Astro-Heirarchies and Groups of Astrologers

I like astro-bloggers. They share information, most of them speak from the heart, and frequently link to each other, and promote each others ideas.

Let me digress for a minute and give one warning. If someone asks you to link to his or her site, check it out first. They may be selling something and only using links to promote their wares. Some bloggers who sell products or place ads, still give out a lot of information, which I consider fair. Actually, I like some of the ads. However, be careful of your links, I had a few people ask me to link to their site and when I checked them out, they linked to what I consider questionable sites.

Getting to get back to my original point, Dharmaruci at Astrotabletalk has an interesting article on hierarchy in astrology and astrology groups.

He has asked for experiences and I'll share my story. Several years ago, I was invited to a join an on-going group of 20 professional astrologers. For the most part they were nice people, most had been practicing astrology for several years (with a few newcomers), and knew what they were talking about. We had some great conversations and wonderful lunches. However, after lunch when sat down to talk about astrology, it turned into a psychological interpretation free-for-all, and there was very little astrology.

Most of the time people would just ramble, and throw out ideas. We rarely talked about the chart itself. We spend most of the time analyzing the character of the person. Usually someone would go off on a tangent with his or her personal interpretation. No one ever explained how he or she arrived at the interpretation. astrologically. People were throwing out ideas even if someone else was speaking, and there would be several people speaking at once.

Yes, it was very chaotic, but also wonderfully boisterous. I believe most of this came from the excitement of the craft. Astrologers can be opinionated, and some can be egotistical, but that’s not the majority. It isn’t often that we get into a social situation where we talk about our craft, and when we do, we don’t hold back.

It was a little bit too tense for me and I only attended a few meetings. Small astrology classes are much more fun, whether I'm teaching or attending. Perhaps because astrology is so Aquarian, it needs the discipline of someone who acts as the authority, teacher or leader (Saturn).

My favorite group was a get-together set up by a teacher. We each had a theme to present with a discussion, question and answer session afterwards. It was a wonderful all day affair with lunch, tea breaks, and great discussions. Over the years, I've found the best astrology discussions are often in a small cafe or at home with a few people. A restaurant is too noisy.

As far as conferences, I often consider them entertainment. In one of my recent posts, I half-jokingly advised new astrologers to take voice or acting lessons. The most successful lectures, as far as the audience is concerned, are the ones that are entertaining. The subject attracts the crowd, but entertainment keeps them coming back. Presentation and enthusiasm are just as important as content.

One of the best lectures I attended recently was a day of listening to stories about the speaker’s clients. I didn’t take any notes. It was pure enjoyment, and on some level I learned a quite a bit. This particular speaker is well known and the place was standing room only. The audience was enraptured and you could hear a pin drop, which is very unusual for this organization.

Even with all the infighting and egos, I have to give the people who organize conferences some credit. I have friends who have been on the conference committees, and I've observed that the amount of work that goes into a conference is staggering, and most are doing this with no pay. The conferences don’t make that much money either. Except for a handful of famous speakers, the pay is low. Most speakers are lucky if they break even, mostly they are doing it for the recognition, which is not that great in the beginning. It takes years of hard work, luck, or a good electional to build a successful career.

Groups and conferences are great, but when all is said and done, we learn the most from our clients, the people who come to our blogs, or writing or reading blogs.

Astrology in Daily Life - An Exercise

One of the reasons that I believe many astrologers blog is to raise awareness in the general public (Moon). If more people become aware of astrology and its usefulness, the less scary it becomes, and the less pressure there is from organized religion and science to debunk it. The more we use it, the more we realize that it has validity.

Recently I've been writing articles for the aspiring astrologer. Today I want to introduce an easy exercise that will help you see how astrology works in daily life. When I was a student, the teacher had us do a daily exercise with the Moon. The Moon is the public, and being the closest planet to the Earth, it indicates changes on a daily basis. Notice the sign of the Moon and compare it to the newspaper and internet headlines, and reports on radio and TV. The connection is usually obvious.

For instance, today the Moon is in Cancer, the sign of home, family, food, and nurturing. The first thing I heard on the news today was the announcement of a campaign in New England to stop obesity in children. Billboards will feature overweight children with words such as Fat Chance.

The Moon must have been giving me a hint of what was coming up. Yesterday I was thinking about the effects of poor nutrition on children as I posted an article on food policies in the US. The Moon in Gemini writing) aspected one of my Leo (children) planets. The Moon will enter Leo on Thursday 2/1 00:41 EST. Look for headline focus on sports, children, royalty, gaming, or romance.

Follow the Moon through the month to see what catches the interest of the public. In the beginning of your studies, this is easier than trying to figure out how the Moon affects you personally. As you keep working with the Moon, it will be easier to notice how it affects your emotions. Click here for a few keywords for each sign.

