On Queer Astrology, and being a Transgender Astrologer

I think a lot about how my status as a transgender woman in astrology sets me apart from my peers. It’s meaningful. It makes me who I am as a professional, some of it for reasons I love, and some of it… less so.

From the moment I came out as a trans woman, astrologers who had once considered me valued colleagues suddenly stopped reaching out to me for opportunities to advance. I had been on a meteoric rise in my career, careening towards center stage like a rocket ship aimed at the Sun. I’d had some initial acclaim as the person who got a birthtime for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, followed by some notoriety as an apt pupil in the art of talisman-making. It was intoxicating and lucrative, but in the rearview mirror I see it as a very masculinity-as-default approach to my career, and very Icarian.

I didn’t have a career built on a way of being in the world that fit with who I am as a woman. I had a career built on the mask I wore, built on years of being told a man was the thing I was allowed to be and that meant ways I was allowed to act. I just wish I had learned how to redo things sooner.

I don’t think how I did things was wrong, but it wasn’t authentic. Truth is, I never faced any discrimination from former clients. I’ve always been clear about the values that make me who I am, which filtered out any potential issues of that sort in advance. But I didn’t do the same with my professional connections, and that led to reliance on people with no conscious awareness of their own transphobic habits being the gatekeepers between me and professional advancement. It was awful at the time, but in retrospect was a gift. I get to be who I am now.

I used to use the word “Sage” a lot in my marketing. The Sage is the powerful wizard you see advising kings in many works of media inspired by medieval settings, in European and Islamic middle ages both. The Sage’s role is to both be a font of wisdom and to know All The Things - math, art, music, alchemy, astrology, magic, the timing of the harvests, the properties of various herbs and stones, etc. In his role as advisor to kings and nobles, the Sage uses this knowledge to aid in the governance of the land - Merlin advising King Arthur. Or occasionally to be the true power behind the throne - think Jafar from Aladdin, or Wormtongue from Lord of the Rings.

Truth be told, as an aspiring professional astrologer still struggling to free myself from the mask I wore before coming out, that was pretty much my goal. Find myself a rich patron or two, be their personal astromagical and life advisor, and cruise along. I don’t want that anymore. There’s another figure whose job qualifications are the same as that of the Sage, but instead of using it to hold power over a kingdom, the figure uses their wisdom and knowledge to be of service to the community. I call this figure The Witch in the Woods.

Likely you’ve heard of this archtype in one form or another. There is a person in the community known by different names in different cultures - medicine person, shaman, weird old lady with the house at the edge of the woods, etc. Their role is to advice the community on spiritual matters, as well as to know what herbs to use to calm a headache, cool a fever, or aid in delivery when functioning as midwife. They are often neurodivergent and/or gender-nonconforming in some way, selected out for this role by their oddity. They were the original queer astrologer, or neurodivergent astrologer, because this person’s role was to know the timing of things, and tracking the movement of the wandering stars (or planets, if you prefer) is one way of doing this. Is the killing frost coming early this year? Let me look at the Moon in a month and she’ll tell you. Often this figure was a woman, and often this figured was revered in some ways, feared in others, and in some cases or cultures, looked down upon. But generally speaking the Witch in the Woods, as I call her, is cared for by her community, and cares for her community in turn.

I am taking great liberties here with my universalizing anthropology and the broadness of my brush. I hope you will forgive me, but I need this broad brush to paint a picture of who I am and what queer astrology is to me. In my defense, such as it is, I was raised by Wiccans.

There are almost zero transgender women astrologers. I think the number of reasons for this is many. In spite of the increasingly queer customer base for birth chart readings, astrology is by-and-large still an overwhelmingly transphobic industry. At least, if you try to make a career by marketing to other astrologers. Or boost your profile and success by industry connections. Which is a great way of doing things, for those able to do it. But not for the rest of us.

I think there are other factors, ones more hopeful and positive than that. My name is partially an homage to Ursula K. LeGuin, and her short story "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" describes a utopia of prosperity and joy built upon the oppression and suffering of a single, helpless child. It is, of course, a metaphor for oppression and privilege. The ones who learn the truth can either decide to stay in the society of Omelas, or choose to walk away.

