Justin Elzie - Exploring Human Experiences: The Role of Sabian Symbols in Modern Astrology This talk takes a look at the many human experiences an Astrologer will encounter doing consultations and explores how the Sabian Symbols helps to validate the experience and show the way forward. After this talk an Astrologer will have a better understanding of how to lean on the Sabian Symbols to help in advising the client on what actions they need to take. LA/Miami/Scottsdale Room - 5th floor
Christa Hamilton - Astrological Grimoires Building a personal grimoire of astrological observations with plant medicine can bridge the connection of the gardener's kitchen to the astrologer’s chair. Herbs, flowers & other plants can assist the astrologer to gain empiric knowledge of the nature of the planets through plants. Part workshop, part lecture “Astrological Grimoires” is an effort to show how to bind astrological knowledge through the personal experiment of using plant medicines. NW/OH/Purdue Room - 6th floor
KristaLyn Sofia - Stellar Storytelling: Using the Stars to Outline Your Next Story Learn how to use astrology to outline and write a novel! This lecture explores creating charts for moments of story inspiration or character birth charts to dive into natal promise, derived houses, and other traditional techniques that will help you outline a powerful story that is poignant to its time. Den/Hou/KC Room - 5th floor
Julie Starr - When a Benefic Isn’t So Great At a basic level, Jupiter and Venus are considered the benefic planets. However, what happens when the benefics aren’t so beneficial? This talk will break down certain techniques that can help illuminate these key nuances. Chart examples will illustrate these important, and perhaps overlooked, considerations when delineating benefic planets in a client’s chart, helping the astrologer provide a richer interpretation for their clients. MI/MI State Room - 6th floor
Hilary Harley- Solar Return Geolocation: That is the Question When casting the chart for the solar return, two schools of thought prevail: using the client’s natal place of birth or the location where the client is at the time of their solar return. Often, these locales may offer widely differing forecasts given resulting planetary positions based on the solar return approach employed. This lecture speaks to how astrological guidance is influenced by the client’s solar return geography. IN/Iowa Room - 6th floor
Divine Harmony - Eris ~ The Archetype of the 21st Century An exploration of the Goddess Eris ~ mythically, etymologically and astrologically. This new body discovered in 2005 is the Archetype of the 21st Century- but she is much, much more than the 'Goddess of Discord & Chaos'. We will explore her modern myth and the ancient lost threads of what was there before. We will explore Eris as a force for awakening and change and learn how we can 'invite the uninvited guest' for personal and planetary healing. Den/Hou/KC Room - 5th floor
Simone Karuga - It’s All About the Angles: An Intro to Angular Synastry Angular synastry is a branch of synastry that examines how an individual’s planets interact with another person’s angles and vice versa. The angles or the “stakes” in this context represent the four main corners of the chart which are the most important and central to chart interpretation. Solar Simone will use angular synastry to describe the potency of a relationship using this point of connection. LA/Miami/Scottsdale Room - 5th floor
Giorgia Pecora - From Womb to World: The Astrology of Birth & Its Karmic Blueprint Your birth story holds the keys to your karmic path, ancestral imprints, and soul’s journey. This lecture explores the astrological signatures of intrauterine experiences, birth dynamics, and their lasting impact on your life. Learn how planetary alignments shape your emotional imprint, life themes, and evolutionary purpose, offering profound insights into your soul’s path—and how to channel these energies for growth and transformation. NW/OH/Purdue Room - 6th floor
Katia Perez Fuentes - Advanced Astrology for Frequent Travelers A survey of relocation techniques exploring what it means to be transient in a rapidly shifting global landscape. Timing travel and movement with transit-based astrology. This lecture builds on the foundational work set by Jim Lewis’ Astro*Carto*Graphy and Cyclo*Carto*Graphy, with additional contributions from contemporary advancements to the craft of astrology-based travel. IN/Iowa Room - 6th floor
Cata Qian - THIS Was Translated into THAT? : Chinese Translation of Western Astrology Terminology Comparing western astrology terminologies alongside their Chinese translations, an astrologer ponders upon the similarities and discrepancies, and asks provocative questions: does this really have to be translated into that? MI/MI State Room - 6th floor
Saturday September 5, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT none
Join us for AstroTrivia, a social gathering where you can relax, spend time with friends, meet new colleagues, and share laughs through Chicago-style pub trivia based entirely on astrology. Enjoy music, a no-host bar, prizes, and team play that welcomes all experience levels. Take a refreshing break from lectures in a community-focused setting sponsored by Kepler College.
