by Alison Price
By Alison Price
Your Creativity
I believe that all women are creative. Each and every one of us has something to offer and it can be big or small.
I find that if you bring your talents forward and make time for interesting things it establishes a balance in your life between what has to be done and what you like doing. It is the action of creating that makes the process satisfying.
We all have responsibilities such as having to work for someone else, commuting, launching our kids into the world and maintaining a social life and meaningful personal relationship.
Daily you may face a to-do list and if you don’t do them who will? If you tap into your creativity it can mitigate many of the mundane details of life.
As Women Evolve
Many of the women I see in my astrology practice are in the forty- or fifty-something age group.
They have already brought up their children and made a home for their family. At this point in their lives they want something more. They ask me, “Is this all there is?” or words in the same vein.
After the efforts they have put out for years that are now not needed, they have a good look at their life. The kids have gone their partner now may, or may not, measure up and an uneasy feeling of dissatisfaction has crept in.
Other women relish their newfound freedom and seek ways to make the most of the next phase of life. Either way women want a new direction, purpose and meaning for their life.
Enter Astrology
This is where an astrology consultation can help. Astrology is the study of the influence that the stars and planets have on life on Earth. Thousands of years of analysis have shown that particular traits are inherent in each zodiac sign.
A professional astrologer can cast your unique birth chart and provide you with a life map for your journey.
Your natal chart is original and contains many combinations of planetary energies all flowing at the same time in different directions. It is the skill of the astrologer to sort through the themes shown in your chart and present a clear picture for you.
I look at all the planets including your Sun and Moon signs and find the message in your chart. It is different for each one of you. Some will call it your soul purpose, others your life path.
Whichever words you choose to use your birth chart shows all the potentials, urges and opportunities that you have and that need to be satisfied in this lifetime.
We cannot all be rocket scientists, and indeed it would be a very different world if we were, but every woman owes it to herself to be what they truly want and not have to bow to what society, or your mother-in-law, or anyone else, thinks you should be.
Reading for Mari
I had a client recently a woman we will call Mari. She came to me in mid-life for a reading. I think initially she was simply curious as she had never consulted an astrologer before. We exchanged pleasantries. I offered her tea and we settled down in a comfortable environment for her reading.
She started off by saying, “What can you see?” and I began discussing her chart and spoke of how I interpreted her chart and who I saw her as through reading her chart and the eyes of astrology.
I had never met her before and soon I was chatting about her motivations and how her nativity was suggesting a certain path. She stopped me then, and said, “I wanted to do that when I was a girl, but I had forgotten about it until you mentioned it.”
I asked her, “Do you still want to do it?”
She thought for a moment and said, “Well I did once but that was a long time ago, I’m a different person now, I have responsibilities.”
Hmm…
I shall break from the story here and tell you that this response is common. That what we wanted to do as children or young people has been shelved in favour of a life that is an existence but pays the rent.
Yes, I know providing a roof is important but to my mind having your dream come alive again is a most desirable state of affairs.
Astrology can help you focus on what is truly important in your life and, to be honest, it could simply be continuing down your present path. But for many women it is a way to re-ignite ideas or passions that have been left to wither on the vine.
Let Your Ideas Breathe
Going back to Mari’s situation. I urged her to consider changing what she was doing, not all at once as transformation can be daunting, but that she let the thoughts of following her long lost passion mull in her head for a while and give her ideas space to breathe.
Two months later I met with Mari again and we discussed how things were going for her. She told me she had signed up for a class to refresh her desired activity and would be starting in the New Year.
She also informed me that she has changed her attitude towards herself and her view of what she wanted her life to be.
Although this was still a work in progress the small changes she had made had improved her overall perspective and brightened her outlook.
Consider getting your chart featured. What are you waiting for?
by Alison Price
By Alison Price
Astrology students who think of starting their practice often ask me “Where do clients come from?”
This really is a query any independent business owner will pose. It is the whole point of doing what you do and selling your services, but to whom and where are they?
Where do you find your first client or indeed the second and third?
Maybe you need some advertising
There are several traditional ways to advertise and attract astrology clients such as:
- An advert in your local newspaper.
- Placing a promotional piece in new age trade magazines.
- Putting up flyers in esoteric bookshops.
- Mentioning your services at your local astrology group.
- Word of mouth.
By far and away the best form of advertising for an astrologer is word of mouth. This is so for three reasons:
Personal reference is best, personal reference is best and personal reference is best.
Personal reference is best
The person who refers you is a past client and has been to see you already.
- They have the inside track on exactly what goes on at a reading.
- They refer you because they like you, what you have to say and your style.
- They want their friend or family member to like you and your reading as well.
- Clients who come to you via a personal reference are pre-sold on astrology.
