Fictional Astro Done Right

Astrology, both ancient and yet somehow always contemporary, is a natural fit with sci-fantasy. But it’s rarely depicted in a way that resonates with people who use it everyday or have an essentially astrological perspective on life.

Kim Falconer’s books nail it but she is a skilled astrologer as well as an author. The Myrtlewood Mystery series by Iris Beaglehole integrate astrology in a really cool way:

Rosemary patted the kitten and scratched his chin. She flinched as something black protruded from his mouth. “Ahh. Cat – gross!” “What is it?” Athena craned her neck to look over the table as the object clattered to the floor.
“Looks like one of Granny’s crystals,” said Athena.
“Naughty fuzzball,” said Rosemary. “You should know that isn’t food.”

The cat looked at her imploringly.
“What’s going on with her?” Athena asked. “Hey, that stone is onyx.”
Rosemary stared at the kitten who continued to give her a meaningful look and then touched the stone with the tip of her paw and walked off. “Well, that was weird and creepy.”
“Maybe not,” said Athena. “Onyx is a Saturn stone. Maybe you need it.”
She picked up the stone, cleaned it, and popped it into her mother’s handbag.

Celestial Magic 

I was delighted to discover that the author is a longtime MM member! She describes herself as “a tea-obsessed Leo kitchen witch and druid with a Gemini ascendant.”  Interestingly, Beaglehole – yes a pseudonym – claims that Gemini Rising people are prone to vertigo, which I haven’t heard before. 

Celestial Magic, quoted above and below, is the most astro-themed of the series and features an astrological band called Stellium whose albums are actually direct magical invocations of various planets.  The Saturn track is Death-Metal, interestingly.

The creatures stumbled backwards, but Lamorna was unaffected. She laughed. “You think you can fight the powerful magic of sirens, bolstered by Neptune?” Rosemary was taken aback, but Athena’s voice broke through to her mind again.
That’s it!
What?

Siren magic is like Neptune. It’s all a spell…and it’s vibrational. I know what might work. My teacher said celestial magic is all about balancing the forces. Every power has an opposite tension. Saturn is the antidote to Neptune.

Rosemary frowned in confusion. I thought you said Saturn was bad.
No – it’s just hard – groundedness and structure – it’s cold hard reality – the wakeup call everyone needs.
Sounds pretty bad.
Athena let out an exasperated sigh. Come with me!
She began pulling Rosemary away as Lamorna cackled maniacally.
“But all those people!” said Rosemary when she was sure they were out of earshot.
“I don’t like our chances of saving them when the sirens themselves are immune to our magic.”
“Where are we going?”
“Over here.” Athena pulled Rosemary into a beach DJ hut. It had been abandoned, probably by people who were now standing in the sea, and was pumping out a slow techno beat. “Give me your phone!” “Why?” Rosemary asked.
“I told you. Mine’s flat.”
Rosemary shook her head as she rummaged for her phone. “Only if you tell me what this is all about.”
“What did I just tell you? What counteracts Neptune?” Athena asked.
“This is no time for a pop quiz.”
“No – Saturn!”
“What are you doing?”
“Jamming their frequency!”
Rosemary watched, baffled, as Athena opened the music app and brought up her favourite band. She frowned in disbelief. “Really?”
Athena selected the Saturn album.

Thoughts?