Neurodivergent Affirming Astrology & Coaching

I was coaching in the Crusade recently and I realized most people aren’t aware of the concept of neurodivergent affirming - whether in relationship to astrology and coaching, medical care, or any and all of the other things in life it can be applied to.

That’s definitely a problem that needs to be fixed and the first step is awareness which is how I arrived at our topic for today.

Before I can get into the main part of this episode, I need to give you a little background.

I mentioned in Episode 90, Unmasking of a Neurodiverse Witch that I am neurdivergent. I’m not sure if I also mentioned that both of my children are autistic and all of my friends are some flavor of neurodivergent but that is also true.

As a recap, I was previously diagnosed with a learning disability and PTSD and had self diagnosed sensory processing issues.

That episode was back in August of 2022, it’s hard to believe it’s been two years.

In March of this year, with the eclipses in my first house, I suddenly decided it was time to get tested for all of the neurodiversity things. 

When I went in, she asked me why I was there and I told her it was to find out if I was right about what I suspected and if I’d missed anything. She said alright we’ll test everything.

Everything included an autism assessment, ADHD assessment, IQ test, and a few other things to see if I had personality disorders. The official diagnosis was something along the lines of here’s your MENSA certification and you’re autistic af. 

So, basically, I was right and I hadn’t missed anything. 

I’m going to have to do an entire episode on the testing process at some point but I want to get to the original point of why my business model, podcast, coaching, astrology, and all of the other things in my life are now neurodivergent affirming.

To be honest, I’ve always been this way but now I have language for it and it’s become something of a personal crusade.

Words Matter: Defining Terms

Let’s get into the language nerd part of the episode because I’m going to be using a lot of words that will probably be unfamiliar.

Neurotype

Neurotype is a word that isn’t widely recognized in dictionaries and has only been in use since around the 2010s. 

It describes the way a person thinks, processes information, and experiences the world which is shaped by their neurological wiring.

This is an important foundational word because it recognizes that there are multiple ways to do all of these things - not a right or a wrong way.

There are two main neurotypes: neurotypical and neurodivergent.

Neurotypical Neurotypes

Neurotypical is the most common of the two neurotypes. It is sometimes abbreviated as NT.

The word has been around since 1994 and describes those whose cognitive functioning aligns with what a society considers typical or standard - or normal.

The historian in me feels compelled to point out that this is entirely subjective - which means it is entirely made up and it changes based on geography, cultural identity, religious ideology, time period, gender and SO much more.

There is actually a lot of variety within the neurotypical neurotype - it isn’t nearly as simple or one dimensional as some people make it out to be.

Cognitive styles, personality traits, learning and emotional processing styles, communication preferences, and more add to the ways being neurotypical can present.

Neurodivergent Neurotypes

Neurodivergent neurotypes are far less common than neurotypical neurotypes. It’s sometimes abbreviated as ND. 

According to the Oxford English Dictionary the first use of the word neurodivergent was in 2002, although neurodiversity dates back to 1998.

Neurodivergent neurotypes are those which substantially deviate from the neurotypical norms.

There are a lot of diagnosis that are considered neurodivergent neurotypes and an individual may have more than one. At some point I’ll have to do a full episode on the problematic ways of classifying neurodivergent neurotypes but for now just remember it is not an exact science.

A non-exhaustive list of ND types includes:

• ADHD
• Dyslexia
• Autism
• Dyscalculia 
• Dyspraxia
• Dysgraphia
• Sensory Processing Disorder 
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Auditory Processing Disorder
• Pathological Demand Avoidance
• Synesthesia 
• Specific Learning Disabilities not otherwise specified

Cognitive Functioning

I mentioned cognitive functioning earlier. These are the mental processes that allow you to carry out tasks, solve problems, learn, and interact with the world.

This includes:

• Memory 
• Attention
• Perception
• Language processing
• Executive Function
• Reasoning and problem solving
• Processing speed

Differences in cognitive functioning are at the heart of discussions about neurotypes and neurodiversity

Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity is the concept that neurotype differences are valuable aspects of human diversity. The idea that these differences should be recognized, respected, and accommodated rather than pathologized or stigmatized.

The concept is also a movement that recognizes and celebrates the wide range of neurological variations in humanity, advocating for acceptance, inclusion, and the dismantling of ableist systems that disadvantage neurodivergent individuals.

Affirming vs Affirmative

The title of this podcast and something you’ll be seeing or hearing me say a lot is neurodivergent affirming. 

While I’m still in nerd mode I want to talk about the difference between affirming and affirmative because it is common to see both used within neurodivergent spaces.

Affirming

Affirming suggests an ongoing, relational process of support, validation, and encouragement. It is more dynamic and is often used in contexts where continuous validation is key.

Affirmative

Affirmative implies a more fixed stance of agreement or support that conveys clear approval and validation.

While I do have a definitive stance of supporting neurodivergent people - I see it as an ongoing and evolving process, which is why I discuss my work as being neurodivergent affirming.

Neurodivergent Affirming Standards are Good for Everyone

So what about neurotypical people?

Of course, I offer astrology and coaching to neurotypical people.

I don’t discriminate against them or intentionally exclude them. If you don’t identify as neurodivergent, that isn’t a problem.

But the thing is, neurotypical people don’t need neurotypical affirming astrology and coaching - that would be redundant.

Astrology and coaching methodologies are already neurotypical affirming - all of reality is. 

That’s why neurodivergent affirming astrology and coaching are needed to make both more accessible to those who are neurodivergent.

But that’s actually still great for neurotypical people.

When I was working on my graduate degree in curriculum and instruction I learned one thing that defined my teaching philosophy and style. Really, this one thing was what made that degree worthwhile. 

A professor said:

Fair isn’t giving each student the same thing - it’s giving each student what they need to be successful.

It was the very beginning of my journey of being neurodivergent affirming.

I never waited to be told to provide accommodations to students. I did my best to help them succeed based on what they needed.

I’ve always done the same thing for friends, clients, students, and my own children.

Who someone is - how they learn, process, think, experience the world, or communicate has never been a problem for me. 

There is no right or wrong - better or worse - there are just an almost infinite number of differences.

That means it’s just a matter of finding the right accommodation to help people be successful.

Well that and intentionally defining what success looks like for each person.

Astrology and Coaching

The way I help people with that now is through astrology and coaching. Astrology not only gives me instant access to who a person is (rather than who society has told them to be) it is also a fantastic tool for neurodivergent (and neurotypical!) people who need a different framework to understand the world around them.

Astrology helps identify the patterns and cycles we are all caught up in.

Coaching is the way I help people learn how they think - not how I try to change the way they think. So many of us are entirely oblivious to what we think and want as individuals because so much effort has gone into being accepted by others.

Neurodivergent affirming astrology and coaching isn’t about learning how to fit in better with others, it’s about how to better understand yourself, define what success means to you, and work towards achieving anything you want.

So tell me... 

Are you neurodivergent or do you suspect you might be? Does it surprise you that I am? If so, why is it surprising to you?

Spend time with these questions and see what comes up. If you’re feeling frisky, hit me up on Instagram and share your answers with me.

Until next time, my wish for you is the exploration of the many forms of diversity humanity has to offer.