Each sign expresses the Moon differently. If you have a natal Moon in an air sign, Gemini, Libra or Aquarius) you will be thinking or talking about how things affect your rather than feeling them. Feelings are obvious to Water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces). Fire signs feel things passionately, but not on a deep, personal level like the water signs. Earth signs have feelings but they are slower, and not as noticeable or intense. This will be altered somewhat by planets in aspect with the Moon, the house of the Moon, and how many planets you have in water, air, fire or earth.

Fabricated Food

Every so often, something comes across my desk that seems relevant to the upcoming transits. Today I received an article about food policy in the US.

I have been thinking about food lately and it affects on our children. Health problems have become so common that we have almost forgotten that it's natural to be healthy. How many children do you know who don’t have allergies, crooked teeth, bad skin, weight problems, constant colds or flu, or something more difficult?

In the past, the fear was shortage of food and starvation. Now it is too much food, (or so called food), and starvation. Lack of nutrients brings longer, slower, more insidious, health problems. Maybe we will evolve to be able to consume plastic food, but I doubt we will see it even in the next generation. I wonder how many of our children will live to old age without the aid of drugs and machines?

Today there was news about Emma Faust Tillman, the oldest living woman, who passed away at 114. She was the daughter of a slave. Even to the day she died, she didn't need glasses. Until recently poor people or the "less privileged" didn't have the option to eat unhealthy food, they were given the stuff people didn't want. They didn't get the fancy pastries, sugar, and alcohol. They had to eat the food off the land.

With the Full Moon in Leo, the sign of children, we are receiving the energy to rid ourselves of those things that don't work and fabricated food is one of them. Send out the desire for wonderful, nutritious, fresh food. Support your local farmer. It’s much more pleasant to take a drive to the farm than to drag your screaming child through the super duper grocery with artificial lights and long lines, with or without candy.

As one of my teachers always told me, don't buy anything in a box, and shop the outside aisles for real food. What's even worse, in the US, we have deceptive labeling. Manufactures are allowed to use the word "natural" even though it has nothing to do with real food. Natural vanilla flavor does not always mean a real vanilla bean.


Here is the article. It's scary to think what people believe about food. I wonder if the people who have the authority to regulate food allow their families to eat all these synthetic foods.


A Review of the 29th Annual National Food Policy Conference

By Matthew Rales


In October, 2006, I attended the 29th Annual National Food Policy Conference on behalf of the Weston A. Price Foundation. The conference provided an eye-opening and sobering look at the current state of commodity food and agriculture in America. The Washington D.C. pressroom, where the conference was held, was filled with academic nutritionists, FDA officials and corporate food public relations representatives from all over the country.

These leaders in industry presented diverse views on the topic of food policy, yet their general understanding of food as it relates to human health was startlingly poor. Among the common suggestions were to limit caloric intake and follow the guidelines presented by the USDA. The culminating message was that virtually no food is safe unless it is inspected by a standardized government program, based on the assumption that the only food available is corporate imitation food. According to the majority of the speakers, alternatives do not exist, are unsafe or are not widely available enough to make a difference.

The lesson of the two-day gathering: how to pick “sensible” imitation food in the grocery store aisle. The “sensible solution,” as these food officials like to euphemistically call their recommendations to consumers, was indeed varied. For a Kraft public relations representative, the “sensible solution” was a block of imitation cheese with a gram less trans fat than the original block of imitation cheese and a gram of added fiber in the form of dextrose. For a political representative from Alaska working on school lunch programs it is a granola bar instead of a coke. And for an NYU professor of nutrition, food studies and public health it is fruits and vegetables, regardless of their origin or the growing practices used to produce them.

Consider the sponsors of the conference: Cargill, General Mills, Kraft Foods and Pioneer Hi-Bred International. It comes as no surprise, then, that breakfast cereals, granola bars, fake cheese and genetic engineering were all espoused as the saviors of the dietary and agricultural problems in America. Even nanotechnology, genomics and biomarkers were suggested by one FDA official as the pending solution to outbreaks like the recent E. coli menace in bagged spinach (this was breaking news on the second day of the conference). There was no mention of simple solutions like buying your spinach from a nearby farmer you can trust.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest seemed to have a representative on nearly every panel discussion. They called for lawsuits against breakfast cereal marketing firms that target children and complained that we in America do not have the “luxury” of a National Animal Identification System. Of course, no mention of nutrients in food by these folks either.

As for real foods like butter, eggs and whole milk, these are not part of the food policy vocabulary. They are no longer the topic of debate because it is simply assumed that these foods are unhealthy. Raw milk of course is just dangerous – no further discussion permitted. If the broad-spectrum, standardized food policy that these folks want is to be effective in improving the health of America’s children, shouldn’t it focus on counting nutrients instead of calories? The advantages of real food become apparent with real science. But as long as the system continues to operate under a regime of fabricated science, we will continue to be indoctrinated with fabricated food.



