Reclaiming the Stars: Astrology, Queerness & Christian Radicalism with Lindsey Turner
Bad Pastor TALKTALKTALKS leaving the church, finding astrology and everything in between
In 2018, Lindsey Turner was fired from their position as a minister after church officials discovered they were housing a young person in need. It was one of those "What would Jesus do?" moments. Lindsey sided with Jesus.
Soon after, Bad Pastor was born.
Today, Lindsey remains an ordained minister and astrologer, teaching and writing at the intersections of astrology, liberationist Christianity, and queer identity. They’ve carved out a unique niche in the astro world by mining the Bible for astrological phenomena—exploring intriguing questions like what was actually going on astrologically with those three magi.
Most importantly, Lindsey is a delightful human who inspires me every time we speak. I had a great time recording a podcast with them.
The following conversation is a supplement to that podcast.
If you’re in Los Angeles, you can catch Lindsey in person at LA Astro Fest from April 25th-27th, where they'll be presenting on the astrological applications of non-violent communication.
Vivi Henriette: Documenting astrology’s influence on Christianity seems to be a passion of yours. Why?
Lindsey Turner: Christendom is a child of the Hellenistic age, and the Hellenists were steeped in astrology. For a number of unfortunate reasons, the early Church worked hard to sever itself from these astrological influences, including destroying many ancient astrological texts. The imprints of astrology on the Christian tradition are indelible, however, and I am slowly working to stitch together the torn tapestry between the two.
Vh: Will you share a compelling story from your research?
LT: Of course! I love reminding people that Jesus’ life begins and ends with cosmic phenomena. In the Gospel of Matthew, he is born under a special star rising in the east. The magi who went to find him for sure would have been astrologers. When Jesus is crucified, he dies under what seems to be a solar eclipse. In this time and place, people would have understood a solar eclipse to be symbolic of the death of a king. What’s also cool is that the beginning of Matthew describes a phenomena in what would have been in the first house, associated with birth. In the crucifixion narrative, the sky is dark until around 3pm, when the sun would have been in the eighth house, associated with death.
Vh: Why do you think some Christians are so antagonistic towards astrology?
LT: There are powerful narratives that began hundreds of years ago that astrology is demonic and that using divination is antithetical to Christian belief. It’s hard to undo that kind of history and people struggle to be curious about things they’ve been taught to fear. I think there are legit arguments regarding fate and free will concerning astrology and Christian belief, but the truth is that members of both frameworks land along a broad spectrum. Many Christians are deterministic and many astrologers believe in some measure of free will.
Vh: Is this interview becoming heated? When’s the last time you got into a fight?
LT: Feisty! I don’t fight, I wrestle. It’s sexier that way. People who are set on persuading me to think about things I considered years ago don’t interest me. People who want to go someplace new with me are where it’s at.
Vh: Where do you think Astrology’s PR campaign went off the rails?
LT: I have a lot of sympathy for the tradition, especially as so much coming from Northern Africa, Europe, and the Middle East has been lost or destroyed over the aeons. But whoever said the rising sign is like a mask needs to rescind that shit!
Vh: Your LA Astro Fest lecture is on astrological applications of non-violent communication. Where did that come from?
LT: As we move into some big Aries activations it felt important to me to teach on how we can achieve autonomy without violence. People often associate violence and war with Aries, but truthfully they are strategies of Mars. In Non-Violent Communication Method, developed by Marshall Rosenberg, we orient to universal human needs and understand that the strategies we use to meet those needs are the breeding grounds of conflict– not the needs themselves. I hope that my talk inspires folks to move deeper into peace within themselves, interpersonally, and communally. I’m pursuing a certification that draws heavily on NVC, and love being able to articulate how to practice peace, not just wish for it.
Vh: Is there one way everyone reading this can look to their chart right now and learn something about their communication style?
LT: Sure! Check out Mercury in your chart. Mercury strategizes to meet needs for stimulation, understanding, and self-understanding. Think about how you typically go about getting those needs met. Do you read a ton? Talk a ton? Listen to Podcasts? Go inward? Go beyond? Externally process with others or internally process alone? How do those strategies map on to the sign holding Mercury in your chart?
Vh: You’re coming to LA! What’re you most excited about?
LT: I’m really excited to be part of an infusion of enthusiasm and fun because those fires were devastating! LA, I’m on my way to give you a big hug!!!!
Vh: What souvenir are you bringing me from Santa Fe? Real or imagined.
LT: Probably one of the tumbleweeds stuck in my undercarriage right now. Or a turquoise ring! You have so many pretty pieces of jewelry. Or a jar of red chile!
Wanna see Lindsey in person? Catch them talk about astrology and non-violent communication at LA Astro Fest over the weekend of April 25th-27th.
Astrological Applications of Non-Violent Communication: Empowering the Chart with the Universal Language of Human Needs
Marshall Rosenberg made a simple claim: every human being has the same needs; what differentiates us is our strategies for getting those needs met. Every single action we take is an attempt to meet a need. The quality of our strategies, along with the awareness of the needs beneath them, give way to a life well-lived-- or not. Learn how to apply these tenets of Non-Violent Communication to your own chart and cultivate fulfillment.
ABOUT LINDSEY
Lindsey Turner (they/them) is a consulting and teaching astrologer who specializes in astrology for spiritual care. An ordained minister, they also teach and write at the intersections of astrology, liberationist Christianity, and queer identity.
Follow them on Instagram at @badpastor and at https://badpastor.me
ABOUT VIVI
Vivi Henriette is an LA-based astrologer and tarot reader whose collaborative approach to divination weaves in storytelling and mythology to create a container for her clients to explore their personal narrative. She’s the host of the Los Angeles Astro Salon at the Philosophical Research Society and the podcast TALKTALKTALK and coorganizer of the LA Astro Fest.
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