When a Cheese Fortune Teller Writes a Book About Astrology
By Allison Yates
Chicago-based author Jennifer Billock’s specialities seem to know no bounds. From documenting Chicago’s historic bakeries (and often meeting with Chicago readers & runners after their Historic Chicago Bakeries Fun Runs!) and ghost stories in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to foreshadowing strangers’ fate through cheese fortune telling, Jennifer catapults the intersection of history, food, and the supernatural into a new realm.
It’s logical, then, that her next chapter (quite literally) was writing The Retrograde Guidebook: An All-in-One Astrology Guide to the Cycles of Planetary Retrograde and How They Affect Your Emotions, Decisions, and Relationships. Mainstream society’s obsession—and misconceptions—of astrology concepts, particularly the misuse of “retrograde,” inspired Jennifer to dig deeper into the topic and produce a guidebook. And unfortunately, this story doesn’t include the normal edible content, though every retrograde in the book has an accompanying ritual, and some of them use spices.
Note: In case you were wondering, Read & Run Tours won’t be hosting a running route inspired by this book anytime soon—until we open a chapter in space, that is.
Tell us about where the idea for the book came from. Have you always been interested in astrology?
I've always been interested in astrology but only knew a lot about my sun sign. I started researching more when people kept telling me about Mercury retrograde — and then I got tired of hearing everyone blame it for everything. A retrograde guide seemed like the perfect solution.
What do you think mainstream internet culture gets wrong about astrology?
Retrogrades aren't a bad thing! They're opportunities to learn and grow, and to find a way to lean into retrograde energy to make the most of it.
What was the most interesting part of researching for Retrograde?
I loved asking astrologers about the most challenging retrograde combinations. They all had something different to say, and for equally good reasons.
What is one thing you want people to take away from the book?
I hope people learn a lot, and that they use the book (and the rituals inside!) to become more comfortable with the idea of retrogrades. It's an astronomical certainty that they'll happen, so coming to terms with them astrologically is important, because you can't avoid them.
Read & Run Tours Founder Allison Yates with author Jennifer Billock and her husband in February 2022 after a Read & Run Chicago event.