Matthew Rales is a recent graduate of Middlebury College in Vermont with a BA in Environmental Studies and Literature. He recently completed an internship with the Weston A. Price Foundation and is currently working as an intern at Joel Salatin’s grass-based Polyface Farm.


Click here to read about Traditional Healthy Foods

Venus, Mercury, and Saturn

Every week I post the planets for the upcoming week. In today’s article, I will focus on two of the planetary events this weekend.

FROM THE WEEKLY PLANETS

1/27/07 VENUS ENTERS PISCES 10:32 PM

This is a dreamy, artistic, position for Venus. Later when Venus makes a square to Jupiter on 2/8/7, there will be a desire to escape into big dreams that are not realistic or practical.

Venus is sensitive and sentimental in Pisces, so you're more affected by sad events in the world.

The hard part of this position is weak boundaries. It's easy to be submissive, and allow others to take over or be more important.

To get the most out of this ingress, let your inner muse appear, or surround yourself with beautiful art, music or poetry especially if it has a spiritual theme. For those who like to meditate, this is a good time to connect with the Divine.

1/28/07 MERCURY IN AQUARIUS OPPOSE SATURN IN LEO

Thoughts about personal identity will fight with social rituals, needs of other people, collective beliefs, and freedom.

Since this is an opposition, communications and conversations will often be a tug of war between you and another person or group.

Positive and Negative Aspects

Astrology is a guide. The transits between planets bring conditions to make changes in life. Positive transits bring pleasant experiences. Think of positive transits as rewards for the work we do because of the hard transits to our chart. Positive transits bring a flow of good things, but there is a tendency to keep the status quo intact. The difficult transits are the ones that push us to make changes in our life.

Here is an example of one way in which the current transits may manifest.

Venus is interactions with others, Mercury is thinking, and Saturn is profession, limits, loss, status quo, isolation, self-doubt, and criticism of self or others. An opposition makes us aware that we need to make a choice, a decision, or to balance something.

Conversations (Mercury) with others may be uncomfortable. Let's say someone is talking about problems at work, or low money. Your thoughts may be, I'm in the same boat, and they know I have problems. How can they complain to me? "They should pay attention to how I feel, or how my life is going". (Saturn in Leo)

This conversation is telling you something about how you are thinking about your life and your attractions. You aren't paying attention to your life. You're busy noticing what everyone else is doing and saying.

You can't blame the other person. They are not the cause of your problems. If they acknowledged your hardship and say things that soothe you, you won't get much out of the interaction. You'll start to be satisfied with what they say, and not be aggravated enough to make changes. (Venus in Pisces). However, when someone makes you angry, you get the energy to make changes instead of remaining in depression.

These conversations continue to be more frequent or bothersome until you face the fact that the external world is not the root cause. The more uncomfortable the conversation makes you, the more you will want something else. You'll be driven to experience something new, especially when Mars makes an aspect to your chart.

Le’s go one-step further and look to see what happens if Saturn is sitting on your Sun. The Sun is vitality and the core of your ego and identity. When Saturn makes contact with the Sun it lowers vitality, causes depression, and takes away confidence.

Saturn is about rock solid foundations. If the identity is superficial, shaky, or about to crumble, it will have to be rebuilt. It must be shored up, and it’s usually at a time when outer conditions are not supportive. We have to do it on our own.

This is an example of astrology in action in daily life.

Ephemeris for Comet McNaught

I have been asked for an ephemeris for Comet McNaught

Compliments of Philip Sedqwick at Galatic Times


Ephemeris for Comet McNaught C/2006 P1, epoch 2000.0 (meaning that about 5' should be added for the 2007 position)

Jan 20 - 1 Aq 14
Jan 25 - 2 Aq 00
Jan 30 - 2 Aq 49
Feb 04 - 3 Aq 44
Feb 09 - 4 Aq 42
Feb 14 - 5 Aq 39
Feb 19 - 6 Aq 33

Creativity and Imagination

With Venus and Saturn in opposition, this is a perfect time to think about creativity. Venus brings pleasure from creations, while Saturn can dampen that pleasure with criticism. One of the ways to blend a problematic aspect is to find ways to make both planets happy. Be willing to work and set goals (Saturn) towards your pleasure in art (Venus).

Here is a wonderful article by Feng Shui expert Brian Brogan. He creatively and imaginatively expresses the ideas of Venus and Saturn in relation to creation.

Email Brian at brian@greatriverfengshui.com if you’d like to receive a monthly newsletter/excerpt from his book in progress.

