Category: Podcasts & Videos

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Two Interviews with Volker Schendel

This summer, I had the opportunity of holding two substantial conversations with Volker Schendel, an astrologer and Neoplatonist based in Germany. We conducted our first interview on July 8, discussing the topics of archetypal cosmology, participatory theory, and philosophy of imagination.

Our second conversation took place on August 12—right during the total solar eclipse—and we discussed my work on Stanislav Grof’s biography. This is the most in-depth public interview I have done regarding my research on Grof’s life and work, and while I reserved the majority of stories to be discovered by readers in the written biography itself, we did explore a wide range of topics and stories that listeners drawn to Grof’s work may find of interest.

Volker is a highly skilled researcher with an expansive breadth of interests and ability to ask deep and engaging questions. His website is a rich storehouse of materials, and the page he put together for my interviews alone may be one of the largest online compilations of the work I’ve done over the last decade: Foundation for Astrology and Knowledge. I hope you enjoy the resources he has compiled, as well as our two interviews!

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Theories of Everything Podcast

I was recently invited to join Curt Jaimungal on his Theories of Everything podcast, which is devoted to exploring theoretical physics, consciousness, philosophy, religion and other such topics.

We spoke about my research on Jung’s and Tolkien’s Red Books, while also discussing archetypes, imagination, depth psychology, and expanded states of consciousness. Jaimungal’s questions are deep and go right to the heart of the matter, and I felt I needed to be on my intellectual toes throughout the entire conversation.

Our topics of discussion were largely fringe for his scientific and philosophically based audience, and I have been grateful thus far for the positive reception, as well as for the honor being asked onto such a prominent podcast.

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Kosmos Institute Colloquium 

The Kosmos Institute is hosting a colloquium this winter solstice in Ascona, Switzerland, near to where the legendary Eranos meetings were hosted by Olga Fröbe-Kapteyn. At the Eranos conferences, C.G. Jung, Erich Neumann, Karl Kerényi, Mircea Eliade, Joseph Campbell, Henri Corbin, James Hillman, and numerous other luminaries shared their work in development. 

Leading up to the colloquium this December, Kosmos Institute is offering six free online presentations from a variety of scholars in the field. The theme for the colloquium, and the online presentations, is the relationship between the transcendent and the immanent. I will be speaking on this theme on Sunday, July 19 through the lens of archetypes and synchronicity, and how they may relate to what we call magic. 

Archetypes, Synchronicity, and Magic

Sunday, July 19, 2026 — 10:00 am PT/ 1:00 pm ET/ 6:00 pm GMT

Presentation Description:
In recent years, astrology and magic have caught the collective imagination and are enjoying an unexpected renaissance through new social platforms. Astrology and magic have ancient roots and persisted across the centuries through multiple evolving world views before the modern, scientific mind disavowed them. Yet, while astrology is being quietly accepted in certain small corners of the academic and depth psychological spheres, magic is still firmly barred at the gates. How can we even begin to understand astrological magic in the contemporary world? Doing so requires reconciling different cosmologies and paradigms, synthesizing ancient and medieval spiritual and religious perspectives with modern philosophy and psychology to bring forward language and concepts that speak to our place in an evolving cosmos. In light of such a synthesis, this presentation will explore archetypal theory and the concept of synchronicity—a term coined by the depth psychologist C.G. Jung—to illuminate a contemporary understanding of astrological correlations and magical praxis. 

Here is the recording of the presentation “Archetypes, Synchronicity, and Magic”:

This is the second presentation in the series. The opening event was offered on the summer solstice by Richard Tarnas. The recording for his presentation, “The Arc of the Transcendent,” is available here:

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Stanislav Grof Audiobooks

I am so happy to announce that the audiobook of Stanislav Grof’s 2006 memoir, When the Impossible Happens, narrated with my voice, is now available on Audible and through the publisher Sounds True!

I had the honor of recording this audiobook last year, just a couple weeks before my son was born. Reading Grof’s memoirs aloud was a rich and intimate experience, and also an extraordinary opportunity to deepen into the research for his biography that I have been writing these last several years.

Also, in case you haven’t heard the audiobook narration I recorded of Grof’s two-volume 2019 encyclopedic work, The Way of the Psychonaut, this is also available through Audible.

We hope you enjoy these performances of Grof’s groundbreaking writings on transpersonal psychology, psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, and holotropic states of consciousness, among other profound topics!

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The Beautiful Work Challenge: On Birth Conversation

I had the honor to join my colleague and fellow Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness faculty member Sean Kelly on the podcast On Birth Conversation. In this episode, we explored the effect birth has on our psychology and on adulthood. We discussed the archetype of birth, the work of C.G. Jung and Stan Grof, and the roots of transpersonal psychology. I also was able to share some of what I learned going through my own experience of birthing my son Aurelio last year.

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December Astrology Forecast 2021

A Venus Retrograde-y Christmas

A dream came true for me when I was invited to be a guest co-host on The Astrology Podcast for the December 2021 forecast with legendary astrologers Chris Brennan and Austin Coppock!

The astrology of December features Venus stationing retrograde in Capricorn conjunct Pluto, a Solar Eclipse in Sagittarius, and the third and final exact Saturn-Uranus square alignment (although Saturn and Uranus come within 1° square to each other in October 2022 and the transit stays in orb through 2023).

