Special Event: Astrology & Magic Seminar

The book called Picatrix became highly influential in late medieval Europe and into the Renaissance, and retains a certain fascination today among esoteric groups. In his talk, Chris will look at this ancient tome and describe how you can find true love, force people to obey you, and forge magical talismans using everyday ingredients such as wolf’s blood, leopard fat and hoopoe tongues, with recipes you can try at home. There will also be a look at the seventeenth-century benefactor Elias Ashmole, who founded the Ashmolean museum in Oxford, and his connection with this strange magical book.

This presentation will explore the rich history and evolution of Tarot, uncover the astrological correspondences of the Major and Minor Arcana, and decode celestial symbolism embedded in the decks. Discover the powerful connections between the cards and the stars, including how incorporating Tarot can enrich and deepen astrological practice, prompt profound insights, and enhance acts of magic.

Astrological Geomancy used to be as popular as astrology itself. Because it was thought to link the sky to the earth, it was once widely used in the making of magical talismans, and for a form of divination which required no calculation. Much favoured by renaissance occultists such as Cornelius Agrippa and Robert Fludd, it fell from favour at the start of the seventeenth century. Its vocabulary is the same as that of traditional astrology – planets and signs – but underneath that top layer are traces of something much earlier, based on direct sky observation, which may be a thousand years older, or even more. This talk looks at its techniques and practice in its medieval heyday, suggests some reasons why it fell from favour, and takes a tentative peek into its earlier forms.

The revival of astrological magic, which Chris set in motion two decades ago, is now in full swing having been embraced by the astrological community. But how does it work? Generally this question is ignored or answered with “energy”, but there are alternative explanations. Causality turns out to be the pivotal factor in astrological magic practice and as we explore the various options, we see that our underlying model determines practical issues like coordinating with the natal chart, as well as choosing and using talismans. Also key, is the acceptance of validity of different models and approaches. Rather than setting forth one “correct” model or approach, this presentation will discuss modern and traditional views of causality and models for the use of talismans, as well as practical natal chart examples and in-depth discussion of types of astrological talismans: planetary (including our talismans in the British Museum), fixed star and constellation, Mansions of the Moon and house based talismans.