Within Orb

It’s a week for gratitude, so it’s the perfect time for a throwback from the archives of appreciation! Astrologer, teacher, and historian Gary Lorentzen joined host Jenn Zahrt in this sweet reunion episode: Gary was Jenn’s first astrology teacher in high school! Join the warmth as Gary and Jenn chat about must-know books, archetypal shifts in history, the intersection of synchronicity and physics, the four humors, humanistic psychological approaches, the eight phases in progressions, the Barbault index, and more. Plus: humans as meaning-making creatures; measuring time vs. marking time; and… can you guess what the least lucrative form of astrology is?

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.

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Transcripts available upon request.

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

*****

Episode timestamps (conversation recorded June 2023):

00:01 – Jenn offers a little intro and shares some exciting news about upcoming content! And if you’d like to connect with producer Jen Braun about starting a podcast, visit her website.

01:50 – Gary has been studying astrology since 1972. He takes not only a psychological approach to interpretation, but also focuses on what he dubs “astro-history” (the mundane studies of history and geopolitics). He’s an educator who is trained as a historian, with a graduate degree in Medieval Germanic Linguistics. Gary was one of the original founders of Kepler College and helped to develop the curriculum for Kepler’s bachelor program. He also served as president of the Washington State and Oregon Astrological Associations.

02:10 – Gary remembers initially buying two astrology books back in the day. First up: Dane Rudhyar’s The Astrology of Personality, which gave Gary a practical way of looking at astrology and observing its applications. He also purchased Marc Edmund Jones’s Astrology: How and Why It Works; this one is a wonderful, and challenging, philosophical text. (And did Gary write the date and time he bought these texts on the inside covers? Yes, he did – a budding astrologer for sure!)

06:05 – What other books changed Gary’s astrology life? Three Books on Life by Marsilio Ficino, who basically did modern psychological astrology in the 15th century! In this text, Gary sees the intellectual threads that led to Rudhyar and humanistic psychology. Also, the tome Cosmos and Psyche: Intimations of a New World View by Richard Tarnas makes the list.

15:36 – Gary explains how he became an astro-historian, which differs from mundane astrology.

16:46 – Interlude: Join CAELi and snag yourself a Saturn stress-relief ball. (Yes, you read that right!)

17:32 – The books that helped Gary develop his practice with astro-history include: Planetary Cycles: Mundane Astrology by André Barbault; The Book of World Horoscopes by Nick Campion; and Cycles of Becoming by Alexander Ruperti. (Included is a lovely side trip to Cosmobiology: The Engine of Destiny by Marc Robertson, where Gary gives an elegant description of the eight phases of any two planets in the progressed chart.)

26:34 – For beginners, Gary would recommend something formulaic, like Joanne Wickenburg’s The Spiral of Life: Unlocking Your Potential With Astrology. This one offers a great foundation!

29:57 – Find Gary at his site: http://garylorentzen.com/. And check out the blog post he references, Planetary Pairs and the Aspects in the Eight Phases of their Synodic Cycles.

30:30 – 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.

Astrologer, musician, and teacher Fred Abong joins host Jenn Zahrt from Rhode Island to rock out on books and more! Join these pals, as they discuss: astrology in the ivory tower; ancient Hindu astrology; relationship charts; astro*carto*graphy; midpoints, and more! Plus: eyeballing the Saturn return, taking a peek at the Aries point, and… start simple and stay simple!

Fred Abong joins Episode 70 of Within Orb!

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, and YouTube.

Transcripts available upon request.

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

*****

Episode timestamps (conversation recorded July 2024):

00:31 – Fred Abong is a singer/songwriter and one time bass player for influential art-punk band Throwing Muses and indie-pop band Belly. Prior to that, Fred was active as a drummer and bass player in numerous bands centered on the Newport, RI hardcore punk scene. In addition to playing music, Fred earned his PhD in Humanities in 2016.

03:38 – The books that got Fred started include Heaven Knows What by Grant Lewi and Ancient Hindu Astrology for the Modern Western Astrologer by James Braha. Fred also gives a hat tip to Braha’s How to Be a Great Astrologer: The Planetary Aspects Explained. And Jenn mentions Astrology for Millions by Lewi as well!

