About us
Astrology is an excellent practical and useful tool for understanding ourselves, our motivations, and the universe around us. It is much more than the sun sign columns found in newspapers and magazines. Whether you are just starting to learn or are a professional astrologer, this is where everyone speaks the same language. Everyone is invited to ask questions on any level, share observations, and exchange ideas. Everyone is encouraged to participate, and if you are interested in presenting a lecture or discussion topic, please contact the organizers. We are open to considering astrology-based ideas of all kinds.
Upcoming events
1
The Barbault Basket and Alchemy
Quest Bookshop, 240 E 53rd St, New York, NY, USJoin us for a panel with Brian Cotnoir, J.M. Hamade, Danny Larkin, Eliza Swann about the Barbault Basket in July 2026 and how to work with it alchemically.
This is a pay-what-can in-person event at the New York Theosophical Society. No one is turned away for lack of funds at the door. You may also join the Zoom livestream that night for a small $5.85 required fee. This fee is necessary to prevent Zoom bombers.
Livestream Tickets:
https://buytickets.at/bigappleastrologymeetup/2303755Event Description:
There has been a lot of discussion on the internet and social media about the so-called “Barbault Basket” of July 19-21, 2026 when 4 outer planets will be tightly configured at 4 degrees. While Jupiter trudges 4° Leo, it will oppose Pluto at 4° Aquarius, trine Neptune at 4°Aries, and sextile Uranus at 4° Gemini.
Many years ago, the legendary mundane astrologer André Barbault (1921 - 2019), foresaw this configuration in July 2026 as a turning point. Barbault was the only astrologer who predicted the COVID-10 pandemic as well as the dissolution of the Soviet Union in the late 1980s. Given the accuracy of Barbault’s previous predictions, there has been a lot of speculation about this inflection point.
Barbault never used the term basket. That term was coined later by the astrologer S.J. Anderson and has now gone viral. This formation is not just a 3 day blip, it is a turning point within a wider cycle that needs to be deciphered.
After decades of research, Barbault concluded that the two most influential cycles for the course of geopolitics in the 21st century would be the Uranus-Neptune Cycle as well as his legendary cyclic indicator.
This so-called basket of July 2026 is intimately connected to the Uranus-Neptune conjunction of 1993, which Barbault saw as the seed moment for the course of the 21st century geopolitics and economics.
The cyclic indicator is a formula that calculates how tightly conjunct or distant the outer planets are from one another, indicating levels of global harmony and cooperation, discord and crisis. July 2026 is also a turning point and a change of direction in this index.
In the first part of the evening, Danny Larkin will show diagrams from Barbault’s books and translations from the French of his key ideas. This will be a far more robust presentation on Barbault’s thinking than is currently available in English sources online. Danny has worked with colleagues in France and England to source obscure quotes in French from Barbault, and will be sharing them with the community.
However, it is an open question if we are going to be capable - both individually and collectively - of letting go of the past to seize the golden opportunity of what this highly beneficial turning point portends. When we hold on to patterns from the past, we cannot unlock the full potential of the present, including this once in a lifetime celestial configuration. Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is not only the definition of insanity, it also sets us up to miss out.
How can we let go and take fuller advantage?
One answer is alchemy.
As Jung and his circle pondered how to release past patterns that no longer serve us, they became enamored with alchemical images. Despite all the positive press about the myriad benefits of letting go, the actual practice can be quite unpleasant and even painful. Releasing long held emotional and mental patterns can be disorienting, frightening, and even destabilizing. Alchemical imagery can provide a nourishing source of meaning to weather these storms, and to forbear the dark nights of the soul that may accompany any true commitment to change, adaptation, and evolution.
André Barbault first learned astrology from his older brother, Armaund Barbault. His big brother went on to become a major figure in the 20th century alchemical tradition, leaving astrology to his younger brother. Although this point is not often made, alchemical ideas permeate into André Barbault’s ideas about cosmic cycles.
In this spirit, after Danny’s presentation on the astrology of the Barbault basket, we will pivot to presentations about alchemy from Brian Cotnoir, J.M. Hamade, and Eliza Swann.
Brian Cotnoir will be offering an introduction to the fundamentals of alchemy starting with a solid definition, reviewing a basic symbol set, processes etc. so that the attendees are all on the same page. He will pay particular attention to ideas of "solve et coagula" which is one way to understand the peaks and troughs of Barbault's graphs.
Because the basket, which J.M. Hamade (they/them) will playfully call the Brazier, is fire and air focused, they are going to talk about the jinn and their elemental relationships, as well as geniuses, guardian angels, and daimons. They will tease out connections to air and fire, star-making, incense, and fire sacrifice. It’s about transformation broadly—shapeshifting. In addition, they will introduce distillation of genii (geniuses), bringing in the alchemical focus.
Eliza Swann will share images and ideas from the alchemical tradition, exploring the various degrees of air and fire and their catalytic capacities, with a focus on how these energies can help us meet the present moment with increased imagination, courage, and focus in our transformative capabilities.
$$ In Person Event:
A suggested donation is $5 -$30 is very VERY much appreciated, but please know whatever you can afford is acceptable. Donations collected pay our rent, Meetup.com fees, beverages and snacks, and the honorarium for the panelists. You may bring cash to donate on the evening of the event, or you can donate online by purchasing a livestream ticket. Because we are working with multiple speakers, your generosity goes a long way towards making sure each panelists receives equitable pay.$$ Livestream:
You may also join the zoom livestream that night with a small $5 required ticket fee. You are encouraged to donate more to our panelists. This fee is a precaution against trolls and zoom bombers, which occurred frequently when we shared a free zoom link on meetup.com. You may purchase and livestream ticket after the event starts and join late. E-mail Danny Larkin at DanielBLarkin@gmail.com with any questions.Livestream Tickets:
https://buytickets.at/bigappleastrologymeetup/2286017Recording:
If you can’t attend live, you are welcome to buy a livestream ticket to get access to the recording. The recording will be shared with all livestream ticket buyers as well as individuals who RSVP yes for the event on meetup.com. The deadline to buy the recording through the link above is 9:00pm on the day of the meetup. Email Danny Larkin at DanielBlarkin@gmail.com with any questions.Directions:
The meetup takes place at the New York Theosophical Society, which is next door to the Quest Bookshop. You may enter through the bookshop before 7 pm (when it closes) or to the left of the bookshop after 7 pm.Timing:
7:00pm - 7:30pm - General Q & A
7:30pm - 8:00pm – The Barbault Basket - Danny Larkin
8:00pm - 8:20pm - Intro to Alchemy Fundamentals - Brian Cotnoir
8:20pm - 8:40pm - The Jinn and their Elemental Relationships - J.M. Hamade
8:40pm - 9:00pm - Air and Fire in the Alchemical Imagination - Eliza Swann23 attendees
Past events
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