Denebola

Speaking with the Stars

Katherine Borkov

Speaking with the Stars considers the womb, the water and the star as three containers of consciousness in conversation with one another. Reflecting on their celestial inheritance in relationship to Rukbat, Regulus and Denebola, the speaker meets their lucky stars by the shore, the coffee shop and the ancient mikveh, negotiating legacies of wounding and repair through the symbolism of the cosmic womb.

Parts of the performance text are adapted from an exercise co-facilitated with Lila Lakehal during our time with League of Stars in Greece 2025. Borkov and Lakehal prompted participants to write a letter to their chosen star, and pen a response from their star’s perspective.


This (performance/short film) presents both the speaker and the stars as disembodied consciences. As viewers we witness the cosmos in conversation with itself, drawing attention to the projections and assumptions mankind casts onto the stars, as well as their omnipotenti nfluence on our mortal lives. Imagining the stars as stern yet compassionate guides, this performance considers the stars’ legacy and wisdom alongside the guidance of our blood ancestors, drawing attention to our roles as descendants of the cosmos.