Hi Adam, I'll see what I can do here.
" I doubt the validity of astrology as anything but a pseudo-science."
Well, I think many of us share this doubt and, in fact, at least some of our criticisms have ancient versions contemporaneous with the birth of our "modern" Hellenized astrology. Nevertheless, astrological symbolism is an integral part of the Western magical tradition. You do not, however, need to "believe" in predictive astrology in order to use its symbolism in ritual. The 2nd century esoteric text, the Chaldean Oracles, makes wide use of astrological symbolism for its theurgical admonitions (indeed, the word "theurgy" first appears in these rather terse hexameter verses), while at the same time likening astromancy to "mercenary fraud."
"I also wonder if, when practicing the LBRP and other rituals, which rely so heavily on imagination and visualization, whether the Archangels are not mere figments of my imagination. How can I be sure that I am not deceiving myself into believing that they are in some sense "really there"?"
Of course, from a novice's perspective, one could say quite accurately that they are figments of one's imagination, but you might want to leave off the "mere". Do you expect such beings to exist in the same way as, say, tables or armchairs? As you advance in your practices, you will come to understand that the categories you use to conceptualize the external, physical world, are for the most part inadequate in describing magical phenomena.
"How do I know that the names and sigils do not only evoke mental images that are imagined into the real spaces in which I work as projections of consciousness?"
Yes, all that you say certainly is happening. But I wonder about this "only", what exactly is it meant to exclude?
"1. Is studying the horoscope and the traditional associations given to planets in our solar system necessary to progressing on the path of the G.'.D.'.? If so, can they be skeptically conceived in some way that does not force us to become superstitious or to believe on blind faith?"
I would think so; I don't know how you would wind up with anything practicable if you stripped planetary symbolism from the Golden Dawn system. Skeptically conceived? You're not understanding the matter rightly. Most of the symbolism has been traditionally received; some of the correspodences are indeed arbitary--and for various reasons! But these symbol systems are languages intended for experiencing other planes of Psyche, not, intrinsically at least, "objective" models of anything--and yet, I would say that they do obey the quasi-objective "deep structure" of the astral plane.
"2. How do you conceive of the entities "evoked" and "invoked" in Golden Dawn rituals (e.g. Archangels, angels, elementals, etc.); are they objective presences or aspects of your own mind, mythic archetypes, for instance?"
If you continue in your practices you will come to understand that your mind isn't really your own.
"3. How do you know that the "astral realms" are not mere creations of your imagination, not outer spaces, but inner spaces?"
If you chop my body open you're not going to find any darn astral plane. Nor will you find the cheeseburger I'm dreaming of inside of my skull.
"4. How do we know that we even have a soul? What if our awareness is always One with the Divine and it is only a matter of effecting a realization of this nonduality?"
Well certainly if you are capable of experiencing this duality then YOUR awareness is not ALWAYS One with the Divine.
"If we must only become aware of the existing Oneness between the individual and the Divine, arguably the target outcome of the Great Work, why should we bother studying things like astrology or geomancy?"
Despite the insistences of some of my more prestigious colleagues, I contend that the path of theurgy and the path of contemplation (in the ancient sense) ought to be distinguished.
I think it likely that I have raised more questions than I've resolved. Feel free to ask them.
"If you, Hegias, are saying that theurgy is divine then I agree with you. But those destined to be gods must first become human; that is why Plato said that philosophy is the greatest gift ever to have come down from the Gods to humanity."
--Isidore of Gaza, recorded by Damascius the Diadochus in his Philosophical History.
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