Farewell to Donna van Toen

Donna van Toen (1949-2018)
Astrologer, teacher, mentor, and friend

Scorpio is a sign that understands and appreciates topics that others do not, especially those that people would consider "taboo". 

Take death, for example. We understand all too well that nothing is permanent, that everything changes, and that in many ways, everything is temporary. That includes our short human lives on this planet. 

If that sounds like a morbid way to go through life, well...it is what it is. It's how we're wired. 

For this reason, many Scorpio people do well in careers that deal with death, either as doctors, researchers, forensic pathologists, detectives, embalmers, psychiatrists, counselors, ministers, doulas, and funeral home directors. 

It's easier to help others through the grieving process than it is to go through it yourself. Even when death is "expected", it still hits hard. When you think you have it all under control, something comes up and pushes on that bruise, and you realize you're not done with grief.

Donna van Toen lost her battle with cancer less than a week ago. The world has lost a wonderful person, astrologer, teacher, friend, trivia and gemstone aficionado, conference organizer, and mentor.

Nearly five years ago, a mutual friend introduced us. She told me that Donna ran an astrology conference called State of the Art (SOTA) and that she was always looking for new talent. Donna gave me a chance to speak at "Open Forum", an unpaid time slot during the conference where we "tried out" for future opportunities at SOTA. I had never spoken at a conference before. Turns out my speaking time was on my birthday in 2014.

Donna found out it was my birthday and bought me a drink in the bar to celebrate after my talk. Then she turned to me and gave me a serious look. "Where's your sun?" she asked.

At the time, I was a newbie astrologer and didn't even KNOW where my sun was, so I grabbed for my phone, looked at my chart, and answered, "1 Scorpio 37."

A smile broke clean across her face. "We're going to be best buds!" she declared over the din, and we drank together, the first of several times we would in the future. At the time I wasn't sure exactly what she was talking about, but I took her word for it. [I found out later her Venus in Pisces has a connection to my Sun.]

Donna took a chance on me that day, and it paid off for us both. I presented on tarot every year after that and met a ton of amazing astrologers and friends at SOTA. It's a conference that I've always enjoyed and looked forward to.

She was always there for me when I had a question about a chart or something else astrological. She provided advice and counsel so often and I appreciated her candor. Donna was not one to sugarcoat anything, a quality that I sincerely appreciated. 

She recommended the Midwest School of Astrology for my studies, and I recently graduated from the school, studying with Donna during her weekend seminars in Cincinnati. I remember her asking me why I had driven all the way from Virginia to see her, because, "You already know everything I'm going to teach." I just gave her a puzzled look; there's always something new that you can learn from someone with her level of expertise and experience. 

More recently, I was thrilled when she agreed to take me on as a private student. Lessons with Donna were incredibly enlightening and in some ways very challenging. You had to leave your ego at the door. No one likes to be told they're wrong, but Donna was more concerned that I learn the right way and she corrected me at every opportunity. I remember wondering after one or two of those lessons if I'd figure "this astrology shit" out. I never blamed Donna for my own ignorance, but I will say at least she was nice about it, wielding her many years of experience firmly, but gently, as I grew into the astrologer I have become.

Those sessions with her profoundly influenced my astrology practice and still do to this day. I miss my sessions with her, and I hope that SOTA will continue next year. Even if SOTA goes on, it won't be the same without her. And I have been thrilled to see so many others honoring her on social media; even though she would probably bristle at the accolades, she deserves them nonetheless. 

Goodbye, dear mentor. Know that you had a profound positive effect on me that will benefit my clients for many years to come. I promise to help others selflessly as you helped me to repay your incredible generosity and kindness.