Moore offers two workshops at Findhorn, Scotland

The Findhorn Foundation describes two workshops about natural magic, magia naturalis, Thomas Moore presents at its Love, Magic, Miracles conference, 29 September to 5 October 2012. Scroll down this page to the second entry for these descriptions:

1. Lessons from an Obsidian Mirror
"Thomas will introduce the scrying mirror and show how to use it. He will also explore lessons to be learned from the mirror about being in the world as a magus.

This workshop will focus on a magical rather than a rationalistic way of life. It will explore the use of dreams, the arts, deep intuition, prophecy and simple trance as ways of living more deeply, more in touch with the defining currents of life."

2. The Spirituality of Jesus
"This workshop comes from his recent book Writing in the Sand: Jesus and the Soul of the Gospels. It offers a fresh view of what Jesus was all about — nothing to do with religion but a new way of being in the world. His work involves new translations of key words and a view of Jesus' stories and teachings as all focused on the new world or kingdom he spells out.

This is a Jesus spirituality especially for those who have abandoned Christianity or have little or no interest in it. Thomas treats the Gospels as being completely separate from Christianity, though he preserves what he considers the best in Christian tradition as well. He has made a new translation from Greek of the New Testament Gospels and will use these for this workshop."

A two-page .pdf brochure for the conference lists all teachers. Early online registration is advised.

Barque coverage
18 Feb 2012 "Moore visits Findhorn for Love, Magic, Miracles"

Listen to today's radio program about natural magic

Listen to Doug Foresta’s interview today, Natural Magic with Thomas Moore, in which Moore "discusses tips for increasing imagination and enhancing your emotional wellbeing. He also discusses the evolution of his work, and the connection between imagination and 'enchantment' and how you can live an 'enchanted' life!" This linked page to Empower Radio offers streaming audio of today’s program.

Come to Exeter College for Astrology in Action

The Faculty of Astrological Studies offers its Summer School brochure for this summer's program 17-24 August 2012 at Exeter College, Oxford. Thomas Moore is a guest tutor under Astrology in Action for Track 1: Living Soulfully, described on page 5:

Track 1: Living Soulfully Thomas Moore, Judy Hall, Dana Gerhardt and Laura Andrikopolous

"With the idea that 2012 marks a turning point now embedded in our cultural consciousness, many people are questioning established values and finding new meaning in spiritual understanding. Astrology can be an invaluable guide to characters, souls and inner landscape during this monumental shift in personal and global awareness. This track brings together astrological, psychological and spiritual perspectives from experienced practitioners for a profound re-visioning of relevant topics, including the astrology of happiness, psychological alchemy, and astrology’s gift of linking our daily lives with cosmic archetypes. We will see how we can find fulfillment and deep-seated, meaningful contentment by weaving astrological and spiritual practices into our daily lives. We will also discover the potential of these times for a shift in global consciousness on a  collective level, and how we can use our understanding of astrological patterns to navigate our way through a changing world."

Moore also participates in an evening session during the program. A registration form is included at the back of the brochure. You may enjoy reading "An Introduction to Archetypal Astrological Analysis" by Richard Tarnas.

New York programs over March 2012 weekend

Thomas Moore participates in programs with the New York Open Center over the last weekend of March 2012. Descriptions of the individual workshops and online registration are available:

Saturday 31 March 2012
10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Natural Magic:
Using Your Hidden Powers for a More Effective Life
Members: $125
Non-members: $135
Code: 12WSI79S

Sunday 1 April 2012
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
The Path of Eros
Members: $50
Non-members: $60
Code: 12WSI77M

Astrology may link our daily lives with spirituality

Thomas Moore participates in a five-day summer course in which he explores facets of natural magic. The course is offered at Exeter College, Oxford U.K. from 17 August to 24 August 2012 for the Faculty of Astrological Studies. According to the program's Summer School 2012 online description Moore co-presents in Track 1:

Living Soulfully
Thomas Moore, Judy Hall, Dana Gerhardt and Laura Andrikopolous

"With the idea that 2012 marks a turning point now embedded in our cultural consciousness, many people are questioning established values and finding new meaning in spiritual understanding. Astrology can be an invaluable guide to character, soul and inner landscape during this monumental shift in personal and global awareness. This track brings together astrological, psychological and spiritual perspectives from experienced practitioners for a profound re-visioning of relevant topics, including the astrology of happiness, psychological alchemy, and astrology’s gift of linking our daily lives with cosmic archetypes. We will see how we can find fulfilment and deep-seated, meaningful contentment by weaving astrological and spiritual practices into our daily lives. We will also discover the potential of these times for a shift in global consciousness on a collective level, and how we can use our understanding of astrological patterns to navigate our way through a changing world."

The full summer school brochure is available at the beginning of January 2012, when registration begins.

Moore describes Marsilio Ficino's natural magic

Today Thomas Moore writes about "Marsilio Ficino, an astrologer, philosopher, musician, translator, priest and magus of 15th century Italy" in his post "Natural Magic":

"I interpret him saying that we can make a more spiritual and more soulful world if we appreciate the power of ordinary things to affect our emotions and sense of meaning. The colors we use, the sounds that surround us, the timing of our projects, the images that we allow to impact us — the objects in our lives are not there just for their utility or their beauty but for their power to affect us profoundly.

This magical philosophy puts a different slant on the arts especially. For Ficino, an art piece is not just an aesthetic object of pleasure but a talisman, an object that has a degree of power for our lives. It’s important what colors we choose for the home and the workplace. Architecture, he said, is the most important of the arts because it affects how we live and accomplish anything. Advertisers know about these things and are always looking for the magic that will sell products. But imagine a natural, everyday magic that would make us healthier and happier, that would support our personal relationships and our work."

Moore describes his natural magic talismans at home that support and inspire him.

Renaissance natural magic may be helpful today

At the New York Open Center, Thomas Moore presented "Renaissance Magic in the 21st Century" on 3 April 2011. A 2 hour 34 minute podcast of Moore's talk is available for $9.99 through the center. According to the description, Moore "shares his research into the European Renaissance, when magia naturalis (“natural magic”) was practiced by major figures to harness the power of natural laws. Moore offers several practices for today involving talismans, music, colors, the meaning of names, and choosing where to live." The site provides a 2 minute free sample from Moore's introduction.