FAQs

My Story

In 2018 after several years in independent community pharmacy, I began focusing on oncology and disorders of the immune system, guiding patients through chemotherapy and other invasive therapeutic modalities requiring higher levels of guidance and support.

Pharmacy has allowed me to see more of the human condition than I ever imagined I would, and in a relatively short amount of time. I have had the honor of witnessing years-awaited relief, as well as unimaginable physical and emotional suffering. I have seen first hand how multi-faceted and complex quality of life can be, which has been both humbling and deeply motivating. I entered pharmacy as a technician in 2008, making 2021 my thirteenth year in the field and ninth year of licensed practice. I resigned from my position March 2021, allowing me to pursue astrology full time. I still maintain my licensure including thirty hours of continuing education every two years.

Astrological Practice and Lineage

I stand on the shoulders of many brilliant people, feeling like a magpie but doing my best to honor their work. I have studied mainly under Chris Brennan, having completed focused training through his Hellenistic and Electional Astrology coursework. My practice has also been heavily shaped by the teachings of Leisa Schaim, Demetra George, Austin Coppock, Kelly Surtees, Samuel Reynolds, Robert Hand, Adam Elenbaas, and Jason Holley, amongst many other astrologers I continue to learn from. You will hear their teachings in my practice, and I try my best to cite them when referenced.

I began studying astrology in late 2016 with Jupiter in Libra. I was delighted to find the same level of complexity and nuance in astrology as I did in the complex sciences of physiology and pharmacology. The realization that astrology had very specific and detail-oriented techniques inspired me to open up to this practice. As astrology has continued to demonstrate its value and consistency, my desire to use it to help others has grown. And so, here I am, and my books continue to be open!

As of 2025, I’ve been reading astrology with people for five years, and look forward to the continued development of my practice. My astrology CV/Resume and most activity to date can be found here.

Personal Development Practice

In October of 2020 I began self-studying mindfulness/meditation/mental development. Vipassana or insight meditation has since become a focus and large part of my personal spiritual practice at this time. This in turn informs my astrological practice into which I bring my values and aspirations of kindness and radical-acceptance. My aspiration is guided by my local Sanga and teacher, Janice Cittasubha Sheppard, and teachers in book and spirit, including Ajahn Chah, Thich Nhat Hanh, Thanissaro Bhikkhu, Joseph Goldstein, Diego Perez, and Dr. Tara Brach. I want to recognize and give gratitude for all of the teachers who helped the Dhamma/Dharma wheel roll across the oceans to help western-bodied people like myself.

Continuing Education

Being in a caring field means being a life long learner. It’s non-negotiable that I continue to grow not only in my practice of astrology, but also in my practice of being with people, remembering to be aware, my practices of working with intuition and maintaining energetic hygiene. Pharmacy continuing education credits sometimes focus on counseling skills and cultural awareness, and while I had the opportunity to grow these skills in counseling people on medications and related (un)wellness, I more recently have started supplementing that experience by auditing courses from NICABM, the National Institute for the Clinical and Application of Behavioral Medicine to learn more about trauma, its treatment, and trauma-informed care. While I have experienced trauma and that helps me empathize, this doesn’t qualify me to hold space for others’ trauma experience. Classes like those from NICABM support my work by helping to prevent avoidable harm in session when special care is required. You can check out my list of continuing education activities here.

Privileges

I like to explicitly state where I’m coming from in terms of privileges/marginalization, to help people better understand why I might say, think, or do certain things:

• *My ancestors colonized, and I grew up on, the ancestral and stolen lands of the Očhéthi Šakówiŋ (Seven Council Fires) Dakhóta People, namely those of the Bdewakantunwan/Mdewakanton and Wahpekute Nations. I now reside in Teejop (Madison), and gain benefit from living on the ancestral and stolen lands of the Kickapoo, Ho-Chunk, and Meskwaki Nations.

• I come from a rural, working-class background, and did not live with food insecurity that food stamps didn’t remedy (i.e. I wasn’t hungry)

• I do not live with physical disability

• I do not have health insurance

• I am a white, thin-bodied, queer, cis-woman, and have experienced gender-based violence, TDV, and IPV

• I have education privilege having been able to obtain a doctorate

• My student loan debt is massive and controls every life-decision I make. #FAFSAwasatrap #thelate2000’swereatrap

• I grew up in mainstream religious privilege

• I have no children

**While I aspire toward and value non-harming, realistically this is impossible. The term “safe space” feels like a lie given this reality. Harm is going to happen and we have to know how to best prevent and repair harm when it does happen. The term “brave space” feels more accurate. Even with this however, there is a huge difference in bravery/vulnerability that marginalized people navigate compared to white people. While I do my best to adjust and change as my understanding grows, I also want to explicitly name this dynamic of the space, that will ultimately be relevant with me being a white cis woman trying to meet others with openness and respect, and not ignorance/assumptions/my own baggage.

QUESTIONS or FEEDBACK? Email me at aligninglightastro@gmail.com or leave feedback here (the form will let you enter feedback anonymously, just don’t fill out the name/email part)

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