Mission Statement: Why GriffinTheory moved to Substack.

A reminder of my dedication to my future self, when the Neptunian idealism and Sunny optimism wears off.

GriffinTheory started as a casual astrology Instagram. I realised that I needed to move to a long form platform when I was spending a half hour per post dumbing down my language just to squeeze into the 2,200 character count.

So I signed up to Substack in March 2023, twelve weeks into my first pregnancy. Since then I have been consumed by birth stories, podcasts, books, research papers and all things Motherhood related.

I discovered that I belong to a neglected population of birthing women who seek to birth within their power, i.e. to make autonomous decisions concerning birth and Motherhood on the basis of informed choice.

I have changed a lot. My motivation is different now. I am suspended between Maiden and Mother as I write this, five days overdue, patiently awaiting the arrival of my baby.

Within the confines of my chrysalis, I see a new way to serve myself, my baby and my like-minded community taking shape.

So who exactly are those I wish to serve, and how do I see this platform fulfilling that purpose? What do I gain from this?

I want to write for those who:

1. Seek a mix of practical information, metaphysical musings and personal reflections on a variety of topics - astrology, plant medicine, creativity, conscious parenting, and who-knows-what-else.

2. Know that there is a higher intelligence in this world, and wish to honour this through authentic daily action (whatever that looks like for you!)

3. See the current global political and economic environment for what it is - the deceitful and slow strangulation of personal freedom, designed to disempower from birth to grave.

4. Believe fully in freedom and autonomy, understanding the implications this has for relationships, decisions around health, birth, parenting, morality - and all embodied living!

5. Seek to engage in a heart-felt, informed and open-minded dialogue around such issues (understanding that character assassination serves no purpose here, just be nice people please).

6. Understand that life is a complex and beautiful web; my opinions may change daily based every on every new thread of information I encounter.

I personally gain some very important things from this publication:

1. Clarity of Thought - to power phrase Jordan B Peterson, writing is the highest form of thinking; articulating well expands our intellectual world, and therefore our real life opportunities.

2. Widening of Scope - Astrology widened the creative and abstract lens through which I view this complex world, but I will never be able to solely adhere to the astrology niche. I’m too damn multifarious.

3. Authenticity of Voice - I have diluted my political opinions for far too long, and there’s only so long your voice can remain incongruent with your actions before your soul starts to wither. I’m not sorry if you choose to be offended by anything I say.

With that said, this is primarily intended to be a light and positive publication. I just want to work through some of my own little theories about life, and hopefully take a few of you with me along for the ride.

I may or may not go back to doing regular general astrology updates, I haven’t decided yet. This was always more of a personal exercise for me to engage in a dialogue with the archetypes anyway.

For now, I foresee the content here consisting of Book Reviews, some rambling, “Ambling Astrology” posts, “Red Tent” Round Ups, for my Sisters and other Mother Makers, curated quotes, “Bold Birthing” essays, plant ally profiles and “Relishing Reads” response pieces.

I’m also toying with the idea of a fellow Venus in Virgo Club - if you exhibit any of the classic Venus in Virgo traits, including but not limited to:

• A litany of complex or “unconventional” romance stories (human, figurative or otherwise)

• A “jack of all trades, master of none” professional and creative CV

• Unrealistic expectations of perfection that A) overwork you to breaking point, or B) hinder any meaningful progress in life

• Crippling self-doubt and self-sacrificing tenancies

I want to hear from YOU!

(Venus in Virgo lived-experience desirable but not a prerequisite.)

More on my own personal struggles with all of the above likely to follow!

For now, I’ll just drop this here. Because I’m a quote junky.

“Mind thinks in images but, to communicate with another, must transform image into thought and then thought into language. That march, from image to thought to language, is treacherous. Casualties occur: the rich, fleecy texture of image, its extraordinary plasticity and flexibility, its private nostalgic emotional hues - all are lost when image is crammed into language.” ― Irvin D. Yalom, Love's Executioner and Other Tales of Psychotherapy

Thank you for your valuable time and consideration.