I think some of us choose to walk away. We discover that the career path in our little professional bubble is based on a more societally masculine way of doing things. It is Solar - rising up above the rest, making oneself seen, becoming visible in the spotlight with charisma and bravado. We recognize our womanhood, and we want to live in a less masculine way - more Lunar. Receptive. Allowing in rather than making happen. Quieter.

What makes transgender women so frightening to those who seek to uphold the status quo is our joy. Joy is not “supposed” to be found in discarding a role of privilege for a role seen as submissive or less-than. To be a woman is to occupy a role in society beneath that of a man, and to make that transition not just willingly but joyfully calls into question the very foundations of what is and is not permitted. We walk away from what we were allowed to be, and walk towards an unknown horizon where we can live as our authentic selves. When people see us moving towards that unknown, smiling, they start to ask questions about what roles or ways of being they have accepted for themselves simply because they didn’t know they had a choice. They start to wonder if they too could be happier by walking into the unknown.

On the outskirts of town lies the line between society and wildness, and in a small cottage surrounded by herbs and odd markings is a woman with unkempt hair and a wide smile. She welcomes you in, as the first stop on your journey into the unknown, or as a regular visitor from town who wishes to know what ways of being and doing they don’t teach you in the university and make you cover your ears around in church. And that’s me.

Role defier. Queer Astrologer. The Witch in the Woods.

Welcome to my cottage. Have a seat and let’s talk a while.

The Year Above / Astrology of 2019: Heroes in a Dark Time

“I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.
"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

— J. R. R. Tolkein, The Fellowship of the Ring

Outgunned, outnumbered, and running out of time, our heroes are up against the possibility that all their efforts may not be enough. It might be too much. The bad guys might win.

But something shifts. Something changes. Deep within their hearts, a spark turns into a roaring flame, and in the face of impossible odds, inspiration and hope drive them forward in the fight to beat back the darkness.

Inspiration and hope are funny things. They emerge ex nihilo in the strangest of places, often without rhyme or reason. They’re not known for being based in reason. Rational, realistic views on life tend to preclude this kind of thinking much of the time.

But inspiration and hope can move mountains, defy the odds, make the impossible possible — in the right time, at just the right moment.

Jupiter spends all but the last month of 2019 in Sagittarius. In the archer’s sign he does what he does best: inspires hope and faith in that which cannot be readily seen — divinity, justice, the spirit, the soul, gods, angels, a better future, a brighter tomorrow, a light at the end of the tunnel that will emerge if you just make it a little further through. He is lord of philosophy and expansion, particularly expansion of one’s mind, but also expansion of one’s world and life and viewpoint.

Jupiter also spends much of 2019 in a square with Neptune. Neptune is idealism taken to an extreme—she can influence us to fantasy, escapism, and delusion. In aspect with Jupiter, she can bring that unreasonable, illogical hope that things will get better a newfound freedom from the reality around it. In aspect with Neptune, Jupiter finds it easier to believe in hope for hope’s sake, to fight for what he believes in even when the odds are utterly stacked against him, to go for the grand prize even if it’s the furthest thing from reasonable.

We need that energy in 2019. We need people who are empowered to fight for the impossible dream that things can be better, that life doesn’t have to be this dark, that the good guys can win in the end after all. Because it is only when we fight against those impossible odds that all of us, together, save the future.

2019’s other major characteristic is the Saturn-Pluto conjunction which perfects in January of 2020, but has been in effect for all of 2018 and will continue to be felt until the end of 2021. I get these dates from Richard Tarnas’s excellent 2006 book Cosmos & Psyche, which speaks to a number of historical cycles connected with outer planet transits. (In researching the Jupiter-Neptune cycle, I found this paper of his which can give you a taste of what he writes in that book, which you should absolutely read if you haven’t already.) He tends to use particularly wide orbs (range of degrees where an aspect is active) as that is what his historical research has found to be most descriptive; based on his arguments, I am inclined to agree.

Section V of Tarnas’s book is devoted to the Saturn-Pluto cycle. Taking a couple of brief excerpts from his treatment of the topic:

“…the Saturn-Pluto cycle coincided with especially challenging historical periods marked by a pervasive quality of contraction: eras of international crisis and conflict, empowerment of reactionary forces and totalitarian impulses, organized violence and oppression… Profound transformation was a dominant theme…” (209)

“As dark and problematic as was its shadow… [the Saturn-Pluto] archetypal complex seemed equally capable of constellating actions, transformations, and enduring social-political consequences involving extraordinary moral determination as well as sheer physical and volitional effort… [S]uch periods seem to coincide consistently with a collective sense of stern purposefulness and determination, a galvanizing of the will against overwhelming odds, grim resolution in the face of extreme danger.” (257)

In other words—Nazis, but also the French Resistance to the Nazis. AIDS, but also ACT UP. The terrorist attacks of 9/11, but also the heroic efforts of first responders to that attack.

