Astrologer and author Ko Hashiguchi joins host Jenn Zahrt from Tacoma, Washington, sharing his expertise in Chinese astrology along with a mini lesson on the Four Pillars! Ko also offers a unique perspective on desert island books, as the two cover lots of ground: Taoism philosophy; Plato’s concept of same and other; the work of Robert Schmidt and Eudoxus of Cnidus; which planets represent a transcendental Sun, Moon, and Mercury; 518,400 ways to combine a solar year, month, day, and hour; why Western zodiac signs and Chinese animals should be regarded as the same; the five Chinese elements; the time lord system in Jyotish astrology; Ptolemy’s Ages of Man; why physical books will never be obsolete; and the spoken word as the living word. Plus: He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, a second childhood, and the beauty of turning 60!

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Transcripts available upon request.

Song “Wake Up” used with permission by The E-Block Band.

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Episode timestamps (conversation recorded April 2024):

00:31 – Ko Hashiguchi has been studying Chinese astrology since 1986, and Western astrology since 1992. Ko programs his own research software, runs the YouTube channel Radical Skies, and has animation credits in the Disney features “Hercules” and “Tarzan.” Ko has lectured at the 2002 UAC and the 2003 NORWAC conferences. Ko has two gender identities: Ko is he/him, and Francine Gee is she/her.

03:19 – Ko’s first astrology book was The Way to Chinese Astrology: The Four Pillars of Destiny by Jean-Michel Huon de Kermadec and translated by Derek Poulsen. At first, Ko thought astrology was nonsense! But then he entered the world of Chinese astrology and began shifting his view.

05:11 – If Ko were stranded on Obstruction Island (in San Juan County, Washington), he’d bring a stack of spiral notebooks and write his own texts! The first one he’d tackle would be an extension of Schmidt’s interpretation of Eudoxus.

10:17 – For Ko’s second writing assignment, he’d examine the Four Pillars in Chinese astrology. Specifically, this book would be full of examples of famous people and how the Four Pillars explain why people behave the way they do.

12:16 – Tune in for a mini-lesson on the Four Pillars!

15:07 – Next, Ko would put pen to paper and turn the Ptolemaic Ages of Man into a four-level timelord system!

16:48 – Join the CAELi Institute to attend the next Significant Sources Salon hosted by Dr. James Dotson! Last week we had a blast discussing Ficino’s Three books on Life. Next month we get into medical astrology with Joseph Blagrave’s Astrological Practice of Physick.

19:51 – Ko has a fourth book idea, too! Referencing his previously mentioned idea about philosophically extending the planets, Ko’s next text would add a twist, exploring how science doesn’t override history, morality/religion, philosophy, or astrology. (And check out Ko’s two books coming out through Revelore Press – Jenn’s publishing company – in July 2024!)

23:12 – For beginners, Ko recommends: listening to the lectures of Robert Schmidt; diving into the Jyotish astrological tome Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra (the Girish Chand Sharma edition); and – for learning Chinese astrology – reading Ko’s own upcoming instructional textbook on the Four Pillars.

24:49 – Find Ko on his YouTube channel: Radical Skies. And Francine (Ko’s feminine alter ego) will also be at NORWAC in May 2024, so say hello!

26:07 – Thanks for listening to Within Orb! If you love the show, please help support it at no cost to you: Follow or subscribe wherever you listen, rate it five stars, or write a happy review! And if you’d like to become a CAELi member or support our work with a contribution of any amount, we’d be delighted – thanks!

Show notes by Jen Braun, JJ Boots Productions LLC.