About the conference

Join us for the first annual LA Astro Fest at the Pacific Opera Project in Highland Park! Featuring three days of workshops, lectures, and festivities for the astrologically curious. LA Astrofest is the place to find your community and celebrate astrology with some of the most sought-after voices in the field.

Our guest speakers come from a range of astrological practices, from Hellenistic to Vedic, Evolutionary to Harmonic, and in-between! Whether you’re a casual chart-gazer, a seasoned pro with the planets, or you just want to know what this astrology thing is all about, there is something for everyone at LA Astro Fest!

See Our Program

Kickoff Party FT Planets, Planets, Planets & Freak Nature Puppets

The first ever LA Astro Fest kicks off with a night of astro-inspired shopping and entertainment. 

Featuring a performance by the alt comedy troupe Planets, Planets, Planets & an astro-themed set by Freak Nature Puppets!

Workshops

Join us Saturday and Sunday morning before the conference where Diana Rose Harper and Samuel F. Reynolds will be giving hands-on workshops. These sessions are a separate ticket from the main conference and are available to attend in-person or to stream anywhere in the world!

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Meet our speakers

Samuel F. Reynolds

A Zodiacal basic introduction to astrological compatibility

How to win friends and influence people using astrology

Thea Wirsching

The Enduring Mystery of Pamela Colman Smith

A.M. Penn

Arcana-Informed Astrology: It’s giving art, it’s giving alchemy, it’s giving life!

Diana Rose Harper

Aspects As Relationships

Planetary Relationships 101

Marval Rex

Reading to Heal

Chad Woodford

Bridging East & West: Vedic Astrology and the Archetypal Soul Journey

Clarissa Dolphin

Solar Sanity: Daily Astrology Remedies

Blair Bogin

Uranus' Womb: The Art of Giving Birth in a Flash

ASTRO-TALKTALKTALK: Why Astrology? Why LA? Why now?

Jonah Emerson-Bell

I Contain Multitudes: Integrating Astrology and Parts Work for Psychological Growth

Lindsey Turner

Astrological Applications of Non-Violent Communication: Empowering the Chart with the Universal Language of Human Needs

Rachel Lang

Astro-Activism: Astrology’s Place in Politics and Public Service

Camirin Farmer

ASTRO-TALKTALKTALK: Why Astrology? Why LA? Why now?

Martha Fearnley

ASTRO-TALKTALKTALK: Why Astrology? Why LA? Why now?

Liz Vazquez

ASTRO-TALKTALKTALK: Why Astrology? Why LA? Why now?

Vivi Henriette

ASTRO-TALKTALKTALK: Why Astrology? Why LA? Why now?

Nyssa Grazda

ASTRO-TALKTALKTALK: Why Astrology? Why LA? Why now?

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Sponsors

© LAAstroFest. All Rights Reserved.

Samuel F. Reynolds

How To Win Friends And Influence People Using Astrology

In a two-hour workshop, Reynolds will go beyond Sun sign astrology to introduce participants to a basic understanding of their Sun, Moon, and Rising sign and explore how aligning with a cosmic sense of purpose can help attendees relate to others with more significant influence and authenticity. Drawing on some of the thoughts in Dale Carnegie’s classic, How to Win Friends and Influence People, Reynolds will tie some of his thoughts into the ancient wisdom of astrology and how to put them into practice.

Diana Rose Harper

Planetary Relationships 101

Contemporary astrology often prioritizes the individual human self & psyche, interpreting celestial movements through a lens of “natal-gazing” focus. However, astrology has both historical and present-day expressions aimed at connecting with the cosmos and its occupants beyond solitary self-concern. What happens when the planets are understood as non-human people in their own right? How does our ability to live astrologically improve when we pursue relationship as much as we pursue information? This workshop will introduce foundational principles & practices aimed at ameliorating planetary objectification and cultivating planetary relationship & connection instead. Regardless of one’s level of astrological study, engaging with a more relational approach to the planets is an invaluable way to deepen embodied understanding, broadening one’s ability to accurately perceive astrology’s pervasiveness in the world beyond human personalities.