It isn’t news to anyone that we live in dark times. Authoritarianism, totalitarianism, and fascism seem to be rising up around the world. Many governments have such leaders already. This is what happens during Saturn-Pluto periods. But in spite of all that, we have an impulse towards bravery and strength of character, alongside a little voice in the ear whispering to us that we should hope, that it doesn’t have to be this way, that things can be better. “We can turn this shit around” as Tank Girl says.

And so we must. Drawing upon the unreasonable idealism of Jupiter-Neptune and the steely resolve of Saturn-Pluto, we must fight against the dying of the light, and bring into our little corners of the world a piece of joy, of optimism, of brilliance.

Because we can. Because all of us have these strengths within us. Because we can make the world a better place in spite of empowered forces of authoritarian oppression.

Because all of us together are heroic, and that’s what heroes do.

If you enjoy my writing and find it valuable, you can support me on Patreon. I’m also available for readings.

The Week Above - November 4th-11th 2018 (Election Day Astrology)

The Week Above is a weekly astrological "weather report" detailing the major planetary configurations for the week ahead. All times given are in Eastern Time. There will be references to your birth chart and your Sun, Moon, and Rising signs throughout. If you aren't sure of what that means, check out Astrodienst for free online chart drawings, and Cups & Crowns for the basics of how to understand a drawn chart.

If you enjoy my writing and find it valuable, consider supporting me on Patreon. Future posts will feature horoscopes for all twelve signs if certain goals are met.

Strap yourselves in for this one, friends, it’s gonna be a bumpy ride.

The Lunar Nodes enter Cancer and Capricorn and Uranus returns to Aries - November 6th

Election Day in the United States is going to be a big shift, but I’m not predicting puppies and cupcakes here.

On Tuesday, the Lunar Nodes, which have been transiting the signs of Leo and Aquarius, shift into Cancer and Capricorn. In a sense, the Lunar Nodes by transit indicate an arc of collective evolutionary focus. The South Node tends to disempower the sign it transits through, sinking it down into a place that is alternately sapped of energy and given over to its basest instincts, with occasional moments of being on the beam so strongly that being itself is the most natural thing in the world. But mostly all that sign’s shortcomings get revealed. Since May of 2017, that South Node has been in Aquarius, doing all that to the territory of humanitarianism, collective thinking, technology, social networks, futurism, pariahs, and genius. Many of the themes of abuse of technology and abusiveness of technology companies, the agonies of social media, and the splitting away from collective unity got underscored over and again during this time, reemphasized and the humor taken out of it.

Until May of 2020, the South Node will be in Capricorn, sign of authority, ambition, and patriarchs, among many other significations. It’s gonna be an interesting time.

The North Node of the Moon, by transit, tends to hand a six-pack of energy drinks to whatever sign it’s in. It energizes that sign, activates it, makes it want to go go go move move move get shit done, but can also cause that sign to rev its wheels until they burn right off, become overactive, or just get overwhelmed with anxiety. Since May of 2017, the North Node has been in Leo. This is the territory of ego, self, self-centeredness, being centered in oneself in a more spiritual sense, shining in the spotlight, creative self-expression, children, and charisma. Perhaps this speaks more to the negative qualities of this point in history than necessarily the nature of the North Node of the Moon (which is generally considered a positive point in most Western texts, but this may have more to do with Western society’s biases of “more is always good”), but its most visible influences have not been great. Egotism, autocrats, anxious children, all have been spotlighted during this time. Anecdotally, I’ve also witnessed an increased willingness to pay artists for their art as part of left-leaning discourse, and otherwise give credit where credit is due. But I’ve witnessed a politics of “me first, then fuck you” from the right (and certain less-mature segments of the left tbh) get widespread as well.

The North Node will be in Cancer from Tuesday until May of 2020. Cancer is the territory of homes, families, cliques, mothers, emotional nurturing, the womb, feelings of security, and caretaking. On one hand, it’s a scary time for abortion rights. On the other hand, mothers enraged could be exactly the thing the world needs right now.

