Between the Earth and Stars (formerly Media Astra Ac Terra)

Astra: Boötes the Herdsman / Terra: Larimar / Main Show: Stress and Spiritual PracticeEpisode 34 takes a look at the constellation of Boötes the Herdsman (and its bright star Arcturus) in the Astra segment, and in the Terra segment we will learn about larimar!  And in the main segment, I share some thoughts about the intersection of building a daily spiritual practice and crafting long-term strategies for dealing with stress. For more information, references, and links, please visit the Sphinx Words blog post for this episode.  Thanks for listening!Bright and dark blessings,-- Oraia Sphinx --

Astra: Centaurus / Terra: Jade / Main Show: Pagan Values Month - Engaging with the WorldEpisode 33 takes a look at the southern constellation of Centaurus in the Astra segment, and in the Terra segment we will learn about jade!  And in the main segment, I offer a contribution to Pagan Values Blogging and Podcasting Month, with a discussion of the value of engaging with the world. For more information, references, and links, please visit the Sphinx Words blog post for this episode.  Thanks for listening!Bright and dark blessings,-- Oraia Sphinx --

This is a special episode of Media Astra Ac Terra, presenting the third installment of my PathWorking segment exploring the major cards of the tarot.  This segment usually airs on the Kakophonos podcast (which you can find at www.kakophonos.com), but you can also find the first two installments, for the Fool and the Magician, in the main segment of Episode 27 of this show. This is very much not a typical episode, but I hope you enjoy this look at the High Priestess card! Bright and dark blessings,-- Oraia Sphinx --

Astra: Ursa Major & Ursa Minor / Terra: Labradorite / Main Show: Listener Feedback About WitchcraftEpisode 32 takes a look at the two celestial Bears in the Astra segment, and in the Terra segment we will learn about labradorite!  And in the main segment, I share a couple of pieces of listener feedback, and share my thoughts on them. For more information, references, and links, please visit the Sphinx Words blog post for this episode.  Thanks for listening!Bright and dark blessings,-- Oraia Sphinx --

Astra / Terra / Main Show: Listener Q&AEpisode 31 devotes all three segments to answering your questions!  From which astrological sign to call your own, through avoiding toxic minerals, to when you can call yourself a witch, we take a wild ride through a number of different topics in this episode.  And one lucky listener/questioner wins a prize! For more information, references, and links, please visit the Sphinx Words blog post for this episode.  Thanks for listening!Bright and dark blessings,-- Oraia Sphinx --

Astra: Draco / Terra: Apophyllite / Main Show: Meaning and HumilityEpisode 30 takes a look at Draco the Dragon in the Astra segment, and in the Terra segment we will learn about apophyllite!  And in the main segment, I share some of my thoughts about the recent tragedy in Japan, and the search for meaning in suffering and natural disasters. For more information, references, and links, please visit the Sphinx Words blog post for this episode.  Thanks for listening!Bright and dark blessings,-- Oraia Sphinx --

Astra: Cassiopeia / Terra: Chalcedony, Part II / Main Show: Fear, ItselfEpisode 29 takes a look at Cassiopeia in the Astra segment, and in the Terra segment we will finish up our two-part look at chalcedony!  And in the main segment, I talk about fear, and how we deal with it (or not) in our lives and our magick. For more information, references, and links, please visit the Sphinx Words blog post for this episode.  Thanks for listening!Bright and dark blessings,-- Oraia Sphinx --

Astra: Backyard Astronomy / Terra: Chalcedony, Part I / Main Show: What's My Sign?Episode 28 takes a look at backyard astronomy in the Astra segment, with an emphasis on naked-eye and binocular astronomy to point out that you don't need a telescope to explore the night sky.  Then in the Terra segment, we start a two-part look at chalcedony, which has many beautiful and well-loved varieties that you may not realize are all the same mineral. And then in the main segment, I tackle the recent resurgence of the “astrology is wrong because the constellations don't line up with the signs anymore” issue.  For more information, references, and links, please visit the Sphinx Words blog post for this episode.  Thanks for listening!Bright and dark blessings,-- Oraia Sphinx --

Astra: Pluto / Terra: Obsidian / Main Show: The Fool and the Magician Episode 27 takes a look at the (dwarf) planet Pluto in the Astra segment, and obsidian in the Terra segment! Then in the main show I share with you the first two installments of my tarot segment from the Kakophonos podcast. For more information, references, and links, please visit the Sphinx Words blog post for this episode.  Thanks for listening! (I did manage to see the very beginning of the lunar eclipse before the clouds rolled in; visit the blog post for a picture!) Bright and dark blessings, -- Oraia Sphinx --