Samuel F. Reynolds

A Zodiacal basic introduction to astrological compatibility

In an hour-long lecture, Reynolds will explore how it’s vital to understand Zodiac signs from the inside out, including their modality, element, qualities, and how they blend or don’t blend with other modalities, elements, and qualities. This basic understanding will help attendees go beyond personal anecdotes or memes about particular signs to understand their deeper needs and how they can be met or unmet.

How to win friends and influence people using astrology

In a two-hour workshop, Reynolds will go beyond Sun sign astrology to introduce participants to a basic understanding of their Sun, Moon, and Rising sign and explore how aligning with a cosmic sense of purpose can help attendees relate to others with more significant influence and authenticity. Drawing on some of the thoughts in Dale Carnegie’s classic, How to Win Friends and Influence People, Reynolds will tie some of his thoughts into the ancient wisdom of astrology and how to put them into practice.

Bio

Samuel F. Reynolds (unlockastrology.com), a former skeptic, had a life-changing visit to an astrologer and has since spent over 30 years studying astrology. Now Samuel consults and teaches astrology full-time. He serves as president of the newly established International Coalition of Astrology Educators (astrologyeducators.com) and was the co-recipient of the International Society for Astrological Research’s 2022 Community Service Award.

Thea Wirsching

The Enduring Mystery of Pamela Colman Smith

Please join me for a talk about the natal chart of legendary artist, Pamela Colman Smith, whose “big job for very little cash,” the Rider-Waite Tarot illustrations, have cemented her reputation as a modern bohemian and mystic. We’ll consider what astrology has to tell us about Smith’s s synesthesia, her mediumistic artistic process, and her connection to the faerie realm (Smith’s nickname was “Pixie”). We’ll also dive into enduring questions about Smith’s sexuality, ethnic background, and career as a performer of Afro-Caribbean folklore. In spite of the copious documentation that exists about Smith’s life, her reputation remains shrouded in mystery, and we’ll explore both the astrological signature of those mysteries, and the limits of what a natal chart can tell us.

Bio

Thea Wirsching is an Evolutionary Astrologer, scholar, and Mom. She approaches the natal chart as a source of healing and highest potential, and specializes in addressing trauma with the lens of astrology. Thea trained with Steven Forrest and has been a counseling astrologer for the last two decades. She’s also an academic, and adapted her PhD thesis about esoteric literature into the award-winning Tarot deck, the American Renaissance Tarot. Thea taught at the college level for five years and currently teaches classes in astrology, Tarot, esoteric literature, and any other topic that strikes her fancy. You’ll find her most often with her nose in a book or a vial of natural perfume.

A.M. Penn

Arcana-Informed Astrology: It’s giving art, it’s giving alchemy, it’s giving life!

Did you know that the syncretic system of Hermetic Qabalah offers a map of energy that can help us to reveal the secrets (or arcana) of the universe? Some folks call this symbolic image an “archetype filing cabinet,” but I call it our sagest elder – it is the Qabalistic Tree of Life. The Tree will share its wisdom to those who are willing to sit with it, and meditate upon its structure – from roots to fruits. Similar to other cosmological and philosophical transmissions, such as the Upanishads (derived from the Sanskrit “to sit at the feet of”) or the Popol Vuh (meaning “book that pertains to the mat” the seated place of Mayan communal unity), the Tree of Life offers an evolutionary framework that continues to be valuable for navigating our incarnations. I have sat with this master teacher for many years, and it is this beloved elder that has revealed the most to me about the alchemical artform of astrology. I look forward to sharing some of the secrets I have learned, and I pray that our time together will deliver exactly the messages needed to inspire you to live your most skillful life – and will assist you in helping others to do the same.

Bio

A.M. Penn is the faculty astrologer at 22 Teachings School of Hermetic Science and Magical Arts in Los Angeles. Since the school’s opening in 2019, A.M. has used the system of Hermetic Qabalah to connect with more than 200 astrology students and querents. Utilizing her 20 years of experience as a corporate communicator, she strives to help make complex subjects easily accessible and enjoyable. A.M. is currently a Ph. D. candidate at Pacifica Graduate Institute and holds a M.A. Degree from Pacifica in Mythological Studies with Emphasis in Depth Psychology, and a B.A. Degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara in Communication with an Art History minor. Visit TenthHouseSun.Net to learn more.

