I printed the first draft of my book, Astrology and Alchemy, The Lost Key To The Philosphers' Stone, A Practical Laboratory Handbook. It's coming together beautifully. Now, the editing begins! More info to follow, and soon at: www.alchemyastrology.com

Wow! I had an absolutely wonderful time at the Between The Worlds festival this year. My gig went well and I received many kind compliments. It was the best show I've had since I performed at the old FreeFest for 3,000 people at Cricket Hill in 1991! I also facilitated a hand drum jam that seemed to help increase our drum group, and I was honored to pour for our Pagan Purification Lodge. Thanks for all the support and feedback!

Astro-chemy Forecast, July 3-7, 2009.

The Sun starts out in defusive, versatile, and airy Gemini setting the tone for events this weekend. On July 4th the Sun enters tenacious, devotional and watery Cancer adding an opportunity for personal expression and deeper feelings. Alchemically (in function) this brings us from fixation to dissolution, opening our egos to new ideas and our hearts to our devotions. The Sun is highly fortified by the Star Sirius offering an even greater potential to go beyond the ego for the good of the community, perhaps in perpetuity.

Mercury, the messenger, is aligned with the confidence building Star Betelgeuse supporting social communication. The Star El Nath (the tip of the horn of Taurus the bull) focuses this already strong aspect. This is definitely a good time for those shy to express themselves verbally or otherwise.

The Moon moves from the intensity of icy Scorpio to fiery Sagittarius where understanding resides. The Star Zuben Eschamali backs the changing Moon and inspires social energies.

Venus and Mars, both in stable, earthy Taurus ground the pleasant and aggressive energies they are respectfully associated with. The Stars Rigel, Alcyone and Alphecca in alignment with Venus inspire ritual beyond average social convention. The Star Mirfak in alignment with Mars makes available an enormous store of raw physical energy to draw from.

Fortunate Jupiter will bring the weekend alive with the support of the Star Deneb Algedi in concentrative and airy Aquarius. This will specifically enrich the body and spirit.

Saturn, the great teacher, will keep the lessons steadily flowing in earthy practical Virgo with help from the Stars Zosma, Dubhe and Denebola.

Overall, this is a good time to let go, dance, and party like you've never done before. Explore the new energies for growth that are available and have a great time. Let caution be the watchdog for this weekend. Keep your confidence in align with your instinct, and use your head when in doubt.

This forecast is derived using Sidereal Astrology in combination with the Fixed Stars and the theories of Alchemical Astrology.

Tim "KC" Wilkerson is an adept Alchemist and author of the upcoming book:
"Astrology of the Ancient Alchemists: the lost key to the Philosphers Stone"

I'm writing a book about Astrology and Alchemy. It's coming along good. Bernadette Brady just gave me permission to use parts of her books about "Fixed Stars". This is very exciting!

I have recently been given a way to open the field of Alchemy to the science of Astronomy, and the gifts of Astrology. I've been writing a book about this since October 2008. Actually it's mostly been the task of finding collaborating research at this point, but I have started the first chapter a few times. Here's how the book got started.

While I was attending the 1st Annual Alchemy Conference, in Las Vegas believe-it-or-not, I was asked to participate on an open panel. A rather direct young man asked me, with a hint of sarcasm, "Is astrology important at all?" It sounded to me as if he was disappointed and possibly a bit angry. It may have been why he attended the conference to begin with. I suddenly realized that this aspect of Alchemy was not being given the importance it deserved. I told him how useful it's been in my work. He relaxed.

Later, I volunteered to teach a basic astrology course at the 2nd Annual Alchemy Conference, if they couldn't locate a more qualified teacher. I was very surprised to learn that, apparently, I'm the last living authority on Astrology for practical Alchemy. Or, nobody else was available, it's hard to get alchemists out of the lab. LOL Anyway, the workshop went very well, with over 100 in attendance, and there were many enthusiastic questions. Afterwards, a person of very high standing in the North American alchemy community asked me to write a book about it. He said he would be happy to write the intro. Six months later I received an email from one of the students who said my class "was worth the price of the whole conference". She wants a copy of the book when it's out.

