Media Astra Ac Terra Episode 30 is now available! In this episode, we look at Draco the Dragon in the Astra segment, and in the Terra segment we learn about apophyllite! Then in the main segment, I share some of my thoughts about the recent tragedy in Japan, and the search for meaning in suffering and natural disasters.
In both the introduction and the main segment, I mentioned Peter Dybing’s donation page, collecting for Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres.) Or, you can visit the organization’s page directly by following this link. In my discussion in the main segment, I referenced a couple of books that touched on Pagan approaches to theodicy:
A World Full of Gods, by John Michael Greer
Beyond the Burning Times, by Gus diZerega (whose name I may have mispronounced; if so, I apologize!)
Another book I didn’t mention by name, but which is a good resource for understanding concepts like theodicy, is An Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion, by Brian Davies. It’s a textbook that I’ve used mostly for reference to refresh my memory about different concepts I’ve encountered in other places, but it’s pretty readable. As with most resources related to philosophy of religion, it’s heavily Christian-influenced, but the basic principles still offer a lot of food for thought.
But getting back to the earlier part of the show, here is the link I mentioned in the Astra segment: a reproduction of the image of Draco and the Two Bears depicted by Gaius Julius Hyginus, referred to by Agrippa in his Second Book of Occult Philosophy.
Embedded in this post you can see pictures of my two apophyllite specimens; click for larger versions. I couldn’t manage to really capture the details of the crystal cluster at left, but you can get an idea of the two very different shapes between that one and the picture below. The color on the cluster shades from green up to clear, although at this angle, the green shows through the clear tops of the crystals. And I think the sharp crystal growing in white stilbite came out pretty well, although the photo still doesn’t really do the color justice. They’re both about the same size overall, by the way, which you can gauge using my fingertip propping up the crystal cluster. 
During the break, I played promos for Borealis Meditation and The Infinite and the Beyond. And don’t forget, you have until the end of March to send me your questions for the April Q&A episode and be entered in the mystery drawing! You can email me, or send your question via Facebook or Twitter. Just please let me know that you’re submitting it as a question for the April episode.
Thanks for listening!
- Oraia Sphinx
