Podcast Summary: The Observable Unknown

Episode: Samuel F. Reynolds

Host: Dr. Juan Carlos Rey
Guest: Samuel F. Reynolds, Astrologer
Date: August 17, 2025

Overview

This episode explores the intersection of science, spirituality, and astrology through the life and work of Samuel F. Reynolds—a former skeptic and now leading educator in the field of astrology. Host Dr. Juan Carlos Rey guides a deep, candid conversation on how profound experiences, both mystical and practical, shaped Reynolds’ worldview and career. The discussion weaves through topics such as personal transformation, the symbolic vs. rational mind, the practice and pitfalls of astrological consultation, the application of astrology to everyday life, gender dynamics in spiritual practice, and Reynolds’ forthcoming book.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. From Leading Skepticism to Lifelong Devotion

• Initial Encounter:
  Reynolds recounts an early 1990s encounter with an astrologer in North Philadelphia that fundamentally changed his perspective after years of skepticism and religious devotion (04:31–09:46).

  “It was not, you know, 10 years prior, I had been just doing the, the research and thinking about it and really trying to make sense of it. But that was the moment where I realized, like, I think I'm really into this.” — Samuel F. Reynolds (03:34)

• The “Rupture” of Perception:
  He describes the turning point not as a gradual transition, but as a sudden, almost confrontational transformation:

  “There is no softening in my world. It was a rupture...to the point [it] became a Grand Canyon.” — Samuel F. Reynolds (09:51)

• Spirit as Catalyst:
  Reynolds attributes his conversion to a direct, mystical communion with “Spirit,” facilitated by the astrologer's reading.

  “It really was a moment where I felt like Spirit was like, we're not going to get this boy any other way unless we knock his socks off.” (10:20)

2. Reconciling Science, Symbol, and Intuition

• Astrology’s Nature:
  Reynolds challenges the idea that astrology is a science in the strict sense, emphasizing its symbolic and intuitive essence.

  “I do not think as much as astrologers would like to think of their art as a science, I do not think it is a science...What I do think it is a point of communion between the mysterious, the numinous through symbol that we come to understand and connect.” (11:50)

• Astrology as a Practical Guide:
  Uses astrolocality/astrocartography to guide his move to Santa Fe, discussing qualitative changes in personality and life as a result (13:36–15:04).

3. Trusting the Symbolic & Navigating Identity

• Living Symbolically:
  Reynolds discusses trusting symbolic meaning over rational logic and draws parallels between social constructs (like race/gender) and astrological symbols.

  “Race is more a construct, a social construct. And so another way of talking about social construct is along the same analog as symbolism, but we still take it as real.” (19:25–20:58)

• Astrologers' Narrative Responsibility:
  Reynolds laments how simplified “sun sign” astrology can mislead people into incomplete self-narratives.

  “They lapse into a narrative that's incomplete.” (22:24)

4. Empathy, Honesty, and the Practice of Consultation

• Challenges in Delivering Hard Truths:
  Reynolds recounts a radical honesty phase and a lesson learned from delivering blunt feedback during a client’s birthday session (28:07–31:57).

  “It is better to be caring and to express love in a consultation than it is to be right.” (30:33)

• The Power of Curiosity in Guidance:
  He emphasizes that asking open questions can be more transformative than declarations, allowing clients to come to insights themselves (32:12–33:29).

5. Gender Dynamics Among Astrologers

• Male vs Female Approaches:
  Reynolds observes men in astrology often value correctness over empathy:

  “Many men are more inclined to embrace the rational a certain way and to embrace more the sense of their rectitude than their sense of emotional truth.” (33:48–38:01)

  • Provides anecdotes about public predictions, political biases, and failures to acknowledge vulnerability or the need for care.

6. Profound Client Transformations

• Examples of Change Through Astrology:
  Stories of clients using astrology to liberate themselves from unfulfilling situations or settle peacefully into acceptance (38:40–41:46).

7. Personal Chart Reflections

• Ninth House Life and Jupiter in Virgo:
  Reynolds attributes his worldview and pursuits to his sun in the ninth house and Jupiter in Virgo—linking skepticism, philosophical curiosity, and a life of teaching and exploration (41:54–44:58).

