The United Astrology Conference is a collaborative event put together every few years by AFAN, NCGR, and ISAR, the three leading astrological organizations in America. (AFAN and ISAR are actually international in scope, but based very much in the USA.) This is a huge event bringing together the greatest astrologers in America and many more from abroad. It’s a feast for the adventurous mind, and one hell of a party!
A few of the hundreds of Astrologers from all over the world gathering for the formal dinner.
Donna Cunningham is the author of several important texts including Moon Signs, Healing Pluto Problems, and Being a Lunar Type in a Solar World. Aside from her astrological insights she’s well known for her compassion and humor. She has incredible insight to the darker, Lunar and Plutonian side of human nature. Tempting to say she illuminates the darkness, but that would illumination would destroy the darkness. Rather she helps us to understand its depth and purpose. So much could be said for Donna, but one of my favorites among her accomplishments is her birth chart for Superman. How can you do a horoscope for someone born on another planet? Especially when he really doesn’t exist? Donna teaches us to do the impossible. (Following her example I did Godzilla’s chart!)
Noel Tyl is famous among astrology students
for his series of instructional text books, among other writings, but he’s also
well known among music fans as a Wagnerian bass. When you meet him you can easily believe he’s played the role of
Wotan, Lord of the Gods. He’s quit
singing, but kept the regal bearing and rich, booming voice. Here
with his wife Krista, a dynamo in her own right!
Michael Lutin is one of the most brilliant and funny lecturers. Who else could lead a workshop on “Saturn and Death Anxiety” and have everyone roaring with laughter? Whenever I have to miss his lectures I always get the tapes. Maybe you have to be an astrologer to get all the humor, but he is funnier than most of the famous stand-ups. Through the humor there is profound sensitivity and excellent astrology. I’m almost 50 and I still want to be him when I grow up!
Six
astrologers from the Conjunction Yahoo list serve -- from left to right: Hiding
in the back on the left here is Cecilia Mazzoli from Texas, just as spunky and
funny as you might expect from a Texan Italian, to her right is Keiko (sorry, I
forget her last name) from Tokyo, softspoken, but wise in astrology. When she speaks up she’s worth listening
to! Pat Geisler has turned her journalistic talents to making
astrology clear and simple. She claims
her gift is not in astrology (yeah, right)!, but in communication; but without
clear communication, what good is astrology?
She makes the basics come alive and relevant even to experienced pros
who get bogged down in complex crap.
Marva Mason is the charming redhead back and center. Christine
Dabney (sorry, this photo doesn’t do her justice.) And astrometeorological expert Carolyn Egan.
Such
terrific looks, and brains, too! Mikel Poulsen is an astrologer in the
Seattle Area. No, I don’t have his
number… wait… well, you can look him up in Seattle. For a consultation! He’s
also one of the organizers of NORWAC, the
annual NorthWest Astrology Conference in Seattle.
Mark McDonough is the tech wiz who has built the Astro*Data*Bank into such a terrific resource. Of course the project is the grand opus of data maven Lois Rodden. Lois’ work in collecting and publishing data, and establishing standards of data accuracy has made her one of the astrological giants of the 20th century, and her work has helped lay a foundation of standards and information for astrologers in the 21st century.
After several bouts with cancer, Lois cultivated an aura of indestructibility to match her reputation for genius. Many years ago, when I was starting out, her warmth and humor meant a lot to me, but shortly after this conference she passed on. Knowing her was an honor, and a hell of a lot of fun!
To any astrologer, Lois is a hero!
But there are astro-heroes still among us to be met at these conferences!
Branka Stamenkovich has been a tremendous force in building the Yugoslav Astrological Association. She started the first Balkan Astrology Conference which has become an annual event. Not only does this help further astrology in that region, but brings together Serbs, Croats, and Bosnians in friendly co-operation with people from other nations.
With her here is Nick Campion, a champion of Geo-political astrology and founder of the Sophia Centre, an astrological program at the Bath Spa University College in England where one can get a fully accredited Masters’ Degree in Astrology.
The highlight of the conference is the costume ball. Here we see Mars in Aquarius (Carolyn Egan) in a very partying partile with Moon in Gemini.
Another Carolyn here as a beautiful devil that lots of men would gladly go to hell for! Again, beauty is matched by brains. She is indeed wicked brilliant! Actually that’s quite true of all the ladies in this photo. In the butterfly outfit is the Empress Jutta – a title conferred upon her by admiring friends. One of my more amazing pals, she grew up in an anti-Nazi family surviving both Hitler’s Reich an the Allied bombings in Nuremburg through WWII and came to America where she shines in metaphysical circles. Back to the right as Lara Croft is Kim Farnell, an outstanding astrologer, author, and researcher from England.
And
the winner of the costume contest is the group of the Nine Muses and
Apollo! But how could we lose with nine
such fabulous femmes… (Oh, hush! I’m
not nearly as fabulous as they!)
The Nine Muses organized through the Conjunction listserv. After two months incommunicado while studying in Morocco, I got roped into this at the last minute. As if I could resist! Pat Geisler had the original idea and organized this group, and Cheryl Short (hiding in the back behind Pat) was the costume and make-up genius who brought together our individual efforts and made us a spectacular unified whole.
And how can we possibly top this at the next UAC? We have plans….. But you’ll have to come and see!
(And thanks to Christine Dabney who took all these photos at the ball while I was in costume!)