What I learned today

Good evening. Just thought I would say hello from Toronto and my experience as a presenter at the American Psychological Association (APA). It’s an honor to have started a series of transgressive essays and photos of women looking in mirrors, and find myself as part of the teaching staff for professional therapists and psychological researchers. Most presenters get here because they do original work; back-engineering this fact based on actually being here, I’m figuring out that’s what I’ve done. I’m also aware that working as an astrologer for nearly 15 years has provided a basis of both understanding and professionalism that I may be claiming fully for the first time.

I think that the seminar today went very well. The table was full. I think the only two women of color at the entire conference managed to find the listing in the 676 page conference schedule (no that is not a typo). I was helped by Dr. Christine Farber, my sponsor here, who offered an understanding for the therapeutic basis of what I’ve been doing. One of my earliest models, codenamed Ange, was there as well to explain the experience of doing a Book of Blue session and how it influenced her sense of self and self-esteem. She is now a professional psychologist and attorney, having earned her J.D. (law degree) and Ph. D. in the four years since I had seen her last.

I’m a little too fatigued to summarize how the conversation went; but there’s an MP3 of it sitting on my Zoom recorder and I plan to upload it to Planet Waves tomorrow. The gist is that using photography and creative process, we skip the story and the theory and find a direct way into the process of healing self-image. Words are not really necessary. What happens is that a space is opened up; what Christine calls the compassionate male gaze; and the subject of the photo can have the feeling and experience of being approved of as self-aware and/or loving herself for the first time. The photos become a record of the experience and can be referred to and used as an inner process tool.

I will say that the idea was taken seriously; people were even excited about it. The work and the theory behind it were regarded as solid; and in the few minutes after the seminar ended I sat with Christine and we plotted the next few steps: applying for a bigger presentation next year; leveraging the presentation at APA into other venues; submitting my photos to be juried for Rencontres d’Arles next year; and weaving a format to explain to anyone who wants to know that art and astrology are effective modalities for self-knowledge and healing.

I think that’s a good start.

In the past few weeks, invitations have started to come in from astrology conferences as well: to present, or to be the keynote speaker, for example. A great feeling. Speaking for myself and Planet Waves, we will thrive on a little attention and recognition for many years of consistent work and contribution.

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