  “I am not a man of faith. I'm not inclined toward faith or belief readily. So when people talk about accepting things on faith, it is difficult for me.” (44:06)

8. Intuition vs. Rules in Astrology

• Horary Case Study:
  Reynolds describes a horary reading involving a client’s daughter facing legal troubles, where intuition and technical skill overturned his initial assumptions and led to a positive, empowering outcome (46:39–54:48).

  “I was able to surpass my own bias in order to look closely using the rules of horary astrology...in order to assess what the cosmos was saying. This is why I say we're in dialogue with something larger than ourselves when we're engaging astrology.” (51:01)

9. Astrology, Faith, and Encountering the Numinous

• Spiritual Moments:
  Reynolds discusses moving from skepticism and belief to authentic faith, describing spiritual encounters with symbols as doorways to the mysterious (55:18–56:55).

  “Real faith is a full encounter with the numinous and, and the full not knowing...what we do know is that there is an encounter with something that is beyond ourselves...” (55:18–56:55)

10. Teaching, Esoteric Techniques, and Upcoming Work

• Transparency in Teaching:
  Reynolds is open with students about methods, only delaying teaching until he feels he has fully mastered and validated techniques (57:21–58:34).

  “Most clients don't want to know how the sausage is made...I will share much of what I know, although there are some things I've yet to teach. Not because I'm trying to keep them esoteric, I just haven't created a class for them.” (57:21)

• Book Preview:
  His forthcoming book explores major astrological cycles (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus returns, etc.), their “celestial mandates,” and practical strategies for leveraging their power in life. The working title: Consider Your Movement—from the Latin for “to think with the stars.” (58:39–63:01)

  "Consider is actually an astrological word. It comes from the Latin con, which is with, and sidar...which means stars. So the actual word means to think with your stars." (62:37)

Memorable Quotes

• On the role of Spirit:
  “It really was a moment where I felt like Spirit was like, we're not going to get this boy any other way unless we knock his socks off.” — Samuel F. Reynolds (10:20)

• On astrology as communion:
  "What I do think [astrology] is—a point of communion between the mysterious, the numinous through symbol..." (11:50)

• On being both skeptical and open:
  “I am no longer skeptical of astrology. I'm more skeptical of astrologers, including myself.” (26:01)

• On caring over being right:
  “It is better to be caring and to express love in a consultation than it is to be right.” (30:33)

• On breaking the rules:
  "The astrologer must surpass just even those symbolic references in order to kind of get to something that's much more intimate and even unique to them in that symbology." (51:01)

• On true faith:
  “Real faith is a full encounter with the numinous and, and the full not knowing and what I have found in the spiritual community...we always want to rush to give names to things. Well, that's your karma, that's your fate, that's this. And we don't know.” (55:18–56:55)

Important Timestamps & Segments

• Reynolds’ origin story and “grand canyon” shift: 03:34–09:51
• Astrology as communion, not science: 11:50–13:21
• Santa Fe move & astrocartography: 13:36–15:04
• Symbolic thinking in race, gender, astrology: 19:25–22:24
• On the dangers of narrative simplicity: 22:24–22:59
• Honesty vs. empathy in practice: 28:07–32:12
• Gendered approaches to astrology, examples: 33:48–38:18
• Most profound client transformations: 38:40–41:46
• Reynolds’ own chart and perceptions: 41:54–45:07
• Horary case study and intuition: 46:39–54:48
• Faith, numinous experiences, belief: 55:18–57:05
• Teaching methods, esoterica, new book: 57:21–63:08

Resources & Where to Find Samuel F. Reynolds

• Website: unlockastrology.com
• Instagram/Threads: @SFReynolds
• X (Twitter): @UnlockAstrology
• Facebook: @ebonyskytalker

Concluding Thoughts

This episode offers a bridge between intellectual rigor and mystical experience. Samuel F. Reynolds invites listeners to challenge both their doubts and beliefs, advocating for a nuanced, compassionate, and intuitive approach to astrology and life’s uncertainties. His stories, insights, and forthcoming work encourage both seekers and skeptics to “think with the stars”—navigating the unknown with humility, discernment, and openness to the numinous.