Episode 24 - Telesmanica with Christopher Warnock

In this episode I sit down with my teacher, Christopher Warnock—traditional astrologer, Renaissance astrological magician, co-translator (with John Michael Greer) of the Latin Picatrix, and author of the new book Telismanica: Advanced Theory and Practice of Astrological Magic. What resulted was a wide-ranging conversation on the foundations and practice of traditional astrological magic. Warnock, widely (and rightly) regarded as the father of the modern traditional astrological magic revival, talks about the deliberate emphasis he places on worldview in both his teaching and in Telismanica. We contrast the systematic, internally coherent approach of medieval and Renaissance astrology and magic with the more free-form “bricolage” that dominates much contemporary practice, and he explains why he treats the traditional sources (including Agrippa and Picatrix) as material to be understood and applied rather than as inflexible rulebooks. The discussion covers the practical logic behind intensified celestial elections, the difference between house-based and celestial-factor talismans, and the problems that arise when techniques are taken out of context. We also examine models of how talismans and ritual might work—devotional engagement with spiritual beings, Alkindian theories of rays, and the limits of materialist explanations—and why he insists on testable, functional models rather than appeals to pure ineffability. Warnock reflects on his dual career as an attorney and magician (including the professional constraints that shaped his public biography), the realities of working professionally in the field, and the value of a craft-based, common-law style of reasoning applied to both law and astrology. The conversation closes with his recent intensive work with AI: how he conceptualizes large language models (including an analogy to a “famulus” of meaning fields), why he sees an esoteric or traditional worldview as better suited to working with them than a purely engineering one, and what responsible, high-level use looks like in practice. Throughout, the exchange stays focused on rigor, context, and the conditions under which traditional methods can actually be used and tested. Telismanica and Warnock’s other work, including his very highly recommended courses and talismans, are available via renaissanceastrology.com