The take home from this is that you have to look after your first client. They are the portal to new business. They can become repeat business easily. This is critical.
You need to treat every client as you do your first client to grow your business.
Your chart attracts your clients
If we accept that you are your chart and the placements and connections in your nativity show who you are and the potentials you have to become in this lifetime, then it follows that you will attract the clients you need.
Say you enter a room with ten people lined up, immediately you are attracted to one or two, you are not attracted to one or two and the remaining six people well they could go either way.
This instinctive attract/repel comes from your chart.
I believe you are attracted to the other person’s natal chart energies and how they integrate or fit in with yours.
They say “You choose pick your friends and not your relatives” and the friends you do select suit you and your chart. Like a jigsaw puzzle, you add a piece each time you make a friend. They have to fit. With you and your chart.
Your clients want to fit with you and indeed they are happy when they do.
You are your chart
As you go through life you project your ascendant outwards followed by the rest of your chart in varying degrees. Naturally others respond to it. Synastry.
There is no point in looking towards other astrologers and trying to emulate their business success (at least not in a detailed way) as their chart is intrinsically different yours.
There are many books on business and that is a subject in itself. Here I am trying to show you how to use your very is talents as show by your unique birth chart which is the astrologers edge. I urge you to try it.
by Alison Price
by Alison Price
You can improve your astrological interpretations in one week. Simply follow this seven day plan to get your readings back on track.
By taking these few steps you will be ready to present the best consultation you can muster on Saturday.
That’s six sleeps!
First you will interpret the natal chart and then selected forecast work.
At the end you won’t have considered every single little detail, but you will have looked at the important components of the natal chart and forecast indicators.
Sunday: Book and Print your client’s charts
Book
Book a client for next Saturday. It can be a family member, a friend or new person. But it must be a chart for someone you have not done before. Make it a one hour session.
Choose a consultation time when the transiting ascendant is in the same polarity as your Sun. If your Sun is in the passive polarity make the consultation time when a passive sign rising and the same for active signs.
Print
Having their chart details, print out the natal chart, transits and progressions.
Cast and print the consultation chart (the chart of the time and place where the consultation will happen).
Use a bi-wheel with the natal chart in the centre and secondary progressions on the outside. By hand write in the current positions of Uranus, Neptune and Pluto outside the bi-wheel.
Don’t start the written interpretations yet.
Color in the major natal aspect patterns. T-Squares in red, grand trines in blue, yods in green and Thor’s Hammers in orange.
Highlight the chart ruler and any sign or house emphasis in yellow.
Monday: The Balances and Strengths
Today you start writing your notes.
As you write, list all the short form codes in the margins and explore the full interpretation meanings in the body of the page.
Find the balances in the chart.
- Active and passive.
- Elements and mode strength.
- Strong signs and houses.
- Major aspect patterns.
Know the strong parts of your client’s chart. These will be things they are aware of already and hearing them makes you look good and seem capable.
Pull out the other chart highlights
Tuesday: The Ascendant and Chart Ruler
Explore the Ascendant complex
- Look at the sign on the ascendant.
- Consider the aspects to the ascendant.
- Note any planets rising or placed in the first house.
Explore the Ascendant ruler complex
That means the planet that rules the sign on the ascendant (use traditional rulers).
- Look at the chart ruler’s sign.
- Consider the chart ruler’s house.
- Note the chart ruler’s aspects.
Write out your keywords and fully understand each and every detail.
If there is an aspect you are not sure of, for instance Mars conjunct the Ascendant, research it thoroughly by reading the aspect in your cook books and on-line. Get to know that particular aspect so you will always be able to interpret it when you see it again.
Wednesday: The Luminaries
Explore the Sun complex
- Look at the Sun’s sign.
- Consider the Sun’s house.
- The aspects to the Sun.
Explore the Moon complex
- Look at the Moon’s sign.
- Consider Moon’s house.
- The aspects to the Moon
Note the Lunar phase. Make sure you know what it means.
Consider the nodal axis by sign and house. Look out for planets squaring the nodal axis.
Thursday: The Forecast for Money and Career
Midheaven
- Note the Midheaven sign.
- MC aspects.
- Planets in the tenth house.
Explore the 10th house ruler
- The planet that rules the sign on the tenth house cusp.
- Note it’s sign.
- It’s house.
- It’s aspects.
Transits
- Transiting Planets in the 2nd (money).
- Transiting Planets in the 6th (job).
- Transiting Planets in the 10th (career).
Progressions
- Consider the 2nd house progressed ruler.
- Look at the 6th house progressed ruler’s condition.
- Explore the 10th house progressed ruler’s condition.
Friday: The Forecast for Love and Romance
Explore the 5th house (where love begins)
- Note the 5th house cusp.