Two reasons I"m writing this book.

The alchemists of old have attested that astrology is most desirable as a tool in the alchemical work. It was then a main stream science like astronomy is now. Although the accuracy of astrological readings vary I know they are a viable way for me to "tune in" to myself. I benefit because an Alchemist's journey is as equally inward, as it is outward.

There are the more scientific elements deduced from astronomy as well as the long history of astrological observations. My teacher, Frater Albertus, showed me how to do a chart to find the best time to do the alchemical work. I've been keeping charts since graduating from the Paracelsus Research Institute, Prima Class, in 1984. I've found that certain processes repeat differently when the moon is in another location than during the previous experiments. The actual astrology chart is based on current main stream science. It's an astronomical depiction of the mathematically determined positions of objects in space; planets, asteroids, etc. This information is also used for navigation and is provided by NASA and other authorities. Astronomy presents us with the physical "State of the Solar System" pertaining to our practical alchemical work. The Sun obviously beams energy to us, why not the other heavenly bodies? Albeit not so hot, but still they shower us with a bouquet of rays from beyond. How does this effect our subtle experiments in a laboratory situation? Observations over time can give us clues that can make or break an experiment. To me, using astronomy / astrology as guides to observing laboratory conditions is definitely worth the time.

I was asked if I'm still interested in performing as the feature act at the BTW festival this year! I, of course, said yes!!! I hope they pick me.

My first resolution is to meet new people this Winter but the plan seems to have stalled out. My partner and I have lost most of our friends in our divorces, which turns out to be a good thing. I thought it would be nice to reach out to people of like mind and heart here in the City while we're not traveling around the country. We met a couple, who contacted me after reading my profile, but they have some challenges that seem to have caused them to reconsider. We met 3 times and I think about them a lot but they haven't responded to any of my recent comments on line. We'll see or oh well. I met a guy who's a university professor, but he's still figuring out his lifestyle in my opinion - sort of a don't ask don't tell married person. I don't have time for anyone who's not just right up front, direct and honest with me. Even if they just tell me they're not interested in pursuing a friendship right now I would appreciate the consideration. So, I've deleted most of my online profiles. Instead I joined a dart league that I can walk to from my apt. I've met a bunch of people so far and I find it very entertaining. Our team won the first week!

My second resolution is to get in shape for Beltaine! I got 3 free sessions at the local gym last week and I feel great. I haven't lost any weight but I did loose an inch around the waste! I'll probably join as a member. Who knows I might meet some new friends there too.

I'm watching the inauguration on TV grateful that it's going so smoothly. As I write this the Blue Springs, Missouri, High School Marching Band is performing for the 1st Family. Even though it's not the only high school I attended it was the one I graduated from!

During the parade though I had a really hard time. Watching President Obama and his partner Michelle walking down the middle of the street gave me an emotional flash back. It reminded me of a time when I was kid. My brother and I were watching cartoons after school. On Friday, November 22, 1963, the show was interrupted by an update to a Special Report, the President had died from a bullet wound to the head. I ran to the kitchen to get my Mom. We just sat there staring in disbelief and trying not to cry. I was seven years old, it broke my heart.

My Dad, being Catholic, really loved that Kennedy was President, he talked about him a lot. When he got home from work that day it was a very sad and quiet evening. He went to his room and I didn't see him for 2 days. He didn't talk about politics for a long time after that, not until George W. Bush was in office - he liked to complain about him a lot.

I just realized something kind of weird. My Mom died the year before the terrorist attack on New York, she would have been so sad. My Dad died the year before a black man was elected president, he would have been so mad. I guess it's a good thing they died when the did! LOL

May the Gods protect Barrack Obama!

Well, here I am in the new year. Mostly I've been writing a book on astrology.

My resolution is to get out of the apartment and perform at more open mics. I've been to 3 so far this year. I met up with a bunch of the old open mic crew at the Gallery, I gave them all a hard time, well, a little bit anyway. It was good to see them. I might go to a new one tonight, Stolie is running it at the Globe on Irving.

