This is another update we received from Hal Bahr on our Postcards from UAC Facebook Group. You can find him on Facebook HERE and also on his Wordpress Site: Soul Journey Design
I had
another wonderful day in New Orleans. As I walked into the lobby of the
Marriott I saw clumps of astrologers deciding what to do with this last
day before the conference begins. For me it began with a walk through
the French Quarter with Caroline Casey to historic gathering place Cafe
du Monde for beignets, cafe au lait, and orange juice. A young man
sitting close by wore a t-shirt whose slogan caught our eyes Work Hard,
Be Nice. Good guiding words for two people who will be very busy over
the next week. We then went and took in the view from the square.
Treasured time sharing stories, possible visions of the future, and
confidences with my great ally and friend knowing we were in no hurry
but the with the aim of exploring the voodoo vibe of NOLA and a visit to
the resting place of Marie Laveau the voodoo priestess of New Orleans.
Caroline first caught my attention in the 80's when she was on Nightline
with Pat Buchanan talking politics and astro-wisdom. Later she inspired
me with her book Making the Gods Work for You, amazed me with a
personal reading and over the last few years she had become a friend.
That's one great thing I have found with the astrologer tribe. These
wise and learned folks are also accessible and even greater in their
heart-centered humanity.
As we wandered Caroline told me
stories of coming to NOLA just months after Katarina. Anti-depressants
made it here faster than clean water, a city in shock with every person
you met having a heart-rending story to tell, and the miracle of
sunflowers and watermelons growing rampant in every vacant once-flooded
space of the devastated city. After stopping and greeting our great
spirit ancestor Marie Laveau's final resting place and tidying things up
bit our tour continued. We paused in another gathering spot on the way
to visiting Priestess Miriam and the Voodoo Spiritual Temple and
cultural center while Caroline told me a story about Marie Laveau. Marie
was in love with a high-born white New Orleans white man who took the
legal steps to be declared colored so that he and Marie could own
property and be together. Marie had the voodoo herbal cures for ailments
like yellow fever and this among other things gained her entree among
many unlikely and disparate groups. It was Marie who held the first
multi-racial gatherings in the city where drumming and spirit was called
forth for the good of all.
Then on to the Voodoo Spiritual
Temple and cultural center where modern-day voodoo priestess Miriam
Chamani presides. The shop was a sight to behold. Filled with talismans,
remedies, candles, music, books, altars and Miriam who is available for
personal readings, greetings, and chat while the images of Marie Laveau
and Baron Samedi gaze down upon the visitors.
After stopping
for delicious gelato and a quirky conversation with a flamboyantly
dressed busker we eventually wandered back toward the hotel. As soon as
we entered the building you could feel the vibe had changed from
languorous lounging to the building frenzy of a huge gathering of
astrological stars. I think we may have enough accumulated talent and
brightness here to begin the Big Bang all over again. Checking in with
Michael Erliwine again we all proceeded up to the registration check-in
desk for the conference to get our credentials, badges and tickets for
the various parts of the conference. I was delighted to find Victoria
Naumann Peltz and Geri Bellino staffing the desk. The generous volunteer
work at this conference is a tribute to the passion and excitement this
kind of event stirs up in folks. Micheal took us behind closed doors
into the UAC marketplace where we got to see the vendors setting up,
Micheal's expansive booth and, wouldn't you know it... that same
original couple setting up their bookstore booth. I told you paths would
continue to meet here.
Then I began to get calls with
questions about where the room monitors were going to be meeting and I
had to leave my companions and see if could help the flow of
communication. On the way I ran into friends, colleagues, teachers and
astrological/organizational treasures Chris McRae, Monica Dimino,
Richard Smoot, Henry Selzer, Robert Corre, and Maureen Ambrose. Once
back up in my room I had the pleasure of a visit from Cayelin Castell
co-founder of the Shamanic Astrology Mystery School and her gorgeous
daughter Jenna. Rockin goddesses. Cayelin and Daniel Giamario will be
hosting a booth in the marketplace that will offer a new version of the
groundbreaking Shamanic Astrology Handbook. Check it out!
Our
visit was sweet but brief as I had to go to the first gathering of the
cast and crew of Micheal Lutin's OMG The Mayans Were Right. I was
impressed with the stage and overwhelmed with the sheer star power of
great astrologer's who Micheal had somehow convinced, cajoled, cohooted,
and coerced into putting their trust and faith in him and Gloria Star. I
want to reel off the list of who's in the cast but I know I'll miss
some name and so I'll wait till a later date to fill you in but it's
truly an astonishing assortment of the incredibly well-known, stunningly
talented and beautiful, and the quirky and unlikely. You will gasp in
wonder, surprise, and delight. When Michael outlined the show I could
see it's truly something not to be missed for all those who are here and
sure to be heard about for a long time to come.
I left the
meeting early to get to yet another meeting being held by Michelle Gould
and Charlotte Benson training the first group of room monitors for the
pre-conference speaker presentations. Again the volunteer commitment at
this conference is simply off the scale. What a group tribal effort of
love. Michelle has done an extraordinary job of organizing and
coordinating the various pieces that make up the support staff and I
know I want to at least buy this Wonder-full lady a tall drink before
this event is over.
I'll be working as one of 4 "Floor Runners"
helping to keep the flow of room monitors, recording, and speakers
moving smoothly throughout the conference. My main task will be taking
care of the presentations on the 41st floor which will be the
Symmetrical or Uranaian Astrology track and helping out on the 4th
floor. Check in on Friday for my first reports which I'll be titling
Notes from Uranus. It's after midnight now and I'm reporting for duty at
8:30 am to help out at Ray Merriman's pre-conference presentation
tomorrow so as my fingers cramp and my eyes water I end this report and
head off to the land of dreams. Oh wait that's where I've spent the
whole day already isn't it? Only at UAC in New Orleans 2012.
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| Photo by Hal Bahr |
