Hermetic Astrology Podcast

Explore the history, lore, and practical information of occult herbalism and the uses of poisonous, consciousness-altering, and magical plants.

Join Andrea and I for a discussion of getting back to Nature and re-discovering what she calls our Indigenous self as part of our healing journey. Click the link for more about the Centaur as Mentor retreat!

Join Sylvia and Gary for an Alchemical discussion of Jupiter in Cancer, the conjunction with Venus, the Behenian star Sirius, & the constellation Canopus -with a lil side helping of Saturn/Neptune on the Aries point!

Let's explore the myth of Jason, the famous student of Chiron who went on an epic Quest for the Golden Fleece, but only acquired it with the help of the sorceress Medea

We begin with a look at the chart for the Lunar eclipse and the Saros series to which it belongs. Then we look at how the same degrees are visited by Venus in February, at the culmination of her Evening Star ascent. Then we finish up with a discussion of Neptune's role, and how the transition from late Pisces to early Aries next year is a major shift.

My Sky Astrology Conference partner Andrea and I catch up on our recent adventures and share our recent personal initiations, while reflecting on the Universal human themes these present. We talk about the Astrology of Eris and Andrea shares a new way of looking at the Decans.

Christa of Practical Astros joined me on Beltane for fun and interesting discussion of some simple magical practices that anyone can incorporate into their lives

Mercury is stationing direct alongside the asteroids Orpheus & Eurydike. Join Gary as he explores this Myth and its potential for healing, illustrated in the historical examples of Culpeper and Rilke.

The Venus-Mars conjunction invites us to balance the feminine/masculine sides of our nature in a process known as Hieros Gamos or Sacred Marriage. Gary takes us through various components of the astrology and astronomy to inform our approach to this Alchemy

Marlene Seven Bremner re-joins us to talk about her excellent second book and we discuss the development of the Unconscious in the great Art movements and how this mirrors the movement through the Alchemical Opus. We also explore the 4 stage model of Alchemy, with the additional stage of Citrinatas (between Albedo & Rubedo).

Ronnie Pontiac joins us to share about the mythology, history/tradition and modern usage and interpretation of the enigmatic Orphic hymns and mysteries

Gary shares the Sumerian Creation story of Inanna & the Huluppu Tree as a metaphor for the Primordial energies that are activated during Venus retrograde. Just as the young princess rescues the sacred Tree from a storm, we may be called to rescue something sacred in our lives as Venus returns to the morning sky, in Leo.

Tune is as Gary explores the Mercury Elemental Year of Earth, as we navigate the Triptych of alignments in Virgo. We'll explore what this means astronomically, philosophically, spiritually AND look at what houses its activating for each sign.

Join me for a fun, informative and enlightening interview with the author of: Hermetic Philosophy and Creative Alchemy: The Emerald Tablet, the Corpus Hermeticum, and the Journey through the Seven Spheres -a most excellent overview and introduction to Hermetics

Leave the so-called "shadow" and step into the light! Herein we discuss the classic three colors and phases of alchemical transformation and explore ways to recognize and/or activate them in our lives, in order to ascertain and achieve the deeper purpose of Venus retrograde.

Come explore the history, philosophy and psychology of "othering" as well as the actual observable astronomy of Venus (as contrasted to fictitious "shadow" zones) for insights into the Retrograde process. At least 5 different Retrograde loops are identified and contrasted, with historical examples from the American Revolution to illuminate the current Leo loop.

Bruce Scofield joins us to discuss his new book. The convo ranges widely from cycles through astro-meteorology and philosophy. Something for everyone!

Venus and the Moon have two meetings within the asterism known as the "winter hexagon" to astronomers and as the Sacred Hoop in 1st Nations lore. This is also the place called the "Gate of Man" by neoplatonic philosophers, the place where we descend to Earth from the Stars. Come take a deep dive into the Constellations surrounding this point and the Major Arcana of the Tarot for clues how to work with these alignments.

The Venus-Mars sextile of March 11 is part of a larger drama unfolding through the Spring & Summer into Fall, when this sextile will be re-visited. Join Gary for a micro look at all the various dynamics of the current aspect and also how these fit into the macro view of the entire cycle, and indeed into a couple other cycles, larger still

The Venus Star Point switching signs is a relatively rare event. No one alive right now has ever witnessed a Sun-Venus cazimi in Libra! In this video, we'll focus on the Elements and how Libra tips the balance of the 5 Venus star points decidedly in favor of the Fire/Air signs. Then we'll compare this to some other historical periods for hints to what that could mean.

Renowned occult and esoteric scholar and author John Micheal Greer joins me to talk about his latest book, which tackles the important subject of Pluto's changing planetary status. This is a crucial conversation for astrologers, as we need to wrap our heads around the evolving Cosmos, and Greer's book sets an excellent and inspiring example.

Gary and John Michael take a look at the Ukraine situation using the classical astrology tool known as Ingress charts. Tune in for some fascinating analysis and timely examples of a powerful technique for forecasting World events

Today's Venus-Mars conjunction begins a new 6-7 year cycle for these planets and invites us to Re-Balance the polarities in our lives. This "hieros gamos" or sacred marriage can then become a powerful source of creativity and spiritual growth. We look at various modalities like astrology, tarot, & the medicine wheel for examples of what this process might look like.

Gary shares 4 different Astronomical perspectives of the Retrograde process, and shows how each point of view offers us new and different ways of understanding, finding and creating meaning from our retrograde experiences. This process of freeing our minds from the limitations of a single limited perspective reinforces what the Great Conjunctions of Jupiter and Saturn in Air signs are all about.

Gary explores the Ancient myth of Inanna & the Huluppu Tree to understand the powerful re-birth energies inherent in Venus retrograde.

