HOMOSCOPES

Homoscopes: Queer Spirituality & Symbolism in 1970s Lesbian Print explores the representation of alternative beliefs in Queer print productions of the era. From reclaiming deviant imagery to developing unique spiritual practices, writers and artists sought to entertain and empower their readers through references to Witchcraft, Astrology, and elements of Spirituality. For the Women’s and Gay Liberation Movements, grassroots publications served as incubators of ideas: dynamic spaces in which writers and audiences discussed issues of psychiatry, gender, and race relations. The conversations within these pages were more complex than our collective memory of the movements allows, and the spiritual terrain of lesbian print culture was no different.

From cover to classifieds, representations of alternative beliefs ranged from the playful to the devotional. Astrological birth charts gave guidance, calls to action churned in symbolic cauldrons, and the moon inspired creativity and centered rituals. Articles explored the oppression of the Catholic Church and the nature of Witchcraft. Some worried about the lure of New Age spiritual practices and their impact on activist organizing, while others saw their spiritual growth as integral to movement goals of liberation. Contributors to grassroots publications like Lesbian Tide, Echo of Sappho, and Conditions called upon readers to conjure ancient feminist principles of Spirituality and ancestral worship, and provided therapy, communion, and comfort to their seekers. Against a backdrop of resistance to systems of oppression, many lesbian feminists and Queer women explored alternative belief systems, sowing the seeds of unique forms of Queer spirituality that would emerge in the years to come.