Living Life
From The Inside Out

We come from the creator - are we not creators?! This is why the earth looks like it does today – we are creators and destroyers through the stone, industrial and information age and all ages in- between. From the seed to the egg. From crayon to fine art, simple rhyme to Shakespeare, music box to Mozart. We are the creators from the creator God. Creating is that innate driving force within us. When we are not creating, we are not living up to our potential. I’m not necessarily talking about creating art, writing a poem, putting ingredients together or designing a building. I am talking about creating our own reality as well, with our thoughts and feelings through a divine creative medium or energy. Both art and creating ones own reality is essentially done the same way through the imagination. There is a unique creative energy inside us all.

(This next part sounds like Saturn)

The tired old self-critic has seen its day. Much of our educational baggage, societal and cultural dysfunction has us thinking we are not creative. This implies self-doubt and denial of a single grain of creativity inside us and it’s simply not true. This has been beaten into so many to become a rationalization not to challenge oneself in a creative endeavor.

I personally didn’t make it as a guitarist, but I enjoyed its period in my life, I do feel accomplished as a poet, and I’m getting closer to my personal standard as a painter. I came from an upbringing and school system that did not care about creativity, I had a career that didn’t care about creativity, but yet I broke the paradigm mold by imagination. The reason I bother to assert the validity and value of creativity in all of us is because of the energy and joy it brings. The opening up of other worlds, of perception, knowledge and wisdom – not to mention heart, spirit and feeling of being immensely engaged, or meeting new and interesting people.

People who spend their lives creating find it hard to imagine a life without it. The world would look flat. This is not about hobbies this is about the art of life, and creating a better world. Creativity and imagination are primary tools in self discovery and self cultivation. Whether working on your life or in the process of any art, craft or writing. It is experimental and experiential in nature. It’s a mirror back to the self; of ones own nature, growth and possibility. Artists and writers often speak of channeling their work, owing their talent or craft to a higher source or energy or God. For me, this too means channeling the higher self - that spark of the divine within us.

American culture and society still, in general, keeps writers and artists at arms length with stigma and innuendo. We’re a little off our game, we need to find a real job, we’re wasting our time, eccentric, light weights etc. Historically this is not a unique view from around the globe, but due to our current state of affairs it has a tenacious grip here. Our Art is boxed up neatly to fit our capital and commodity interests. We are subject to the Art World or Literary World’s industry and interests bent towards money and power rather than the art itself being a priority. The gatekeepers and power holders are oriented towards business.

The artist has to pedal his/her wares, market themselves with well established industry criteria etc. This goes against the very grain of most artists. Is it any wonder that the beginning artist does not feel intimidated? Prone to beating themselves up at the least hint of failure in their growing pains and stages. Not living up to gallery and museum standards of what the business owners deem acceptable - quality, and the book publishing standards of what will sell as a safe bet.

Often burgeoning creators will think in terms of immediate success or be subject to ridicule. It becomes such a sensitive endeavor that the initial spark becomes diluted in the grays of the paradigm. The industry then promotes the artist on a scale that looks for eccentricity to market drama and status quo. It looks for the pretentious for elevated worth. We feed the dismal cycle by succumbing to the industry and not being true to ourselves. Our bios and blurbs are tailored to keep the show rolling of passing trends and who’s in the know.

This has spurned a new industry (history repeats itself) of self publication, outsider art and business owners to help these people, and projects like Ink Hand Moon Eye. Throughout different eras and cultures artist and writers were revered. Given diplomatic and government positions, hosted by kings, courts and religious institutions, given commissions by all of them. Elevated to hero’s in dynasties and sought after for news and culture among the general populace. They were on par with the cream of the crop in their country.

The good news for the creator is that the momentum of change is here, the tide seems to be slowly shifting in a favorable direction. Creators change things for the better, they help keep the world in balance through beauty, remembrance, symbol, and progressive social and environmental message. Imagination and Creativity are one in the same – without it we will flatten the earth in fragments, deconstruct and ruin the holistic world view. Our jaded, agitated and listless response to each other and our supposed leaders will be fearful, calculated, measured, and robotic - fearing challenge to change.

Here are some quotes from giants that helped pave the way. Anna Freud: “Creative minds have always been known to survive any bad training.” Einstein: “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” Carl Jung: “The debt we owe to the play of imagination is incalculable.” Napoleon: “Imagination rules the world.” Unknown: “Imagination is the cinema of things to come.” George Benard Shaw: “Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine, and at last you create what you will.” Einstein “Imagination is the preview of life’s coming attraction”. Yeats: ” People who lean on logic and philosophy and rational exposition end by starving the best part of the mind.” Emerson: “Imagination is not a talent of some men, but is the health of every man.” Roosevelt: “Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.” Emmet Fox: “Love is always creative, fear is always destructive.” Einstein: “The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and a rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.” Forgotten source: “Creativity is the central source of meaning in our lives, and when we are involved with it, we feel we are living more fully than during the rest of our life.”

