Astrologer and author Alan Annand joins host Jenn Zahrt from Toronto in Ontario, Canada! It would be a crime not to pull up a chair for this one, so join the duo as they discuss Vedic astrology and more, including: planetary dignities and rulerships; functional benefics and malefics; the rules of horary; and illuminating Chandra Mangala Yoga and Mahabhagya Yoga! Plus: bookshop angels, passing down sacred knowledge, and “aha moments” that arrive years later!
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Transcripts available upon request.
Song “Wake Up” used with permission by The E-Block Band.
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Episode timestamps (conversation recorded February 2025):
00:31 – Alan Annand is a Canadian astrologer, palmist and author. A former tutor for the British Faculty of Astrological Studies, he’s a graduate of the American College of Vedic Astrology, and Editor-in-Chief for ACVA Publications. He’s a longstanding student of Hart de Fouw, and has practiced astrology for over 40 years. His books on jyotisha – Kala Sarpa, Kama Yoga, Parivartana Yoga, and Stellar Astrology, Volumes 1-4 – have been praised for the quality of their research and writing. He’s also a crime novelist, whose New Age Noir mystery series (Scorpio Rising, Felonious Monk, Soma County) features a Vedic astrologer/palmist.
01:48 – Alan’s first astrology book was A Time for Astrology by Jess Stearn. Early on, he also read Ancient Hindu Astrology for the Modern Western Astrologer by James Braha.
07:52 – If Alan could bring only three books to a deserted island, his first pick would be Astrosynthesis: The Rational System of Horoscope Interpretation According to Morin de Villefranche by Jean-Baptiste Morin de Villefranche and translated by Lucy Little. (Jenn also shouts out her island pick, The Rules of Chart Interpretation by Rod Suskin.)
16:46 – Interlude: Join the CAELi Support Drive and for only $35, you can enjoy your morning beverage out of a gorgeous CAELi mug!
17:33 – Alan’s second choice would be The Horary Textbook: Revised Edition by John Frawley.
19:44 – The third title Alan would bring is Phala Deepika by Mantreshwara and translated by S.S. Sareen. (Alan also mentions the Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra!)
31:22 – For beginners, Alan recommends getting a guru, but if books must be mentioned, he suggests Light on Life: An Introduction to the Astrology of India by Hart deFouw and Robert Svoboda.
35:49 – Find Alan at his website: https://www.navamsa.com/. And his YouTube channel is: @AlanAnnand.
36:20 – Thanks for listening to Within Orb! If you love the show, please help support it at no cost to you: Follow or subscribe wherever you listen, rate it five stars, or write a happy review! And if you’d like to become a CAELi member or support our work with a contribution of any amount, we’d be delighted – thanks!
Show notes by Jen Braun, JJ Boots Productions LLC.
