What brought you to astrology?
I have always been an astrologer at heart. As a child I would read about constellations in encyclopedias. And during my tween and teen years I would read the horoscopes in Seventeen and Teen Vogue each month. However, in 2012 I went to college and the veneer of a sparkly suburban childhood began to fade. I had an identity and spiritual crisis connected to social issues in the US. I finally had the language to describe the way the world was shaping me and name the social struggles I had endured so far. Additionally, I gained a more critical lens to contextualize issues beyond the personal. But I didn’t have the language to describe what was happening inside of me and to provide some solace around my changing perception of self as well as a changing world. While that existed in an academic and political sense, what I found was I also needed it spiritually. Astrology returned to my life as that tool and a pathway towards the spiritual.
Why do you practice astrology? What makes it juicy for you?
In the words of the late Grace Lee Boggs, “what time is it on the clock of the world?” I am interested in investigating, capturing, and illustrating the “time.” Whether it’s personally or collectively. I see the planetary movements, like our seasons, as invitations. There is always a time ripe to bloom, build, or rest. The magic of astrology is being able to tease out the nuances of when, why, and how we are invited to those times. Astrology is exciting for gaining a greater sense of the “seasons” of life we occupy and how to make the most of them for ourselves and each other.
What is your specialty, or focus?
I focus on traditional astrological techniques, specifically Hellenistic and Medieval, being applied in contemporary contexts. And I use this as a framework to examine Black social justice and cultural movements in the US. Beyond my individual consulting and regular practice. My project “black speculative astrology” seeks to explore astrology as an Afrofuturist tool for practical use in community and as an artistic medium.
Is there a planet, sign, or aspect you’ve been exploring lately that represents an archetype or energy that feels important to you right now?
I am extremely interested in exploring what I like to call the naughty planets, malefics and planets with essential and accidental debility. It is easy to explore planets through the dichotomy of good and bad, and teasing out the nuance of the expressions of these planets is necessary to form more complex astrological analysis.
What is your picture of astrology in the future?
I hope astrology’s use goes beyond the personal into more communal and strategic approaches. And especially more widespread use or resourcing of astrologers for various types of astrology, specifically horary, electional and astrological magic.
If you discovered a new planet, or asteroid, what would you name it and why?
I would pretend I never saw it, there are too many damn planets and asteroids! I’m a minimalist 😉
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Imani is an astrologer, Afrofuturist, and writer living and working in Haymarket, VA. She is student of Samuel F. Reynolds and the School of Traditional Astrology (STA) Horary Practitioner Certificate program. Her goal with astrology is to bridge gaps across social justice, climate justice, community building, and culture work with an interdisciplinary astrological lens. Her work includes speaking engagements for AFAN, Black Quantum Futurism’s Black Womxn Time Camp 004, Astromagia. As well as, published work in Root Work Journal, Sistories Literary Magazine, and Earth in Color; and commissioned astrological analysis for The Town Hall NYC.