EPISODE 28

In this episode, Laura speaks with entrepreneur, author, and philosopher, Daniel Sanderson. He is the founder of PlankSip, which is a media platform dedicated to reviving critical thinking and personal growth through ancient philosophy. Their conversation covers how astrology’s Mesopotamian roots influence philosophical media. It also examines how intuitive decision-making contributes to inspiring a more liberated model of education.

For more on Daniel, go to planksip.com, X, or YouTube. Don’t forget to check out his book!

LISTEN HERE

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Key Themes

– Philosophy in Practice

Using ancient wisdom to shape modern media and mindsets

–The Origins of Astrology

A historical lens on human attempts to know the future

–Intuition vs. Reason

How to discern knowledge between them

–Education Freely Explored

Allow interests to lead after giving to your country

–PlankSip’s Mission

Saving the planet through critical thought and creativity

ASTROLOGY SNAPSHOT

With Daniel’s Mercury in Libra, his communication style is diplomatic, balanced, and intellectually refined.

Neptune in Sagittarius infuses his thinking with expansive, philosophical imagination and a yearning for spiritual truth.

His Sun in Virgo grounds him in precision and thoughtful analysis, while his Moon in Pisces opens him to intuition, empathy, and the unseen.

Saturn in Leo brings a disciplined, steady fire to his creativity and sense of leadership, and Pluto in Libra speaks to a lifelong transformation through relationships, justice, and deep intellectual inquiry.

The result? A thoughtful naturalist drawn to both the mystery and the method behind life’s design.

Book personal readings with me here!

INTUITION & INTELLECT

Daniel shares that Plato says the wisdom is at the highest level and intuition at the lowest level.

Q: “Would you consider intuition as valuable knowledge?”

A: “Yes, but I’m still looking for reason to get there…Intuition is a very close cousin to chance.“

Listen to the episode for the full explanation on how to discern intuitive knowledge.

THOUGHTS ON EDUCATION

Daniel shared that he did his best to avoid school whenever he could. He imagines an alternative path where everyone spends a few years in the military, then earns the freedom to pursue whatever they truly want in life.

“Let your curiosity take you on a journey.”

LEARNING FROM NATURE

Daniel has learned about abundance by observing the rich biodiversity of the natural world. He’s captivated by the sheer number of unanswered questions—reminders of how much we still don’t know. For him, nature is a vast, open book waiting to be studied. He believes we need more people to dedicate themselves to investigating. Listen to the episode to know how nature has impacted his career path.

JOURNAL PROMPTS

1. Where in your life has intuition led you away from logic—and brought you somewhere even better?
2. What ancient idea or field of study has always pulled at your attention—despite not being “practical”? What would it look like to follow it anyway?
3. What would you rebuild if you let your curiosity lead?

ILA INSTITUTE CONNECTION

Daniel shared that he finds inspiration in museums—drawing a connection to the idea of muses. At ILA Institute, our curriculum is deeply rooted in intuitive learning, with museums as a core part of our educational approach.

Curious how simply visiting a museum can spark deep learning? Follow us on TikTok to explore how we turn curiosity into knowledge.

ABOUT THE HOST

Laura Alyn is an educator, intuitive PhD researcher, astrologer, spiritual practitioner, and founder of the ILA Institute. She blends spiritual insight with academic curiosity to build new pathways of knowing—for individuals and for the future of education. To learn more about her, click on her below or click here.