On the Oracular Practice of Sounding the Siren with Christopher Marmolejo

This event will be an illustrated lecture punctuated by moments for reflection, journaling, discussion, and even pulling tarot cards.
About this Event

Songbirds: On the Oracular Practice of Sounding the Siren with Christopher Marmolejo

Join Christopher Marmolejo for an illustrated lecture & interactive presentation exploring tarot, divination, and the connections to musical self-questioning in relationship to myths of sirens and mermaids.

"Let us take flight and engage in musical self-questioning, and with enough curiosity we may get free of ourselves. In this interactive presentation, we will wrap rope round ourselves to listen like Odysseus to the Siren song. We will meet mermaids, tempt innocence, and attempt to reconcile a primal animality with a desire for domesticity. Like Orpheus we will be musical oracles and trace divination as a practice of metamorphosis."

This event will be an illustrated lecture punctuated by moments for reflection, journaling, discussion, and even pulling tarot cards. Bring a notebook, pen or pencil, and (if you have one), a tarot deck of your choice!

Christopher Marmolejo is a 2026 Contributing Artist at PRS. They are a wayward writer, scholar and seer, engaging oracular methods of riot and redemption. Their pedagogical practice intertwines queer, feminist and diasporic lineages of divination through discursive interventions within various cultural imaginations that revel in magical thinking, creative risk and close listening. Relevant to their practice of red spirituality is collaborative intertextuality, language, and the ritual regard of aesthetics.

has been featured in the University of Denver’s graduate creative program. Christopher has been a key partner with the University of British Columbia’s Tarot For Decolonization initiative, facilitating several workshops at the University on the intersections of tarot, indigeneity, gender and sexuality, and decolonial storytelling. Christopher has lectured and taught taromancy and decolonial divination for institutions and conferences such as New York University, Arizona State University, the California Institute of Integral Studies, the Invisible College, the Philosophical Research Society, the Occult Humanities Conference, the Los Angeles Festival of Tarot and New Orleans Poetry Festival.

Christopher is currently serving as guest-editor for the Rebis, a literary anthology celebrating tarot, art & creative writing, focusing on arcanum XVIII: the Moon, out later this year. Their practice of red reading shows how a decolonial approach to divination, rooted in queer indigeneity, can unsettle dominant narratives of futurity and enact alternatives grounded in relation, collectivity and the still-possible.

theredread.com

@the.red.read

Ticket price: $12 (in-person event only)

Please email [email protected] or phone 323-663-2167 with any questions.

Through Mirrors, Webs, & Woods: A Month of Folk & Fairy Tales at PRS

This September, PRS celebrates the many wonders of fairytales and folk stories through a series of illustrated presentations, film screenings, and workshops!

CONTENT DISCLAIMER

The views, opinions, and thoughts expressed by the presenters are solely those of the presenter and may not represent those of the Philosophical Research Society (PRS), its affiliates, or any individuals associated with PRS. Presentations are intended for informational and entertainment purposes.

ACCESSIBILITY

PRS wants all guests to be able to enjoy our events safely and comfortably. If you require any accessibility accommodation, please reach out to [email protected] before showtime and we will be happy to assist you.

REFUND POLICIES

All sales are final. There are no refunds or exchanges for PRS events, except in the event of a medical emergency, including but not limited to a positive COVID-19 test.

In the event that PRS is forced to cancel an event entirely, tickets will be refunded or vouchers offered for a rescheduled event.

PARKING​

We encourage attendees to consider carpooling, walking or biking to events if possible, and please be considerate of our Los Feliz neighbors when parking. Street parking is available on Griffith Park Blvd. and (after 7 PM) on Los Feliz Blvd. Limited parking is available onsite at PRS in the front lot (entry from Los Feliz Blvd. when heading east). For ADA assistance, please reach out to us in advance via email ([email protected]) or phone (323.663.2167) and provide an email or number we can contact you at.

PRS EVENT POLICIES

• We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.
• Events are subject to change without notice, including guest speakers and/or performers.
• We encourage you to arrive at least 30 min. before the scheduled event start time to find parking, enjoy the Bookstore and take your seats.
• Please turn off all mobile devices before the show. Talking and texting are not allowed during the events.
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• There is no smoking permitted on PRS grounds.
• We strongly encourage guests to wear masks to PRS events to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
• PRS allows Service Animals into the facility under ADA and state guidelines. For further details please visit www.ADA.gov. No animals permitted whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support, under ADA guidelines and CA Health Code.
• Please do not bring outside food or drink into PRS events.
• Weapons are strictly prohibited at PRS events.