Extended Phenotypes

...another thought experiment for Venus

art by rubyd

There is this idea in evolutionary biology that an organism can manifest its genes outside itself, thus shaping the environment. Richard Dawkins presented the idea in his 1982 book entitled The Extended Phenotype. He speaks of a few ways this comes to be: changing the environment (beaver dams, termite cathedrals etc.; manipulating other organisms (parasites and zombi fungus like cordyceps); and manipulating a host at a distance (the way cuckoo chicks trick host birds to feed them). They are all strategies of spreading genes to ensure a future day.

It’s not exactly an accepted idea. It’s still hotly debated—especialy when you bring something like psilocybin into the theory—but it’s no less worthy of our consideration. One could argue this “mind manfiesting” molecule is a type of psychic “extended phenotype”, one which by opening our minds and connecting us to many dormat parts of consciousness, encourages the user to keep searching them out, thus spreading its genes via its spores. I suppose you could say it’s also spreading ideas. I suppose you could also say they are inoculating the world with universal wisdom. And some may even say—those with the name Terence or Mckenna-that it’s this very molecule that got us to where we are at today; it doubled our brain size in just under 2 million years. It’s a thought experiement. I’m not saying any of it is true, but I am encouraging you to think about it. Are we a part of a mushrooms “extended phenotype?” Now, can we do the same with the planets?

No, planets don’t have genes to pass along, but they do have an interest in stories and perhaps staying alive. I like to think the gods need us just as much as we need them. They give their divine support, we offer up our praise and song.

Applied to Venus—who is now making her morning sky appearance known—we could think of her “extended phenotype” to be one of love. Through us as we connect to the world, she helps us to love and be loved; she shows us beauty and we create it; she helps us to understand what is most valuable in our lives and we live in accordance to those insights. I like this idea. It assumes we all have an intention, but as long as it is symbiotic, more life will come out of it. Said another way: If life has figured out how to do it on Earth, why could it not be the case with the other planets expressioning themselves through us?

Again, just an idea.

Below you will find a few “extended phenotypes” that have grown out of my chest and fingers as of late. Enjoy! Praise to the lady of whose light now shines first through the morning dew.

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Tonight, we are gathering for the 5th PRACTICE CHARTS class. They are fast becoming a favorite. Nothing like 2hrs to spend on just 3 charts. Great learning is taking place in these classes. If you’d like to join, just use any of the Patreon links in this here letter…

Also, here is my latest linguistic phenotype:

And here lies another:

Turning Points with Mark Jones

ADAM SOMMER

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JUL 26

Listen now (90 min) | In this show, Mark Jones returns! We could consider this one to be the 10th anniversary for us; it was back in 2013 when we first met via the pod, having finally met in person in 2019 to deepen our rapport. Now, officially an IRL ally, I try to make it up to Wales as often as possible to hang and record if it's in the air. During this visit, it was d…

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My latest class is on the Trine. This month we continue the Aspects series with the Inconjunct:

Sign up’s are still live for Tansy’s retreat in Colorado this September. If you’d like to journey to the mountains for the most beautiful part of the year, soak in some hot springs, and make some lasting relationships with like-minded ladies, this may be your retreat:

You can also join future classes by becoming a Patron HERE:

And here is the LINK to the Apprenticeship recordings. If you are interested in the certification process to become a professional astrologer, please send me a message to learn more:

My latest writings:

Already Here

ADAM SOMMER

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AUG 8

Time is a hoodwinker. As we get older, it speeds up. We wish we had more of it, yet we can't seem to find it. It costs us a lot and it's the only commodity we can never get back. Time also disappears; when in flow, what is time? And for those of us trying to understand our lives with astrology, time is everything. It is the essence.

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Time Magic

ADAM SOMMER

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AUG 2

"The good man, though a slave, is free; the wicked, though he reigns, is a slave, and not the slave of a single man, but- what is worse - the slave of as many masters as he has vices." -Saint Augustine It often feels like our ideas don't stand a chance. When compared to the behemoth institutions of academic authority and state-sanctione…

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Recent Podcasts:

Listen now (70 min) | In this show, we revisit the Leo star point of the Venus cycle. The last one on the subject was 8 years ago—in the Summer of 15'. They could be listened back to back, or stand alone. It's my hope that this exploration helps build some wyrd context for when Venus gets close.

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The Eleusinian Mysteries with Jules Cashford

ADAM SOMMER

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MAY 23

Listen now (79 min) | Jules Cashford joins me for this conversation. It's a welcome interruption to the solo shows I've been doing this year. We had planned to talk back in 22', so I was pleased to have that plan come full circle, and manifest. We talk mainly about Eleusis. The moon, the goddess, and the subjects of all her books make entrances into our conversation as w…

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