Christopher Warnock: Founding Figure of the Astrological Magic Revival

Idola Stellarum focuses a great deal on the textual, historical, and spiritual traditions of astrological magic as they have come down to us practicing in the English-speaking worlds of astrology and magic, and we exist partly to encourage others to explore these rich traditions in their own ways. Although we typically focus on medieval and Renaissance sources, we also believe strongly in crediting and celebrating modern practitioners who have been instrumental in reviving and passing on astrological magic.

Christopher Warnock: Elder Statesman of Astrological Magic

Foremost among these modern practitioners is Christopher Warnock of Renaissance Astrology. Many people, if they are familiar with Idola Stellarum, will need no introduction to Christopher Warnock. Yet for those who are newer to astrological magic, we feel it is important to impart familiarity with our forebears and those to whom we owe the modern revival of astrological magic.

It is no exaggeration to credit Warnock as the founder of the popular contemporary revival of astrological magic. Idola Stellarum itself almost certainly would not exist were it not for his spirited dedication to not just the study of astrological magic, but its reconstruction as a living tradition and practice. This is not only because Idola mage Rain has personally been a student of Christopher Warnock, but because nearly every living practitioner of astrological magic in the English-speaking world can trace their lineage and learning to Warnock (and/or to his teacher, Robert Zoller) in one way or another—whether through direct teaching or more indirectly through Warnock’s steady efforts to translate and disseminate source texts and the substance of the medieval and Renaissance worldviews that undergird the practice of astrological magic.

As he notes on his website, Christopher Warnock has been called the father of traditional astrological magic revival and the elder statesman of astrological magic. Warnock was a student of Lee Lehman in horary astrology and studied magical philosophy with Robert Zoller. Through these connections, particularly to Robert Zoller, Christopher Warnock became a figurehead in traditional astrology and most particularly astrological magic. Encouraged by Zoller, Warnock became focused on producing an English-language translation of the Picatrix, which until the late 2000s had only been available in Latin and Arabic critical editions and in German translation. Warnock’s translation of the Latin Picatrix with John Michael Greer was published in 2009 and has become the standard version of the text in translation for practitioners of astrological magic.

Beyond Picatrix, Warnock has published numerous books, including on Lunar Mansions, fixed star & constellation magic, and stellar devotion, as well as important editions and translations of key source texts including De Quindecim Stellis and the lapidary of Damigeron. He also teaches the premiere course on astrological magic, and almost anyone encountering the modern practice of astrological magic in the English-speaking has surely encountered his work or the work of his students.

Christopher Warnock has also been actively producing astrological talismans for decades, and continues to come out with new talismans on a regular basis. His style of highly visible images cast in bronze pendants has become so distinctive that a Warnock talisman is instantly recognizable. Warnock is also one of the very few practitioners producing house-based talismans, and he has been a pioneer in constellation talismans and magical images from lesser-known source texts. The Idola Stellarum mages each possess several talismans from Christopher Warnock, and when we receive inquiries about talismans that we do not have in stock ourselves we regularly point people in the direction of his longstanding resource-heavy website, Renaissance Astrology.

Warnock’s Focus on the Worldview of Astrological Magic

In 2022, Rain and Pallas of Idola Stellarum met Christopher Warnock in person at the Northwest Astrology Conference (NORWAC), where he gave multiple talks in addition to holding court with various other current and aspiring astrological magicians. Warnock was extremely gracious, friendly, and generous with his time and thoughts, which is unsurprising given his generous, ecumenical approach to respecting and honoring multiple approaches to astrological magic.

Rain recalls talking with Warnock in the lobby at the NORWAC conference hotel about how the astrological magical tradition was developing, and Warnock gently steered the focus toward more deeply understanding and explicating the tradition itself, rather than thinking about innovation or forward development. Over time, we have come to see the deeper wisdom in Warnock’s response.

Importantly, one of the focuses of Christopher Warnock’s work and teaching concerns the worldview of astrological magic. In fact, his course on astrological magic begins with “Lesson 1: The Magical World View.” Warnock has an exquisite sensitivity to the fact that astrological magic arose in times and places very different from our own in which people had very different assumptions about the nature of human beings, the world, and the cosmos. Those who follow his writing will easily recognize how he frequently draws people’s attention to how various questions about astrological magic belie either secular, materialist assumptions and/or misunderstandings of the medieval and Renaissance worldviews in which astrological magic originated and make sense.

In focusing on worldview, Warnock subtly encourages people to not view astrological magic and astrological talismans as just another tool to use for success, but rather as a vehicle for stepping outside of the destructive modern worldview and toward a more intimate relationship with the celestial sphere. His approach has been incredibly influential to Idola Stellarum.

Appreciating Christopher Warnock

Warnock fastidiously encourages his students to base our viewpoints and practices—and to cite our sources—as astrological magicians in historical source texts, while also not rigidly insisting that the source texts must be followed to the letter. His firm commitment to the textual and spiritual tradition of astrological magic, rejection of dogmatic claims, and integrity of his craft and approach have all contributed to Warnock becoming very influential in the industry of astrological magic. However, as the field has become more robust and commercial, Warnock’s ecumenical approach, lack of investment in being a singular authority or guru, and modesty and prudence in the claims he makes for himself also arguably contribute to him perhaps not always getting the recognition he deserves.

Astromagical enthusiasts have an incredible opportunity: the figurehead of the contemporary revival of astrological magic is still practicing, still making talismans, still teaching—and will be speaking at the 2026 United Astrology Conference on the Astrological Magic & Theurgy lecture track (which arguably might not exist were it not for Christopher Warnock and Robert Zoller!). His combination of knowledge, experience, stature, and availability is truly rare, and we definitely encourage people interested in astrological magic to consider supporting and learning from Christopher Warnock. There are many ways someone can do this, as Warnock continues to produce amazing resources and products that support the dissemination of astrological magic, including:

Horary, natal, and electional astrology readings;
Numerous books, including various editions of the Picatrix;
Astrological talismans of all varieties, including planetary talismans, lunar mansion talismans, constellation talismans, and more;
And last but not least, a very thorough self-paced course in astrological magic, defined by direct personal feedback from Warnock himself, that we highly recommend to anyone seriously committed to learning this tradition and craft, as well as several other courses in horary astrology, natal astrology, and more.

Christopher Warnock’s website, Renaissance Astrology, also continues to be a bastion of free resources and highly valuable educational materials on astrological magic. However one chooses to do it, we encourage people to learn from, support, and give credit where credit is due to the elder statesman of astrological magic.

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