Sunday, Feb 20-2011 @ 6:40 am
atesla said:
Hello, I was hoping to receive some advice on beginning a career/studies in astrology. I have lots of books and have been studying it on my own for some time now, along with tarot, working with crystals/herbs, and holistic medicine.
I have recently decided to take it seriously as a career, as I truly enjoy it and love learning more on these subjects. I have a virgo ascendent and it seems very much to be a part of my intended lifes work. (I've read my chart much more extensively than that, I'm just being brief)
So, how have you furthered your studies/begun your career?
Do you study independently, have a mentor, go to school?
Any and all advice much appreciated!
Thank you!
SCHOOL If you want to become a bona fide Astrologer, I would strongly suggest you go to school. And the best school I can recommend is thru the
AFA, (American Federation of Astrologers). It is, of course, a Correspondence Course. You will have your own personal mentor to teach you and prepare you for the Final Exam to get your Certificate. And, it's a learn-at-your-own-pace Course. You can breeze right thru it, or take five-years to complete. How long it takes is up to you.
It's also the cheapest, by far, of ALL the schools of astrology out there. But this is in no way a reflection of the teaching and information you will receive. Virtually every single astrologer in America, (of any renown), started their career with a Certificate from the
AFA. At a mere $415 for the whole magilla, you can't go wrong. Or, you can pay as you go along, $165-per section, (there are 3 sections total), which comes out to $495 in the end.
AFA HOME: http://www.astrologers.com/
AFA COURSE CONTENT & FINAL EXAM: http://www.astrologers.com/learn/course_content.php
AFA COURSE COST: http://www.astrologers.com/learn/full_pay_online_order_form.php
AFA COURSE FAQs (Teachers, Books, etc): http://www.astrologers.com/learn/faqs.php
The study of astrology never ends. The
AFA is where most of us began, but it is certainly not where we stopped. We read each other voraciously, attend astrology conventions, and network with other astrologers. Like Tarot, astrology becomes very intuitive after a while. First, you have to know the basics. Then, with practice, come the insights. Working with clients helps this process. The more we read, the more we develop our own style... what works for us and what doesn't.
*****************************************
CONVENTIONS: Besides looking up your own local astrology group to join, (which is a great way to share your passion with others, learn, and network), there are a couple of National Conventions of mention.
NORWAC-- May 2011 Seattle WA (Northwest Astrological Conference): http://www.astrologyetal.com/NORWAC/index.htm
UAC-- May 2012 New Orleans LA (United Astrologers Conference): http://www.uacastrology.com/
*****************************************
BOOKS, I have many to recommend, *lol*.
IVY GOLDSTEIN-JACOBSON: Anything-and-Everything by this wonderful woman. She's superlative in that she is not only a consummate astrologer, but dishes the dirt as well, *lol*. None of this namby-pamby, new-age, psycho-babble about how Venus conjunct Saturn is,
'really not so bad, but quite lovely if looked at properly', baloney. No, Ivy tells it like it is. Which is the truth we'd rather not hear, but are far better off knowing so we can face ourselves and our lot in life.
I suggest you start with
'In the Beginning Astrology' and
'Simplified Horary Astrology' to get going with her. You'll most likely end-up purchasing all her books forthwith, you Virgo-Ascendent you,*lol*.
http://www.astroamerica.com/jacob.html#in the beginning, astrology
ROBERT BLASCHKE: 'Astrology, A Language of Life, Vol 3: A Handbook for the Self-Employed Astrologer'. THE book to have on-hand for entering this business.
http://www.astroamerica.com/refer2.html#b36
'Astrology, A Language of Life, Vol 4: Relationship Analysis'. Definitely not a beginner's book, but one that will keep you coming back for more as you become more and more astute, especially when it comes to what everyone wants to know when they go to an astrologer: my relationship with whoever!
http://www.astroamerica.com/relate.html#b77
REINHOLD EBERTIN: For those
Mid-Points that tell-the-tale,
'The Combination of Stellar Influences'. For those
Fixed Stars that tell-the-tale,
'Fixed Stars and Their Interpretation'. For Planetary
relationship combinations,
'Cosmic Marriage' can't be beat.
http://www.astroamerica.com/ebertin.html#the combination of stellar influences
*****************************************
Since it appears you want to get into the
'healing arts', what with your on-going studies in holistic medicine et al, I will say to you that people usually come for healing when they're suffering from
Saturn and/or
Pluto problems. Either their Natal chart has dastardly aspects that they've been struggling with all their life; or, they're experiencing a Transit that is activating their Natal or Progressed chart. So, here are a few books for understanding where they're coming from, and how to help them.
