Astrologer and author Ronnie Dreyer joins host Jenn Zahrt from New York to chat about books, Jyotish and Western astrology, and more! Tune in to hear about: different editions of the same book; “shining the light on results”; Sanskrit’s deeper meaning; the focus of transits in the Indian tradition; the Tajika system; karma brought into this lifetime; everything in right relation; the work of translating texts; how to approach charts and people; astrology as a discipline; eclipses and the Saros cycles; and the work of impactful, brilliant local astrologers. Plus: childhood planetarium visits, meeting influential authors, and writing on palm leaves!

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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 July 2024):

00:31 – Ronnie Gale Dreyer is an internationally known consultant, author, lecturer, and teacher specializing in Western and Indian astrology. Based in New York City, she has clients and students throughout the world, lectures for astrology groups and conferences, and conducts ongoing courses and webinars. Ronnie has written numerous books (including Vedic Astrology: A Guide to the Fundamentals of Jyotish), articles, and columns and is currently revising and reissuing her classic book on Venus. She proudly co-authored a chapter on “Indian Astrology” with Nick Campion, which appeared in Religious Transformation in Modern Asia. Ronnie is also certified in Astro*Carto*Graphy and holds an MA in South Asian Languages and Cultures from Columbia University.

01:16 – Ronnie’s very first astrology book was The Compleat Astrologer by Derek and Julia Parker. In grade school, Ronnie loved learning about the stars and planets. Her dad worked in the book industry, and knew she was interested in astronomy; later, when she was in college, he brought this text home for her! (And to hear Rod Suskin’s chat with Jenn about censorship in South Africa in the 1970s, lend your ears to Episode 26, Rod Suskin: On the Textual Nexus of Commanding Space & Time.)

07:51 – If Ronnie could bring only three books to a deserted island, what would they be? Her first choice is Phaladeepika by Mantreswara, translated by Dr. G.S. Kapoor. This is the text that her guru in India chanted to her! It’s the first book in which she learned classical Jyotish astrology.

19:17 – Interlude: Join CAELi and snag yourself a Saturn stress-relief ball. (Yes, you read that right!)

20:03 – Ronnie’s second choice would be Person Centered Astrology by Dane Rudhyar. The articles are wonderful, and this text also helpfully addresses how to approach charts and people. (Also mentioned here: A Handbook for the Humanistic Astrologer by Michael R. Meyer, with a preface by Dane Rudhyar.)

26:16 – The third title Ronnie would bring is Predictive Astrology: The Eagle and the Lark by Bernadette Brady. Ronnie loves the way Brady teaches, and views eclipse cycles differently because of this book.

30:00 – For beginners, Ronnie recommends Alan Oken’s Complete Astrology: The Classic Guide to Modern Astrology by Alan Oken, The Plain Vanilla Astrologer by Pat Geisler (along with Geisler’s companion book Chocolate Sauce: The Plain Vanilla Astrologer's Guide to the Art of Practicing Astrology), and The Art of Predictive Astrology: Forecasting Your Life Events by Carol Rushman. Lastly, Ronnie also gives a nod to the series The Only Way to Learn Astrology by Joan McEvers and Marion March.

37:20 – Find Ronnie at her website: https://ronniedreyer.com/.

37:55 – 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.