Jupiter also departs from Aquarius and moves into Pisces late in the month, while Neptune stations direct, there is a Full Moon in Gemini, and Mars ingresses into Sagittarius on the same day Mercury ingresses into Capricorn. At the beginning of the episode we review some stories that happened in the news which correlated with the astrology of November, and then dive into the astrology of December.

For those who haven’t yet seen my last appearance on The Astrology Podcast, I discussed the archetype of the planet Venus with Chris Brennan, which was such a pleasure and an honor to do!

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Aries New Moon Workshop

Academy of Oracle Arts Monthly Forecast

After a full year of offering the New Moon forecast workshops with the Academy of Oracle Arts, I am bringing this offering to a close with one final workshop for the Aries New Moon. As usual the workshop will be held online, and all who wish to attend are welcome to join! We will focus on the astrological transits for the month ahead, as we move into the blossoming heart of spring.

For those who would like to review the transits from last month, the recording of the previous workshop is available here: Pisces New Moon Workshop.

Friday, April 9th, 4:00–5:30 pm Pacific time

For those unable to attend live the video is now available of the workshop!

Description
This monthly workshop with archetypal astrologer Becca Tarnas offers an astrological forecast of the lunation cycle ahead, concluding with the New Moon in Aries. Learn the meanings of the planets, aspects, and zodiacal signs, and how to navigate the archetypal energies of the month ahead. Participants will gain a basic foundation in archetypal astrology, and leave with an understanding of the astrological conditions of the next month, and how best to integrate this knowledge into their everyday lives. All levels of astrological knowledge are welcome!

Register in advance for this workshop: https://academyoforaclearts.mykajabi.com/monthlyforecast.

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Pisces New Moon Workshop

Academy of Oracle Arts Monthly Forecast

Continuing with the Pisces New Moon, I am offering the penultimate monthly astrology workshop through the Academy of Oracle Arts, our local Nevada City center for learning the magical arts. The workshop will be held online, and all who wish to attend are welcome to join! We will focus on the astrological transits for the month ahead, moving from the watery end of winter into the fiery ignition of the spring season.

For those who would like to review the transits from last month, the recording of the previous workshop is available here: Aquarius New Moon Workshop.

Thursday, March 11th, 4:00–5:30 pm Pacific time

For those unable to attend live the video is now available of the workshop!

Description
This monthly workshop with archetypal astrologer Becca Tarnas offers an astrological forecast of the lunation cycle ahead, continuing with the New Moon in Pisces. Learn the meanings of the planets, aspects, and zodiacal signs, and how to navigate the archetypal energies of the month ahead. Participants will gain a basic foundation in archetypal astrology, and leave with an understanding of the astrological conditions of the next month, and how best to integrate this knowledge into their everyday lives. All levels of astrological knowledge are welcome!

Register in advance for this workshop: https://academyoforaclearts.mykajabi.com/monthlyforecast.

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Aquarius New Moon Workshop

Academy of Oracle Arts Monthly Forecast

Continuing with the Aquarius New Moon, I am offering the next monthly astrology workshop through the Academy of Oracle Arts, our local Nevada City center for learning the magical arts. The workshop will be held online, and all who wish to attend are welcome to join! We will focus on the astrological transits for the month ahead, especially illuminating the many planets conjoining in Aquarius at the beginning of the lunation.

For those who would like to review the transits from last month, the recording of the previous workshop is available here: Capricorn New Moon Workshop.

Thursday, February 11th, 4:00–5:30 pm Pacific time

For those unable to attend live the video is now available of the workshop!

Description
This monthly workshop with archetypal astrologer Becca Tarnas offers an astrological forecast of the lunation cycle ahead, continuing with the New Moon in Aquarius. Learn the meanings of the planets, aspects, and zodiacal signs, and how to navigate the archetypal energies of the month ahead. Participants will gain a basic foundation in archetypal astrology, and leave with an understanding of the astrological conditions of the next month, and how best to integrate this knowledge into their everyday lives. All levels of astrological knowledge are welcome!

Register in advance for this workshop: https://academyoforaclearts.mykajabi.com/monthlyforecast.

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Capricorn New Moon Workshop

Academy of Oracle Arts Monthly Forecast

As we begin the new year with the Capricorn New Moon, I am offering a monthly astrology workshop through the Academy of Oracle Arts, our local Nevada City center for learning the magical arts. The workshop will be held online, and all who wish to attend are welcome to join! We will focus on the astrological transits for the month ahead, while also taking into account the larger transit dynamics of the year 2021.

For those who would like to review the transits from last month, the recording of the previous workshop is available here: Sagittarius New Moon Workshop.

Tuesday, January 12th, 5:00–6:30 pm Pacific time

For those unable to attend live the video is now available of the workshop!

Please note that the registration and payment link has changed from previous workshops, as we shift from having the workshop hosted by Ouroboros to the Academy of Oracle Arts.

Description
This monthly workshop with archetypal astrologer Becca Tarnas offers an astrological forecast of the lunation cycle ahead, continuing with the New Moon in Capricorn. Learn the meanings of the planets, aspects, and zodiacal signs, and how to navigate the archetypal energies of the month ahead. Participants will gain a basic foundation in archetypal astrology, and leave with an understanding of the astrological conditions of the next month, and how best to integrate this knowledge into their everyday lives. All levels of astrological knowledge are welcome!