Astrologer and writer Barry Perlman joins host Jenn Zahrt from sunny Palm Springs, CA! Join the duo as they chat about deserted-island book picks and more, including: doing the “right” reading with the “wrong” chart; how to contribute to fate, not outsmart it; the nuances of opening squares versus closing squares; planetary aspects as storytellers, and more! Plus: beheaded palm trees, pondering when birth begins, and… is rectification necessary?

Visit CAELi’s Within Orb pod page!

Learn more about the CAELi Institute.

Visit our bookshop.org page to support CAELi and purchase books mentioned on the show!

Become a CAELi member or renew your membership!

Love the show? Support our work with a financial contribution or book donation.

Follow CAELi on FB, IG, YouTube, and Bluesky.

Transcripts available upon request.

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

*****

Episode timestamps (conversation recorded December 2024):

00:31 – Barry Perlman is an astrologer, writer, metaphysical entrepreneur, and magical human best known for his “astrobarry” horoscopes, published weekly from 2002 to 2018. As an astrologer, he taught, mentored, and consulted with clients worldwide, in addition to writing for media in the US and Australia. He co-created the first-ever Queer Astrology Conference (QAC), where he presented in 2013 and 2015. He also co-founded and owned The Raven’s Wing Magical Co., a thriving retail business, until it became a worker-owned co-op in 2022. He currently lives in southern California.

01:51 – After winning a friendly bookstore tussle, Barry’s first astrology text was The Only Way to Learn Astrology, Vol 1 by Marion March and Joan McEvers. (Volumes 2 and 3 quickly followed!)

05:09 – If Barry could bring only three books to a deserted island, his first pick would be The Moment of Astrology: Origins in Divination by Geoffrey Cornelius.

12:28 – Barry’s second choice would be The Lunation Cycle: A Key to the Understanding of Personality by Dane Rudhyar.

16:48 – Interlude: Join CAELi and snag yourself a Saturn stress-relief ball. (Perfect for Capricorn season!)

17:34 – Barry offers an unofficial, leave-it-on-the-tarmac pick: Dynamics of Aspect Analysis: New Perceptions in Astrology by Bil Tierney.

21:58 – The third title Barry would bring is Planets in Transit: Life Cycles for Living by Robert Hand. (Barry also shouts out Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda and Cosmos and Psyche: Intimations of a New World View by Richard Tarnas.)

31:50 – For beginners, Barry recommends any book by Derek and Julia Parker, especially Parkers' Astrology: The Definitive Guide to Using Astrology in Every Aspect of Your Life. This episode was recorded before the recent passing of Derek Parker. May he Rest in Peace.

33:41 – The best place to find Barry is on Instagram @astrobarry.

35:05 – 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.