- Explore the 5th house ruler by sign, house and aspects.
- List any natal 5th house planets.
Explore the 7th house (partners and spouse)
- Look at the 7th house cusp.
- Consider the 7th house ruler.
- Note any natal 7th house planets.
Transits
- Consider any transiting planets in the 5th.
- Interpret any transiting planets in the 7th.
Progressions
- Check the progressed 5th house ruler’s condition.
- Look at the progressed 7th house ruler’s condition.
Saturday: The Consultation
Prepare yourself to give. A consultation takes something from you as an astrologer. You need to be prepared to give your understanding, advice, energy, time and sympathy to your client.
Make sure the consultation room is cool and well ventilated.
Read 10 things to do before your client arrives.
One hour before, re-read your notes.
Five minutes before, breathe in… breathe out…
Enjoy.
by Alison Price
by Alison Price
I was at an astrology event earlier this week which was attended by those who are aspiring astrologers, those who are getting better at astrology and some who are really good at astrology.
You can see what your skills and abilities are astrology wise and where you are on the five levels of astrologers to decide which camp you are in.
Anyway, it was general chit chat at the pre dinner (as is the way with these events) and someone asked me “How you much time do you do in your chart preparation before the consultation or do you just wing it?”
Never just wing it
So straight off the bat I replied “No, I never wing it, you simply can’t.”
The danger of winging it or just reading a chart on the fly with no thought for the intricacies of the dynamic elements in the chart are huge.
If you wing it:
- You get it wrong
- You diminish your credibility
- You get it wrong
- You damage your reputation and that of astrology in general
- You get it wrong
- They want it for free (That’s another story)
Did I say you get it wrong?
Weak astrologers just wing it.
If you are serious about your craft and believe you provide your clients with your best work through your experience, techniques and knowledge.
You owe it to yourself and your clients to give your best. Heck, you have to give more than your best you have to give them everything you have got. It’s that simple.
If you cannot dig deep for your clients then don’t bother setting up as an astrologer.
How much time to spend on each chart
I am often asked by those learning astrology “How much do we really have to do for a client?”
This comes down to, how long should you spend analyzing a natal chart or a forecast before the consultation?
A month, a week, a day or an hour?
There is no exact answer because it depends on your level of astrological expertise and the depth required for the client.
Some time has to be spent in prep work for each and every session.
If a consultation is booked for one hour, how many hours does an astrologer spend in preparation work before the appointment?
Starting out
When I first began as a professional astrologer (that is one who takes money for astrology services), I needed at least a week to plough (I mean work) through the chart.
I would explore all the permutations of the astrology and cover everything I could think of.
Every time I discovered a new technique I would slavishly add it into the list things I did.
There was no end…
These days I probably spend twice as much time in prep as the session is in reality. So, if I have a client booked for a one-hour session I will likely spend two hours analyzing the chart or charts.
If it is their second or third consultation (where we are working through and exploring several themes in their lives) I try to keep it the same. Two hours prep for a one-hour consultation. This is my plan.
It can, and does, overrun but you have to draw the line somewhere.
If I have a client booked in for a sequence of say three sessions over the course of a few weeks I will spend six or more hours preparing their interpretations. It does not matter if it is the first or the third in a sequence of consultations.
More, more, more
Of course, I can easily do more preparation work.
Some charts need more, but if I am to see one or two clients a day that is what I do.
Other astrologers may have different methods.
by Alison Price
by Alison Price
Perhaps you have been considering taking the next step and are toying with the idea about trying a professional astrology reading or as they say having your chart done.
If it is your first time consulting an astrologer you probably don’t know exactly what to expect from an interpretation You do not know what he or she can actually do for you.
You may be nervous and wary of what could be revealed in the session. Remember that ghastly episode in the eighth grade? Being apprehensive of new experiences is a completely natural reaction. Your friends may have had a reading before and can no doubt tell long tales about their experiences.
But what about what the astrologer expects from you? If you want to get the most from your first meeting with your astrologer here are a few points to consider.
Be honest about your birth time
Your astrologer requests your time of birth so they can set up a personalized chart which is unique to you based on the time you have given. Birth times of 5 p.m. are highly suspect because it was more likely to have been 4:55 p.m. or 5:02 p.m. in reality.
An ideal birth time is the one that is captured when the newborn takes in their first breath. The infant thus inhales the potentials of the universe at that precise moment. It is important for those expecting or planning to have children in the future to get the birth time, at least to the minute if not to the second.
One day that child may seek out an astrologer and knowing their correct birth time will be important for them. If you don’t do anything else for your child get the birth time.
You can sometimes glean your birth time from your mother and some birth certificates have it or reference a baby book. If you do not know for sure please don’t guess either. You may think that any time is better than none, or that you have to have a birth time for your astrologer to do your chart are both incorrect.
