet?
I guess you could call me an "accidental professional." Will I read for the public, for pay? Sure, if the circumstances are right. Do I obsess about getting paid for my efforts? Not by a long shot. I learned to read the cards - and to cast and interpret horoscopes and geomantic charts - mainly … Continue reading Are We Having Fun Yet?
Is It or Isn’t It . . . ?
. . . a Full Moon, that is. Here are a few more thoughts on the subject of Lunar Phases. I am aware of at least one web-site out there that purports to define one's "lunar personality" according to the phase of the Moon under which birth occurred. It appears to apply the current "scientific" … Continue reading Is It or Isn’t It . . . ?
Horary Astrology Books and Software
For the last several years I've been on a crusade to hone my horary astrology skills. Back in the '70s I was an associate of well-known horary astrologer Alphee Lavoie in Connecticut for a short time, but went away from horary when I left the area. I came back to it when I connected with … Continue reading Horary Astrology Books and Software
The Wheel and the World: Jupiter and Saturn
One time over thirty years ago, when I was still very much a novice astrologer with loads of book learning but little practical experience, I was brought up short by someone who obviously had slightly more of the latter. I had made an off-hand remark about Jupiter and Saturn being the “social” planets, bridging the … Continue reading The Wheel and the World: Jupiter and Saturn
An Astro-Tarot Analysis of a Suicide
This is a detailed study of a recent death-by-suicide using a method I've been developing for combining astrological and tarot techniques in horoscopic analysis. The event occurred following a family celebration; I was present at both the gathering and the scene of death. All images © U.S. Games Systems, Inc, Stamford, CT and Robert M. … Continue reading An Astro-Tarot Analysis of a Suicide
Structured Chart-Reading
Back when I was first learning natal astrology (around "5 B.C." or five years before the first Sinclair and Kaypro personal computers hit the street), students were encouraged to look at the main themes in a chart first before getting sucked into the details. Economical and effective chart synthesis was the "Holy Grail" of the … Continue reading Structured Chart-Reading
Astrology Takes a Detour
In the interest of full disclosure, I should mention first that I've been what is known as a "psychological" astrologer since the term gained popularity in the early 1970s. British astrologer Alan Leo - often called "the father of modern astrology" - was the first practitioner of what he called "the science of tendencies" rather … Continue reading Astrology Takes a Detour
File Under: “Why Bother?”
Here is a well-reasoned 2003 editorial by "Frater P.A.L." from the Journal of the Western Mystery Tradition, No. 4. Vol. 1 titled "Why Study the Divinatory Arts?" (Forgive me if I've posted this article before, either here or in the tarot forums, but I wanted to expand upon its subject matter with a few personal … Continue reading File Under: “Why Bother?”
Parsifal's Wheel Tarot & Astrology 