This counts as an elective.

Course name:  CS201A Magical Elections

Instructor: Nina Gryphon

Course length: 5 Weeks

Course cost:  $ 295

Required Books:

-       Picatrix by Maslamah ibn Ahmad Majriti. The Attrell and Porreca translation linked here is preferred and will be used in the course. If you have another edition, that may be acceptable depending on the quality, which has varied dramatically between editions. Whatever edition you use, please ensure it is complete and has all four books. Link: https://amzn.to/2onpjlm

 -       Book of Rulerships by J. Lee Lehman. Link: https://amzn.to/2paJQdv

-       Three Books of Occult Philosophy by Heinrich Agrippa. Online versions exist and can be used (such as https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A26565.0001.001/1:16.31?rgn=div2;view=toc); for students wanting a physical book, Llewellyn's edition is a good, readable option: Link: https://amzn.to/2nD1O7Z

 -        Christian Astrology by William Lilly. I recommend purchasing Books I and II (Link: https://amzn.to/31OSSuV), but if you do not have a copy or want a modernized/footnoted experience, we will be studying primarily Ch. 8-15, freely available, and conveniently annotated/reset by astrologer Deborah Houlding:

    Christian Astrology, Ch. 8-11 - the Superior Planets, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars: http://www.skyscript.co.uk/CA.html#3
    Christian Astrology, Ch. 12-15 - The Sun and Inferior Planets: Venus, Mercury, and the Moon: http://www.skyscript.co.uk/CA.html#4

 Suggested Texts:

The following books or other resources are helpful but not required.

* Free astrology software (Windows) link: Morinus


* Planetary hours calculator link: Lunarium


The Orphic Hymns by trans. Prof. Athanassakis. The modern, literal translation of the Hymns to the Greek Gods. Link: https://amzn.to/2nFIve7.  Alternatively, you can use the free 18th century translations by Thomas Taylor, available at this link: https://www.theoi.com/Text/OrphicHymns1.html. Thomas Taylor's style is a bit flowery and archaic, which may be a feature or a bug, depending on your perspective.


Influences by Mary Quinlan-McGrath. An art historian explains the magico-astronomical theory while exploring the astrology behind famous Renaissance frescoes and buildings, revealing their original purpose as talismans. Link: https://amzn.to/2pOATXE

 * Constellations of Words. A cross-referenced listing of the fixed stars, their meanings, and myths. Link: www.constellationsofwords.com.

Pre-requisite: Basic to intermediate astrological knowledge is necessary for students to get the most out of this class. Students should understand basic natal astrology, as well as transits. It is helpful but not necessary for students to have magical knowledge or experience. 

Course description:

This course will teach the theory, methods, and practical application of astrological magic, as practiced in the West and the Middle East for the past two thousand years. Historic astrological magic has only been fully rediscovered in the past two decades as older astrological and magical texts were translated into modern languages.

The course will rely heavily on important magical texts such as the Picatrix (10th-century Arabic magical text), the 2000-year-old Greek Magical Papyri, and other medieval and Renaissance texts that teach magical methods. Astrological magic has been growing in popularity due to its effectiveness compared to modern styles of magic, which do not utilize astrology and are therefore missing the crucial time factor. 

The course will start with a discussion of the theory and philosophical concepts underlying this style of magic, which were strongly influenced by ancient Greek philosophy, as well as ancient Egyptian traditions. Then, we will move into the astrological portion of the workshop to teach students how to elect the most favorable moments for magical rituals, including planetary magic, the use of fixed stars, decans, and access to the personal guardian daimon.

Strong astrological elections are key to successful magical rituals, and we will learn how to prioritize among many factors that go into a high-quality electional horoscope. As part of this module, we will study for example magical electional horoscopes and examine ancient “recipes” for specific magical effects. After learning the basics, we will turn to the practical instructions for rituals for various needs (love, luck, career, studies, etc.). We will start with the intangible qualities we need to bring to a ritual and discuss material aspects of ritual (materials, incantations, writing styles, images, music, and more). We will learn about the deities and spiritual beings we call upon in order to create a magical effect and give life to the talisman. We will finish up with a discussion of the use and disposal of completed talismans. At the end of the course, we will bring all of this together, as we will walk through at least one complete astrological magical ritual, start to finish, and create a real talisman together. We will go through additional examples if time permits.

 Weekly topics:

1.    Magical Philosophy, Theory, and History

2.    Foundations of Astrological Magic & The Planets

3.    Astrological Elections

4.    Planetary Days/Hours, Fixed Stars, Decans

5.    Fixed Stars, Lunar Mansions, and the Guardian Daimon

Instructor bio:

Nina Gryphon is a practicing astrologer and corporate lawyer living in Los Angeles, California, with her husband, Robert. Her predictions have appeared in many major publications, and she has been interviewed on radio and TV. She received her JD, and MA/BA (from Stanford University, and completed John Frawley’s Horary Apprenticeship. Since then, she has studied horary with Deborah Houlding, a leading traditional astrologer.

Nina practices traditional astrology, with a special emphasis on horary and astrological magic. She writes a horary column for The Mountain Astrologer, as well as articles for her blog, and teaches classes and workshops worldwide. She publishes a popular monthly guide, Magical Elections, to the best upcoming magical elections, which includes detailed magical guidance and education. Nina can be found on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Nina is an instructor in: