The Astrolabe as a Magical Device (re-broadcast)

On Thursday July 23rd, 2015 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present a discussion on the Astrolabe as a magical device. Those of you who have seen John Carter will recall the medallion of the Holy Therns that enabled them, and Carter, to transmit themselves to other planets in the solar system. It was a magical device that required a conjuration to make it work. There is a very impressive scene inside a Thern temple with an illuminated solar system on the transparent floor that shows the vectors and the formulas. (if you can read Barsoomian.) Now this was created by an earthling screenwriter, so do we, or did we, have anything like the Thern Medallion in our magical tradition to inspire him? Yes, the Astrolabe -- a marvelous hand held instrument from Classical times that could locate celestial objects (stars) calculate their exact altitude and position. Primarily used for navigation it was also used by astrologers and magicians. Combined with the Soma Sophia (the completely gridded celestial sphere), it also becomes a device to project consciousness (like the Thern Medallion) to other worlds. With Soma Sophia derived formulas of course. This is all Sixth Degree material but perhaps it will inspire some of you to keep climbing Mithras' ladder, So, if you are curious to know how wizards explore the heavens, tune in and we will plot a course and set sail.