PORTALS / Becoming an Astrologer

Residencies, visas, open calls, shamanic paths, teachers, healers, initiatory frameworks

I realized that I have wanted to become an astrologer for a long time and been afraid > partially because of my past life in Atlantis - the one documented in the observatory - where I almost solved the water problem but not in time so everyone drowned

partially because mom said that stuff wasn’t Jesus and the church said I’d be damned for it

partially because of math anxiety

but i’m doing it, i’m learning, and I feel like it’s my calling, and when I go to guatemala maybe I will get the opportunity to actually initiate in the calendar

for now…

• I am taking Laurence Hillman’s two-part Archetypal Astrology deep dive through Kosmos Institute - which he SO KINDLY helped me get for free. He is so awesome, he hasn’t charged me for literally anything yet. this is a VERY robust framework and the second course that just started is all chart reading - which I do not feel prepared for

I thought Ireland was the door that swings both ways but I’m not sure…

• I hit a dead end with the language program - I had to choose between the summer course and the Burn, and I chose the Burn because that is my culture too, those are my people, it is the little federated republic we raize from nothing and that only exists for a week before we level it again, as if it never was to begin with. I will be hosting another version of my workshop there, this time leaning more into the mythopoetic angle: “archetypal improv” instead of journaling, actively encouraging participants to come altered and test this channeling process of mine to see if anyone can call in the archetypes with the right invocation and container…

• i’m applying to open calls and residencies, find a lot here: https://resartis.org/open-calls/

• I discovered this troupe on Live Art Ireland’s page and I am now absolutely obsessed… I want to learn from them but even more than that, I want to resolve my inner tension of opposites and be their third https://performanceartvideo.org/artists/la-pocha-nostra-guillermo-gomez-pena-balitronica-gomez/

  • I am going to write them from the heart and just see what happens, why not

• I already have the beginnings of community in Ireland, though—Bill’s friend at ED Dublin asked me to take over the lighting for him this summer - not sure how I will pull it off but I felt the feeling and just said yes. I have queer friends and Tabi in Galway and the Druid Theatre.

  • I had an idea the other day about asking J.P. McMahon to participate in a project and maybe even work-sponsor me… it’s worth a shot… WHY THE FUCK NOT.

Overview

Riordan Regan is contemplating a pitch to JP McMahon for an event called "Drinking with the Dead," which he hopes will not only secure funding but also serve as a platform to advocate for a visa based on cultural and educational merits. He plans to highlight McMahon's interest in food history and culture, and to offer his own skills in book editing and marketing in exchange for McMahon's support. Regan also considers reaching out to Dylan at Druid Theatre to gauge interest in hosting the event. He emphasizes the importance of careful planning and not rushing into impulsive actions, while maintaining focus on the current event and the people involved.

Action Items:

Pitch the "Drinking with the Dead" event to JP McMahon and ask for his help in putting it on, as well as a letter of support for the Agility Awards.

Reach out to Dylan at Druid Theater to see if they would be interested in the "Drinking with the Dead" event.

Consider asking JP McMahon if he can provide any kind of work sponsorship to help Riordan live and work in Ireland.

Pitching "Drinking with the Dead" to JP McMahon: Outline

Riordan Regan discusses the idea of pitching "Drinking with the Dead" to JP McMahon, emphasizing the need to refine and make it more interactive.

He plans to ask McMahon for help in putting on the event and for a letter of support for the Agility Awards, highlighting the event's alignment with McMahon's interests in food, history, and culture.

Riordan aims to argue that the event is important as it reconnects people to traditions and the land, and he sees it as a potential argument for a visa, despite the lack of a shamanic training visa.

He considers asking McMahon for work sponsorship or other forms of support, noting McMahon's role as a writer and his potential interest in book editing or marketing assistance.

Exploring Potential Collaborations and Visa Support

Riordan contemplates offering his book editing services to McMahon, mentioning his experience in editing his mentor's book.

He suggests that McMahon might be willing to write a letter of support or sponsor him, given his interest in the culinary and cultural aspects of the event.

Riordan plans to write a detailed email to McMahon, expressing his desire to live in Ireland and outlining the two-fold request: interest in the events and potential collaboration.

He also mentions reaching out to Dylan at Druid Theatre to gauge their interest in the events, noting the potential synergy with the Galway location.

Balancing Impulsiveness and Strategic Planning

Riordan acknowledges the importance of the event tonight and the people present, emphasizing the need to stay focused and not get distracted.

He reflects on his tendency to act impulsively and the need to stay in the zone, ensuring that his preparations are thorough and well-thought-out.

The conversation highlights the balance between immediate actions and long-term strategic planning, with Riordan aiming to combine both in his approach.

Riordan concludes by expressing confidence in his current plan, trusting that his efforts will be sufficient and well-received.

Transcript:

Okay, we're gonna sit with things before firing them off. So the thing that we're sitting with is the idea that maybe, maybe, just maybe, Mr. Mystery Galloway could be part of the pathway to at least funding, if not maybe even something more permanent, just trying to follow the feeling, which I'm realizing as much as I like to think it's always accurate. I think sometimes I get confused about what's really that and what's just a part of self resonating with something they really want.

So my thought was to pitch drinking with the dead. I probably need to refine it a little bit and make it a bit more interactive, but send the pitch for that to JP McMahon and pitch it to him on the basis of asking him, asking him if you'd want to actually help put it on, also asking if so if you'd write me a letter for the what do you call it The agility awards? On the basis these were the kinds of things I wanted to bring to Ireland, and then it would benefit everyone. That is, he's a nerd about food as history and culture, and, I mean, that's like, his book was actually really cool, like, that was a big part of what it was about. Yeah, that it's making the case that it's important, because it's re wilding us. It's reminding us of our traditions, reconnecting people to the land and the seasons. This is really needed and that I would bring these kinds of experiences. Let's see. This is also the kind of argument I want to make for a visa, but they don't have a shamanic training visa. Unfortunately, like I have a teacher to work with, I have an education to pursue, but it's not the kind that there's paperwork for, so I'm gonna have to get creative. And yeah, so I wonder if I could even ask him if there's some kind of work sponsorship that he can do. I mean, if anyone in that industry would have the budget. I don't know if he would do it, but it's worth asking. Like he's a writer. I think I could say, like, offer my services and book editing, say that I just helped my mentor edit his second book, and if he had any more that he wanted to write, that I could help them. If he needed help with marketing, he even just wanted someone to like work in the kitchen, but he'd be willing to write me a letter about it, or sponsor me. It's worth asking. All I could do is say No, I think I just write him setting the whole thing up. Maybe I even leave my voice now, saying, Hey, I'm really trying to live in Ireland. Have been since last time I was there. Yeah, just lay it out like that. I have I write with a two fold request. Have these events that I want to put on. I think you'd be interested in it. Think they'd be a good fit.

Yeah, it's a two fold ask. Would you be interested in these kind of events? Thanks. I think, reach out to Dylan at druid after I write the fish as well, and send it to him and see if he thinks they want to. I guess he's not at druid, but send it to Dylan see if he thinks druid theater would be interested in.

Because then I've got everything right there, and it's in galbrai, it could work.

I feel like it really could work, but I'm going to try to not do my impulsive thing and just start firing a bunch of shit off. I got to stay in the zone. I got off track. This event tonight is important, and the people are important and the presence is important. Yeah, I took a detour. I'm just gonna have to trust that what I have is enough.