Procession of the Night Theatre
An Exposition on the Lunar Stations
by J.M. Hamade
370 pages/ 28 July 2024 / b&w paperback: 9781947544581
By light, unites the Indian nakshatra, the Chinese xiu, the Arabic manzil, and more, in a comprehensive study of the lunar stations through their many significations, magics, and delineations. By darkness, proceeds through dream-logics and poetry familiar to the labyrinths of One Thousand and One Nights. Each night a lunar station…
Procession is about the lunar zodiac in all its grandeur. Unlike the familiar 12 sign zodiac of the Sun, the 27-28 fold circle of the Moon still maintains her starry retinue in full. Though astrological correspondences are given their proper weight, including interpretations for the seven primary planets in each station, this book is at its core an exploration of teeming sidereal imagery.
Accordingly Procession may be read as an ongoing story. All the same, for astrologers, magicians, and luna-philes alike, as the most complete reference on the subject to date.
Contents
Introduction
I: Procession of the Night Theatre
the third night
the fourth night
the fifth night
the sixth night
the seventh night
the eighth night
the ninth night
the tenth night
the eleventh night
the twelfth night
the thirteenth night
the fourteenth night
the fifteenth night
the sixteenth night
the seventeenth night
the eighteenth night
the nineteenth night
the twentieth night
the twenty first night
the twenty second night
the twenty third night
the twenty fourth night
the twenty fifth night
the twenty sixth night
the twenty seventh night
the twenty eighth night
the first night
the second night
II: An Exposition on the Lunar Stations
A Brief History of the Lunar Stations
A Note on Coordinates
The 28 Lunar Stations
Scatter Stars and See What Grows/Ignite
Volcano/Bountiful
Head of a Doe/A Hunt at Twilight
The Retaliating Body/An Instinct to End
Born Again/Die Again
A Blister, A Thought/Eye of Potential
Snake Pit/The Overcoming Eyes
Double-Chambered Heart/A Star Enthroned
Treasure of the Pyramid I/Marriage from One Side
Treasure of the Pyramid II/Marriage from Another Side
Whistling Hand/Time-of-Day
A Faceted Gem/The Measure of Heaven
The Long Breath/A Feather, Windswept, Metal-Sharpened
The Replicating Branch/Rain-Light
Wreath of Flowers/A Hare Upon the Moon’s Face
The Soaring Heart/Red-Ghost in the Machine
Origin/Red-Root of the Cosmos
Jamal (Divine Beauty)/The Water Sieve
Jalal (Divine Majesty)/Silence
A Thread to Heaven/Darkness at the Pole
Subtle Listening/A Walk Through Eternity
Reverberating Sound/Beauty Conquers All
Stirring of the Old Gods/Pharmacopeia
Water-Ash/Burning
Ash-Water/Drowning
Water Ways (Veins)/Mouth of the Whale
Two Horns/Lightning from Heaven
Kingdom of the Interior/The Relentless Weight of Existence
III: Waning
Waning
Bibliography
J.M. Hamade (starnightdwell) (they/them) is a writer, independent researcher/scholar, artist, diviner, and educator based in New York City. Their work bridges contemporary creative modalities with archaic forms of knowing, magical practice, and esotericism. The investigation and experimental application of talismanic art forms is at the forefront of their work, as well as a research and practice focus in the fields of non-European astrologies and star lore, Islamic esotericism, Afro-diaspora traditions, and the dæmonic imagination or occult roots of creativity.
Their first full length book, Procession of the Night Theatre: An Exposition on the Lunar Stations (Revelore Press 2024) follows half a decade long research into the astrologies and magics of the lunar zodiac, initiated by their co-authorship and illustration of Ahmad al-Buni’s Shams al-Ma’arif: An Arabic Grimoire in Selected Translation (Revelore Press 2021) which deals extensively with like-mysteries.
More published materials include essays, interviews, and illustrations with Hadean Press, The Mountain Astrologer, and academic publications. They have also studied and worked professionally in handicrafts as diverse as butchery, floristry, and metal engraving, receiving a BA focused in printmaking from San Francisco State University and an MFA focused on interdisciplinary arts from the City College of New York (CUNY). Additionally, Hamade has exhibited artworks and live performances focusing on ritual across the United States, as well as hosting an every now and then podcast under the name starnightdwell.
This is a book I didn’t know I needed. As an astrologer utilizing the western zodiac but having a deep reverence for fixed stars this book outlines the places of the lunar stations with the western zodiacal degrees accounting for the movement of the actual fixed stars. Not only this but it’s so beautifully written, very excited to start utilizing the lunar zodiac in a time when the forces of the moon are so desperately needed in our solar world. Thank you for sharing this passion project J.M.!