Audio coverage from United Astrology Conference here! Check in for updates. The next audio will be an interview with Kelly Lee Phipps, director of the documentary Return of the Magi. Also, Planet Waves contributor Chris Brennan informs me that there is a discussion of the new data on Barack Obama on his Horoscopic Astrology group at Myspace. I can’t find it (I’m rushing a little), but I thought I would link to the page anyway. We’ll be hearing from Chris later in the weekend.
Dear Friend and Reader:
Being at UAC reminds me a little of attending a huge state university campus. There are approximately fifty astrology classes taught each day. The classes hold approximately 20 to 50 students; some are larger, if you’re a name astrologer.
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I am not on the faculty — I prefer not to be, and I did not send an audition tape.
My job here as “official media” is to write these blogs about different conference events and topics, and also I’m now doing audio blogs that are linked above. These are 10-15 minute interviews with people who just seem interesting or like they have something to say.
I remain unconvinced that this kind of classroom/lecture structure, with somebody at the front, is really the way to teach astrology. Regardless, it’s the way it’s done at nearly all conferences, and it’s taken for granted. I know for certain that a lot of helpful ideas are going around; a few bad ones are as well, and we can hope that people have brought their discernment to the conference.
This kind of teaching method appeals to a certain segment of what I’ll reluctantly call the marketplace. It’s also good if you happen to be in an area, or of the personality type, where you don’t or cannot find mentors to guide you through your process of learning. Early in my studies, I got very lucky this way — through various means, I connected with three different people who set out the basics for me. I never took a single class; reflecting, I am not sure I’ve ever sat through an astrology class that I was not teaching.
What I am appreciating the most is the ability to connect with my readers; with old friends I’ve met during my 14 years on the astrology trail; and to meet people with whom I might collaborate. I am sure many people would tell you the same thing. There is a contingent of young, energetic and bright people who are a lot of fun to bounce ideas with. Many people feel rather profoundly insecure of their abilities, though. The amount of self-discipline and confidence necessary to learn sufficient astrology to have a grasp of the subject, then to work with others, is pretty significant. There is generally nobody to tell you when you’re actually ready to do so, and the truth is that most astrologers start off unprepared and learn on the job.
The conference itself is impeccably well organized. I would rate the quality of the faculty as very good, and I hear the thing is running at a profit. The organizers have been truly generous with Planet Waves.
I am noticing impressive details — today, a fresh fruit and fruit juice kiosk was set up in the main lobby. UAC negotiated free Internet for all people who are renting rooms through the conference agreement. Unless you’ve tried to do something on this scale, you probably cannot appreciate the effort, the coordination, the nonstop work. Every time I see one of the big bosses, they look genuinely serene. Maybe they are fabulous actors.
If I could change two things, the first would be at least some classes that break the usual format of lecturer + eager class listening with light discussion. We need to meet face to face as adults embracing the cosmic and human mysteries of existence. We need sessions demonstrating how to do astrology counseling. We need workshop spaces where we can work with our charts and with one another. We need real discussion of how difficult it is to be an astrologer, serving clients who show up needing five years of therapy expecting results in an hour.
Small group discussion format is helpful for this kind of thing, and it works well alternated with theoretical lecturing.
Second, there appears to be no serious discussion of sexuality. I have not read the whole catalog, but I have not seen anything even coming close to the topic. This verges on astonishing, given the number of people who come to astrology for sexually-related subject matter, and the even greater number for whom it surfaces as a theme or issue they need to address. How, exactly, are astrologers supposed to help anyone if they are not informed? How are they supposed to keep their composure and objectivity if they have no training or experience with these kinds of very necessary discussions?
I can think of about three or four reasons this material is not covered at an astrology conference — not just here, but anywhere I’ve ever been to one. The first reason is embarrassment. The second reason is lack of qualification by most presenters, and fear by the qualified ones that by being out of the closet they risk exclusion or harm to their reputation. Last, there is lack of interest; the topic, to many, just does not seem necessary.
Some attenders would also fear for their reputations were they to even attend such a discussion. In other words, the negative charge seems to be coming from the great battery of sexual repression — scandal and the fear thereof; ignorance and the perpetuation thereof. And of course, there is gender rage to thank. Most people feel that neither sex nor the opposite sex have been particularly good to them.
This being said, astrologers fancy themselves a freaky and experimental lot, and I am sure that plenty is going on behind the scenes, though nothing like the party days of years and decades past. Almost every astrologer prides herself or himself on being compassionate, humanitarian and nonjudgmental, be it true or not. So we can afford to call ourselves on our groovy sentiments and commitment to integrity.
What we need is a real conversation in front of the scenes, and the bravery to partake in it. Our clients need us to be prepared for them when they show up with their sexual subject matter, which too often gets classified in the “relationship” and “romance” categories, or cloaked in a discussion about Venus, Mars and maybe a daub of Pluto.
We can do better, and we owe it to the people who come to us for help.
Saturday 17th May 2008
Nessus (14+ Aquarius) semisquare Aries Point (0+ Aries) – Near Miss
Nessus stations retrograde (14+ Aquarius)
Vesta (12+ Aries) septile Chiron (21+ Aquarius)
Arachne stations direct (29+ Virgo)
Sisyphus (9+ Libra Rx) sesquiquadrate Admetos (24+ Taurus)
Venus (20+ Taurus) conjunct Sedna (20+ Taurus)
Mars (4+ Leo) square Asbolus (4+ Taurus)
Sun (26+ Taurus) quincunx Galactic Center (26+ Sagittarius)
Apollo (28+ Cancer) septile Logos (19+ Virgo Rx)
Mercury (18+ Gemini) opposite Quaoar (18+ Sagittarius Rx)
Venus (21+ Taurus) square Chiron (21+ Aquarius)
Mars (4+ Leo) trine Hylonome (4+ Sagittarius Rx)
Eros (8+ Gemini) semisquare 1992 QB1 (23+ Aries)
Sun (27+ Taurus) quincunx Juno (27+ Sagittarius Rx)
Pallas (28+ Aries) sesquiquadrate Ixion (13+ Sagittarius Rx)
Venus (21+ Taurus) septile Aries Point (0+ Aries)
Apr 01, 1999 – SAGITTARIUS – Monthly
There’s an esoteric tool called Karma Cards by Monte Farber. The cards are arranged in three little decks of 12 cards each; one deck for planets, one for signs and one for houses. You draw one card from each pack, and have an instant astrological reading. They teach you astrology, they’re spot-on as a fortune telling device, and they’re not even expensive. With Pluto in Sagittarius in your 2nd solar house so magnificently illuminated this week, I couldn’t even find the worlds to express my glee, so here’s Monte’s take on those stars: “Resurrect (Pluto) your highest ideals (Sagittarius) patiently (Second House). Get to the heart of (Pluto) the rules of (Sagittarius) what you want (Second House). Do or die! (Pluto) You must get it out to the world (Sagittarius) and get what you need (Second House).” So be it.
I think what you call for re: sex(uality) is fuel to a dialogue about bringing in other astrologers – particularly those with Pluto in Libra and Scorpio. People often want to talk about sex(uality), so I’m confident the audience was, and is, here.
What titles do you imagine might’ve been included? Do you know who could easily present that topic? Would they? Or might they coach some colleague to?
I like what you offer about different class formats, especially among 300 talks; I’m including the lunches – two of which I found a bit more useful as they illustrated a tool I can use in readings.
Would love to dialogue more with you, and readers, about other class formats. Funny enough I was thinking about this earlier today, and seeded some conversations around such.