09:16 – If Fred could bring only three books to a deserted island, his first pick would be Braha’s previously mentioned Ancient Hindu Astrology for the Modern Western Astrologer. Also, Fred mentions the bonus book Planets in Composite: Analyzing Human Relationships by Robert Hand.

12:16 – Interlude: Join CAELi and snag yourself a Saturn stress-relief ball. (Yes, you read that right!)

13:03 – Fred’s second choice would be The Psychology of Astro*carto*graphy by Jim Lewis with contributions by Kenneth Irving.

15:08 – The third title Fred would bring is The Combination of Stellar Influences by Reinhold Ebertin.

22:18 – For beginners, Fred recommends getting a mentor! Fred studied with Vedic astrologer Gary Gomes, which was a wonderful way to learn.

26:23 – Find Fred at his website: https://www.fredabongastrology.com/.

27:12 – 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.

Astrologer, blacksmith, and writer Whitney Hill joins host Jenn Zahrt from North Carolina for a philosophical deep dive! Join the two as they chat about astrology and philosophy books (and more!), including: traditional astrology as a starting point; the translations that come down through history; the stoics; and understanding the idea of fate. Plus: a 12th-house-year pilgrimage, planetary hours, and… tigers versus coconuts!

Whitney Hill joins Episode 69 of Within Orb!

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, and YouTube.

Transcripts available upon request.

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

*****

Episode timestamps (conversation recorded August 2024):

00:31 – Whitney Hill is a creator, scholar, and pathfinder who forges magical experiences. As an astrologer, she uses convergence research to gain and share a deeper understanding of both astrological techniques and fate. As a blacksmith, she crafts nature-inspired tools for magical practices. Whitney also writes award-winning fiction and speaks on writing and indie publishing. Catch up with her latest research and insights on astrology, fate, and magic in The Ibis Nest at cobraandcrescent.com/join-ibis-nest.

02:57 – The books that got Whitney started include Astrology for Real Life by Theresa Reed, Astrology and the Authentic Self: Integrating Traditional and Modern Astrology to Uncover the Essence of the Birth Chart by Demetra George, and On the Heavenly Spheres by Helena Avelar and Luis Campos Ribeiro.

04:24 – If Whitney could bring only three books to a deserted island, they would be Abu Ma'shar Al-Balkhi’s Persian Nativities IV: On the Revolutions of the Years of Nativities (translated by Benjamin Dykes), and Demetra George’s series Ancient Astrology in Theory & Practice: A Manual of Traditional Techniques. Whitney would also take a philosophy book, as she’s been studying the stoics and the philosophical thought underpinning astrology!

11:22 – Interlude: Join CAELi and snag yourself a Saturn stress-relief ball. (Yes, you read that right!)

12:09 – Jenn and Whitney break down Whitney’s third choice, which would be The Philosophy of Chrysippus by Josiah B. Gould.

24:45 – For beginners, Whitney recommends Reed’s previously mentioned Astrology for Real Life, as well as Chris Brennan’s Hellenistic Astrology: The Study of Fate and Fortune.

26:16 – Find Whitney at her website: https://www.cobraandcrescent.com/. On Instagram and Threads, her handle is @cobraandcrescent.

26:46 – 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.

Astrologer and podcaster Elly Higgins joins host Jenn Zahrt from Western Massachusetts to chat astrology (and non-astrology) books and more! Join them as they cover lots of territory, including: an Orphic hymns relational moment; astrology and the Islamicate tradition; and queer time versus straight time. Plus: a soul massage, the Hellenistic revival, and looking for patterns!

Elly Higgins joins Episode 68 of Within Orb!

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, and YouTube.

Transcripts available upon request.

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

*****

Episode timestamps (conversation recorded August 2024):

00:31 – Elly Higgins is a consulting astrologer, massage therapist, and podcast host based in Western Massachusetts. He is the host of Star Gays: The Queer Astrology Archives Podcast, which examines the lives of important queer artists and activists through their astrology. His astrological lineage is primarily Hellenistic, but he is guided by queer liberation struggles and queer lineage building.

