Okay here me out and help me out. This is by no means complete and my From schizophrenia is in full force..but I think I may have a couple edge pieces of the puzzle put together. 

I think Jade's hot air balloon comment was a clue, not a jokingly made suggestion for a way out. We all know about all the star and celestial references in the show. Jade used the safe work Capricorn while he was tripping balls. The Capricornus constellation is known as the Sea Goat because it is in a part of the sky known as the Sea/Ocean/Water. Next to Capricornus, there is an obsolete constellation called Globus Aerostaticus or Ballon Aerostatique (hot Air balloon). In s1e1, Megan has a hot air balloon drawing/cut out on the wall with a couple other pictured. It is purposely in the shot when Boyd has Frank on the ground to force him to look at Meagan. 

I do not have any of this fleshed out yet, but I do think this is how these pieces of the puzzle fit together. Also, Capricornus is shaped like a spear tip. 

As for the Star Magic (motel), this makes me think Astral Magic. I know we kind of think of Julie's storywalking as time travel, but that isnt only what she is doing since her body doesnt go with her. The Ruins are pretty much a physical liminal space. She's harnessing Astral projection to time travel and using the ruins as a launchpad to explore plane/storywalk. In Astral time travel, your body stays in the present but your consciousness is in a nonlinear space so you can visit past or future timeliness...but only as an observer. You cannot change an outcome (story). Everyone who has had a seizure or chained up where Martin is seems to have achieved Astral travel. I think physical time travel could be possible with the faraway trees as we know they can teleport whatever goes inside them.

I still have no clue where the motel is. Maybe the motel is on another  liminal plane?

The talismans are also Astral Magic and they were likely carved during astrologically specific moments with the symbols to harness celestial energies. Makes sense as to why they work at night. There are 12 talismans and there are 12 zodiac constellations that lie along the ecliptic (sun's path across the sky). I think each talisman was created when a targeted star or planet was in a dignified/favorable position. The talismans are all a bit different because they are specific to what they are focused on and what diety the one making them is trying to harness. I do think the people/figure on the talismans are also the Seal of Saturn. (Guess what constellation is ruled by Saturn? Capricornus). Astral Magic talismans can be used to manifest physical boundaries for protection. 

This could also help explain why tarot/cartomancy has seem relevant to the show. I dont necessarily thinking they are in space, but I do think there could be a long legacy of occultist astral worship/astrolatry going on here. I dont think this has anything to do with aliens or that theyre in space. This could explain some of the Stephen King/Lovecraftian elements and why rituals and living sacrifices are important. 

So anyways, I think Im going to work this angle a bit. Have I totally lost the plot? 😂

Hot Air Balloon