FAQ

Q: How does an esoteric astrology reading differ from other kinds of readings?

A: Esoteric astrology is intuitive; it probes the meaning underlying appearances. All charts can be read esoterically, which is to say that it is the focused understanding of the astrologer, and not the chart, itself, that makes a reading esoteric. If the astrologer's intention is to perceive the soul's purpose in any given time or circumstance, and to comprehend the spiritual significance of events, and if certain procedures are carried out in order to arrive at those understandings, then a reading can be said to be esoteric. For a fuller discussion of this question, you might be interested in reading "What is Esoteric Astrology?"

Q: There is a wide range of rates charged by astrologers. What does this mean?

A: The answer to that question must be sought within a broader contextual framework, related to our era's increasingly blurred distinctions between various kinds of "helpers," and how we view them.

Nowadays, it is common for astrologers to charge between $150.00 and $350.00 (US currency) for sessions which do not involve any preparation beyond the calculation of the basic natal chart (these are called "cold readings"); some of those astrologers have very little training or experience. By the same token, "psychic astrology lines" (900 numbers) charge up to $4.99 per minute for access to someone who simply reads across a line in a table of planetary positions. Professional psychics, most of whom are not astrologers and who by definition do no preparation for readings, charge up to $1500.00 per hourly session. Counselors of all stripes, many of whom work intuitively through spirit-centered techniques, charge anywhere from $40.00 to hundreds of dollars per hour.

This fee situation within and between the metaphysically-oriented and more traditionally-based helping professions, in which the boundaries between services are often vague and overlapping, is troublesome for clients and practitioners alike. The issue is further complicated by the fact that, even though the borders between professional fields are more fluid than ever, work accomplished in those areas is not equivalent. In many ways, distinguishing between services -- even within the same discipline, in this case astrology -- is like comparing apples and oranges: clients often don't understand exactly what they are paying for, and astrologers who endeavor to give clients the most focused, in-depth assistance possible, make a greater commitment to their work than is generally appreciated.

Comparisons are also attempted between astrologers and psychotherapists, but their work is not analogous: meeting with an astrologer for sixty or ninety minutes is not comparable to spending the same amount of time with a psychotherapist, who draws upon his or her training to help you, but primarily listens to what you have to say. Astrologers work with multiple charts and symbol sets that are complex and uniquely constellated for each person, and which the astrologer must translate into language that is clear and helpful to the client. In my experience, this necessarily involves a period of preparation which can extend to many hours of interpretation and analysis before the astrologer ever meets with the client.

The historical context of the fee question is important, as well. In prior times (associated with the height of the Piscean Age), counselors and helpers were supported by their communities and through benefactors, patrons, guilds, religious and esoteric orders, brother/sisterhoods and philanthropic bodies; provision of food and lodging enabled helpers to rely upon donations and "love offerings" for wages. Many helpers gravitated toward cloistered lives, taking personal vows of poverty and dwelling within groups whose communal organization ensured that the needs of each member were met. In the present day, presaging the Age of Aquarius, helpers of all kinds (including astrologers) have entered the professional world and support themselves by charging fees for services.

Both Piscean and Aquarian Age-related models of thought and practice, and all variations on those themes, coexist in today's transitional atmosphere: some helpers, including those who align themselves philosophically with the former, maintain "day jobs" which allow them to charge nominal fees for consultations; others have assumed full-time professional responsibilities within their chosen fields (this astrologer is one), and charge according to the general principles outlined below. Since service as a life path is not a function of fees, but an orientation toward helping one's fellows, each group fulfills its purpose and meets human need in its own way.

As members of the metaphysical arm of the wider helping community (which includes personal consultants, healers and helpers of all kinds), ethical astrologers charge fees appropriate to and commensurate with their levels of work experience, professional commitment and personal dedication. Within that group, knowledgeable astrologers who engage in thorough, thoughtful preparation and analysis of their clients' charts, and those who specialize in particular areas within the broad field of astrology, can be expected to charge more for their services than others; you can anticipate paying an average hourly rate for the astrologer's calculation/preparation time, in addition to the fee for the consultation, itself.

For a full discussion of my particular approach to astrological work, and how those ideas are incorporated in my fee structure, please click here.

Q: How does a personal astrological reading differ from a computerized chart printout?

A: A computerized chart printout is geared toward everyone born on your birthday. While they can be entertaining and interesting, computerized charts are too generic to be very helpful, especially if you are at a point in your life when you need specific information tailored to you, individually. A personal astrological reading involves a discussion between you and an astrologer trained to identify and focus on the traits and tendencies that make you unique. A good astrologer synthesizes the information a chart presents to him or her, instead of simply listing and briefly describing the signs and aspects that were prominent on the day of your birth. Depending upon a host of factors, one astrological indicator can mean thousands of things; an experienced astrologer, taking into account your entire chart, coupled with his or her understanding of your life circumstances, can grasp what your chart is trying to tell you at any given moment.

Q: How important is it for me to know my exact time of birth? If I don't know, how can I find out?

A: The exact time of birth is essential to the preparation of your individual horoscope. The time of your birth establishes the eastern horizon of your birthchart (known as the Ascendant), and the chart is read in relation to that point. This is especially important where esoteric astrology is concerned, because according to that school of thought, the Ascendant signifies the soul and its purpose in this lifetime.

If you don't have a birth certificate, contact vitalchek.com or vitalrec.com for help with searching for birth records. If the birth certificates in your birthplace don't include a space for time of birth, you can contact the medical records department in the hospital where you were born; the face sheet of your baby chart probably states your time of birth. If you weren't born in a hospital, a baby book or family Bible/holy book might mention your birthtime. If all else fails, either a sunrise or geodetic chart can be drawn up for you, but it will not be as specific as a timed birthchart. Some astrologers undertake a process called "rectification," which attempts to work backward through known events of your life in order to come up with a likely birthtime. That process tends to be very expensive, and I find most rectification methods to be suspect.

Q: What advice would you give to someone who wants to learn more about esoteric astrology?

A: First, become thoroughly knowledgeable and grounded in traditional, exoteric astrology; without that basis, esoteric astrology is meaningless (just as the human spirit needs a physical form through which to express itself fully). Then study books and articles about esoteric astrology and related areas within the broad field of esotericism, paying particular attention to the classic writings of Helena P. Blavatsky, Alice A. Bailey and Rudolf Steiner (whose cosmological understanding fecundated a body of knowledge developed by Willi Sucher and others called astrosophy, or star wisdom). Immerse yourself in the Ageless Wisdom and other spiritually-aligned teachings, since those streams nourish all aspects of metaphysical study. Click here to visit a page containing links to many informative websites.

Esoteric astrology is inseparable from esoteric psychology, so become a keen observer of life and human behavior; let your spiritual/philosophical ideals provide the context and background for your observations. Read widely in many fields, in order to become as well rounded and informed as possible; only then will you be able to separate the wheat from the chaff among the many theories and ideas you will encounter.

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