Click here for more articles by Brian Brogan

Aspiring to be an Astrologer Part 2

This is a continuation of my advice to new astrologers.

The beginning of your career may be natal chart interpretation, but eventually you will want to expand. You have to decide what type of astrology you want to do. Do you want to stay with psychological interpretation of natal charts only; do you want to do transits, medical, horary, or political or mundane astrology? You may be fascinated by what is going on in the world, but there aren’t too many political clients for a beginner. The best is a combination of modalities.

You may want to combine this with a career in something such as psychology. However, in the US, you may lose your license if you combine astrology with a psychology session. You must keep the two consultations separate. It’s better to do astrology consultations and let your clients know you have a degree in psychology than to let your psychology clients know you are practicing astrology in their session.

Most people come to an astrologer the first time because they want to know why something is happening, or when something will happen. I get very few new clients who come out of curiosity, or when they are happy, or when they want to know about soul development.

The most repeated question I get in consultations is, "when will it happen”? There are two ways to answer this question. Some astrologers will say "oh sometime next year. If they are better, they will say next fall, spring, etc. Another astrologer may give the month. If they are good, they will peg it to within a day or two.

If you spend several hours pouring over the chart, you may pin the event within an hour or even a few minutes. None of this is infallible, but you do your best. The better your accuracy, the better your reputation, and the more referrals you’ll get.

Unless you have an established practice in tarot, channeling, or psychic readings, or are a psychologist, you need to learn how to forecast. If you want repeat clients, spiritual or evolutionary astrology should not be your only focus. Later you may become famous for your soul or psychological readings.

In the beginning, you won't make that much money. To do a forecast takes several hours. (If you have a photographic memory for dates, you may get the prep time down to an hour or less.) If you charge $75 for a one-hour reading and it takes four hours to prep, you make $15 an hour. This may sound better than your day job, but how many charts will you do in a week? Clients do not grow on trees; you have to build your business.

If you want to cut your time in half you must be organized. Have a sheet handy with planetary events for the year; new and full moons, eclipses, retrogrades, major transits and ingresses. Note the travel of the major planets month by month. Note any transiting planets conjunct fixed stars. The travel of the Sun is easy to remember in your head. Then all you have to look up is Mercury, Venus, Mars or the Moon. With this information, it will be easier to narrow down the date search. Once you start doing more charts and work with the ephemeris on a daily basis, it's much easier. An important thing to remember is that one transit alone is not a trigger for an event in the outer world.

Clients do not appreciate constant flipping through the ephemeris in a one-hour session. Therefore, it's best to determine the dates ahead of time. One of my favorite teachers used to spend quite a bit of time looking through the ephemeris in the session, but she did three-hour sessions for the price of a one-hour session. Most people don't have time for three hours sessions anymore. I've had clients ask if the session can be shortened, and they still pay for the full session.

Printouts of the dates of transits to natal planets are available in most astrology computer programs. Highlight the important dates or write them on the chart.

To be honest, a yearly update session with your client can be done in twenty minutes; the rest is filler, but often-necessary filler for the client.

A good method of practice is to take a list of birth dates of people you know, (day, month, and year). Look up the dates in the ephemeris and try to determine how the current transits will affect the planets on that birth date. For instance, start with the birth date such as 1/19/51. Look up this in this date in the ephemeris and note the current transits to the position of the planets on that date. Go to the next date on your list and do the same thing. Set a time for yourself. How many birth dates can you do in an hour? This gets you used to the rhythm of making connections between planets. Once you are able to do this in your head, it's even easier with a chart in front of you.

Next go back and write out an interpretation of the transits with a few keywords for each person. What will happen?

Jot down an interpretation on a notepad. Later talk with the people and see if any of your current or future forecasts are accurate. Don't worry about exact timing in the beginning.

Most beginning astrology books have interpretations of transits and allowable orbs. Click here for a brief overview.


Next, learn progressions. Calculations are easily available in a good computer program.

There is a lot of competition, but if you do a good job, you will build a clientele. There is no criteria to judge an astrologer. Most people have a friend who has taken a class or two, read a book or two, and then read the chart for free, or a token sum, and do a very superficial reading. It may sound great during the reading, but people go away unfulfilled. That's one of the reasons astrology does not have a better reputation.

Work of mouth is going to be your best recommendation. I have clients who had readings by astrologers who have written for popular magazines and were dissatisfied, and wouldn't think of going back. Basically all they did was coach the person. They did not need an astrology reading to get this information, even a beginner can do this.

Look at your chart to confirm your success. There have been many astounding astrologers who never made a success of their business, but then again, many did not care about the money.

More to come…….

