You find astrology on your own path and for everyone the road it is different because you each have your own chart this alone tells us that you will happen upon astrology in your own way.
It is highly unlikely that your career guidance counselor at school suggested you became an astrologer. They will probably have informed you that you should have become a doctor or a lawyer or a civil engineer.
Most people get into astrology by some form of side-stepping or as often is the case you stumble upon it one bright morn.
The time will come when you consider taking a class. when you finally end up at your first astrology lesson. I want to share my early journey on the road to astrological understanding with you.
My First Lesson
My interest in astrology was first piqued in a geography class at school when I was about fifteen. We were doing the solar system and after the module was complete the teacher sat on the front of her desk and read our Sun sign characteristics from Linda Goodman’s SunSigns which she had in her drawer.
As the teacher read everyone’s Sun sign out loud she finally got to mine. I could not believe how it described me and it all made so much sense. I was blown away. I began to pay attention to my horoscope in the women’s magazines.. I discovered I liked reading about astrology.
The fact that my Sun and ascendant sign is the same would have reinforced the popular horoscope predictions as is the nature of how they are written with each sign on the first house and the forecasts for the signs generated from there. But there it is.
However, one day it was not enough. I wanted more information and I needed my questions answered. Questions like, “When do the signs change?” and “What does the Moon mean?”
These were really simple when I look at them now but back then, and I’m sure it is the same for many of you just starting out, they were huge questions. Questions that deserved an answer.
But there were no answers and I had to find out more. I sought out someone to whom I could ask these tricky questions and who could explain them and other things to me.
My First Teacher
Eventually I found an astrology teacher offering a two-year astrology course which started from scratch. The class was to start the following Tuesday evening at 7 pm. It was exactly what I was looking for.
The place was not near my home but at that time in Africa to find anyone to teach astrology was like finding a diamond in the rough. Beggars could not be choosers and I was a beggar for knowledge.
I got home from work changed my outfit into something less businesslike, scooped up my notepad, pens and the R7 cash (about US$0.70) to pay for the class. Those were the days.
I jumped into my trusty car and drove off into the night. I crossed over the top of Johannesburg along what is known as the concrete highway for obvious reasons. I left home one hour before it was to start to make sure I was on time.
Parking in the driveway I went in. I was excited and anxious at the same time. Grinding over my insecurities. Perhaps I would not like them? Perhaps they would not like me? Maybe I would be lost as the class conversation moved ahead? Maybe I would be floundering today? Imagine if the others knew it all already?
It was crowded and there was standing-room only.
I was twenty years old and the youngest one there. Because seating was limited and my mother had taught me some manners I acquiesced my position to an older lady and I stood at the back with the other “young ones.”
My first teacher’s name was David and told us he was over seventy. He was thin, wiry and wore his long white hair over his shoulders like a merlin.
He began talking and we all put our heads down and started to take notes. He handed out some shiny photostats of a map of the world and other information sheets with complicated looking numbers.
As I was at the back of the room I had the privilege of turning on the hot water urn for the tea halfway through. It was my job to signal him when the water had boiled and made his hot drink which I did with pleasure.
The others crowded around and made their brew and stepped out into the garden to enjoy the break. The sultry evenings were filled with the sounds of crickets and someone had the fly swat to kill the mosquitoes which plagued us in the summer months.
Back again for the second half and more writing. Ok, I was scribbling now. Trying to keep up, hazarding a guess on how to spell some of the new words that would not roll easily off my tongue. I began to wonder if I would be able to decipher my scrawl when I got home.
The classroom was a converted double garage with wall-to-wall bookshelves. Back then the teacher imported the astrology books from America and we could buy them from him. In those days you could not find new age books available to the general public.
There must have been thirty people in that first class. By the next week it had shrunk to about twenty-five people. At class number three I could get a seat at the back and things settled down. Thus the rhythm of my life was set and I had my astrology lesson every Tuesday evening, from seven to nine and let’s not forget the tea break.
After two years of this there were only three of us left, myself and a married couple Marie and Arthur, of whom both I happened to know before I joined the class, serendipitous I call it. I am still in touch with Marie via a mutual friend but sadly her husband left this Earth a few years ago.
In retrospect my first astrology teacher was a fountain of knowledge. My initial tutor set standards in the knowledge that I rely on today. He too had passed but left many trained students behind to spread his life’s work. I hope you find a teacher to inspire you like I did.
When you have an astrology session/reading/consultation, call it what you will, all you see is the finished product. That is your astrologer discussing your chart and maybe some specific issues you have previously highlighted for attention. This is usually a one hour meeting and then it is finished.
When you meet your astrologer you don’t see what went on behind the scenes and the time and effort which went into the polished reading you are experiencing.
I want to share with you what goes into make up a client reading. If you are my client, you may book your hour consultation with me, or sign up for a class or some mentoring and you will see me in action discussing your chart and referring to your charts, diagrams and colored notes.
I thought I’d discuss with you twelve important benefits that go on out of sight to make your personal reading the best you can get. I always think it is convenient that astrology has twelve signs as they can be used to underline different things, just like those here.
Aries – My personal efforts for you
When you experience a reading with me you are not just getting my attention for one hour, you are benefitting from my years of dedication and passion for astrology.
I strive to present the very best information I can for you and to offer it in a way that you can understand. I am constantly on the look out for, and creating, new initiatives to appreciate astrology and all of these projects that I have up my sleeve will benefit you.
Taurus – A love of astrology
I love astrology, its value as a tool for self-understanding and how at times it unfolds in the most unlikely way.
I believe in getting to grips with the basics of chart interpretation and this comes from the long slog of learning all the building blocks of astrology which are the signs, planets, houses and aspects.
