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About the Guest: Aurorah

Aurorah is the astrologer behind Blood Moon Milk Astrology. She specializes in Western Hellenistic Astrology. In addition to private astrological consulting, Aurorah writes a daily horoscope newsletter. It’s perfect for those who aren’t quite ready to invest in a completely personalized astrology reading. Do keep in mind, however, that a reading based on your chart will be significantly more useful to you. Aurorah’s astrology clients include heads of hospitals and CEOs of international corporations, not just us woo folks.

She recently started an astrology podcast, which broadcasts on Soundcloud and YouTube. For quick bite-sized astrology info, check her out on TikTok or IG.

Newspaper Column Horoscopes Give Astrology a Bad Name

It’s the right time to apply for that new job Aquarius, but watch out if you leave the house on Thursday! Have you ever read a magazine horoscope and thought, “this is ridiculous. How can 1 out of every 12 people on the planet stay home on Thursday?” Turns out, you’re quite right to be skeptical of generic horoscopes. Does that mean you should apply that lens to all astrology?

There’s a vast ocean of personal information missing from the average publishsed horoscope. The astrologer herself tells us that generic horoscopes—based exclusively on your “sun sign”—can only be even a little bit accurate if your rising sign is the same as your sun sign. Which it isn’t for the vast majority of people.

Does Astrology Change With Knowledge?

Aurorah told us that the first archaeological evidence of humans practicing astrology dates back to 600AD. It only fell out of favor in Western society in the 1800’s, when physics took the forefront in how we interpret the universe. We know so much more about the deeper nature of things than we did in 600AD. Did the new knowledge change how we interpret astrological happenings?

Not to mention, even the physical position of the planets relative to Earth has changed over such a long time period. We’ve already covered the various arguments for and against recognizing the thirteenth sign last time we interviewed a professional astrologer. Aside from that debate, we thought astrological things were pretty much set in stone all this time.

Turns out, that’s just another misconception about astrology. The zodiac signs and their time of year don’t change, despite changes in the physical universe. Mainly because 1400 years of study and observation have indicated that the changing planetary alignment doesn’t really change the nature of how the signs are used for divination.

How Has Astrology Changed Over Time?

That doesn’t mean everything has stayed the same. Astrology has changed many times over the course of technological development. In 600 AD, astrologers could only take into account those astral bodies that were visible to the naked eye. As telescopes brought the galaxy into focus, more stars joined the closer ones in astrological charts.

Aurorah told us that comets have been added to the astrological interpretative process. This is important, as they weren’t added arbitrarily, but actually have had an observable correlation with certain events in our lives and history. It may only be a matter of time until the recently discovered rogue planets make their way into your chart.

Can Astrology Predict Major World Events?

For astrology to be personalized enough to be accurate, you’d need to have a full chart drawn and interpret that data in light of what the heavenly bodies are up to at the moment. There are, however, patterns of worldwide events that correlate with the alignment of the planets. For example, Aurorah told us that, in Spring of 2025, Neptune will move into Pisces for the first time in many decades. Who cares? Well, maybe everybody should; the last time this happened was at the start of the American Civil War.

Do Comets Bring Plagues?

This theory that Aurorah introduced us to is not just an astrological theory. While still speculative, there is actual research being done in an attempt to provide evidence that viruses and bacteria might fall to earth from space dust.

Becky and Diana plan to talk more about this contagious comet hypothesis in an upcoming bonus episode you can find on our Patreon. Also on our Patreon, we deep dive into the stereotype that the LGBTQ+ community loves astrology.

What is Astrocartography?

Astrocartography is a form of astrology that involves mapping the planetary influences in a person’s natal chart to specific geographic locations on Earth. The idea is to use the maps to determine how different places might affect various aspects of a person’s life, such as career, relationships, or personal growth.

According to astrocartography, the places where the lines representing the planets intersect or cross specific locations have particular significance or power in the individual’s life. People use astrocartography to choose where to live, travel, or even to find the best places for specific activities.

