Keynote Speakers

 

Austin Coppock

Diffusing Silver Light

There is only one planet whose condition, position, and mood is necessary to calculate for each and every act of traditional astrological magic: the Moon. While the other planets may or may not be relevant to a given operation, the Moon, as the very matrix of manifestation, is always important. Planetary and stellar powers might be called, but their impact and embodiment in the Earthly realm is decided by the decree of the Moon. Though the Moon’s importance is commonly presumed, the parameters which determine the Moon’s specific potency are rarely understood thoroughly. This presentation therefore details the manner in which the Moon’s phase, speed, proximity, elevation, Mansion, essential dignity, and aspects are used to determine which operations will obtain the Moon’s coveted blessing, and which will earn the Nocturnal Sovereign’ contempt.

Austin Coppock is an astrologer, author, and teacher based in Southern Oregon. Austin is one the leading figures in the resurrection of traditional astrological magic, having written, spoken, and taught on the subject for over a decade. Austin's written work includes a series of Annual Almanacs (2011-2015), as well as the ground breaking work on the decans, 36 Faces. He also served as contributor and co-editor for the astrological magic anthology The Celestial Art. Austin has also published multiple articles in magazines, including the Mountain Astrologer. Austin continues to write, consult, teach, and appear as a regular on The Astrology Podcast. 2021 projects include the much anticipated 2nd edition of 36 Faces.

 

Demetra George

Egyptin Decan Stars

Website: demetrageorge.com
Facebook: @demetrageorge

The story of Isis and Osiris, one of ancient Egypt’s foundation myths, mirrored the astronomy of the decan stars as early as 2400 BCE, which, in turn, became the basis for timing the soul’s journey through the netherworld and its rebirth. Fifteen hundred years later images of decanic gods were inscribed upon gemstone amulets for protection against disease and by the Hellenistic era were incorporated into astrology and astral magic.

Demetra George (M.A. Classics) is a pioneering mythic-archetypal astrologer, who studies and translates Greek astrological texts, as well as the transmission of classical doctrines into the Arabic and Medieval worlds. Recipient of the Regulus Award, her work provides the keys to understanding all forms of traditional astrology. Author of six books, her most recent is Ancient Astrology in Theory and Practice: A Manual of Traditional Techniques, vols. 1 & 2 (Rubedo Press, 2019, 2022).

 

Freedom Cole

Interpretatio Indica

As astral magic returns to a place of respect, the limited sources for reconstruction open many questions. How do the planetary gods relate to the various pantheons among other cultures and how can we apply the principles of astral magic to working with them? The Greeks had a system of syncretism called Interpretatio Graeca, which was carried forward by the Romans who correlated the gods of other cultures with their own. Freedom will discuss how this has been done during the last two millennium in the Vedic tradition, where deities from various pantheons are regularly incorporated into planetary remedial practices to heal disease and improve the quality of life. Freedom will discuss textual references of astrological syncretism in Vedic, Vaiṣṇava, Śaiva, and Tāntrik pantheons. He will share how this is utilized within living astrological traditions as not just a one-to-one direct correlation, but a complex pluralism that respects the nature of the pantheons while using them for astrological magic. Freedom will share some personal experiences from his practice and give some suggestions for future works integrating deities of other cultures.

Freedom Cole is known for his ability to translate ancient Vedic principles into practical application. He has spent more than two decades studying within a living Indian Jyotiṣa tradition and is recognized as a senior teacher (Jaimini Scholar and Jyotiṣa Paṇḍita). He is a practitioner of Āyurveda (AP), Yoga therapy (C-IAYT) and has an MA in Clinical Psychology. Freedom is the author of two books and numerous articles. He is faculty in the Āyurveda and mental health modules of the Kripalu Yoga Therapy program and has an international Jyotiṣa school (Science of Light) where he is dedicated to empowering practitioners.

 

Kadmus

Orpheus and Art as the Model of Magic

Facebook: @Kadmus Herschel
Twitter: @StarandSystem

Can art change nature, harness the power of the stars, and even overcome death itself? This keynote address will focus on the history and myth of Orpheus, and the mysteries and hymns that bear his name, to develop a model of magic practiced in, through, and as art and especially poetry and music. For this purpose we will first offer a careful investigation of who Orpheus might have been were we to take the myths about him to correspond to historical realities, as well as offering a careful mythological and historical investigation of the Orphic Hymns and Orphic mysteries. This investigation will lead us to ask about the ancient Greek conceptions of nature and magic, the connection between astrology and art – most especially music and the idea of the music of the spheres, the later developments of ancient mysteries in Pythagoreanism and Platonism, and finally the distinction between magic understood as an art versus a science.

