Hello. I’m glad you’re here.

In addition to my deep love for astrology in its many forms, ancient and modern, I am an artist (an oil painter primarily), a pre-licensed therapist, a longtime grief-tending listener in a state women’s prison and founder of Inanna Institute. I sometimes teach astrology, and I now utilize it alongside other therapeutic methods with clients. I hold a MA in addiction focused studies and systemic/relational therapies, and I have explored the intersection of arts, spirituality, social justice, and meaning-making with clients, students, and incarcerated women for 20 years.

My approach to astrology and work with clients is integrative, experiential, experimental, person-centered, and collaborative. My aim is to weave personally meaningful symbolism with ancient forms, images, lineage, metaphor, arts, and embodied awareness into an ecosystemic / holistic approach.

My deep interest in astrology emerged over 40 years ago. I was born in the 1970s on the unceded ancestral lands of the Duwamish and Coast Salish people. Born into the era of punk rock, I abide by its ethos — of non-conformity: anti status quo; anti authoritarianism: against injurious authority and institutions; anti consumerism: against corporate greed and values of mass culture; DIY: create your own ______; and, direct action: taking action to disrupt harmful norms and build an alternative future.

I first encountered astrology as a child through my mom’s books. As a kid, I would spend considerable time in the public library sifting through astrology books. I felt a magnetic pull to their mysteries. When I think back, I imagine the young me sought solace and meaning, and I needed guides. We all do.

The first astrology reading I ever received was as a teenager. It was handwritten on lined paper. A decade later I decided to study astrology in earnest, so I found teachers and mentors to guide me. I have devoted decades of study to this divine science and philosophical inquiry. I’ve studied its varied histories and tested a plethora of its many ancient techniques, methods, and modern innovations.

I approach this language of light and time (telos and kairos) with reverence and awe, as well as healthy skepticism. And I bring curiosity and sensitivity to my client work. I aim to truly see and hear the person in front of me.

Astrology offers us a profound framework. Its wisdom and guidance is unsurpassable to support clients, especially when paired with context —i.e., a person’s background, social location, and personal intentions. It is wildly validating, affirming, and eerie in its exquisite reflective power. It allows us to glimpse the whole picture while simultaneously focusing in on its parts. We see the quality of time and the arc of purpose. It enhances our contemplation of life’s calling, destiny, dharma, mystery, philosophy, fates, and core values. Through its lens we see path, history, and stories. The symbols speak.

As a witness to people navigating grief, loss, and return, I see astrology as a beautiful way to explore, expand, and be with spirit / psychē / soul / self / life / nature / meaning.

I offer consultations and mentoring, as I grow my therapy practice. Periodically I teach on antiscia.

In years past, I had the incredible honor to speak at a few astrology conferences in the United States and abroad, including the United Astrology Conference (UAC) in New Orleans in 2012, Astrology Restored in Cape Town, South Africa in 2016, and NORWAC in Seattle, WA.

From 2009 to 2012, I served as co/vice president of the Washington State Astrological Association. WSAA is located in Seattle and is among the oldest independent astrology organization in the US.

As a student, both undergraduate and graduate, I focused on synthesizing depth, transpersonal, and existential psychologies, expressive arts, complementary, narrative, and mindfulness-based methods. I’ve been exploring trauma, addiction, and recovery, dreams, symbols, the arts, Jungian and post-Jungian ideas, and movement-based methods, like Authentic Movement, for most of my life.

As a visual artist, I exhibit work in and around Seattle. I’m a process-driven expressionistic oil painter, and I sometimes work in other mediums like encaustics (beeswax), clay, or metal (jewelry-making).

For thirty years I’ve worked and volunteered in social service realms having to do with mental health and wellbeing, end-of-life, physical and recreational health, rehabilitation, addiction recovery, and hospice (Providence and Bailey-Boushay House). I am a certified end-of-life doula.

Since 2007, I have provided one-to-one confidential listening support to incarcerated women in a state prison. This work began with the organization Shanti,* and it is a huge part of my life. I am pleased to share that we have now created INANNA INSTITUTE to expand this work. Through INANNA, I also support people in group work and community-based programming through projects like Good Grief and Painting Inside Out. If you have ideas, want to collaborate, or would like to invest in expanding these works, please be in touch with us!

* Shanti began in the early 1980s to support people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. Shanti expanded in the 1990s, entering state prisons and jails to provide confidential, nonjudgmental support. Shanti lost funding in 2013, yet a handful of us volunteers carried on. My vision now is to recruit new volunteers, an army of volunteers for INANNA to support and care for our most vulnerable members of society — those facing much stigmatization and isolation. Join us!