In fact your Mother may not remember what time you were born. You may think “But why can’t you remember Mom? I was being born and aren’t I the most precious thing in your life? You were there so why weren’t you paying attention?”
The reality is there is so much going on during a child’s birth that if the time is not noted and written down then it really is up to memory. Being in a labor ward with strange nurses that you have just met attending to very intimate details of your person is an extremely stressful time.
Your astrologer would rather hear “My mother thinks I was born in the afternoon sometime after lunch but before supper.” With this information he or she can accommodate the wide time given and adjust his or her interpretations to suit.
When you provide a birth time of “Sometime after lunch” your astrologer will compensate for the lack of a precise time and construct your chart accordingly. This practice benefits you and your astrologer.
You will receive a better reading and your astrologer can give you a better interpretation. This may seem like the same thing but it isn’t. Your reading becomes pertinent and you are likely to perceive your astrologer as being competent, caring and insightful.
Get to the point
The face-to-face relationship between client and astrologer usually starts with a one hour session.
This may go over to the one and a half hour mark and even in some cases to two hours at a stretch. But usually one hour is all the information that you, as a client, can appreciate and absorb during the first appointment.
Your astrologer will ask you if there is anything particular they need to focus on with the initial reading and this is your opportunity to get the most out of your meeting.
If you really want to zoom in on your love life, say so, when you book the appointment. Otherwise you may be distracted and not listening to all the upcoming pressing career issues that your astrologer is explaining because they know what is coming up for you through the transits and other forecasting techniques.
You may be concerned with your romantic issues and you won’t care about boring stuff like work. Do not wait until you are leaving the office to ask “Should I leave my boyfriend?”
If you have an immediate concern it makes sense to mention it first, ideally when you make the booking. You may think your astrologer will know already but not all of us are mind readers.
Make an appointment
This is really common courtesy. Phone up and make an appointment to see your astrologer. No one appreciates being ambushed on a Saturday afternoon with your pressing problems. By having a future meeting time your astrologer can carefully prepare your personalized charts and diagrams.
They can thoughtfully contemplate all the current planetary conditions and the possible impact on your life. They can prepare themselves perhaps with meditation or breathing techniques which will result in presenting a confident and meaningful consultation.
Consider your astrologer’s gift to you
For your astrologer, giving of themselves during a consultation is very often psychically draining, particularly if there are difficult issues to be addressed in the session. One painful area that comes to mind is bereavement. Death of a loved one can provoke both sadness and relief rolled into one.
Grieving is not an easy period in anyone’s life. For your astrologer to help you navigate these dark days, weeks or months they have to give the gift of themselves psychically to you.
The serial client
Are you a serial client? One who goes from one practitioner to the next seeking the answers that seem so elusive?
There is no problem in hearing a second opinion and certainly you need to find an astrologer with whom you resonate. That being said, please resist running down your last astrologer in the first sentence out of your mouth to your present astrologer.
He or she will immediately become wary of you and can only guess at your upcoming comments about them in your future consultant’s office.
Refer your astrologer
Some clients prefer not to have it known that they are consulting with an astrologer. The reasoning here takes many forms.
Astrologers understand that discretion is the better part of valour. We realise that some things are best left unsaid and if you wish to be discreet then you have come to the right place.
There is not an astrologer that I know who will openly discuss their client’s charts, data or issues in general conversation amongst other astrologers.
If you can honestly speak highly of your astrologer then you will be more comfortable referring your friends and family to them. By confidently singing their praises (which is what most practitioners want) it is good for business and good for astrology.
For those of you who love your astrologer it’s time to step-up and recommend them. Tell your friends about the confidence you have. Explain how helpful working together with your astrologer has been for you.
You don’t need to get into details and the nitty-gritty of your life. Tell interested people you know to mention your name when they call for an appointment, trust me, your astrologer will appreciate your referrals.
Still can’t get on?
In the unlikely event that you are disappointed with the service from your astrologer you need to tell him or her directly.
There is no need to be rude or cruel but just simply explain where you think he or she went wrong and give them an opportunity to relook at their work and, if acceptable to you, for the astrologer to present it again.
By bringing your concerns to the attention of your astrologer you provide him or her an opportunity to re-evaluate their work. Not to do so does not help anyone.
If you really feel you cannot continue your relationship then it is best to part ways.
Conclusion
We are all living through our own charts. Getting along in life takes effort. If you have discovered an astrologer that is in tune with you and your life rhythms then keep them close. You are one of the lucky people who will have your life enriched by astrology.
The fact that you are reading this article shows you have hope and believe in the future of astrology.
Becoming a relevant client takes effort on your part but the payback is the huge benefit that astrology has to offer you and your life.