Astra: Neptune / Terra: Aquamarine / Main Show: Of Maps and Territories Episode 26 takes a look at the planet Neptune in the Astra segment, and the mineral aquamarine in the Terra segment! Then in the main show I talk about some central concepts in Alfred Korzybski's General Semantics, about the way we perceive and interpret what we quaintly like to call “reality.”  For more information, references, and links, please visit the Sphinx Words blog post for this episode.  Thanks for listening! Bright and dark blessings, -- Oraia Sphinx --

Astra: Uranus / Terra: Celestite / Main Show: Of Mice and Angels Episode 25 takes a look at the planet Uranus in the Astra segment, and the mineral celestite in the Terra segment! Then in the main show I share some of my recent adventures with mice and angels.  For more information, references, and links, please visit the Sphinx Words blog post for this episode.  Thanks for listening! Bright and dark blessings, -- Oraia Sphinx --

Astra: Saturn / Terra: Salt / Main Show: Pentagrams and Hexagrams Episode 24 takes a look at Saturn in the Astra segment, and good old salt in the Terra segment! Then in the main show I talk about the assignment of the elements to the points of the pentagram, and the planets to the points of the hexagram.  For more information, references, and links, please visit the Sphinx Words blog post for this episode.  Thanks for listening! Bright and dark blessings, -- Oraia Sphinx --

Astra: Jupiter / Terra: Sodalite / Main Show: Expectations In this episode, we look at Jupiter in the Astra segment, and the mineralogy and metaphysics of sodalite in the Terra segment.  Then in the main show I talk for a while about expectations. Musical interlude is "Of Star and Satyr" by Panthea. For more information, references, and links, please visit the Sphinx Words blog post for this episode.  Thanks for listening! Bright and dark blessings, -- Oraia Sphinx --

Astra: Meteor Showers / Terra: Meteorites & Tektites / Main Show: Lessons from Fire Episode 22 takes a good long look at the occurrence of meteor showers, as well as the mineralogy and metaphysics of meteorites and tektites! Then in the main show I offer my musings on some of the lessons to be learned from Fire.  For more information, references, and links, please visit the Sphinx Words blog post for this episode.  Thanks for listening! Bright and dark blessings, -- Oraia Sphinx --

  Astra: Mars / Terra: Hematite / Main Show: Martial Arts Episode 21 takes a look at the planet Mars, as well as the mineralogy and metaphysics of hematite! Then in the main show I talk about my long-time interest in martial arts, and how it has affected my life and my magic. (I also end up getting into my opinions on the use of physical force and its relation to the use of magical force.)  For more information, references, and links, please visit the Sphinx Words blog post for this episode.  Thanks for listening! Bright and dark blessings, -- Oraia Sphinx --

Astra: Venus / Terra: Rose Quartz / Main Show: Emotion and Intellect Episode 20 takes a look at the planet Venus, as well as the mineralogy and metaphysics of rose quartz! Then in the main show I talk about working with both the emotions and the intellect. For more information, references, and links, please visit the Sphinx Words blog post for this episode.  Thanks for listening! Bright and dark blessings, -- Oraia Sphinx --

Astra: Mercury / Terra: Selenite / Main Show: Sigil Magick Episode 19 takes a look at the planet Mercury, as well as the mineralogy and metaphysics of selenite! Then in the main show I talk about different approaches to sigil magick. For more information, references, and links, please visit the Sphinx Words blog post for this episode.  Thanks for listening! Bright and dark blessings, -- Oraia Sphinx --

Astra: The Moon / Terra: Silver / Main Show: Qabalistic Complexity Episode 18 takes a look at the science and magic of the Moon, and the mineralogy and metaphysics of silver! Then in the main show I talk about my approach to Qabalistic magick, and how to view its complexity as a design feature, rather than a flaw. For more information, references, and links, please visit the Sphinx Words blog post for this episode.  Thanks for listening! Bright and dark blessings, -- Oraia Sphinx --

Astra: Pisces the Fish / Terra: Amber / Main Show: Talking About the PathEpisode 17 marks the one year anniversary of Media Astra Ac Terra!  This episode takes a look at the constellation and sign of Pisces the Fish, and the mineralogy and metaphysics of amber. Then in the main show I talk about my personal path, and I also talk about talking about my path.For more information, references, and links, please visit the Sphinx Words blog post for this episode.  Thanks for listening!Bright and dark blessings,--Sphinx--

Astra: Aquarius the Water-bearer / Terra: Danburite / Main Show: Prayer and MagicEpisode 16 takes a look at the constellation and sign of Aquarius the Water-bearer, and the mineralogy and metaphysics of danburite! Then in the main show I talk about how I view the differences and similarities between prayer and magic(k).For more information, references, and links, please visit the Sphinx Words blog post for this episode.  Thanks for listening! Bright and dark blessings,--Sphinx--