Season’s Greetings: May You Too Trash Your Life!

Two years ago, I had a breakdown in Detroit and drove to LA. Here is where it led me.

The Christmas before last, I had a total breakdown in Detroit, so I packed my bags into my VW BUG and drove to Los Angeles. Because while you may not be able to fix your problems, you can run from them.

I jest. There’s more to the story than me crying alone in my house, but what I’m trying to say is that today marks two years since I made the inspired—and completely unhinged—decision to trash the life I spent decades building in Detroit to follow my bliss. Or, at the very least, find a life less bleak.

Even on my worst days in LA, I never regret getting in the car and driving three days across the country.

By the way, if you’ve never driven alone for 12 hours at a stretch: don’t. It is too many hours alone with your thoughts. At some point, even your favorite podcasters and Audible authors stop being friends. It nearly drove me to madness.

Yet, I survived.

I arrived in Los Angeles midday on December 31st, 2023, just in time to ring in the new year and a fresh start in a new city.

Thank you for being here. I began this Substack because I wanted to deepen my astrological practice by interviewing great thinkers. Those conversations inspired me to get out into the world and meet these people, which eventually led to me completely overhauling my life in search of something I’m still not sure I can put words to.

I had no idea what to expect when I embarked on this journey. Two years later, I’m thankful for over a year of monthly in-person Los Angeles Astro Salons. These gatherings have given me the opportunity to sit in a room and interview some of my heroes—like Susan Miller and Ali A Olomi—and share those moments with the vibrant community we’ve fostered.

As I write this, I’m planning the second LA Astro Fest (LAAF). This venture would not have been possible without the many astrologers I’ve met here—including Marval A Rex. As fate would have it, Marval was the very first person I met in this city, at a New Year’s party at his house just hours after I arrived.

To mark this occasion, and as a gift to myself and you, I’m sharing my first interview with Marval. Recorded a few months after we met, and a year before the first LAAF, it remains one of my favorite conversations.

But first: if you’re looking for human connection, you don’t need to move across the country. You can join Club Astro and access my monthly office hours—a twice-monthly Zoom meetup where we look at charts, share stories, and sharpen our astrology skills along the way. Plus, membership comes with all sorts of perks like secret invites and gifts, including discounted LAAF tickets.

I came all the way to LA to build the astro community of my dreams—both offline and online.

Merry Christmas! May you too trash your life in search of greater things!

Club Astro Office Hours

Join me Thursday, January 8th, at 4pm PT, for an intimate, community-driven space where we discuss the current sky, explore your questions, and share practices together. Office Hours are designed to be conversational, flexible, and an opportunity to connect directly with me and with fellow astrologically curious minds, building knowledge and community simultaneously.

Office Hours are held online twice a month and are open to all Club Astro members.

Joining is simple: Your paid subscription to ART of the ZODIAC provides access to Club Astro. If you’re already a supporter, welcome to the club! You’re all set.