Time is the only thing we can’t make more of.

What Does Astrology Mean to You?

Does this episode change your opinions on astrology at all? Have you ever had a bizarre experience that correlated eerily with an astrological prediction? Wanna tell it on an episode of Homespun Haints? Submit your story here.

And next time someone asks you what your sign is, you can answer with the caveat that it’s not the same as your rising sign. That’s probably a great conversation starter. Let us know how it goes. Oh, and if you get a reading from Aurorah, let us know how that goes, too! That’s probably a great way to dodge a potentially spooky day.

The post Down To Earth Yet Lost Among The Stars appeared first on Homespun Haints.

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Episode Summary

Trauma attracts negative energy. And sometimes that energy can manifest into something physical, something terrifying. However, the converse is true as well. If we can learn how to laugh in the face of darkness, we might just be able to find the light.

Today’s guest has maintained a sense of humor throughout all of his terrifying experiences, even though they are the stuff horror movies are made from. Let’s talk to Christian, today, on Homespun Haints.

AI-generated transcript of this episode available upon request.

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About the Guest, Christian Bradley West, The Country Clairvoyant

Christian is an artist and intuitive astrologer, known to many by his Instagram account @thecountryclairvoyant. In addition to posting hilarious memes that poke fun at the commoditization of spirituality practices and astrology, Christian can be contacted for readings at thecountryclairvoyant.com or you can reach him on Twitter at @ChristianBWest.

Show notes

Creepy kids who sleepwalk

The horror film industry proves that kids are creepy. Sometimes we adults just can’t fathom the source of bizarre child behavior. The child’s utter confidence that what they are experiencing is the truth, coupled with their lateral reasoning and inability to articulate the details in a helpful manner, can cause adults to interpret their words in the creepiest way possible…and that’s before the sleepwalking.

Almost all somnambulists are children under 12. While about 10% to 30% of children will ever sleepwalk in their lives, only about 1% to 7% of people have a sleepwalking experience as an adult. Although there are several medications and conditions that seem to trigger sleepwalking, the main trigger common to children would be stress. But triggers don’t constitute reasons.

Similar to somnambulism, little Diana experienced night terrors. Night terrors are the other form of non-REM sleep arousal disorder common to children. During these delightful episodes, baby Diana would wake in the middle of the night, get out of bed, hide under a chair, and scream bloody murder. Similar to sleepwalking, the child usually has no memory of what happened the next morning.

Perhaps the creepiest part of kids sleepwalking is that the somnambulist seems completely undisturbed by the whole scenario. A childhood friend of Diana’s who frequently sleepwalked made light of putting up a baby gate in her doorway every night so she wouldn’t go tumbling down the stairs. She would regale Diana with stories of the weird things she’d get up to while she was asleep. Second-hand stories, of course, as she remembered none of these antics. Perhaps Diana’s inability to sleep at sleepovers was born out of a macabre desire to witness the strangeness that is childhood sleepwalking. Which, sadly, she never did, although nowadays she gets to witness sleep talking quite frequently.

Kuan Yin and the Mother Archetype

Christian brought up the serendipitous experience of finding a carving of the goddess Kuan Yin in his search for smithsonite stone. This makes some sense, since the spiritual usage of smithsonite is to muffle the chaos of the world and the pain of the past in order to allow your inner compassion to blossom.

According to The Met, Kuan Yin or Guanyin (觀音) is the Chinese iteration of Avalokiteśvara, the bodhisattva of compassion. A bodhisattva represents an enlightened being who choses to stay on earth as a role model. Interestingly, Avalokiteśvara was traditionally depicted as either male or gender-neutral. Imperial China morphed Guanyin into a female figure. Some now compare her symbolically to the Virgin Mary; a motherly archetype of divine compassion.