Diana Rose Harper

Aspects As Relationships

The geometry of astrology is beautiful, but for many astro-enthusiasts, understanding and interpreting aspects is more mystifying than mystical. In this beginner-friendly lecture, attendees will be led through a relational & embodied understanding of aspects. With help from the Thema Mundi and animist perspectives, we’ll bring abstract concepts into concrete, meaningful, and interpretation-supportive form.

Planetary Relationships 101

Contemporary astrology often prioritizes the individual human self & psyche, interpreting celestial movements through a lens of “natal-gazing” focus. However, astrology has both historical and present-day expressions aimed at connecting with the cosmos and its occupants beyond solitary self-concern. What happens when the planets are understood as non-human people in their own right? How does our ability to live astrologically improve when we pursue relationship as much as we pursue information? This workshop will introduce foundational principles & practices aimed at ameliorating planetary objectification and cultivating planetary relationship & connection instead. Regardless of one’s level of astrological study, engaging with a more relational approach to the planets is an invaluable way to deepen embodied understanding, broadening one’s ability to accurately perceive astrology’s pervasiveness in the world beyond human personalities.

Bio

Diana Rose Harper is a relational astrologer currently living near Mt Wilson in southern California. Her practice aims at helping humans to better occupy our spiritual & ecological niches with the assistance of astrology’s ability to render more legible who we are and how we can relate with incarnate experience. As an animist striving to embody a devotional, love-centered ethos, Diana’s practices supports re-enchantment and re-integration with the wider field of being. She is a repeat presenter at the Northwest Astrology Conference, a repeat guest on The Astrology Podcast, and hosts monthly live chats via her Patreon.

Marval Rex

Reading to Heal with Marval Rex

In this interactive conversation, Marval Rex will share accessible tips and tricks surrounding the question, “How do I utilize astrology as a spiritual technology for healing and protection?” Rex will share specific conceptual and somatic techniques to streamline the healing process for yourself and others. Reading to Heal will expound upon how to use astrological wisdoms to engender healthy individuation, interpersonal cohesion, and the reclamation of— and dedication to—one’s life purpose.

Bio

Marval Rex is a transmasculine, Catalan-American actor, artist, stand-up comedian and professional astrologer. Rex has directed and performed in genre-bending live artworks and films for over a decade. He is the mastermind behind Big Dad Energy, the world’s first exclusively transmasculine comedy night featuring the likes of Joey Soloway and Ever Mainerd. Rex has acted in numerous film projects including the Emmy Winning “Book of Queer” on MAX, and carries a lead role in multiple upcoming independent features. Rex recently premiered his one man live comedic show, REXODUS, to acclaimed reviews. He is currently working on his directorial debut, a documentary about his Sephardic family roots with support from REBOOT Studios. Rex is represented by Eric Kind at Brave Artists Management and Tina Randolph Contogenis of Eris Talent Agency. Rex has a decades-long practice as a predictive astrologer, working regularly with clients one-on-one around the world via zoom, and hosting his own weekly astrology podcast, titled The World of Rex, which has listeners in over 52 countries. He has collaborated most recently with The Philosophical Research Society, an American nonprofit organization founded in 1934, by Manly P. Hall, to promote the study of the world’s wisdom literature, philosophy, comparative religion, mysticism and metaphysics, giving readings to people in person at PRS, as well as talks and events on the current field of astrology. In his spare time, Rex can be found gazing at the stars, growing vegetables, and surfing mad waves in Malibu.

Chad Woodford

Bridging East & West: Vedic Astrology and the Archetypal Soul Journey

In this talk Chad will explore the roots of astrology in India and the ways that Vedic astrology differs from Hellenistic, with a special emphasis on the esoteric yogic remedies and practices that are an integral part of Vedic astrology, including a short sample practice. In the course of this archetypal exploration, he will show how Vedic astrology points to the archetypal nature of the cosmos posited by Carl Jung, suggesting a synthesis of Vedic and Hellenistic astrology. Chad trained in Vedic astrology while traveling around and living in India. And he learned Archetypal Astrology while studying with Richard and Becca Tarnas at CIIS in the philosophy, cosmology and consciousness program.

