About

Travis DiRuzza, PhD is an astrologer, philosopher, musician, husband, and father. He grew up in New York City and Western Massachusetts, and earned his bachelor’s degree from Columbia University. There he majored in English literature and music while performing in New York City at venues as diverse as the Knitting Factory and Carnegie Hall. He lived in Paris and worked as a professional double-bassist for many years, performing and recording throughout Europe, including France, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Lithuania, and Romania, as well as Lebanon. He moved to Southeast Asia, where he performed and recorded in Thailand, Malaysia, and Nepal. Travis received his master’s and PhD in philosophy and religion from California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) where he studied archetypal astrology and transpersonal psychology with Richard Tarnas and Stanislav Grof. His doctoral work traces the metaphysical concepts of participation, energy, and person through Western philosophical and religious history. Travis also worked at CIIS as the Program Coordinator of the Drama Therapy department. He currently resides in Siesta Key, Florida with his daughter Luce and wife Jessica, where he is Director of Programs for Trust Psyche School.

TravisDiruzza@gmail.com | Travis@TrustPsyche.com

I work with people from all around the world, all walks of life, and all approaches to astrology. I celebrate and affirm all identities, ages, ethnicities, genders, and sexual preferences. 

The banner image on this site is a painting by Paul Gaugin, entitled, D’où Venons Nous / Que Sommes Nous / Où Allons Nous (Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?). These perennial questions are at the root of philosophy and religion no less than art, literature, and astrology. Such inquiry fuels and relates my work in these disciplines, letting them breathe together. To ask, and to be able to ask, as to our origin, identity, and destination, is for me what it means to be human.

Abroad

A fondness for foreign cultures and travel incited me to spend a semester with a host family in northern France when I was 15, another year in Paris during college, and then to move there for four more years after I graduated. In that time I learned the language fluently and studied at French high school and university. Two essays written in French can be found on the Writing page.

During my later years in Paris, I worked as a professional musician, excerpts from which can be heard on the Music page. After leaving France, I lived for some time in Chiang Mai, Thailand, traveling extensively and connecting musical tours in Europe and Asia with backpacking trips between the two. In 2007, I traveled from Paris to Tokyo overland by bus, boat, and Tran-Siberian railroad. From there I flew to southeast Asia, followed by India. In 2010, I made a Silk Route trip, traveling overland across China from Beijing into Kyrgyzstan, Khazakstan, and Uzbekistan. Georgia and Turkey were next, bringing me back to Europe:

All told, I have visited over 50 countries around the world. In 2016, I returned to Beijing with my wife, Jessica DiRuzza, MFT, where we facilitated a workshop on astrology, psychology, and the arts offered by Stage Ai: