Shift Happens Too came at a remarkable point in my life. I had just been teaching full-time in a challenging Year 5 class, managing home chaos after redecorating my corridor, and trying to keep my own life from spilling into complete disorder. Then, almost straight from the classroom, I headed into one of the most unusual and rewarding astrology events I have ever been part of. That’s right: From Classroom Chaos to Conference Magic.

When my agency first rang me, I was warned that this would be a difficult class. My heart dropped a little. In teaching, you learn that “difficult” can mean almost anything. And yes, it was a difficult class at first. There were boundaries to establish, personalities to understand, and more than a few little fires to put out. But once structure settled in, something magical happened. The children understood the rhythm of the classroom, expectations became clearer, and what began as a challenge became one of my most rewarding teaching experiences. By the end, I was leaving with flowers, chocolate, beautiful cards, and enormous gratitude.

That classroom experience strangely prepared me for Shift Happens Too, because this event was all about listening, adapting, and responding.

Craziness Everywhere

At home, life was still a little chaotic. My corridor had just been redecorated, my bedroom had become a temporary storage space, my wardrobe was in disarray, and I was trying to prepare lectures while stepping around clutter. Somewhere in the middle of that, I also had my first-ever dermaplaning appointment. As someone who joked that I might look like a werewolf in a few weeks, this felt like a surprisingly glamorous detour. My nails were also beautifully done, although in practical terms they were not especially helpful for assembling handmade gifts!

One of the most special parts of preparing for the event was making more than 112 dream pillows for attendees of my Dreamwork talk. Inspired by Ojibwe traditions, they were handmade with care, each one assembled as a small free gift. Watching people receive them with curiosity, gratitude, and genuine delight was incredibly moving. It brought a personal and interactive layer to the talk before I had even started speaking.

I was delighted Amanda Walsh from the Astrology Hub was there virtually to interview us about our lectures. I was eseciually pleased as IU am the featured astrologer for the month of June and have just recorded my lecture on “Wombmates and Wordmakers” a few days ago.

Anyway, here is the opening panel with Steve Judd, myself, Rick Levine and Darby Costello:

https://www.youtube.com/live/7V0KEProyXw?si=h99AJkb2U8qXXKn2

First Lecture

After the Friday night panel, my first lecture on Saturday focused on Jupiter, education, and risk, which was very well received. That alone would have made the event worthwhile. The amazing Amanda Walsh of the Astrology Hub interviewed us during the Friday night panel. Check us out (and special shout out to all you Moons in Leo out there!).

The Dreamwork lecture also became something quite special because people were immediately intrigued by the dream pillows and how symbolic objects can help create curiosity before deeper discussion begins.

Blood and Fire

The lecture that surprised me most, however, was Blood and Fire, my talk on the Saturn–Neptune conjunction through the lens of the Salvation Army. I had been genuinely nervous about this one. I thought people might not connect with the topic. Instead, many attendees later told me it was my strongest lecture. Ironically, it was also my shortest.

What made Shift Happens Too so different from many conferences was that it truly felt like a think tank. Normally, at an event, you hand over your USB, give your talk, attend a few lectures, and move on. Here, many of us were constantly listening to attendees and adjusting our talks in real time. Sometimes it even meant missing one another’s lectures because we were refining our own content based on audience needs. That level of responsiveness felt rare and deeply professional.

High End Multimedia Support

A huge part of that professionalism came from having proper support behind the scenes. A special thank you goes to Kayvan and team, whose media and technology expertise helped everything run smoothly. What a pleasure it is to work with professionals who understand exactly how to support a live event. I’ve seen astrology conference organsers inexplicitely relying on amateur volunteers for camera work and social media content whilst dodging the responsibility of contributing themselves–and then questioning why there’s little interaction.

It was also wonderful to reconnect with dear friends and colleagues. Steve Judd and Teresa were exceptional hosts. Darby Costello, whom I have jokingly called “Mom” for more than twenty years, was as warm and insightful as ever. Rick Levine, Penny Thornton, Penny Dix, Mayra (my own media manager from Backstage Astrology) and many others all helped make this gathering feel bigger than a conference.

And then there was the laughter.

Our karaoke night was wonderfully ridiculous, where I somehow found myself singing I’m Still Standing by Elton John.

When in England. . .

Then came the trip to Avebury.

On the coach ride out, many of us gathered in what we jokingly called the party section of the bus, right at the back around the tables. There was laughter, conversation, a little singing, and that lovely feeling of relaxed friendship after intense days of learning. On the way back, I think most of us simply fell asleep.

Avebury itself was powerful, but visiting Long Barrow felt especially reflective. It was one of those rare moments where history, silence, and symbolism seemed to come together. I also had the pleasure of meeting Sue Brain for the first time, and we have plans to work together in the future.

Another major highlight was meeting several Australians, which made my upcoming Australian tour feel increasingly real. Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide are all in motion, with Perth still the city I very much hope to confirm.

Outside astrology circles, it was also encouraging to see growing visibility in more mainstream spaces, including coverage in the Camden New Journal, reminding me that this work continues to reach wider audiences.

By the time I came home, I was tired, grateful, slightly chaotic, and looking forward to half term. My room still needed sorting, my dresser still needed fixing, and life had certainly not become magically tidy overnight.

But something had shifted.

Shift Happens Too was not just an astrology conference. It was friendship, learning, reinvention, professionalism, laughter, reflection, and proof that even in the middle of classroom chaos, home chaos, and exhaustion, real magic can still happen.

New Intensive Course!

While preparing for my upcoming travels and speaking engagements, I am delighted to announce a new Rohini Academy of Astrology Four-Week Intensive, beginning on 20 June 2026. This streamlined programme combines Safeguarding & Child Protection, Child Development Astrology, and supervised practicum work into an accessible format designed for busy astrologers, teachers, and parents. The intensive preserves the depth and rigour of the full programme while allowing students to complete the taught component in just four weeks, followed by an independently assessed final project. If you have ever wanted to develop your skills in working responsibly with children’s charts, this is an excellent opportunity to join a growing international community committed to raising professional standards in astrology.

Australian Tour

I am delighted to announce my 2026 Australian speaking tour, which will take me across five cities and some of Australia’s most iconic landscapes. The tour begins in Sydney on 12 September 2026 with Flashes of Cosmic Understanding, followed by Awakening the Monster: Uranus at 9° Gemini in Melbourne on 19 September. I will then travel to Perth on 20 September, where I will present a lecture to be announced. Between Perth and Adelaide, I will be taking the opportunity to visit Uluru, one of Australia’s most remarkable natural and spiritual landmarks. The tour continues in Adelaide on 10 October, with a lecture topic to be announced, before concluding in Brisbane on 12 October with Blood and Fire: Saturn and Neptune in Aries.

I am also thrilled to announce that, during the tour, I will be officially launching my latest book, Bending the Light: Saturn’s Lessons in Time. This new work explores the profound role Saturn plays in shaping character, destiny, resilience, and personal growth, and I look forward to sharing it with readers, students, and colleagues throughout Australia. I am excited to reconnect with Australian astrologers, students, and friends, share new research, and discuss themes that will shape the next chapter of astrological understanding.