Aspiring to be an Astrologer

I’ve received several email questions lately and I'd like to start answering the questions that have been piling up. I’ll try to get to at least one a week, but I won’t make any promises to stick to that schedule. I’ve learned it’s always done when the time is right.

Question from an Aspiring Astrologer

Hello Susan, I'm an Aries and I could use some help. I have been reading and studying astrology for the past 4 years. There are a lot of different chapters in astrology and I read everything I can get my hands on, and I'm looking for the next level of help, but its hard to do alone. Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of offered work when it comes to this career. I know I want to work with this topic and it’s hard to find people that even know a little bit about it. I was wondering if you have any advice or tips to help me along the way, especially when someone like yourself has experience with it. I also read up on tarot cards, and palm reading and I just started reading about the Chakras. I love this field and really would like to pursue this in any way I can....

Thanks for your time

Susan’s Answer

Dear Aries,

Aries is a great sign that gives you the energy to do things. You’ll always be looking for something new in astrology, and it’s a great adventure for an Aries. I’m sure there are other points in your chart that give you the ability to stick with it since you’ve been studying for 4 years and are still interested.

I’m not sure what level you’ve reached, so this is rather general advice

The question of aspiring to astrology is near and dear to my heart. I want more people to be serious about astrology, and I agree, there are few guidelines for the serious astrologer. There are organizations such as NCGR and AFA, offering lectures, classes and guidance, and some accreditations, but not diplomas accredited by the governing bodies of education at the local or federal level.

If you want a diploma, the only school that I know of in the US that currentlyoffers a bachelor or masters degree in Astrology is Kepler College in Washington State, which is accredited by the state of Washington. After four years, you receive a formal diploma. The other nice thing about Kepler is that you do much of your studying at home. I believe you are required to go to Kepler for a week at a time each semester. Go to the Kepler website for more information. http://www.kepler.edu/

If you do not plan to work professionally in areas that look for a diploma, there are online schools. The Online School of Astrology has reputable astrologers. http://www.astrocollege.com/ Currently they are associated with Kepler College and there is a transfer allowed of 30 credits.

There are usually local schools or groups, if you want to find kindred spirits. Many coffee klatch or salon type groups exist that do give support and information. I offer several classes through the year at Heaven in Newburyport geared to all levels, and soon I will offer CD’s of my classes, and eventually I will be offering a beginning course through CD.

Chart interpretation

If you want to be a professional astrologer, it requires commitment. One of my early teachers told me that after I read 1,000 charts I might be able to consider myself an astrologer. Start reading charts for anyone and everyone. Doing readings is one of the most valuable things you can do. Consultations will get you into the rhythm of reading charts and working with all types of people. Even if you tell them you are new, and use your reference books during a consult, they will lap it up. People want to know as much as possible about their life, and are grateful for any help you can give them. Do the consults free or for a donation and you’ll be surprised where it will lead you. If you charge, it may be too much responsibility in the beginning. If you’re good, and love what you do, eventually people will offer to pay you.

If you aren’t ready to do personal consults with friends and acquaintances, practice by doing the charts of famous people.

Organization is the key, especially in the beginning. Have a plan for reading charts and stick to it, adding on as time goes on. Get the keywords down in your mind and have your plan for reading a chart. You may start with the Sun, Moon, ascendant, and then the planets, or you may read house by house. Tracy Marks has a wonderful guide for chart interpretation. It’s out of pint, but there are a few used copies at Amazon, Barnes and Noble.

If you need help choosing books, go to http://www.astroamerica.com/ or contact Dave. He knows his stuff. He can suggest a good chart interpretation guidebook.

Calculations

I suggest you learn the math. I know computers do the math, but it is a good idea to know how the computations are done. Sometimes I miss the psychic connection I used to get by calculating the chart myself. To do this you need an Ephemeris and a Table of Houses. I use the Rosicrucian Ephemeris for my daily readings, and The American Ephemeris by Neil F. Michelsen for dates in the 20th Century. I also have the Rosicrucian 100-year ephemeris. You will also need a book that gives you the longitude of cites worldwide. However, this is optional, most longitudes are found online these days.

The books I have with chart calculation instruction are out of print. Dave at The Astrology Center of America should know what’s currently available. www.astroamerica.com

The price of these books adds up, I suggest that my students look for used books to start out.

Studies

Besides the natal planets, you need to learn how to read an ephemeris, and study transits, progressions, directions, solar returns, and eclipses, and that’s just the start. Next there are asteroids, galactic points, etc.

Astrology is a life-time study. Astrology is not a fluff science. Most qualified astrolgers are well-educated. As one astrologer said, "I have studied more than most doctors. I probably have the equivalent of three PhD's."