Bio

Chad Woodford is an embodied philosopher of technology, Vedic and archetypal astrologer, attorney, and spiritual teacher based in Los Angeles. With a diverse background spanning artificial intelligence research in Silicon Valley to yoga instruction in India and a masters in philosophy, cosmology and consciousness from CIIS, Chad brings a multifaceted perspective to the intersection of technology, consciousness, and human potential. He aims to create a more human-centric future in the age of technological advancement, finding wisdom in the Intelligence Age with technologies of the sacred and the mundane. Chad’s vision is to help create a world where people are comfortable with their emotions, free from past conditioning, and where unity and joy are common experiences. He strives to elevate and celebrate human qualities such as imagination, intuition, emotional intelligence, compassion and wisdom in the face of rapid technological change.

Clarissa Dolphin

Solar Sanity: Daily Astrology Remedies

Astrology is a panacea, a labyrinth of ever-moving planetary potentialities that elucidates life conditions with curative effect. One of the best remedies for any situation is to have insight into what is going on. Join Clarissa in tracking the illuminating messages from the Luminaries (the Sun and the Moon) to maintain sanity and serenity in everyday existence.

Bio

Clarissa Dolphin is a certified harmonic astrologer, writer, diviner and shamanic artist. She earned two B.A.s from the University of Pittsburgh and a Masters from University of the Arts London, in Writing and Publishing, before obeying the call to enter the rich labyrinth of spiritual work. Clarissa has written horoscopes for The Mountain Astrologer, served as a locum for Mystic Medusa and has also been featured in multiple outlets like The New York Times, The Career Astrologer, Dirty Laundry, Notion, award-winning art magazine FAINT and more. Clarissa serves clients, speaks at various events and teaches students all over the world from Los Angeles. You can reach her at clarissadolphinexplainsitall.com and @clarissadolphin on socials.

Blair Bogin

Uranus’ Womb: The Art of Giving Birth in a Flash

Uranus asks us to drop our ordinary habits, think fast and flail around. Pulling from my experiences improvising with astrology through video art and community theater, we will discuss tools for embracing the chaotic rhythms of trickster: how to actively participate with the planets through spontaneous co-creation and befriend the part of astrology that is meant to disorganize us.

ASTRO-TALKTALKTALK: Why Astrology? Why LA? Why Now?

Astrology is an artform that transcends place and space, but Los Angeles has a unique role to play in expanding the conversation. As a hub for free thinkers, metaphysicians, and occult weirdos, the city of Los Angeles informs astrology just as astrology informs its culture. 

Join us in conversation with LA-based astrologers and entertainers to discuss the role of astrology in their lives and learn ways to integrate astrology in your everyday life.

Bio

Blair Bogin is an astrologer, artist, hermetic mystery freak and clown. Outside of formal consultations, she runs an astrological coaching school and experiments with astrology through comedy theater and video art. She makes moving image horoscopes and is the Director of Planets, Planets, Planets, an alt-comedy astrology theater troupe in LA.

Jonah Emerson Bell

I Contain Multitudes: Integrating Astrology and Parts Work for Psychological Growth

