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.
Astrology by its very nature is often practiced in isolation. You can go for months without meeting another astrologer face-to-face.
As an astrologer you may have read the recommended books and taken a course or two but why not get some direct feedback on the work you are presenting to clients?
This is particularly important in your first “public” consultations. It is one thing to forecast for family and friends and another to take the big step and consult for strangers.
I believe that as astrology is not regulated (like realtors) support has to come from inside our community.
That means you and me.
What is peer review?
Peer review is when you ask another astrologer to look over your work and provide useful feedback.
It is no good someone saying “Oh, yes I would have interpreted it like that.” What you need are specifics.
Areas for consideration can include:
Manual chart calculations
Natal chart interpretations
Forecasting and predictions
Peer review is where you go to bounce interpretations, new theories or fresh techniques which you may have developed off a more experienced person.
Your Peers
Your peers are those in the astrological community whom you feel are at the same level of development as yourself.
You may also consider reaching out to more advanced astrologers and teachers. However, this may become a protégé / mentor relationship.
There is a good case to create study groups of like-minded people which can work very well.
Scared of self-exposure? Ask yourself:
Are you an astrologer with over ten years experience and think you don’t need help?
Do you believe it may somehow reduce your credibility within in the astrological community to seek peer review?
Are you scared of self-exposure?
These are all valid feelings.
The benefits of peer review
Each one of us approaches chart interpretation through the lens of our own chart. I often describe this as looking through our unique stained glass window where the nuances of our own nativity will play an important role.
To hear that your reviewer would have come to the same conclusions and interpreted the chart same way as you do is not what you need.
You will benefit from listening to another’s viewpoint. It lets you see your interpretations from different perspectives.
Clearly you will not agree with everything your reviewer may say and you can still go with your guts. It is all about keeping an open mind.
Who you gonna call?
Not all astrologers offer peer review. To find someone suitable consider the options below.
If you have or have had an astrology teacher he or she will be your first line of approach.
Old teachers can refer you to others who specialize in reviewing student’s work.
The big astrology organizations may be a resource as they have contact lists of astrology practitioners.
Once you start to take an interest in astrology it is just the start of your journey.
Your personal astrological development can take years.
You may remain at one level for decades (when life gets in the way) and then pick it up later on. The process of becoming an astrologer includes particular milestones.
I am not saying aspiring to master astrologer is everyone’s goal but the process of becoming is clear.
Each level is a step up from the one below.
Below I have shared my thoughts on the different criteria for each stage of the astrologer’s evolution. Consider where you are.
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Written by Alison Price a passionate professional astrologer, international lecturer and teacher. Introduction to Astrology helps you build on astrology knowledge and you can work at your own pace. Chapters include the signs, the planets, the houses, chart division, the aspects and synthesis.
Included are details for setting up your own Starzology discussion group with your friends to find supportive and interesting peers for your studies.
If you want a better grasp of the basics of astrology then Introduction to Astrology beginner’s course workbook with questions and answers is for you. Learning astrology is a personal journey, start yours now by taking the first step.