Here are a few studies that I suggest besides astrology

Mythology
Astronomy
History
Psychology – as many different types as possible. Read books, especially by Jung. You’ll be surprised to find how many psychologists follow astrological patterns. Also, it is important to understand enough to know when to guide a client to a professional for help.
Geometry
Algebra
Numerology
Symbols – dream books have great ideas.
Other intuitive and esoteric studies, tarot, kabala
Develop your intuition
Writing classes
Debate class if you want to be on air with debunkers
Bodywork or anatomy if you wish to study medical astrology
Languages especially Latin and Sanskrit
Research and statistics
Ancient classics especially the Greeks, Ptolemy, Hippocrates, Phythagoras
Arabic history and writers, they gave us our math and many astrology calculations
Epyptian history and symbolism
Maya symbolism and astrology
Voice and Acting if you wish to do the lecture circuit (I'm half joking)


Eastern Astrology

Chinese signs will add another depth to your understanding. Get one of the simple books or go online and do a search.

I wouldn’t advise learning Vedic astrology until you are sure of your techniques.

Local Ordinances
Some cities consider astrology fortune telling and it’s not allowed. Check your local rules and regulations.

Please drop me a line if I haven’t addressed your concerns.

More to come……

What to do after you’ve mastered the natal chart, such as transits, progressions, solar charts, synastry, horary, electional, astrocartography.

Astrology careers

Mercury Retrograde 2/13/2007 - 3/7/2007

On February 13, 2007, Mercury will station retrograde. Normally I’m not that affected by Mercury Rx. I’m careful of anything involved with communication and travel, and try not to make major purchases. But, let’s face it, there are times in life when you must make a purchase. You car, computer, printer, or any related Mercury item dies and you have to replace it immediately. Rental is not always a viable possibility. If the intent is replacing an item, or if you buy a used item, then the purchase is supposed to work out, but anything new may be a problem. Fixing items is a normal part of the Mercury Rx. If the Mercury Rx doesn't make an aspect in your chart, you're off the hook.

For me, this retrograde is already showing up, car problems, internet problems and slow connections, bad cell phone connections, even horrible landline connections, lost messages, lost papers, and so on. Many people start to feel a retrograde when the shadow phase starts. I consulted the ephemeris and the shadow phase doesn’t start until 1/30/07.

I have clients who do Mercury Rx consultations, and they started calling early this year.

What’s going on? I racked my brain for several days. Could it be the conjunction of Mercury to the Galactic Center? This occurred on Christmas Day 12/25/06. The fact that Mercury conjuncted the GC on a worldwide holiday would increase the power of Mercury conjunct GC. Is Mercury involved with an asteroid? Are remnants of Solar Flare 930 causing problems? Is it comet McNaught, the brightest comet in 30 years? Is it the Mars Pluto conjunction on the GC on 1/13/07?

I noticed that things started going wrong as Mercury made its conjunction to the Sun on 1/7/07. The conjunction of the Sun and Mercury was stronger than usual this year. Maybe the power of Mercury was amped up with the conjunction to the GC. The conjunction of the Sun and Mercury is a sign that Mercury is about to go retrograde. Does this give us a clue as to how the Rx will affect us?

The Rx phase is about 21 days; the shadow phase is 58 days. I’ve noticed that the effects of retrogrades often start before the shadow phase. Is it possible that the phase starts with the conjunction of the Mercury and the Sun? Is this a “ghost phase”? This creates a long retrograde. The period from the conjunction with the Sun to the end of the shadow phase is 70 days.

Over the years, I've noticed that people have problems before the shadow phase. They start to get jumpy and things go wrong. In the past, I always chalked this up to anticipation; maybe they are picking up planetary activity.

Mercury Retrograde Timeline 2007 based on EST - US

Mercury conjunct the Sun – 16 Capricorn 32, 1/7/07
Mercury shadow - 25 Aquarius 25, 1/30/07
Mercury station retrograde – 10 Pisces 12, 2/13/07
Mercury conjuncts the Sun – 4 Pisces 10, 2/22/07
Mercury station direct – 25 Aquarius 25 3/7/07
Mercury final shadow – 10 Pisces 12, 3/28/07

Vibrational Shifts in 2007

I want to wish everyone joy and harmony in this year of transformation.

This is the year that is paving the way for major changes in the future. Just like a birth, we must prepare. Personal mental, emotional, and psychic, checkups, and proper food for the mind and the body are necessary. We must look at how we feel, and function (Moon), think (Mercury), and act (Mars) on a daily basis. We’ve trained and shaped our physical bodies, now we have the chance to train and shape our minds, emotions, intuition, and sensitivity.

The past few weeks have been difficult for many people. From an astrological viewpoint, this has to do with Pluto, the Sun, and Mars conjuncting the Galactic Center, Saturn retrograde, the Saturn Neptune opposition, and the upcoming Jupiter square Uranus.

