✦ About My Research ✦
Astrological Talismans and the Living Tradition: A Study of Practitioner Perspectives
I have recently put out a call for interviewees for my dissertation research project and thought it would be useful to create a page that explains my work in a little more detail. I am currently undertaking an MA in Cultural Astronomy and Astrology at the Sophia Centre, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, under the supervision of Dr Nicholas Campion.
My dissertation project aims to explore how contemporary practitioners of astrological talismanic magic understand and explain the efficacy of talismans. It asks:
How do modern practitioners conceptualise the function and power of talismans, and how do their views align with, or diverge from, those found in traditional astrological magic texts?
Purpose and Scope of the Study
- This project is not about proving or disproving whether talismans “work.”
- It is not a psychological reduction.
- It is not a sceptical investigation into belief.
I am determined that my research will be an attempt to document and interpret living, embodied magical knowledge from the perspective of those who actually do the work. I’m interested in how practitioners today frame their understanding of talismanic efficacy, whether drawing from traditional texts like Picatrix or Agrippa, contemporary cosmologies, spiritual experience, philosophical insight, or initiatory wisdom.
Why Is This Academic?
Because lived magical traditions deserve serious scholarly attention.
There is a growing recognition, especially in fields like cultural astronomy & astrology, religious studies, and anthropology of consciousness, that practitioner voices must be part of the record. My work aims to reflect that shift by engaging with practitioners on their own terms, not forcing their experiences through an empirical or sceptical lens.
This dissertation will draw from historical texts and contemporary interviews, with the aim of illuminating how the art of talisman-making is understood today, not just as a technique, but as part of a broader magical and cosmological worldview.
🗣 Interview Participation
I am currently inviting experienced practitioners of astrological talismanic magic to take part in semi-structured online interviews (approx. 45–60 minutes). Participants can choose to be identified by name and practice or remain completely anonymous, depending on preference.
The interviews are guided but open, aiming to explore:
- What makes a talisman effective in your view?
- How do you relate to the celestial forces involved?
- What traditions, texts, or ideas shape your work?
- How do you understand the connection between materials, ritual, and spirit?
You will be given a full participant information sheet, and all contributions will be treated with respect and care.
Addressing Common Concerns
“Will my worldview be reduced to ‘belief’?”
No. I recognise that for many magical practitioners, cosmology and praxis are lived and experiential, not speculative. My goal is not to pathologise, dismiss, or reinterpret your views, but to present them faithfully and with philosophical curiosity.
“Will you try to explain talismans in materialist or psychological terms?”
Not unless that’s how you explain them. I am interested in your framework, whether it’s energetic, celestial, spiritual, animist, Neoplatonic, alchemical, or something else entirely.
“What is your own position?”
I approach this project as both a researcher and a practitioner, with deep respect for astrological magic and related traditions. I also understand the caution that many magical practitioners feel when approached by academics. This study is designed to bridge that gap, not reinforce it.
Contributing to the Tradition
This research hopes to contribute meaningfully to the growing body of scholarship that recognises astrological magic as a legitimate and enduring tradition. By participating, you are helping to ensure that modern magical voices are documented, studied, and heard, not just preserved in grimoires, but acknowledged in real time.
If you’d like to participate or ask questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me:
📧 2211514@student.uwtsd.ac.uk
Thank you for considering being part of this study.
