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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2012)
by Alley Hector REAL LIFE Astrological Detective Unraveling Mysteries Gerhz became an astrologer over 10 years ago, after her girlfriend at the time got sick of her talking about noth- ing but her garden and gave her a book on astrology. Since then she went to Portland State University to learn Ancient Greek and has piqued the interest of classicists and classical astrologers alike with her accessible trans- lations of two important texts. She also has a new book on the way, A Wonderbook of True Astrological Case Files, co-written with Judith Hill, that should soon be available now through Moira Press (MoiraPress.org). Appearances to promote the book are also in the works. She offers personalized, hand-drawn charts and read- ings for individuals, couples and children as well as tutoring. In her radio show, the Astrological Detective, Gerhz aims to teach listeners about astrology itself as well as how to investigate their own charts, influences, and tendencies in a way that makes their lives healthier and more understandable without getting locked into thinking that events are fated. It also aims to be funny and entertaining for the non-astrologer because her in- vestigations are, first and foremost, about people, how we relate to others, and the world around us. The multi-talented Gerhz also has other side projects and interests including ASL interpreting, which she says helped a lot in learning and translating Ancient Greek. The self-described "thrasher" has also played music in various metal, math rock, and hard rock bands includ- ing Discharge Information System and TraumaDom. Hunched over a plain piece of paper filled with inscru- table symbols shouldn't feel exposing, but Gerhz was in- stantly in my head in a way that made me feel incredibly vulnerable. I answered detailed questions about how I view my sexuality and she returned with an untangling of how I see queerness in a personal vs political frame- work. With a speech energy that bordered on auctioneer, she proceeded to tell me unabashedly all about myself, herself, and even the Mountain Goats' John Darnell, with uncanny accuracy. Just Out: The way you describe your astrological work almost sounds like therapy. Andrea Gerhz: Someone quoted to me that Karl Jung had said four hours with a chart is worth 19 sessions on the couch. Because it's almost like a map of the psyche, you don't have to spend 19 sessions getting to the bot- tom of something. JO: You come from a family that values science. Did you come to astrology with skepticism? AG: Absolutely. My dad has calculations all over his chalkboards because he's a professor. In my office, there are charts and numbers everywhere. I calculate things very specifically. JO: What prompted you to begin the translation of the ancient Greek texts? AG: A number of classicists gathered up all these as- trological texts from ancient times. The classicists think that the astrology is silly and not real but they want the philosophical and religious information. Because of my background in sign language interpreting, I know what it takes to render something from one language into an- other. JO: Do you think there's a certain kind of chart that lends itself to being an astrologer? AG: Absolutely. Charts that are energetically sensitive, but also cerebral, love astrology. I have a Pisces moon so I'm very emotional, effuse, and sensitive so if someone's Continues on Pg. 41 24 JustOut.com August 2012 Photo by Horace Long When I sat down with astrologer, queer, momma, and musician Andrea Gehrz, I was concerned that the loud and frenzied atmosphere of the bar would be distracting. I needn't have worried. From the moment I sat down Gerhz engaged with me on a personal level that few interview subjects have. I blame myself for bringing my chart.