Empty chair superstitions

Christian mentioned the tradition of leaving a chair open for a spirit. There are a few traditions and superstitions based around empty chairs and ghosts. There are the nice ones: remembering a recently lost loved one by leaving a chair empty at the next holiday dinner. Some cultures leave a chair open for the deceased around All Souls Day, on November second. Some of our family members have chairs they display but never sit in that belonged to a deceased loved one.

Then there are the not-so-nice ones. Some families put great importance on making sure there’s no empty chair overnight in one’s bedroom. Perhaps as long as there’s an object on the chair the ghosts won’t sit there to watch you sleep? In Celtic tradition, rocking an empty rocking chair is an invitation to ghosts and evil spirits to have a seat and stay a spell. Albeit unintentional, you’ll know the invitation was received when the chair starts rocking on its own. I suppose having a spirit in your extra chair could be either good or bad, depending on if you know the spirit and want them around.

Center for Spiritual Awareness

Christian talked about this spiritual nonprofit a little drive outside of Atlanta. This center offers retreats and classes focusing on meditation instruction and practice and other holistic lifestyle teachings. According to their website, the CSA “affirm(s) that it is possible for everyone, by right personal endeavor and God’s grace, to have a conscious relationship with the Infinite and to fulfill all of life’s purposes in harmony with natural laws.”

Have you had a ghost in your bed?

What is it about going to bed that leaves us open to supernatural attacks? Is it that we are temporarily in an altered state while we sleep? Basically helpless? Completely relaxed and thus receptive? Why do some people sleepwalk, and what does it mean? Why are kids who sleepwalk so creepy, and are they all reliving terrifying visions from past lives? Join the discussion on our Facebook group, or at Patreon, and let us know your thoughts on these spooky bedtime stories. If you’ve got a story of your own, why not tell it on our next episode? Surefire way to have a spooky day.

The post Something was Crawling on Me appeared first on Homespun Haints.

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Episode Summary

How can you tell if a ghost is nice? Or enjoys long walks in the woods? Or is fashionable?

Our guests today, a mother-daughter duo, have several ghost stories to share. Some of the ghosts are nice, and some aren’t. But one interesting ghost has a very particular way he likes to dress.

Episode Show Notes

About the Guests, Atlanta-Based Podcasters Melanie and Mollie

Today’s guests are the mother-daughter duo of Melanie and Mollie. If you’re wondering what are the other best Atlanta based true story podcasts out there, wait ’til you hear this. Together, Melanie and Mollie host a podcast called Storytime with Mom & Me. And they are as funny and mystical as we aspire to be. But their show features down-to-earth stories on all kinds of subjects. Independently, Melanie (mom) is into fair trade crystals. Mollie (daughter) is an astrologer and the oracle reader of Jalisa’s Palace.

Mystical ways to keep in touch with friends

Mollie and Melanie have some interesting ways that they use to keep in touch with friends. Personally, we like texts, Facebook, and Instagram (because we’re Gen Xers and can’t seem to find anyone on MySpace anymore for some reason). Our guests take communication in an entirely different direction. She has been known to use:

• The Ouija board, with friend Istepi. But, to be fair, she’s really only communicated with Istepi through the Ouija board. Istepi might not be alive.
• Telekinesis or poltergeist activity with “friend” Vackie. Unfortunately, Mollie was on the receiving end only, since Vackie is incorporeal. This “imaginary friend” used to lock Mollie in her childhood bedroom. Vackie also pushed Mollie down the stairs once.
• Telepathy with friend C.G. who, unlike the above, is corporeal.

Thank you for listening to our little indie Atlanta-based paranormal podcast!

We’re so glad the word is getting out locally. If you’re also in Atlanta, let us know how you found our podcast in the comments, or by connecting with us on social @homespunhaints.

Just for you, Hainted Loves, here’s a short bonus episode about a potentially paranormal occurrence between Becky’s son and her cat, What is the sound of one cat knocking?

Until next time, have a spooky day!