I’ve noticed that the conjunctions to the Galactic Center have been intense, bringing profound changes for many. These changes may not make sense yet, but they will soon. The discomfort seems to be short-term when people are willing to work with the current changes. If you try to avoid them or push them away from your awareness now, you'll have to do them again later.

Earth Changes

The Earth is in a massive shift of vibration. This is not specifically caused by the planets; however, the planets are working with the process.

This is felt in many different ways. If you are sensitive to the planets and the Earth, you understand. There are people who feel more than just the vibration of the Moon, they feel all planetary shifts especially the major ones. They tell me that while the vibrations are currently mostly joyful and peaceful, they are very active. The old feelings of panic are being replaced, and the new feelings are confusing at first. When a challenging event occurs, instead of feeling panic, our mind spins as we try to decipher what's going on. We're all becoming more sensitized to these vibrations. Think of them as a guide. If you don’t believe in astrology, and don’t have these sensations, consider yourself lucky; the mood swings can be disconcerting. But then again, you’re missing an incredible tool.

This is where Mercury steps in. Mercury is the planet of thoughts, and communication, the planet that goes back and forth between the gods, carrying messages between the two worlds.

The Mercury retrogrades this year alternate between signs in water and air. When you do your Mercury retrograde review, pay close attention to your feelings. What are you thinking when you feel something? Does the mind race around with a negative feeling, chattering away and trying to numb the pain, or avoid it altogether? If you’re in the habit of doing this, you may be numbing the good feelings as well. It's time we balance thoughts and feelings, and put them in their optimum places.
Mercury retrogrades Rx 2/13 Direct 3/7, Rx 6/15 Direct 7/9, Rx 10/11 Direct 11/1

Hearing Vibrations and Feeling Sound

Some people actually hear the vibrations. Some of the sounds are interference from cells phones, satellites, radio waves, or microwaves. However, the sounds I’m talking about come from the Earth, the planets, and other bodies in space. In ancient times, this was called “The Music of the Spheres”. The sounds are heard in different parts of the brain, sometimes the back of the head, sometimes the sides, and sometimes the front. The Earth is talking to us; listen to what she has to say. Many psychics and intuitives call the sound downloading. We are being sent information from the celestial spheres. A few people are so sensitive that when they pick up radio signals, they hear voices and music. You have to learn how to change your channel.

So if you thought there was something wrong with your hearing or your brain don’t panic. Get yourself checked out as a precaution, and then go about your business.

Between Two Worlds

Many of us are living in two worlds. When we step out of our homes or normal routines, there is an off-putting energy. It makes us slightly dizzy, confused, or agitated. When we step out into the mundane world, we're in a different vibration and our strengthened intuitive senses are bombarded. This has been amplified by the opposition between Saturn and Neptune. On June 25, Saturn will make its final pass in this phase to Neptune. Neptune is creativity and sensitivity, and Saturn is grounding and manifesting. With the opposition, we have to figure out how to incorporate this new sensitivity and intuition in a comfortable way.

Our instincts are expanding. Even though we're in another dimension, we're still in tune with the frequencies of the Earth. If you suddenly make a misstep, your world spins, or a chill goes up your spine, you may be feeling an earthquake thousands of miles away.

Transit of Venus

The Transit of Venus is still in operation. With every Transit of Venus there have been major changes in communication, travel, and exploration. The current Transit of Venus started in 2004 and will complete in 2012. If you haven’t heard already, 2012 is a major year of astrological events. Where will communication and exploration go next? Our extrasensory perceptions are increasing; will we become more telepathic? Have you noticed that you already get a stronger sense of what people are saying than you did in the past? By now, it’s harder to hide what we’re really thinking when we speak. Did you know that man was supposed to think with his heart, not just his brain? The Venus retrograde this year will be potent. Notice what's going on 7/27 and 9/8.

These are just a few of the changes that we’ll feel in the next year. As we go through the year, I’ll talk more about them in the Weekly Planets.

I wish you a year of magic and miracles.

Planetary Events for the Year
Here is a list of the major planetary aspects and events (excluding retrogrades) for the next year. The dates are based on Eastern time in the US.

2007
Jupiter square Uranus 1/22/7
Saturn oppose Neptune 2/28/7, 6/25/7
Lunar Eclipse 3/3/7
Jupiter trine Saturn 3/16/7, 5/6/7
Solar Eclipse 3/18/7
Saturn trine Pluto 8/6/7
Lunar Eclipse 8/28/7
Saturn enters Virgo 9/2/7
Solar Eclipse 9/11/7
Jupiter sextile Neptune 10/29/7
Jupiter conjuncts Pluto 12/11/7
Jupiter enters Capricorn 12/18/7

2008
Pluto enters Capricorn 2/25/8