NORWAC - Northwest Astrological Conference
Let me preface this with - I’ve done conferences before. Like the ones when I was a stylist. Hair conferences are more like conventions. Lots to see, do and buy. Colorful and loud. They’re like Barbie meets artist meets scholar. Booths of extensions, tools and the latest and greatest products (for like half off). Those are FUN.
The Margins virtual writing conference last year led me to some of the most phenomenal writing advice I’ve ever received. Writers and teachers I truly admire were SO ready to chat, eager to help. The most notable part being an impromptu “after party” zoom in which Khadijah VanBrakle recommended using graph paper to make floor plans while writing (insert mind blown emoji) to visualize the scenes and the book Story Genius.
In early 2024, I attended AWP in Kansas City. I was volunteering for a small business that offers poetry classes, so my registration was comped. I had a chapbook come out in Fall of 2023, so I figured seeing the professional writerly world would be a good move. Hot take: it wasn’t very fun.
There was nothing wrong with the event per se. It was big and overstimulating as most conferences are. There was an array of talks, classes and readings. A little alleyway of booths full of books to buy. I even went with my poetry buddies. I still settle on - it was meh. Next year it’s in LA, which is a short drive as opposed to a cross country flight (I am a Cancer moon, home is all), so that sounds promising. My favorite favorite favorite part, aside from being a poetry nerd with poetry friends, was attending a reading by Paul Tran. If you ever get a chance to see them read I so highly recommend you do.
Maybe my problem was going to the super fun hair ones first. Or maybe it’s about my disdain for professionalism. Professionalism as a stylist looks, feels and sounds like fun and artistry. Professionalism as a writer looks like letters behind your name and good networking, both of which require a substantial amount of privilege.
Enter NORWAC
The Northwest Astrological Conference is one of THE astrology conferences. Recently they have made it super accessible by offering virtual tickets. I gotta say, virtual events are my shit. I don’t have to worry about coordinating caregiver things, finding a parking spot, sharing air with strangers. They’re frickin great.
Leave it to astrologers to pick the most magnificently social time to convene. As we’ve talked about before Jupiter moves into Gemini on Saturday May 25th. NORWAC begins Thursday 5/23, while the benefics Venus and Jupiter are conjunct in Taurus (wow), under the full moon in Sagittarius. Sag is a gregarious, happy sign. Full moons are a time of culmination and celebration. A great day to kick off a convention. Then the moon moves into Capricorn the next day, prompting a more serious, ambitious, and driven tone. Not too serious though, because hours later, smack dab in the middle of NORWAC, Jupiter moves into Gemini. Both Jupiter and Gemini have everything to do with learning and teaching. Chef’s kiss, truly.
I’ve never been, but I have definitely graduated to the level of astrology geek, so the idea of listening to all these talks and lectures is super exciting to me. Worry not, friends. I will astro nerd so you don’t have to. I’m a notes taker, I promise to bring back something good. So catch me this weekend going nowhere. In my house, in my stretchiest pants so I can sit cross legged on a computer chair. Sipping a coffee with my notion app open all day long.