STEVEN FORREST: The best of the Pluto books.
'The Book of Pluto: Turning Darkness to Wisdom with Astrology'. Having Pluto conjunct my Mid-Heaven and aspecting every single Planet in my own chart, believe me when I tell you that this book is the best of the bunch, cuz I've read 'em all, *lol*.
http://www.astroamerica.com/planet3.html#the book of pluto
DONNA CUNNINGHAM: 'Healing Pluto Problems'. Not quite as deep as Steven's book, but offers far more as far as healing modalities are concerned. An excellent book.
http://www.astroamerica.com/planet3.html#healing pluto problems
She has another book that may be of interest to you, but not astrological:
'Flower Remedies Handbook: Emotional Healing & Growth With Bach & Other Flower Essences'. If you can get one, snag it... great book.
http://www.amazon.com/Flower-Remedi...r_1_10?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1298207105&sr=1-10
LIZ GREENE: 'SATURN: 'A New Look at an Old Devil'. A classic, and rightfully so. No one yet has captured Saturn the way Liz has. A required reference for any astrologer's shelf.
JANE RIDDER-PATRICK: 'A HANDBOOK OF MEDICAL ASTROLOGY - Second Edition'. There are many excellent books on medical astrology, and I have any number of them... H. L. Cornell's, Noel Tyl's, Marcia Stark's, CEO Carter's, Max Heindel's, and Reinhold Ebertin's along with Jane's. And this is the one I turn to most anymore.
http://www.astroamerica.com/medical.html#r118
*****************************************
If you are at all interested in Reincarnation, How we got here, Why we came, What we're supposed to do, Who these people are we're surrounded by, and
'Where I left off in my past life and Where I'm picking it back up in this one', then this is the book for you:
RAYMOND MERRIMAN: 'EVOLUTIONARY ASTROLOGY: The Journey of the Soul Through States of Consciousness'.
http://www.astroamerica.com/basics6.html#m35
Personally, if I were to teach astrology, EVERYONE would start with this one book as it's much easier to understand the present when you have a clear picture of the past.
*****************************************
ESSENTIAL REFERENCE MATERIAL: You have to have a few reference materials at all times. Namely, a
Table of Houses, an
Ephemeris, and a
Rulership book. These are not books wherein you say,
'I'll get around to getting them at some point'. They are absolutes. Here are the one's I use:
PLACIDUS TABLE OF HOUSES - Rosicrucian Fellowship: http://www.astroamerica.com/const2.html
ASTROAMERICA'S DAILY EPHEMERIS, MIDNIGHT: 2000-2020.
http://www.astroamerica.com/const.html
THE RULERSHIP BOOK: A Directory of Astrological Correspondences' by Rex Bill. Tells what Planet, Sign, and House governs everything that touches our lives from rotten teeth to broken engagements, lost jewelry, car accidents, sickness, school, family, work, treasure-hunting, whatever... you name it, it's listed. A must-have in order to put our deciphered astrology into the context of our lives.
http://www.astroamerica.com/rulers.html
*****************************************
A word about
ASTROLOGICAL COMPUTER SOFTWARE: It's a labyrinth of confusion when trying to figure-out which software program is best for oneself. They all have something to offer, but something else missing. However, there is one program that has it all. And, wouldn't you know, it's the most expensive one out there:
Sirius. It's $650-bucks, yet worth every penny. When it came time for me to purchase astrology software and, as this is my profession, (well, one of them anyway *lol*), I opted for the
Sirius program.
SIRIUS ASTROLOGY SOFTWARE: http://patterns.com/Sirius.htm
SIRUS & OTHER SOFTWARE COST SHEET: https://www.patterns.com/cgi-bin2/order.cgi
*****************************************
NEWSLETTER: Dave Roell, over at
AstroAmerica, puts out a great
Newsletter every week. You can read it on his Homepage, or sign-up for it to be emailed to you. As well, Dave is wonderful to talk to and ask questions of. He's happy to be helpful in any way he can.
ASTROAMERICA HOMEPAGE and NEWSLETTER: http://www.astroamerica.com/index.html
*****************************************
DATE BOOK: It's imperative to get an
Astrological Date Book because you have to get into the habit of writing down the date and time stuff happens. They don't cost much. With the Date Book, you can easily keep track of what's what, as well as keep abreast of the
Void-of-Course Moon and those pesky
Mercury Retrogrades, *lol*. The Llewellyn book is spiral-bound and full of nifty info.
http://www.amazon.com/Llewellyns-Da...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1298208818&sr=1-1
*****************************************
Once you get all this under your belt, then we can talk about books regarding Transits and Progressions, *rofl*.
*****************************************