This is foundational information but you need to know it all before you can start a full interpretation for anyone’s chart. To be a good astrologer you have to pay your dues.
Gemini – Years of classroom learning and reading
I have spent many hours in assorted astrology classrooms. In my initial diploma course way back in the 1980’s for over three years and since then at various in between classes and during the past eight years through further study at the Faculty.
To my mind learning is an ongoing process as new things come up all the time and it is important that I, as your astrologer, keep up to date and hone my information to remain relevant.
Cancer – Know where you come from
Part of being an astrologer is knowing what you can and can’t do. You need to know where you are coming from and where you can confidently go with your clients.
This is what I do for you.
I know I only do western astrology, I typically have engaged and creative people in my practice and I prefer to inspire my clients to live their life through their charts.
At the same time I also know what I don’t do such as rectification or mundane work.
Leo – My creative expression of your chart
Much of my work these days focuses on finding the creativity and genius in your chart. Many of my clients want to know what they can expect and how they can work towards finding satisfaction in their lives.
I honestly believe that this shows in your natal chart and I endeavour to tease out all the creative possibilities I see for you so you can give birth to them.
Virgo – Attention to detail
The research work that goes into exploring your natal chart is detail oriented. There is lots of maths, fine tuning with small degrees and minutes that can make a huge difference in the timing of events in your future.
Checking your chart data and facts is essential for a thorough interpretation and this does take time.
The devil is in the details.
Libra – You and me
All consultations involve two people. You and me. We come together to explore your chart and find a balance, or a middle ground, between what you need to know and what you want to know.
Because we don’t have all day to spend looking into every nook and cranny it is important that I think about our personal one-to-one relationship and concerns and that I harmonise the session to suit you.
Scorpio – Your privacy
This means that I am mindful of anything that you wish to keep quiet about and I respect your wishes by being aware that what I may think is not such a big deal but you may be in angst about.
If you so desire I will help you tune in to your deeper issues but I will not force you to face things for which you are not ready.
A reading is not about doing the dirty laundry it is about being where you are at this time in your life and as your astrologer I will acknowledge that.
Sagittarius – Your vision for your future
My philosophy about your reading is much like, “What has gone is gone. it’s all about what you will do from this day onward.” This means that how you move forward in your life is more important than what has passed.
We all have issues or baggage and the day does arrive when it is time to branch out and strike a new path for yourself.
This forward drive will always be the focus of any reading I do for you as I show you the possibilities.
Capricorn – Respect for you
I am not here to tell you what to do or to urge you to live your life as how I see fit. That is not my role. I respect your chart, its message and the planetary combinations that make up the individual you.
You are your chart and I acknowledge this.
I will not try to change you or to dismiss any fears you may have. I will accept you just as you are.
I want you to achieve your full potential as shown by your chart and this is what I will hold up to you. You are in the driver’s seat and decisions you make are your choice.
Aquarius – Becoming friends
I would like to think that with all (or most) of my students and clients we have a rapport at the end. That when the period for us to come together such as after a class has finished or a reading is done that we can be friends and that we are at ease with each other in a social setting.
Now this does not happen every time but I’ve got to tell you, it happens most of the time.
It is as though my chart attracts those that I can help through my own planetary placing and that connection sustains us through into a future friendship as well.
Pisces – Offering you a place for reflection
As your personal astrology session draws to a close it is important for you to have time for reflection on what has been said in the reading.
I always let you know that you can email me if something comes up in the following few days or if you need time to compose a question upon which some light needs to be shone.
I leave you with time to pause and reflect on your consultation with me which is a very important part of the process and rounds it all off well.
Conclusion
These are some of the ways that I prepare for your personal astrology session.
Clearly it is not just sixty minutes out of my life, although it may be one hour out of yours. The background preparation for me is both intense and reflective.
The experience and skill of your astrologer will show through in the reading they can provide and the lasting value that is perceived by the most important part of this process, you.
I talk a lot about children’s astrology here on this blog.
Recently I have received several emails asking about my family dynamics and my children so I thought I would share a little about that.
At the same time respecting our Little Darling’s privacy.
My husband and I have four children. They are nearly all grown up and have almost left home.
This means I have more space to peruse my interests.
Time is the one luxury that I never had when the youngest was born and they all needed my attention.
I started studying and practicing astrology long before I had children. In fact my mother was an astrologer and she taught my sister and I lots as kids at the kitchen table.
The best laid plans
I knew the importance of the Sun in a chart and I wanted to select a child to be born with a Sun sign compatible with mine (Leo).
We decided to go for a fire Sun sign and the one that came up first that year was Leo. I fell pregnant and she was due on August 6th that year and bang in the middle of Leo.
But nature has a way of pulling off her joke and our daughter was born an amazing three weeks early when we welcomed in a beautiful little Cancerian Sun baby.
As the first grandchild in the family she was heralded as perfect in every way.
Our daughter’s birth story taught me much about taking life as it comes and accepting that things may not be as we might wish but that nature can make them better.
Accepting the fact that I could not organize a particular sign for my child to be born under led me to let nature take its course.
With the other children’s births, well they came in their own good time.
Astrological influence
So, as a mother and an astrologer to boot did I influence my children and raise them with the insights astrology?
I would like to answer “Yes, I did” but the truth is the kids are so very much their own people living their lives through their charts.
Where I felt I could have an influence is when rules had to be brought in and I became the voice of authority in the parental role.
Each child required a different carrot and still does.
As I was at the back of the room I had the privilege of turning on the hot water urn for the tea halfway through. It was my job to signal him when the water had boiled and made his hot drink which I did with pleasure.