01:23 – Elly’s very first astrology book was You Were Born for This: Astrology for Radical Self-Acceptance by Chani Nicholas. Early on, he also read Astrology and the Authentic Self: Integrating Traditional and Modern Astrology to Uncover the Essence of the Birth Chart by Demetra George.

05:47 – If Elly could bring only three books to a deserted island, his first choice would be a collection of the Orphic Hymns.

10:34 – Elly’s second choice would be Abu Ma'shar Al-Balkhi’s Persian Nativities IV: On the Revolutions of the Years of Nativities, translated by Benjamin Dykes.

18:05 – Interlude: Join CAELi and snag yourself a Saturn stress-relief ball. (Yes, you read that right!)

18:52 – The third title Elly would bring is Cruising Utopia by José Esteban Muñoz.

30:51 – For beginners, Elly recommends the previously mentioned books You Were Born for This by Chani Nicholas and Astrology and the Authentic Self by Demetra George. Additionally, he recommends Astrology for Yourself: How to Understand and Interpret Your Own Birth Chart by Demetra George and Douglas Bloch. In the non-text world, Elly also suggests Chris Brennan’s The Astrology Podcast.

33:03 – Find Elly at his website: https://ellyhiggins.com/. And check out his show, Star Gays: The Queer Astrology Archives Podcast!

34:34 – 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.

Scorpio season is upon us, and this throwback from the archives is the perfect treat: In Episode 16 astrologer and digital nomad Stormie Grace  joined host Jenn Zahrt from Sevilla, Spain for a deep and heartfelt chat! This wise-yet-practical episode offers meaningful books, soul stories that touch on inner life, and food for thought on embracing the grief and gratitude that arrive in the season of shedding and rebirth. Plus: Go through it, don’t get through it; How to embrace our secondary progressed lunation cycle; and… What do Indiana Jones and puppy feet have in common?

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, and YouTube.

Transcripts available upon request.

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

*****

Episode timestamps (conversation recorded July 2023):

00:01 – Learn about producer Jen Braun at her site: https://www.jenbraun.com/.

01:31 – Dr. Stormie Grace is an evolutionary and humanistic astrologer – coming from the Steven Forrest and Noel Tyl lines – who specializes in helping people make sense of the complexities of their lives. Through astrology, Stormie provides insight into your personality, life path, and soul’s purpose. Her mission is to help you gain clarity and understanding about the energies around you, so you can make decisions that are empowered, informed, and strategically aligned with your highest potential. Stormie’s Doctorate in Management also helps her consult for business organizations in ways which match the traditional business environment while providing energetic and spiritual pairing components. Her business school, LEGATIA ACADEMY, helps creative entrepreneurs build and grow profitable businesses, so they have the freedom to truly enjoy their work. From her popular YouTube channel, to personalized consultations, courses, and workshops, Stormie is here to help.

02:22 – We start with an awakening: One of Stormie’s first connections to astrology happened while she read the horoscopes in the back of Teen magazine back in the day! And during her first Saturn square, the astrology available at a metaphysical fair felt like… a remembering.

05:50 – The first astrology book that Stormie read was by Jan Spiller and was a homecoming of sorts. All of Jan’s books speak to her, but tune in for this fascinating conversation about Jan’s Astrology for the Soul, which explains the driving forces of the Lunar Nodes. Great example using the Cancer North Node (and Capricorn South Node, natch) included!!

15:30 – Interlude: Join CAELi and snag yourself a Saturn stress-relief ball. (Yes, you read that right!)

16:16 – There was only one astrology book that made it into Stormie’s carry-on while moving to Spain, and it’s her first pick: Finding Our Way Through the Dark by Demetra George. This one speaks to Stormie about how the shape of light that you reflect shows up in the world. It also prods us to be comfortable in talking about death; we are of nature, after all. (And tune in for a profoundly thoughtful convo about the secondary progressed New Moon! #ImNotCryingYoureCrying)

27:06 – Kindles count! Stormie’s next selection is The Book of the Moon: Discovering Astrology’s Lost Dimension by Steven Forrest, because it helps us tune in to the motivations and safety features that folks need. Love the concrete Lunar-Land examples, quiche and all!