I went to the gym yesterday for the first time in 25 years! It's time to start getting my strength (and figure) back after almost two years on the injured list - so to speak. I originally injured my neck in '74 and since then the hair line fractures have caused bone-spurs that press on my spinal cord from time to time. It flared up 18 years ago and then again 2 years ago. It was extremely painful. I lost some feeling in my right hand and left fingers, and my fine muscle control was messed up. I had to relearn to play guitar after some of the nerves in my neck became damaged from the pressure. I can do about 15 songs in a row now, for a while I could only do 3 or 4 in a row. Chiropractic, yoga and herbs helped me get functional and pain-free again. I'm feeling much better but many of my upper body muscles have atrophied some. I could only run 2 miles (on the machine) and my bench press is down to 102 lbs, but I think it's a good start. I just have to go slow.

sign off

I set the tone for 2009 by going out to an open mic at the Gallery Cabaret in Chicago. I had a great time and I met old friends I hadn't seen for a very long time. Some of them I have known for 20 years! I moved around a lot as a kid so this is a first for me.

I performed twice, 6 songs total. After some intense begging I also got to drum (gymbe) with a few people, who incidentally told me afterwards that they were glad I was so insistent. I can see now that I really need to get out there and perform more during the Winter months.

I also ended 2008 in a similar way. Here's a link to a short movie clip of me performing December 30th, accompanied by Jen Urban on gymbe, at the Urban Cafe open mic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLEM8Mh8pYY

The Winter Solstice (Dec. 21st) marks the middle of Winter. From this point on the days begin to get ever so slightly longer as the Earth makes it's way around the Sun to Spring! I don't know why people say it's the beginning of Winter, they must get so depressed thinking that. Every year we go camping on this auspicious occasion.

The last four Longest Night camp-outs have been at Our Haven in Indiana. We sit up all night waiting for the Sun to reappear just as our ancestors did. Some say that long ago people wondered if the Sun would return and said prayers to bring the Sun back. We knew it would come but wow, it was a very long night. We danced, drummed and partied around a huge bonfire until the Sun peeked up over the horizon and through the bare trees. It was a blast as we called Resh at the top of our lungs in honor of the Sun!

Each year this event gets bigger and this time we had 60+ people. The wind chill was very low though so there was no skycladding going on but in past years it was even warm enough to dance naked. It was so cold my camera wouldn't work or I'd show some photos. Anyway, I once again feel reconnected to the Earth and I now know I can make it through to Beltaine.

Peace and Happy Holidays,
KC

I recently read an article that said the chance of my vote being the deciding vote in a Presidential election, on average, and "at best", is "80 million to one". (The chance of getting hit by lightning is "40 million to one".) My vote would first have to decide who gets the Illinois electoral votes, and then the Illinois electoral votes would have to be the deciding factor in the election. At worst this is "9 billion to one" depending on which State a voter lives in. I have to ask myself where my vote would do the best good for the country. To me that would be by showing my support for third party candidates so that one day they could get the media coverage they deserve. This is the only way to achieve what some call Merit-ocracy, where a number of candidates are running on their merit and not just 2 candidates competing in a popularity contest. If you don't vote because you're discouraged by this 2 party dictatorship like I am, please consider helping make a real change by registering to vote next time and cast your ballot for a third party candidate.

Just to add some light to my theory that a third party win for the Presidency of the United States would be the best situation for our Country I must point to Abraham Lincoln. He was a member of the newly formed Republican Party which at that time was the "third party" to the Whigs and the Democrats. He made some changes but that's not irrefutable evidence that a third party could do that now. Some may ask, "What if a candidate such as Mr. Nader were to be elected and found he was not able to sway the staunch members of the Republican and Democratic parties?" My answer is that he would be able to point out to the U.S. citizens which politicians should not be re-elected if changes are to occur. He would have no worries of possible political revenge from the Democrats and Republicans for saying so. Those who would stubbornly oppose the President with greed, or ignorance, despite the wishes of the voters (as often happens in the Democratic and Republican parties) would not be present for a possible second term. It might take 8 years but it could very well end the 2 party dictatorship we are now experiencing. That would be worth the wait to me.