This presentation explores the integration of Astrology with therapeutic Parts Work to deepen the relationship between the inner world of the psyche with the outer world of the cosmos. Parts Work is a therapeutic lens that assumes that individuals have multiple different parts of their minds and psyches. Parts Work modalities focus on developing relationships with disowned parts of the self and actively working to reclaim and integrate them into one’s conscious awareness. In Astrology, each planet in an individual’s birth chart can represent a different psychological part that can be understood as possessing distinct needs, desires, and objectives. Examining the relationships between these planetary parts through the natal chart reveals a profound awareness of archetypal energies contained within the psyche. Humans are constantly navigating the relationship between their inner awareness and their external circumstances. As we develop a relationship with the archetypal energies of the planets and their manifestation in the external world as well as in our internal system we gain agency and an ability to understand our motivations and to respond to situations more consciously. Drawing from Hermeticism, Hellenistic astrology, and medieval astrological magick, alongside contemporary psychological models such as Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Jungian psychoanalysis, this presentation explores the ways that Parts Works can be integrated with Astrology to deepen one’s understanding of how planets function in the birth chart and impact the life of the native. Integrating therapeutic parts-work models with traditional astrological wisdom allows for an understanding of the Self as a multifaceted system. Astrology provides a lens to contextualize internal psychological relationships and unconscious drives as well as techniques for working these disparate parts of the Self. Traditional planetary remediations and astrological magic techniques can be employed along with visualization and somatic awareness to reorient one’s relationship with their parts and promote greater balance within the psyche. Recognizing the archetypal planetary relationships in our internal world allows for a deeper understanding of the Self as a cosmos.

Bio

Jonah Emerson-Bell is a Tarot Reader, Astrologer, and Licensed Mental Health Counselor with a background in Hypnosis and Integration Coaching. He holds a Master’s in Mental Health Counseling from Southwestern College in Santa Fe, New Mexico. His work uses the archetypal language of symbol to help make the unconscious conscious and incorporates myth, magick, and creativity as ways to support clients in creating meaningful change. Jonah has appeared on various podcasts, taught classes, and given talks on astrology, mythology, and psychology. He produces an Astrology-themed radio show called The Melee Report which is released on SoundCloud and a weekly Astrology forecast called This Week in Space!!! that can be found on YouTube and Instagram.

Lindsey Turner

Astrological Applications of Non-Violent Communication: Empowering the Chart with the Universal Language of Human Needs

Marshall Rosenberg made a simple claim: every human being has the same needs; what differentiates us is our strategies for getting those needs met. Every single action we take is an attempt to meet a need. The quality of our strategies, along with the awareness of the needs beneath them, give way to a life well-lived– or not. Learn how to apply these tenets of Non-Violent Communication to your own chart and cultivate fulfillment.

Bio

Lindsey Turner (they/them) is a consulting and teaching astrologer who specializes in astrology for spiritual care. An ordained minister, they also teach and write at the intersections of astrology, liberationist Christianity, and queer identity. You may find them on Instagram @bad.pastor or at www.badpastor.me.

Rachel Lang

Astro-Activism: Astrology’s Place in Politics and Public Service

As astrologers, we often work with leaders of various industries and public figures. Yet, astrology is still stigmatized in many circles. Fortunately, we’re changing that paradigm! In this talk, Rachel Lang explores the intersection between astrology and practical leadership. Rachel shares firsthand experiences of integrating astrology into politics, community activism, and public policy, demonstrating how astrology can inspire leaders, clarify visions, and drive impactful social change. This session offers practical guidance. We’ll touch on how to use electional astrology in campaigns, best practices for making predictions, and suggestions for becoming more of a leader in the astrological community. Rachel ties her experiences of campaigning for an elected office and working on other political campaigns. This interactive talk lets you brainstorm your potential to activate meaningful change in your community and beyond.

Bio

Rachel Lang has been an astrological consultant for 19 years and works at the intersection of spirituality, public service, and the arts. She is the author of Modern Day Magic: 8 Simple Rules to Realize Your Power and Shape Your Life, a book that blends esoteric wisdom with practical tools. Rachel also wrote As Above, So Below, a children’s book. Rachel teaches at the Omega Institute and the Shift Network, among others, and she hosts an astrology podcast, The Rachel Lang Show. She is the Mayor Pro Tem of Ojai, California, focusing on initiatives supporting animal rights, environmental sustainability, housing justice, and community wellbeing. She serves as a director for five different nonprofit and agency boards. 

Camirin Farmer

ASTRO-TALKTALKTALK: Why Astrology? Why LA? Why now?

Astrology is an artform that transcends place and space, but Los Angeles has a unique role to play in expanding the conversation. As a hub for free thinkers, metaphysicians, and occult weirdos, the city of Los Angeles informs astrology just as astrology informs its culture.

