Hermetica Triptycha - by Gary P Caton (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

Messenger, trickster, psychopomp, Mercury's myriad forms belie a genuinely complex character. And yet to most modern astrologers he remains a relatively one-dimensional figure. Caton's Hermetic triptych is designed to ground you in the actual observation of Mercury as a living planetary phenomenon, and to bring the lessons of this planetary divinity back to the world of applied astrology.

Hermetica Triptycha is the first-ever comprehensive and integral treatment of Mercury's retrogrades, with a one hundred and twenty-five year ephemeris to track the sequential pattern of the planet Mercury's backward trickster medicine dance as it cycles through: three repeated degrees over forty days, three signs of one elemental triplicity each year, the four elements every six to seven years, twelve elemental returns over seventy-nine years. With additional analysis, lessons, and exercises including: the magical power of the image derived from Mercury's cycle as a visible "star", the philosophical, psycho-spiritual and practical ramifications of our views and attitudes toward Mercury retrograde, and individual chapters for using each of the four cycles of Mercury's retrogrades to facilitate personal growth, psycho-spiritual transformation, and real-world magic.

Review Quotes

"Gary provides a philosophical framework for the importance of Mercury at three key levels--the natal chart, by the transit (for each Mercury retrograde cycle from 1925-2050!) and over the course of one's life by Mercury's return by element over a 79 period. He demystifies the craziness surrounding Mercury Retrograde to make it as significant and powerful as a Saturn return. On top of it, the man has the nerve to even have practical exercises and meditations to use for the journeys!"--Samuel F. Reynolds.

"Gary takes Mercury out of the 24/7 news cycle of tweets, texts, and instant messaging and restores him to his proper place as the guide between worlds. Gary reminds us of Mercury's unique role in animism, alchemy, and magic and chapters 3 to 5 really show off the depth and breadth of his knowledge. Gary is a wonderful teacher (the first few pages describing how an inferior conjunction works astronomically were eye-opening to me. I can't tell you how many times my eyes have glazed over during explanations like these) and his skills as storyteller and guide are clearly on show. I particularly enjoyed the alchemy section where he successfully blends and mixes Jungian astrology with the Hellenistic school of Astrology that he is so well-versed in. It's a wonderful display of his virtuosic knowledge, but the display isn't showy. It's enlightening."--Christopher Renstrom.