SS357: Black Ink, Farther Stars: An Interview with Author Austin Shifrin (Season 6, Episode 7)

Solomon’s Staircase Masonic Lodge

Thank you to Austin Shifrin for spending some time with us to discuss his new book, Black Ink, Farther Stars. His book is available on Amazon around the world.

https://www.amazon.com/Black-Farther-Stars-Austin-Shifrin/dp/B0DBCD7PBM

“Black Ink, Farther Stars”: The title derives from a mixed metaphor, combining a theurgic practice used by the ancient Greeks to talk with their gods, and the modern use of parallax by astronomers to estimate the distance to celestial objects.
The book is 164 pages, and consists of 5 chapters, each a topic that was originally custom-written for presentation to a Masonic audience:
“Ritual Across Time and Space” – how theater and the performing arts have been used by different societies around the world and throughout history for cultural and moral instruction.
“The Chamber of Reflection: Mortality, Morphology, and Meaning” – how contemplation of death can enrich and inspire our lives, drawing on sources from Paracelsus to podcasts.
“The Tarot of Virtue” – how Tarot cards can be used as a visual aid to study the 18 progressive virtues in the system of modern French philosopher Andre Comte-Sponville.
“How the Allied Masonic Degrees and Grand College of Rites Complement Each Other” – the history of two lesser-known Masonic institutions, and the unique and colorful rituals that they preserve.
“The Stuff Freemasonry is Made Of: Physical Properties of the Old Testament” – How we can better understand the stories of Freemasonry and the Old Testament when we have a better grasp of the physical settings and artifacts being referenced; examining both the hard science, and the lore.