Dec 6, 2022 | RAMBLINGS, REFLECTIONS and RUMINATIONS of TOTAMS Founder Daniel Giamario
Just in time for Christmas, I am sharing with you the best books I have read over the last six months.
Also included here are several really useful resources.
ASTRONOMICAL CALENDAR 2023 by Guy Ottewell
This a fabulous resource for all astrologers with an interest in the night sky. It had been only available
online for the last 5-6 years, but is again now available in print form, as well as online. It has always
been so helpful in monthly and yearly timings.
THE NEW AMERICAN EPHEMERIS: 2020-2030 by Rique Pottenger from ACS Publications
With the Lunar Standstill season fast approaching in 2024-2025, and with more and more
interest and awareness of out-of-bounds Moons, this is a very useful reference for easily checking the
declination placements of the Moon and planets. Many have been asking how to find this information.
It is found on Solar Fire, but having this resource makes the task quite easy.
THE GRAIL: RELIC OF AN ANCIENT RELIGION by Simon Andrew Stirling
A long-time interest of mine has been the mythic themes of Avalon, Merlin and Arthur. I have
previously recommended his earlier and essential book: The King Arthur Conspiracy: How a Scottish
Prince Became a Mythical Hero. In short Arthur was Scottish and Camelot was also in Southern Scotland
with connections to Argyle. The story of an Arthurian Glastonbury was a British hijack. This is something
I first learned about in my early journeys to Scotland in the 1980’s. This follow-up book of Stirling,
tackles the issue of the Grail and, in my view, really answers many questions. A central conclusion, also
that I first intuited in the 80’s, was that the island of Iona is the location of ancient Avalon. These ideas
have been important components of many of our journeys organized by The Renaissance of the Sacred.
DEBT: THE FIRST 5000 YEARS by David Graeber
I recently highly recommended Graeber’s more recent book: The Dawn of Everything, in my view, one of
the most important books written in recent years. See my review here: https://turningoftheages.com/latest-book-recommendation-the-dawn-of-everything/.
This is his earlier book, and equally compelling. This is a must if you have ever wondered about the origins of money and of debt. This book is a huge eye-opener regarding the hoary issue of usury (charging interest on loans).
Much essential information is contained here that is quite important now with the planned worldwide
introduction of digital money and CBDC’s.
GARY LACHMAN BOOKS
I have recently discovered the astonishing books of Gary Lachman. A founding member of the rock
group Blondie, he retired from music and is a writer and researcher of the highest calibre. He has
written biographies of Steiner, Crowley, Blavatsky, Ouspensky and others.
These are three that I have recently read:
THE RETURN OF HOLY RUSSIA by Gary Lachman
This is Lachman’s latest. Without taking sides, this book really helps sort out the Russia/Ukraine
situation. This is a deep exploration of Russian history as well as its bifurcated philosophical history that
swings back and forth between totalitarian views (Church fathers, Tsars, tyrants) and radical mystical
freedom and the love of land and soil. The philosophical arguments concerning the individual vs the
collective are fully explored. It even explores Putin’s reading list. At a time where Russia has been
“cancelled” in the West, Lachman feels that we need to be more aware of Russia, other than the MSM’s
demonization, and I certainly agree.
POLITICS AND THE OCCULT: THE LEFT, THE RIGHT, AND THE RADICALLY UNSEEN by Gary Lachman
Very often, throughout history, many, if not most occult organizations end up favoring hierarchical
authority, and even fascism. Lachman explores the less well-known undercurrents of truly spiritual and
egalitarian occultism. The roots of the Rosicrucians, the Templars, Freemasonry and even the Bavarian
Illuminati make an appearance in this research and philosophical inquiry. All and all a great investigation
of the right-hand and left-hand occult groups, and how they have influenced politics and world affairs.
TURN OFF YOUR MIND: THE DEDALUS BOOK OF THE 1960’s by Gary Lachman
As a child of the 60‘s and a great exponent and admirer of that era (as is Lachman), this book is a
comprehensive guide to the dark side of the 60’s. We can find quite a balanced view here. A great deal
of that dark side was strongly manipulated by the CIA, as well as left hand path occult groups. The Love
and Light New Age distraction was partially a set up to divert anti-war and anti-corporate activists into
Eastern detachment paths. I myself experienced that form of hijack when I got into the inner workings
of the TM/Maharishi Movement. There I encountered the dark side, ultimately requiring cult de-
programming.
ONE NATION UNDER BLACKMAIL VOL 1&2 by Whitney Webb
Here is the ultimate encyclopedia connecting the dots of the US governments connections with
organized crime. Heavily footnoted, in volume one it goes all the way back to the 1920’s. This prepares
the ground for a deep dive into the Jeffrey Epstein story. She names names and elucidates the
connections. It is so often the same people and families, that are still behind the scenes, and
increasingly out in the open now, who are directing the action. This is an incredible work of research,
and in my view, essential for understanding what has happened to America.