The artistic process behind Esoterica 2026 was extensive. While the conceptual foundation spans nearly a decade, the physical construction of the calendar demanded several concentrated months of research, calculation, illustration, and refinement.
The central challenge was integrating multiple timing systems—sidereal seasons, lunar phases, planetary weekdays—while maintaining clarity and visual cohesion. Once the framework was structurally sound, I shifted fully into illustration. Each page became a layered composition of symbols, diagrams, and motifs, composed using pen and ink in the same manner as my earlier collections. The calendar brings together more than ten years of work and, for the first time, unifies them into a single publication.
The Zodiac and Celtic Tree motifs draw from my Astro Logos and Sacred Druid collections, but each illustration was reinterpreted for this project. A True Star Zodiacal Wheel was drafted from astronomical charts, IAU boundaries, and sidereal star maps to ensure precise seasonal timing. Lunar phases were mapped accurately and paired with seasonal Lunar Trees to honor the Moon’s natural rhythm rather than a static system.
Typography plays a foundational role. Instead of relying on existing typefaces, every date, month, and notation is drawn using my handwritten runic-inspired script. This helps anchor the calendar as a handmade work—one language, one hand, one vision.
To honor the detail, a large 14" × 11.5" format was essential. The calendar functions as both a working tool and a fine art print, allowing nuance and structural clarity to coexist on the same page.
As I move forward, I’m already developing concepts for future sidereal calendars and companion works that explore celestial mapping in new ways. For those who practice sidereal or Vedic astrology, or those who observe the sky directly, your feedback is invaluable.