32:27 – Finally, one more choice from astro-wizard Steven Forrest: The Inner Sky: How to Make Wiser Choices for a More Fulfilling Life. Stormie finds meaning in Evolutionary Astrology, and she loves the way Steven breaks down how to do the work.

33:22 – Where would Stormie point a new astrology student? First, start where it’s free! There are lots of helpful podcasts and YouTube videos available, so do some exploration. But in terms of books, Stormie recommends The Inner Sky or Astrology for Dummies – both of which would increase the astrological literacy of the public.

36:29 – 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.

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!

Ronnie Dreyer joins Episode 67 of Within Orb!

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, and YouTube.

Transcripts available upon request.

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

*****

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.

Join us in a birthday throwback from the archives, as astrologer Camm Cassidy of Omegastrology joins host Jenn Zahrt to share his love of celestial mathematics and groovy traditional methods! Camm and Jenn discuss everything from A to Z (and a half!) – from reading the dictionary for fun (we're looking at you, Saturn!), to a mini lesson on the twelfth parts, to the origin of the Placidus house system, to how to calculate planetary hours! Head spinning? That's not all! We've also got: bibliographies as a curriculum, the excavation of human character, and… can "the Lord of the Orb" be our job title?

Want to get in on Time Climb? The “astrology gym for your brain” at CAELi? Check out more info at this link. See you there!

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, and YouTube.

Transcripts available upon request.

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

*****

Episode timestamps (conversation recorded April 2023):

01:40 – Camm's first astro book as a small person was the quasi-astrological A Little Book of Coincidence by John Martineau. Also, a nod goes to Star Power: A Simple Guide to Astrology for the Modern Mystic by Vanessa Montgomery.

05:47 – Let's be astrology book nerds with our friend Camm! What 3 astrology books would he take to the Altai Mountains in Mongolia? Once a magnifying glass is included, Camm's number one pick is The Arcana Dictionary of Astrology by Fred Gettings.

09:26 – Camm's second pick: The Astrology of Sahl b. Bishr: Volume I: Principles, Elections, Questions, Nativities by Sahl Ibn Bishr and translated by Benjamin Dykes.

13:11 – Visit our sponsor, Rod Suskin School of Astrology!

18:22 – Tune in to hear Camm's elegant description of the twelfth parts!

21:42 – Camm's third selection for his mountain pilgrimage is The Primum Mobile by Placidus de Titus, translated by John Cooper. Lots to learn about timing techniques and using different time scales to represent the evolution of our lives!

28:11 – What astrology books for beginners would Camm recommend? The Corpus Hermeticum, which covers astrology, alchemy, and magic. Also, a great primer is Demetra George's Astrology and the Authentic Self. And finally, the unique Rhetorius the Egyptian translated by James Holden – which covers chart synthesis and how to combine lots of different astro pieces (e.g., the Parts and prenatal points).

33:12 – You can find Camm on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter using the handle @omegastrology. (And do we love that Camm gave CAELi a little shout-out at the end? You betcha we do! Thanks, Camm!)

35:00 – 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.

Astrologer, author, and podcaster Frederick Woodruff joins host Jenn Zahrt from Vashon Island in Washington for a comprehensive, buoyant chat that includes must-have astrology (and non-astrology) books, musings on Saturn and writing, and more! Tune in to hear about: working with Ivy Goldstein-Jacobson as a teen; the mystery of unfoldment; questions related to the mechanism of divination; horary astrology; falling in love with “wrong” astrology; pondering the origin of consciousness; consultation styles; quadrant versus whole sign houses; using a psychological lexicon; the hidden prescreening upside of pop astrology; how writing about Saturn is like pulling teeth (Hah! Good one, Saturn!); and posthumous astrology. Plus: Princess Diana’s (incorrect) chart, breaking up with a serial killer, and… did women invent astrology?

