SOCIAL FORMS AS BEINGS:
Give us Cred!
Institutions, industries and other social forms are alive– they have a birth place, date, parental figures and are made of people. In this workshop, we will experiment with and explore the astrological chart of the US credit rating industry to reveal the patterns and habits of the industry as a being. This industry profits from turning personal histories into numbers which are 
used to rank a person’s ability to get a lease, a job, a loan, as well as mutual respect and a healthy self image. Decades of surveillance and control through credit reporting—often with government assistance or approval—have steadily transformed our culture, altering our values and behavior and generally instilling financial obedience. This metaphysical presentation will expand collaborative research inside of the credit rating industry and beyond, and will invite audience members into an active dialogue about this practice. Attendees will be encouraged to explore the power of astrological analysis aimed at social forms in order to both humanize, cultivate compassion for and dismantle structures that are no longer serving us. Let’s see if we can create more economic justice through astrology.
Cassie Thornton is an artist who is sometimes referred to as the Feminist Economics Department (the FED), and who works in collusion with Strike Debt in Oakland, California. Her work reveals the impact of governmental and economic systems on the public’s imagination of what is possible. Each work is meant for all privileged and poor people, and involves workshops, radio-shows, performances and essays that demonstrate how living is not a financial instrument.
Stella the Good Witch works with astrology, tarot, dreamwork, art and visualization to help healers, artists and activists to live more deeply into their good works (without burning out). She’s dedicated to collective healing and works to end all forms of oppression. She was raised by witches, received her first tarot deck at the age of 11 and has been studying astrology since she was able to read. She co-organized the first Queer Astrology Conference and is overjoyed to be back for more exploration of the intersections of politics and spirituality.