The post Mom and Me and Hipster Lumberjack Ghost Makes Three appeared first on Homespun Haints.

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Don’t miss the bonus episode Hey Baby What’s Your Sign?

Episode Summary: what does a professional astrologer do?

Did you know you can get a master’s degree in astrology? Brad tells us that the majority of the general public has a hard time taking astrology seriously because they’ve only ever heard of sun signs. You probably know your sun sign (especially if you lived through the ’60s). You know, the sign you look for when you thumb past the horoscope page of a newspaper. Becky is an Aries, which is why she has a successful military career, and Diana is a Leo, which is why she has a sunny disposition and no self-doubt. Wait, that’s not right. See? Sun signs are necessarily generic, as they lump billions of people together into just 12 groups personality-wise.

Well, of course that oversimplification would lead to some misconceptions. Surely there are significantly more than 12 different types of people on the planet. And surely reducing any field to only it’s single most popular concept makes the whole field sound pretty flimsy. Brad was kind enough not to go too deep into the rabbit hole of concepts and jargon. He understood that we’re complete neophytes to astrology, so he kept it bite-sized. But just the tiny surface scratches he laid down on us blew our minds in their customization, specificity, and flexibility within consistency. After talking to Brad, we’d suggest leaving your opinion on astrology open-minded. At least until you’ve completed your astrology master’s degree.

About interview guest Brad Williams, professional astrologer

Brad is a professional spiritual counselor who uses a combination of composite astrology and intuition. He offers astrology readings to clients all over the world. He also offers hypnotherapy and past life regression to local clients in Nashville, TN. Astrology is a tool which can illuminate the source of the self-imposed limitations holding us back from personal evolution. It is Brad’s goal to help his clients evolve in stagnant areas of life through deeper self-awareness. For someone with his head in the stars, Brad is very down-to-earth. He has a gift for communicating a very complex concept in a fun and engaging manner. Connect with Brad on Instagram or on his professional website, bradwilliamsastrology.com.

The 13th Sign

Brad comments that every few years an astrologer brings this 13th sun-related constellation, Ophicius, into the public eye as though it’s a completely new sign that changes everything you thought you knew about the zodiac. It’s not.

The 12 sun signs (again, the only astrological concept most of us civilians are familiar with) are the constellations that the sun is moving through at the time and location of our birth. At least, they would’ve been, once upon a time.

Astrology is a practice that is about 4000 years old. A lot has changed. Specifically, the tilt of the Earth’s axis changes at a rate of about 1 degree every 72 years. This isn’t new knowledge either. Astrologers noticed this change over 2000 years ago. They weighed the pros and cons of adapting the practice of astrology to the constantly changing perspective of the earthbound, and decided that the 2 millennia of observed consistent predictability they’d already found in a fixed calendar justified keeping the calendar fixed for the next couple millennia (at least). According to Astrology.com, “balance and symmetry are crucial to understanding patterns—which is why integrating Ophicius will not happen now nor any time in the future.”

Evolutionary Astrology

Because your birth chart is generated using the location of the planets and constellations at the time and location of your birth, it is static throughout your lifetime (and presumably your afterlife). This raises some uncomfortable questions. For example, would astrology suggest that your life is predetermined and free will is an illusion?

Brad explained that the way he does readings isn’t just regurgitation of knowledge. He examines both the complex mathematics of a person’s unique yet static birth chart and adds his own natural intuition. Plus, the current state of a person’s life and their choices can influence the nature of an astrology reading.

We hope you enjoyed this interview with a professional astrologer!

We certainly learned a lot. And more importantly, we learned that there’s more to the field of astrology than we’ll probably ever know or understand. It’s so cool to interview people who have successful careers doing things we consider esoteric and mystical…before this, we would’ve wondered, how does one even become a professional astrologer? Until next time, have a spooky day!

The post We Are All Made Of Stars appeared first on Homespun Haints.