Now let’s get into Uranus.

Uranus’s initial entry into Aries 8-ish years ago coincided with the Arab Spring. Uranus in Aries is a hot, fiery, revolutionary energy that’s prone to burning hot and burning itself out. Uranus in Aries likes to break shit. Uranus is Aries is on fire with the urge to make things be different, by force if need be. Uranus will be in Aries for exactly four months, returning to Taurus on March 6th and staying there for another 8-ish years. This is Uranus in Aries’s last hurrah before Uranus starts shaking things up in a much earthier, more aesthetic way.

The Nodes square Uranus at 12:47pm EST, then shift signs at 1:09pm EST, then Uranus shifts signs at 1:59pm EST. The whole shift happens suddenly over the span of a lunch break to go vote. All of these major changes happen very, very fast.

Vote, by all means vote, but know that big changes do not happen easily. Shifts happen, but we’re too deep into the muck at this point for a single election to get us clean again. And whatever happens, a lot of people are going to be very, very angry, and seek out a vehicle to express that anger, possible the kind of vehicle they can set fire to. Probably not everywhere, all at once, but enough places to make folks stand up and take notice.

Things shift rapidly on Election Day, but not entirely, and not in a way that functions as a magic “make it all better” button. There’s more work to be done, and help is in fact on its way. Chin up, eyes on the goal, you got this.

New Moon in Scorpio - November 7th

This is not a big, loud lunation.

This is a quiet one. Trine Neptune in Pisces. Loosely sextile Pluto. Smack in the middle of Scorpio. Big things are happening, absolutely—it’s on the world axis, one of a few degrees of very public face—but these things happen in the dark and we just find out about them later. If you want to take political action you don’t want folks to know about right away, this is the time for it.

Not that I’d recommend you do anything untoward. Of course not. But I certainly expect some power players to be doing exactly that, and news stories to show up about protestors pulling off some kind of heist.

This is a heist moon. Secrets bandied about in the darkness taking hold of what isn’t theirs. Shifting shadows. Thievery. Sabotage.

Hey, I’m as anti-capitalist as the next astrologer who’s seen the writing on the wall, but I am not the guy with the mask. I’m the guy with the light in the darkness.

And this is quite the darkness.

Of note: This New Moon is exact just over 15 minutes after Jupiter’s exact trine to the Lunar North Node / sextile to the Lunar South Node. New beginnings are available to you for things you want to stay hidden, but ultimately a more monastic type of seclusion is called for here. The secret voice of the divine from the mountaintop. The Hermit. Spiritual truths only available in quiet contemplation. It’s a beautiful time to sit and contemplate your own mortality, because peace is available from that contemplation on this moon that isn’t always easy to come by. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but a worthwhile exercise when the time is ripe for it.

It seems to be ripe for it on the 7th.

Jupiter enters Sagittarius - November 8th

Jupiter entering Sagittarius is the astrological event of the year, at least in terms of being highly-anticipated and looked forward to more than any other. Here is the hope we’ve been waiting for. It’s a big, positive shift and deserves its own post, which you can read here.

Venus trines Mars - November 9th

Not as big an event as the other stuff this week, but still worthy of note.

Mars and Venus do a little dance around the zodiac, with Venus usually the faster-moving partner, except when she’s retrograde. Their retrogrades this year stepped on the toes of the same few degrees of the zodiac, around 9-10° of the Fixed signs, where they made their last aspect, a square. Their trine on the 9th will be the last major aspect Venus and Mars will make until their next trine on January 18th.

It’s a rare moment of harmony between masculine and feminine energies, or at least it seems more rare these days. Expect male energy to be a bit better behaved, or at least a bit more charming. And feminine energy to be a bit more comfortable making its desires known. Venus is still retrograde, of course, but she’s far out of the worst of it, already arisen as the Morning Star, emergent into the light and emerging further into the light every day. Her trine to Mars just emphasizes that she’s back in business and ready to mix and mingle and have some fun.

Up to you if you want to join her, but it’ll be a Friday, and that’s Venus’s day. Go out, have some fun, get a pedicure, fuck a stranger, dance on a table, impulsively redecorate your living room, enjoy your life however you do you. It’s a good time for it.

And we need these moments to celebrate joy, don’t we?