Aerin Fogel - Mythic Houses - The Story Of Diurnal Motion This talk is an exploration of diurnal (or primary) motion through a mythic lens. We will journey through the houses in the same progression that the luminaries and planets do each day as they rise, culminate, set, and fall, using The Odyssey as a template story for their directional movement. This perspective on diurnal motion will offer an integrative understanding of each individual house, the sects, angularity, and planetary joys. IN/Iowa Room - 6th floor
Amy Angelo - Mercury as a Functional Malefic The Hellenistic astrology tradition portrays Mercury as an ambivalent figure capable of doing good, causing harm, or even embodying both qualities simultaneously. This lecture will explore how Hellenistic authors sought to interpret Mercury’s role in a natal chart by planetary condition but also particularly when activated through timing techniques such as Circumambulations of the Bounds, Annual Profections, and Solar Returns. NW/OH/Purdue Room - 6th floor
Imani Harmon - Talismanic Photographs: Astrological Magic Theory for Cultural Mythologies This lecture explores the contemporary evolution and revival of talisman making, alongside the historical context of documentary photography. It proposes that through the blending of traditional talisman methodologies and contemporary art making methods that incorporate photography we can make talismans that connect to contemporary mythologies. This lecture will provide attendees with physical examples, elections, and to guide them in their talisman making practices. LA/Miami/Scottsdale Room - 5th floor
Sonja Francis - Our Inner Processes - Retrograde Planets in Action Most of us shy away from embracing Retrograde planets and phases. Why is that? What if we could look at a Retrograde planet and see its purpose and its glory? In this presentation, I will give you a new perspective on how to deal with Retrograde planets in your own natal chart and also when they occur via transit. MI/MI State Room - 6th floor
Antje Sommer - Healing the Masses: The Powerful Connection of Mercury & Chiron in Music Music is a vehicle for emotions; listening to lyrics and melodies brings us in touch with our feelings. How does Mercury the messenger interact with Chiron the wounded healer in a musician's birth chart? How is this combination of energies expressed in the lyrics of famous singer & songwriters? This is a fascinating journey through modern music history and an exploration of this powerful signature in the birth charts of musicians. Den/Hou/KC Room - 5th floor
Estelle California - Family Patterns and Collective Timing "Family Patterns and Collective Timing" explores how transits for the same event impact family members' charts simultaneously. Using quad-wheel charts and Jigsaw, we track how planetary cycles trigger family patterns. While these patterns express differently for each individual, they reveal repeating dynamics and collective transformation points. This research uncovers the interconnected threads within a family, shaping personal growth and shared evolutionary paths. Den/Hou/KC Room - 5th floor
Brett d'Arras - The Vertex and Anti-Vertex: From Fate to Forecasting Referred to as the “third angle” of fate, the Vertex denotes significant external turning points, while the Anti-Vertex indicates crucial internal shifts. Examining how planetary movements interact with this axis is an often overlooked way to understand how fate catalyzes pivotal life events. This exploration enables a deeper understanding of personal evolution and provides advanced techniques for forecasting with the Vertex and Anti-Vertex. IN/Iowa Room - 6th floor
Mallory Hasty - Adventure Gone Wrong: Astrocartography of Krakauer’s Everest Expedition and Knox’s Disaster in Italy In this lecture, Mal will examine the Astrocartography of writer Jon Krakauer’s and then-student Amanda Knox’s abroad disasters. Krakauer’s participation in one of the deadliest Mt. Everest Disasters in 1996, and Knox’s mixup in her roommates' tragic murder, leave us thinking about the locations we can never forget. What can we learn about Astrocartography lines, the relocated chart, and where someone may experience “fated” events? NW/OH/Purdue Room - 6th floor
Drew Levanti - Turn by Turn: Eventful Mixtures in Annual Profections A simple and powerful timing technique, annual profections allow us to define an activated sign, house, and planetary ruler for a year of life. Typically we do this by profecting or “turning” the chart relative to the Ascendant, but we can actually use a planetary lens as well. By profecting from a planet, we can predict years where a planet’s influence is brought upon another planet, creating eventful dynamics and rich mixtures in their wake. LA/Miami/Scottsdale Room - 5th floor
Jordyn Smith - From Trauma to Transformation: Empowering Post Traumatic Growth Trauma can be a catalyst for evolutionary growth. It's important to understand what correlates to this in the natal chart in order to empower growth for clients. This is seen with planets, aspects, and transits. The "why" of it and the path forward to empowerment. Especially when clients come see you with a traumatic event and feel stuck. Understanding this also helps us to empower growth in others and our astrology practice. MI/MI State Room - 6th floor
