A UAC 2026 Retrospective: Chani's Keynote

As the United Astrology Conference (UAC) of 2026 draws to a close, the astrologers make their way home with tired eyes, overstimulated brains, and full hearts. This week was full of connection and controversy, and I spent my time during the conference taking it all in. Day 1 of UAC marked my move into the 12th house by monthly profection, and when I wasn't playing Speaker or AYA Rep, I was mostly observing. Now that I've been able to take a beat post-conference, I have a lot of thoughts about  some of the hot topics that came up over the past week. Some are my opinions and others are genuine critique and hopes for how I'd like to see astrology conferences operate differently moving forward. Let's dive in!

(This is 1 of 2 reflection pieces on the United Astrology Conference 2026. Check out the companion piece on UAC's Accessibility Problem when it's available.)

The Keynote

The conference started off hot with Chani Nicholas' keynote that followed the opening ceremony. There were lots of big feelings, and some people even walked out of the keynote as a result. But what was so upsetting? If you ask me, it mainly comes down to uncreative, conservative thinking and the misogynistic critiques that most successful women unfortunately can't avoid.

One of the main criticisms I saw was that Chani's keynote wasn't a keynote at all. For those who didn't attend, the talk was formatted more like an interview, and featured astrologer Sam Reynolds as the interviewer/facilitator.

Some folks were saying that Chani failed to deliver because she didn't monologue a speech at the audience. Criticism claimed that she came off as unprepared and incompetent. But what is a keynote talk anyway?  This excerpt from Public Words, a public speaking platform, states the following: 

The traditional meaning of the keynote speech was that it began a conference or convocation and outlined the themes to be covered in ways that got the participants talking and thinking along the right lines.

And to those who appreciate the dictionary's authority, Merriam-Webster defines a keynote address as: 

an address designed to present the issues of primary interest to an assembly (such as a political convention) and often to arouse unity and enthusiasm

Neither of these definitions mention a specific structure that a keynote speech should follow, so where is this idea that this "fireside chat" format is subpar coming from? 

Your expectations- and those come from how keynotes and "subject experts" have been modeled to you in the patriarchal, white supremacist society we live in. Many picture an ideal keynote speaker as someone who displays expertise and speaks with authority on their subject, imparting wisdom that only they have from their position above those who know less than them. As a queer woman, Chani was held to even higher standards, and when she didn't perfectly play this role, she was torn down for it and accused of being a fraud.

As someone who is minimally familiar with Chani and her work, one thing I did know about her is that she studied astrology with Demetra George, and esteemed and deeply respected astrologer. Additionally, Chani created one of the most popular astrology apps, making astrology more accessible to a general audience. With the fact that Chani's main demographic seems to be women and girls, it's no surprise she'd become the subject of ridicule. Society has a way of devaluing the things women/girls take pleasure in.

Something else I noticed about Chani, is the the stage definitely isn't her comfort zone. I'm not sure where Leo is in her chart, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's in one of the dark houses! However, despite her discomfort, Chani still decided to give the keynote because a dear friend asked her to, and she felt it was important to show up for community. 

Inviting a friend to join her for the keynote was her way of creating the safety she needed to be on stage in front of 1400 people. This is where the issue also becomes about accessibility. Not everyone will be comfortable delivering a speech in front of a room full of people, but this doesn't mean their perspective is any less valuable than someone's who is. If a "fireside chat" structure is what Chani needed to get on that stage, then power to her! I want everyone to have the tools they need to share their voice.

Part of a radical practice is questioning existing standards and challenging them when they perpetuate oppression, exclusion, or are simply arbitrary. The standard that a keynote speaker should be the sole presence on a stage and orating with upmost authority on the topic is an arbitrary one- one that reflects the hierarchical power structures of white supremacy. Again, I don't know Chani personally, but it was clear that she was uncomfortable with this power dynamic and sought to reject it with her keynote.

So,  if a keynote is meant to set the tone for a gathering, Chani's decision to invite a friend onto the stage with her did just that. Connection and collaboration is what UAC is all about, isn't it? There was a loud (and at times uncomfortable) message of unity echoed throughout the conference. But to interpret this message with the purest intentions, UAC wanted everyone to feel included. Creating inclusive environments where unity is possible means abolishing the hierarchy that keeps folks from authentically participating. 

My favorite part of the keynote was when Chani answered a question about the Aquarius-Leo eclipse series with "I don't know," while referencing the other trusted figures in her life who use this phrase as a legitimate response. Because it is a legitimate answer- one that takes a lot of humility and bravery to say, especially when others are pedestalizing you. Why should we look solely to Chani to have the answer? We shouldn't! Why not co-create meaning together? Why not allow someone else to facilitate us in our own self-discovery? Some may say it's the role of a good astrologer to have deeper insights into the meaning of a planet's position. But here's the gag: we were ALL astrologers in that room. Skill level shouldn't exclude someone from participating in the act of co-creating meaning. Chani's "I don't know," was an invitation to us all to enter this process of co-creation together. 

The irony is, Chani's whole keynote was giving Pluto in Aquarius vibes. So she did in fact demonstrate themes of the Aquarius-Leo axis. She showed us through her actions. By sharing the stage and refusing to be placed on a pedestal above her peers in the room. By illustrating how daring to stray from established expectations can quickly lead to judgement. By knowing this, and defiantly choosing to be present anyway. That was pretty badass! My only critique is that I wished the keynote was more of a dialogue between Chani and Sam Reynolds, rather than the one-sided interview we got. But I can already tell, y'all clearly weren't ready for that, so I understand the rationale for keeping it as an interview.

Overall, Chani's keynote did what a keynote was supposed to. She ushered us into the conference and got people buzzing (for better or worse) about what to expect during the upcoming week of UAC. The majority of criticism she received was overblown and rooted in a intolerance for the unconventional. So if that describes you, I've got some bad news. With Uranus in Gemini trining Pluto in Aquarius, there's about to be a whole lot of difference in the spaces you once knew. I hope you're ready!