Here's my theory. Republicans and Democrats have to reconcile agreements they propose, even within their own parties, so they can get what they want. Even when it's legal I equate this to corruption and consider it at best to be un-ethical. Here's a good example. In order to get the $700,000,000,000.00 bailout to pass after it was rejected the first time they had to add some projects to the proposal. Among added projects listed were a $2 million tax benefit for makers of wooden bows and arrows for children, a $100 million tax break to benefit auto racetrack owners, $192 million in rebates on excise taxes for the Puerto Rican and Virgin Islands rum industry and $148 million in tax relief for U.S. wool fabric producers. What does this have to do with bailing out Wall Street? I haven't a clue.

It is my conjecture that 3rd party candidates can just say "no way" because they don't have the same need to reconcile what they want in order to get along with the Democrats and Republicans. They're not going to get ostracized in any way that they care about. Also, they don't have any experience with corruption and therefore in my opinion are less likely to fall prey to it.

I'm voting for Mr. Nader! I'm totally tired of the election hype. What is this a reality TV show or a actuality event? Election to office based on merit is what our system of government is supposed to stand for.

Unless the election is a tie my one vote will be wasted on a senseless popularity contest between Republicans and Democrats. Both parties are riddled with corruption and dirty politics. I don't want to feel that I must choose between the "least of 2 evils". We have more choices but few people realize it because these two parties won't even debate the 3rd party candidates on national TV (or any other venue). I think they're afraid they'll look like fools, which they probably would at least half of the time.

I don't think it will make much difference if there's a Republican or a Democrat in office the next 4 years - or that casting "my" vote for one of them will make any difference either. I feel that by voting 3rd Party I'm at least opening up more choices in future elections. Did you know that this 2008 election has 3rd party independent candidate Ralph Nader on the Balot in 45 out of 50 States? That's because he did so well in the last election. Did you know there are women running together for President and Vice President? One is African American and one is Hispanic American. It's a very sad thing that hardly anybody even knows that much less the women in this Country.

Independent - Ralph Nader & Matt Gonzalez
[http://www.votenader.org]

Green Party candidates - Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney & Rosa Clemente [http://www.gp.org/index.php]

I wouldn't vote for these next 2 teams for personal reasons but just to be fare, here are links to their info:

Libertarian Party - Bob Barr & Wayne Allyn Root [http://www.bobbarr2008.com/home/skip/?s=0618]

Constitution Party - Chuck Baldwin & Darrell Castle [http://www.baldwin08.com/]

Saturday, Sept 29th 2007, Louisville Waterfront Park- Brown-Foreman
Amphitheater (next to Tumbleweed, on River Rd)

LPPD opens at 11:00 AM
Opening ritual at 11:30 AM
Workshops start at 12:00 noon to 1:30 PM.
Anthony Nava from 1:45 PM to 2:30 PM
"Silks" belly dance presentation from 2:45 PM to 3:45 PM.
K.C. Wilkerson from 4:00 PM to 4:30 PM (or longer)
Closing ritual at 5:00 PM
LPPD Closes at 6:00 PM.

I know, I did it again, last minute notice. Where's my secretary?

Well, I finally got the contact info for my teacher. I sent an email to his friend and hopefully she'll pass on the message. Now, I wait.

In my experience most people think of the lodge as a place of religious seriousness. This, I think, is because of the Christian influence on Native North Americans. I may be wrong, but I've heard this from those who should know, and they didn't sound mistaken. Laughter, love, and closeness, all are important in the lodge. It's generous to also remember that we can also respect the ones who are letting go of the past, or are on another inward journey. Sometimes men need to go inside alone. That's not necessarily a serious event, it can be joyous! Yet like a birth, this rebirth, sometimes needs to remain untouched by others while in the lodge. Over-all, "Purification", is the form. The lodge is open to our energies to seek purification, from, the haunts that hold us down, to the blocks that frustrate us, to the purification of the body that brings clear vision to help us ask our prayers to the gods.