Gary explores the Alchemical journey of Transformation which Venus' greatest brilliance is initiating, and gives us a general timeline as well as a qualitative experiential description of that process. Next we explore the contrast and tension between the two Saturn ruled signs, Capricorn and Aquarius, and how that might best be navigated.

Rachel and Andrei of Aeolian Heart join me for a discussion of Occult and Esoteric symbolism in Film. In celebration of the Lunar Eclipse on the Gorgon's Head, we explore 3 Horror classics: Jaws, Bram Stoker's Dracula & The Shining. :-O

Join Gary and respected author, scholar and mage John Michael Greer for a discussion of recent Mundane charts (including the 2017 Eclipse, 2020 and 2021 Ingress charts). These are explored not just as predictive or forecasting tools, but also for their use in magic and personal growth.

Gary and Sherene discuss Mercury stationing on Spica/Chitra, the mutual reception between Venus in Scorpio and Mars and Libra, and Rahu or the North Node of the Moon entering Krittika Nakshatra, the location of the Pleiades. Connect with Sherene at ShereneVismaya.com

First we address the essential nature of Saturn and Uranus and the challenges they represent to each other. Next we talk about the Saturn-Uranus cycle, its various stages and how these have played out across the backdrop of US and World History. Then we look at the current squares and what opportunities and challenges they are offering.

Gary & Sherene Vismaya of Project 40 discuss the role of Memory in the spiritual process, and the value of review and integration before moving forward. Join Sherene in the next P40, to alchemize this process and re-write your own story!

Gary re-visits Mercury in Gemini from pov of the Astronomical loop made in the Heavens as well as the dualism of Good/Evil in the Orphic Cosmogony

Mercury has entered Gemini, where it will remain until early July. Join me for a look at what this means for the collective as well as the individual, how and where we can expect these transformative tides to move us

We'll have a look into the history of the art of Palmistry, see how it works according to planetary principles like Astrology, and talk about a few ways the Planets in your chart can show up in your hand and vice versa. Also an interesting sidebar on the merits of the whole sign house system.

As Mercury joins Jupiter and Saturn in the morning sky, Gary re-visits the Great Conjunction and sheds light on the role of Pallas Athena therein, by using the classical 4 Qualities.

Gary uses the Great Conjunction chart, in which Jupiter and Saturn are joined by asteroids Isis, Osiris and Horus, as a model to delineate the 7 Alchemical operations of the Emerald Tablet in correspondence with the vegetative cycle of the Nile and the Mythological cycle of Osiris, Isis & Horus

Gary explains classical concepts such as Triplicity dignity with his inimitable down to earth style, and gives lots of ideas of how to use the extended passage of Mercury through Aquarius for creativity, magic, personal growth, new beginnings and much more!

Far from being a simple matter of back and forth, Gary lays out 4 different astronomical dimensions in which profound shifts are happening during Mercury retrograde. We then explore the experiential manifestations of each 4, looking for what their meaning and purpose can be, and how best to use them to transform our lives.

Gary interviews Liz regarding the rich content and concepts in her new publication "Little Book of Fixed Stars." Then they have a look at few couple celebrity charts together, to illustrate how the fixed stars add to chart delineation.

First Gary shares the basic qualities of Mars, and also the philosophy and ethics behind magic. Next we talk about how to arrange the chart so our magic is most powerful. And finally we discover the magic of Mars' astronomy, and why the month of December holds abundant potential for the Red planet!

Gary shares his astronomical insights into the ancient Alchemical text The Emerald Tablet, and demonstrates the system he discovered to track Mercury's triple alignments and correspondences between Above & Below.

Tune in to hear Gary interpret the chart of the Sun-Venus conjunction from both a Mundane (World Astrology) and personal perspectives, using fixed stars, midpoints and aspects -including the 2nd of 3 Venus-Mars squares for this cycle.

Gary examines the astronomy of Mercury and Venus for clues into aspects of the Gemini archetype currently seeking expression. We also look at the chart of Transcendentalist storyteller Ralph Waldo Emerson and his writings for inspiration.

We re-visit Venus retrograde, this time by examining the different "dances," or dynamic loops She makes while traveling backward. Upon further examination the exceeding beautiful astronomical harmony of Venus' retrograde loops becomes an inspiration for seekers of alternate viewpoints.

Gary describes Venus' upcoming transformation from bright evening star through invisible union with the Sun and into bright morning star in terms of an alchemical and experiential process that will transform the way you think about retrogrades

Gary outlines a few opportunities for invoking protective energies from the Stars over the next couple weeks as well as how to find them in the Sky.

Gary uses the classical methods of Ingress and Eclipse charts to understand the current moment. A comparison of the 1345 & 1918 charts with 2020 shows some similarities, but gives hope that this pandemic will be much more contained. Finally, Gary also offers some ideas and practices for protection and making medicine from these energies.

In this episode we talk about 4 different kinds of Venus magic to be made over the next month! Gary discusses Venus in the 3rd Decan of Aries, Venus in front of the constellation Andromeda, Venus in Taurus and Venus with the fixed star Algol.

Gary delivers the real dope on Mercury's extended stay in Pisces. By changing our viewpoint from the normal flat 1D view of the Zodiac, and going in-depth into the other 3D views available via the Astronomy of Mercury, we can begin to better understand the profound shifts, changes and transformation that are possible during this period.

First Gary shares the basic qualities of Venus, which make up Her magic. Next we talk about Venus' dignities -or favorite zones in the Zodiac where She is most powerful. And finally we discover the magic of Venus' astronomy, and why the current cycle holds abundant potential not seen for hundreds of years!