Want to get in on Time Climb? The “astrology gym for your brain” at CAELi? Check out more info at this link. See you there!

Frederick Woodruff joins Episode 66 of Within Orb!

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, and YouTube.

Transcripts available upon request.

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

*****

Episode timestamps (conversation recorded Aug. 2024):

01:23 – Frederick Woodruff uses astrology as next-level psychoanalysis… of the culture, the arts, and the individual. He’s the House astrologer for Corridor Menswear NYC. Frederick’s fictional romance novel on Jeffrey Dahmer will be arriving soon, so stay tuned!

02:25 – Frederick’s very first astrology book was Linda Goodman’s Sun Signs, which was available in his house as a kid; the idea of having insight into people because of birth signs intrigued him. Later, the musical Hair captivated him (with “the age of Aquarius”) and led him on an odyssey of tracking down an astrology teacher!

06:06 – If Frederick could bring only three books to a deserted island, what would they be? First up would be The Moment of Astrology: Origins in Divination by the late Geoffrey Cornelius, because it offers a “before” and “after” in the ladder of astrological learning.

12:25 – Frederick’s second choice would be one that is not specifically focused on astrology! William Irwin Thompson’s Coming Into Being: Artifacts and Texts in the Evolution of Consciousness is a rich text offering fascinating insights into the topic of consciousness.

16:12 – The third title Frederick would bring is The Astrology of Transformation: A Multilevel Approach by Dane Rudhyar. This good, solid read is the culmination of Rudhyar’s cosmology. (And enjoy the throwback which is mentioned – Episode 51, Travis Black: On the Least Worst Astrology & More!)

19:47 – Interlude: Join CAELi and snag yourself a Saturn stress-relief ball. (Yes, you read that right!)

20:33 – For beginners, Frederick recommends Astrology for Lovers by Liz Greene. Why the unusual pick? The first part of Greene’s book encapsulates astrology in a gifted way. Also, the exploration of the signs is unmatched!

26:11 – Learn about Frederick’s upcoming romance novel about Jeffrey Dahmer!

34:57 – Find Frederick at his website: www.frederickwoodruff.com. Learn about his upcoming Dahmer book on his Substack page. And check out his podcast, The Rage of Aquarius!

36:04 – 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.

Astrologer, musician, and podcaster Rose Blakelock joins host Jenn Zahrt from New Mexico to wrestle with fate versus choice and chat about astrology books! Join them for a lively discussion, which includes: growth through the midlife transits; feeling seen through reading; digging into planetary aspects; Grünewald's triptych panels; the Jupiterian buoyancy of making it through the second Saturn return; talking to a client about Moon-Pluto, Mars-Pluto, or Saturn-Pluto aspects; teaching on Zoom; the concept of inverting the houses; hearing the voice of the author; and a blueprint to follow the houses. Plus: hippie parents, curmudgeons, and…Houlding a Hand, lol!

Want to get in on Time Climb? The “astrology gym for your brain” at CAELi? Check out more info at this link. See you there!

Rose Blakelock joins Episode 65 of Within Orb!

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, and YouTube.

Transcripts available upon request.

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

*****

Episode timestamps (conversation recorded July 2024):

01:23 – Rose Blakelock is a queer astrologer, musician, and podcaster currently living in so-called New Mexico. She believes astrology is a powerful symbolic language that can help us discover our true potential and cultivate a greater understanding of the rhythms and cycles unfolding around us. She is the host of the podcasts Mutual Reception and Big Dyke Energy and publishes bimonthly forecasts and horoscopes. She is currently taking new clients and is available for individual consultations, readings for couples, and more.

01:50 – Rose’s very first astrology book was Sextrology: The Astrology of Sex and the Sexes by Stella Starsky and Quinn Cox. But her parents also had Linda Goodman’s Love Signs at her house while growing up!

