Astrologer and writer Alexander Baker joins host Jenn Zahrt from Pittsburgh, PA to chat books and more! Rise above the horizon and join the duo for a conversation covering: the decans and faces; fixed stars; divinatory systems; secondary, tertiary, and converse progressions; humanistic roots, and more. Plus: tossing coins in the fountain, less is more, and space-time synesthesia!

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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 December 2024):

00:01 – Jenn introduces the show with a reminder to join her Kepler College Advanced Progressions class with Camm Cassidy, which started yesterday (February 16). It’s not too late to join – enrollment is available until February 19, 2025!

01:10 – Alexander Baker is a writer, astrologer, and vinyasa yoga teacher from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, whose approach blends Hellenistic and modern techniques. His astrology is animistic and relational, using a blend of decanic imagery and psychological application to invite others into deeper dialogue with the Story they find themselves enmeshed in.

03:49 – Alexander’s first astrology books were a combination of pop astrology texts like The Secret Language of Birthdays by Gary Goldschneider and The Only Astrology Book You'll Ever Need by Joanna Martine Woolfolk. Early on, he also worked with the Thoth tarot deck, scoured articles online, and dove into the writings of Aleister Crowley.

09:22 – If Alexander could bring only three books to a deserted island, his first pick would be Austin Coppock’s 36 Faces: The History, Astrology and Magic of the Decans.

12:27 – Interlude: Join the CAELi Support Drive and for only $35, you can enjoy your morning beverage out of a gorgeous CAELi mug!

13:13 – Calling in Sun-Uranus energy, Alexander offers a runner-up: Cosmos and Psyche: Intimations of a New World View by Richard Tarnas.

15:49 – Alex’s second choice would be The Moment of Astrology: Origins in Divination by Geoffrey Cornelius.

16:26 – The third title Alexander would bring is The Astrological Houses: The Spectrum of Individual Experience by Dane Rudhyar.

19:45 – Breaking the rules for another pick, Alex mentions Psyche and Symbol: A Selection from the Writings of C. G. Jung by Carl Jung (edited by Violet S. De Laszlo).

30:47 – For beginners, Alexander recommends… nothing! JK (sort of)! He talks about the importance of looking up charts. But in addition to that, he mentions You Were Born For This: Astrology for Radical Self-Acceptance by Chani Nicholas, Astrology: Using the Wisdom of the Stars in Your Everyday Life by Carole Taylor, and having a Robert Hand on hand (lol)!

33:49 – The best place to find Alex is at his website: https://www.reverieastrology.com/. His YouTube channel is @alexbakerastro. And on IG and Threads, follow: @reverie.unfold.

34:38 – 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.