Kadmus is a practicing ceremonial magician and a philosophy professor. He has written extensively for the website "Gods and Radicals" and recently published the book "True to the Earth: Pagan Political Theology" through Gods and Radicals Press. He has taught several classes at the 2019 and 2020 Salem Witchcraft and Folklore Festival on "Pagan Conceptions of the Self", "The Role of Magic in a Pagan Cosmos", "Pagan Approaches to Goetia" and "Learning from Legendary Practicioners: Circe". He has also been teaching in The Mighty Dead Class Series with a class on Teiresius in March and a class on Medea in August. His recent publications include the papers "Neo-Chthonia" and "Seeking the Three-Handed Saint" in "The Fenris Wolf". He has been featured on the podcasts "This Podcast is a Ritual", "Rendering Unconscious" and "Witchhassle".

 

Michael Ofek

The Living Image

Astrological Magic is commonly referred to as image magic, and astral magicians image makers. The ancient idea/concept of the Image, and its implications on the imaginal faculties of the soul, carries a central seed of ancient magical thinking, and a deep philosophical and cosmological significance. This seed idea weaves and connects a primordial thread from the earliest magical cultures around the globe.

Inherited by Pythagoreans and platonists, it had a tremendous influence on the development of later theurgic and magical schools, but most specifically on the astral magic tradition which nurtured a deep understanding of the concept and its magical utility. This philosophical idea also influenced the ancient psychological doctrines and the understanding of the soul's imaginative power. Together, these ancient concepts weave a model of the workings of the astrological cosmos and its reflection in the individual soul, a model that explains the essence, and magical potency of astrological image work.

Michael Ofek is a professional astrologer, cosmologist, astral magician, and shamanic practitioner from Israel. He has been practicing astrology and magic for more then two decades, avidly researching all branches of the ancient tradition, with an emphasis on Hellenistic astrology and its connection with Greco-Egyptian cosmology, philosophy, theurgy, and magic. His passion lies in unveiling and reconstructing the roots of the tradition, and the practical refiguring of these ancient arts. Michael is also a student and initiate of the mysteries of Andean shamanism and of working and healing with entheogens.

In his work, Michael stresses the importance of direct experience of astrological processes, for which he has developed a unique system, drawing on and integrating magical, theurgical and shamanic practices. Michael is an international speaker, and gives workshops and lectures worldwide, including magical retreats. He is the co-founder of the Israeli professional astrology magazine “Urania”, which also produces yearly conferences and workshops.

 

Chris Warnock

Rebirth and Revival

What are the origins of the current astrological magic movement and community? How did revival of traditional horary and natal astrology lead to a revitalization of astrological magic? Christopher Warnock of Renaissance Astrology discusses the contemporary revival of astrological magic and his role in translating the Picatrix and creating the basic infrastructure of astrological elections and magic ritual.

Chris then delves into worldviews and the metastructures of astrological magic, both astrologically and magically and discusses how practitioners can create their own individual styles of astrological magic and practice within the various schools of astrology and magic. Chris explains how being consciously aware of one's influences and making deliberate choices of method while understanding magical and astrological metastructures frees us from the tyranny of unconscious archetypal control and liberates our astrological magic practice.

Christopher Warnock has been a traditional astrologer and Renaissance astrological magician since 1998. He has been called "the father of the traditional astrological magic revival" and the "elder statesman" of astrological magic. With John Michael Greer, Mr. Warnock translated the Latin Picatrix, the most important grimoire of traditional astrological magic and has written and published many books on astrological magic and traditional astrology. Mr. Warnock also teaches astrology and magic courses and offers authentic astrological talismans.

 

Sasha Ravitch

The Shining Ones

While relationships between the Fair Folk and the constellations and asterisms above remain overwrought and redolent in folklore, a more spirit-work and witchcraft based relationship with our terrestrial reflections of stellar configurations often seems forgotten or neglected in preference for grimoiric planetary spirits, intelligences, angels, et al. With a clientele heavily featuring witches, fairy-doctors, and cunning-folk, Ravitch was able to identify patterns she consistently observed, which were confirmed both by the practitioners and their respective folkloric traditions. In this talk, Astrolater and Folklorist, Sasha Ravitch, shares her groundbreaking and unique research at the profoundly prescient and visceral relationship between the Shining Ones of many cultures, and their respective starry affections. Alphard in Hydra and Naga and serpent-consorts, Thuban in Draco and the descendant of Dragons, Deneb Adige and the Swan Maiden familiars, Bellatrix and the Valkyrie bride—all of these patterns carrying a surreal consistency in the natives sharing a paran relationship with them. The night is full of stars and the paths are many—do you know who walks with you?

Sasha Ravitch is an Astrolater and Stellar Witch working at the crossroads of stellar storytelling and spirit-lead-seership. She aspires to guide her clients, mentees, and patrons through the dark forest of their nativity's fairytale, and to help them understand the pacts they have with the Stars and Spirits in their court. You can join her and her incredible community of patrons on her Patreon and it's discord community—a place of mutual research and magic-- listen to her many podcast appearances, read her articles in The Mountain Astrologer Magazine, and purchase her new publication, The Red Dreaded Spindle: An Astrolater's Guide to the Stinger Stars of Scorpius, via Hadean Press on October 17th, 2022.