04:33 – If Rose could bring only three books to a deserted island, what would they be? Dane Rudhyar’s An Astrological Triptych is first on the list, because it’s succinct and satisfying. Also, this text was the one that first helped her make sense of the houses. (And to hear more on Rudhyar, lend your ears to Episode 15, Lars Panaro: Scattering Karmic Stardust!)

08:29 – Rose’s second choice would be The Astrology of Midlife and Aging by Erin Sullivan, who recently passed away. Rose likes this one because she’ll be getting older on the island and will need the info – plus, it offers a wonderful, pragmatic breakdown of midlife! (And a shout-out also goes to Sullivan’s Saturn in Transit.)

14:42 – Interlude: Join CAELi and snag yourself a Saturn stress-relief ball. (Yes, you read that right!)

15:29 – The third title Rose would bring is Aspects in Astrology: A Guide to Understanding Planetary Relationships in the Horoscope by Sue Tompkins. Rose still goes back to this one; it helped her learn how the planets talk to each other.

22:03 – For beginners, Rose recommends: Horoscope Symbols by Robert Hand; The Astrological Houses: The Spectrum of Individual Experience by Dane Rudhyar (yes, it’s out-of-print… but it’s at CAELi, so become a member for access!); The Astrology of Fate by Liz Greene; and The Gods of Change: Pain, Crisis and the Transits of Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto by Howard Sasportas. Honorable mentions go to The Art of Chart Interpretation: A Step-By-Step Method of Analyzing, Synthesizing and Understanding the Birth Chart by Tracy Marks and the previously mentioned Aspects in Astrology by Sue Tompkins.

33:58 – Find Rose at her website: https://roseblakelock.com/. She’s also on Substack. On Instagram, her handle is @mutable_cross.

34:32 – 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.

Astrologer, poet, and artist Azur César joins host Jenn Zahrt from Lyon, France! Join the dynamic duo, as they cover Azur’s favorite astrology books and more, including: fixed stars; planetary combinations; astrologer Jean-Baptiste Morin; a sturdy foundation for studying star stuff; should history or techniques come first?; Mars-Jupiter and Jupiter-Saturn-Neptune keywords and phrases; the beauty of haiku delineations; parans; when the Daimon speaks loudly; soldiers and military stars; discussing difficult topics with a client; and books for water signs! Plus: plunging in the deep end, spontaneous outbreaks of peace, and… popcorn, anyone?

Azur César joins Episode 64 of Within Orb!

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Transcripts available upon request.

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

*****

Episode timestamps (conversation recorded July 2024):

00:31 – Azur is an astrologer and student of astrology, an astrolaterand artist from France. Especially interested in fixed stars, astrolatry and astrological magic – with a background and deep interest in psychotraumatology as well as queer and disability studies – Azur can be set off to ramble about ethics exceedingly easily. Find Azur at his website, on Substack, or on Instagram @azuradastra.

02:35 – First, Azur caught the astrology bug through websites and podcasts – which led him to Chris Brennan’s The Astrology Podcast. From there, Azur’s initial astrology book was Hellenistic Astrology: The Study of Fate and Fortune by Chris Brennan, which was a great foundational resource.

04:54 – If Azur could bring only three books to a deserted island, what would they be? First up: The Archetypal Universe by Renn Butler, because the keywords and archetypal combinations of planets are amazing!

10:36 – Interlude: Join CAELi and snag yourself a Saturn stress-relief ball. (Yes, you read that right!)

11:23 – Azur’s second choice would be Star and Planet Combinations by Bernadette Brady. This one is special because it’s the text that Azur uses most often – an underrated cookbook!

19:52 – The third title Azur would bring is Secrets of the Ancient Skies, Volumes 1 and 2 by Diana K. Rosenberg. These tomes struck his heart in the best of ways – there’s so much to dig into and lots of examples!

22:38 – For beginners, Azur recommends You Were Born for This: Astrology for Radical Self-Acceptance by Chani Nicholas, On the Heavenly Spheres by Helena Avelar and Luis Ribeiro, and Astrology and the Authentic Self: Integrating Traditional and Modern Astrology to Uncover the Essence of the Birth Chart by Demetra George.

26:11 – 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.