wstarter finished reading Medieval agriculture and Islamic science by Daniel Martin Varisco (Publications on the Near East, University of Washington ;)
This a translation of a medieval text, with contemporary commentary, which might be of interest to those using the Picatrix. The material is not so much astrological magic, as the surrounding fields of astronomy, agriculture, weather prediction, etc.. from a similar period. That being said, there is some overlap, and some interesting insights that could be applied to astrology. One that stands out is a traditional use of the Lunar Mansions as indicators for not just the movement of the Moon, but the movement of the Sun. In fact, it is suggested that the Lunar Mansions might be themselves derived from "Solar Mansions," as an earlier zodiacal form. This would make sense from a culture tracking the Moon, and wishing to consider the Sun in relation to the Moon. That is these "Solar Mansions" might be a concept derived from the primacy of the Moon. The potential implication is that one could use Lunar Mansions with the Sun in magical elections, in sort of a cross between the way Picatrix handles elections for Lunar Mansions and elections for Decans. I have not tried this yet, but it seems like it is backed up by traditional sources, and theoretically sound. How these elections might differ? I guess, FAAFO.