Join us in conversation with LA-based astrologers and entertainers to discuss the role of astrology in their lives and learn ways to integrate astrology in your everyday life.

Bio

Camirin Farmer is an astrologer & performer from Los Angeles who got their roots in the Baltimore comedy scene. Through their stand-up comedy, writing, and acting, Camirin relays their lived experience as a black, queer, non-binary person in modern-day America in an equally direct and silly way.

Martha Fearnley

ASTRO-TALKTALKTALK: Why Astrology? Why LA? Why now?

Astrology is an artform that transcends place and space, but Los Angeles has a unique role to play in expanding the conversation. As a hub for free thinkers, metaphysicians, and occult weirdos, the city of Los Angeles informs astrology just as astrology informs its culture.

Join us in conversation with LA-based astrologers and entertainers to discuss the role of astrology in their lives and learn ways to integrate astrology in your everyday life.

Bio

Martha Fearnley is a writer, performer, and astrologer with a background in improv comedy and devised theater. She can be seen monthly with house improv team PONY at UCB Franklin and intermittently with astrology clown group Planets Planets Planets, where she is currently playing the moon. She writes about the overlap between astrology and film at her Substack, Hollywood Star Tours.

Liz Vazquez

ASTRO-TALKTALKTALK: Why Astrology? Why LA? Why now?

Astrology is an artform that transcends place and space, but Los Angeles has a unique role to play in expanding the conversation. As a hub for free thinkers, metaphysicians, and occult weirdos, the city of Los Angeles informs astrology just as astrology informs its culture. 

Join us in conversation with LA-based astrologers and entertainers to discuss the role of astrology in their lives and learn ways to integrate astrology in your everyday life.

Bio

Liz Vazquez is an LA born & raised artist, writer, and filmmaker who has been studying Hellenistic astrology since 2016 and consulting clients since 2020. From 2021 to 2022, they wrote bimonthly horoscopes for The Philosophical Research Society as part of their PRS artist residency.

Vivi Henriette

ASTRO-TALKTALKTALK: Why Astrology? Why LA? Why now?

Bio

Astrology is an artform that transcends place and space, but Los Angeles has a unique role to play in expanding the conversation. As a hub for free thinkers, metaphysicians, and occult weirdos, the city of Los Angeles informs astrology just as astrology informs its culture. 

Join us in conversation with LA-based astrologers and entertainers to discuss the role of astrology in their lives and learn ways to integrate astrology in your everyday life.

Vivi Henriette is an LA-based astrologer and tarot reader whose collaborative approach to divination weaves in storytelling and mythology to create a container for her clients to explore their personal narrative. She’s the host of the Los Angeles Astro Salon and the podcast TALKTALKTALK.

Nyssa Grazda

ASTRO-TALKTALKTALK: Why Astrology? Why LA? Why now?

Astrology Is An Artform That Transcends Place And Space, But Los Angeles Has A Unique Role To Play In Expanding The Conversation. As A Hub For Free Thinkers, Metaphysicians, And Occult Weirdos, The City Of Los Angeles Informs Astrology Just As Astrology Informs Its Culture. 

Join Us In Conversation With LA-Based Astrologers And Entertainers To Discuss The Role Of Astrology In Their Lives And Learn Ways To Integrate Astrology In Your Everyday Life.

Bio

Nyssa Grazda is a Los Angeles-based astrological consultant, writer, and intuitive bringing sixteen years of experience to her craft. After graduating from the University of Redlands, Johnston Center for Integrative Studies in 2008 with a BA in Criticism, Consciousness, & Contemporary Culture, she honed her understanding of planetary movements, relationships, and archetypes as a student of Steven Forrest’s Evolutionary Astrology Apprenticeship Program. Nyssa believes that the birth chart is a tool for self-actualization and cultivating agency. Focusing in particular on the placement of the lunar nodes, her Evolutionary Astrology readings unveil karmic hangups and help clients move through life with deeper clarity. She currently writes daily horoscopes for the Sanctuary app and in-depth transit breakdowns for the Australia-based astrology planner company Magic of I.

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