Arrows Of Time

My lovely friend Kim Falconer’s new book Arrows Of Time is out.  I loved the Spell Of Rosette and this is the 2nd in the series.  It reminds me of my fave classics: Ursula K Le Guin, Madeleine L’Engle, Tanith Lee…What is awesome about Kim’s fiction is that it works as a thriller and as science fantasy but she actually uses PROPER magic in them…So the herblore, martial arts Qi stuff and astrology is all totally accurate. It makes for a more satisfying read. I cannot bear books that pretend to be all about witches or whatever but they mix up mugwort with hemlock or something. I also love the idea of time travelling expert swordswomen witches who are also brilliant at computers & quantum physics.

And so anyway, I have interviewed Kimmy!

MYSTIC: Please can you give a quick precis of this book – the 2nd in a series – for those not familiar with your work?

KIM FALCONER The Quantum Enchantment Series is ’speculative fiction’–a story about real people up against the wall, immersed in nano-technology and witchcraft, sentient and gender biases, fast horses, hot bards, stunning tattoos and environments on the brink of destruction. It has elements of fantasy, science fiction and magical realism, exploring the relationship between magic and technology, thought and energy in parallel worlds. Book one, The Spell of Rosette, begins the journey–a coming of age for a young witch. Arrows of Time, book 2, continues the story. It is set in three worlds experiencing multiple sequences of time.

MYSTIC: Kimmy, I love how you weave actual magic, spellcraft, herblore and – of course – astrology into your fiction. Can you give me an example from Arrows Of Time?

KIM FALCONER: There are a lot of astrological references in the whole series. One example is when Kreshkali reflects on how An’ Lawrance’s accepts his new apprentices.
Excerpt: ‘Not bad for a man with his moon in the fixed sign of the Scorpion. Change didn’t come easy for such a placement, nor did letting go of grudges, but he’d handled it with near effortlessness, if you didn’t count the grumbles, scowls and derogatory annotations.’
Hara, or Qi energy is a strong element in my novels — it is the source of magical power after all. Because some of the main characters wield Samurai swords, you’ll see them channelling their energy, using the sword as a conduit and then, well, depending on whether it’s training or a real confrontation, heads may roll!

MYSTIC You are a whiz at Horary Astrology- please explain how it works and why you’re so good at it?

KIM FALCONER: Horary astrology was developed at a time when few charts were drawn for individuals, save royalty. Many people didn’t even know their birth day let alone time so if they wanted to consult ‘the stars’ it couldn’t be done through the birth chart. Enter the horary method! It is a chart done for the moment in time ‘you ask the question’. The interpretation is made through a symbol system that derives meaning from planetary motions. The idea of horary–which is deeply explored in Arrows of Time through a conversation between Kreshkali and her apprentice–is not causal (not planets causing events) but synchronicity—meaningful coinciding of planets with events. Why do I have a knack for reading them? It’s really all about practice–I’ve been doing them for a long long time!

MYSTIC: What are your thoughts on the upcoming Saturn-square Pluto in Capricorn aspect – in late November…Do you agree with me that it’s going to be a real “tell” of how Pluto in Cap is likely to manifest over the next few years???

KIM FALCONER: Saturn often coincides with a big dose of ‘reality’ so in that sense yes, it will be telling. On a personal level I think it will be very significant for relationships of all kinds. Saturn is exalted in Libra and whenever he’s found in this sign, he cleans house in the relationship department. For those who have a clear, beautiful, openhearted love life, they will find it deepening–things get richer–better! For those ‘tolerating’ partnerships that are no longer authentic or nurturing, the strength to make creative change–and the impulse to do so–will be at hand.

MYSTIC: I absolutely love the character of the witch genius and fighter Rosette – what is her astro?

KIM FALCONER: Rosette, born in Gaela, has sun in the sign of the Twins (Gemini) a Water-bearer moon (Aquarius) square Uranus and the Lion (Leo) rising . She has one heck of a Neptune transit to her sun in Arrows of Time–it has quite a literal effect!

MYSTIC: Whenever we talk, I always love how your positive philosophy seems to sort of blend Law of Attraction stuff with very practical astrology, goddess worship and quantum physics. Is it poss for you to please precis your philsophy?

KIM FALCONER: My motto is –We are spiritual beings in physical bodies here to experience life. From that perspective, we can drop words like ‘good’ and ‘bad’, ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ and replace them with notions of ‘alignment’, ‘vibration’ and ‘energy’. I also believe that we ‘get what we vibrate’. When I attract something to me that I don’t like, the first thing I ask is, what does this have to do with me? It helps in seeing the world from a different angle! (or angel