Written in the stars?

BY WENDY UNDERHILL

We all know what the oldest profession is—but the oldest science? Some say it’s astrology. That was way back when astrology and astronomy were the same thing: The study of the stars. First, observant people figured out the cycles in the skies; they named them, categorized them, learned to navigate by them, and then figured out how the movement above connected to life on earth.

Okay, maybe you can’t buy that last part, about how the movement in the sky is connected to life on earth. Maybe the celestial movements don’t directly influence our everyday life. But you have to admit, those early celestial recorders were pretty darn good. And consider this: For 4,000 years, people have believed that astrology could explain things that “rational science” can’t; could all those believers—from the New Testament’s magi to J.P. Morgan and Nancy Reagan— be wrong?

It’s hard to imagine all those high-minded followers being wrong. It’s also hard to imagine (for this “show-me” gal, at least) that the time, date and place of my birth determines much at all about me, except the inscriptions on my birth certificate. I mean, what about twins? They presumably share the same astrological chart, so do they share the same fate? Of course not.

So, being the show-me gal that I am, I recently went to my first-ever reading by an astrologist. It was the day before my birthday—presumably an auspicious time to focus on Me. I was met by a beautiful, black-maned woman; she ushered me into her studio, which was adorned with incense, candles, plush pillows and shawl-draped furniture. She lit a candle and took a seat on the floor. So far, all of this fit with my stereotype of an astrological reading, minus the shroud of hocus-pocus. It felt more like visiting a friend, except this friend had a pad of notes (all about Me!), a tape recorder ready to capture her words of wisdom (about Me!) and my birth chart (more on this later). I looked around for a crystal ball. Finding none, I arranged myself on the cushiony sofa and prepared to hear all about Me.

Here’s what happened: after offering me water and a seat on the cushiony sofa, the reader began telling me what I could and could not expect from my reading. Apparently, not all are the same; some readers specialize in business, sports, relationships, psychology or other specific areas. In addition, every client is different; some may be more interested in certain aspects of their lives, like finance or romance, than others. And few of us want to be told we have an unlucky chart. Besides, each chart includes strengths to help us work with “bad luck”—more commonly described in an astrological reading as an area where we may be thwarting our own best interests.

I also learned that my reading was going to be more about potential than fate, choice than absolutes. More about providing information and tools to look at my issues, rather than advice. There would be no predictions made about death, divorce or a MacArthur Prize.

Next up: The explanation of the chart. Somewhat to my surprise, it had been created by one of a variety of computer programs available for the job. (It tickled me that modern technology and this ancient art have found each other.) A birth chart represents in a two-dimensional way what the sky looked like when we were born. It indicates what part of the sky was coming over the horizon as we were born (our rising sign) and which is our “sun sign” (the classic answer to “What’s your sign?”).

But that’s only the beginning. Six asteroids, the sun, the moon and the planets are all tracked, and so are three mathematical points. Each is represented by its own symbol, or glyph, and each is located in one of 12 pie “slices” of the sky. Those slices are each called a “house” and each house represents a facet of your life--like family, or career.

After getting the bare bones account of how this system worked, we went straight to what my specific chart meant for me. That was a blast—someone doing nothing but focusing on me for 90 minutes. It was a mental massage.

I can tell you I have a conjunction of Mars, Jupiter and the Sun in Libra, plus Neptune in the sign of Scorpio— but I’m really the only one who is interested in these details, I suppose. Let’s just say I came away feeling that this reading had indicated I’m stronger (and luckier) than I supposed, and that’s got to be good.

The birth chart is immutable; it’s for your life. But what’s happening in the skies at any given time changes, of course, and as it changes the effect on earthlings changes. Looking at the sky now was the second part of my reading. The “transit” was another chart, this one of the celestial sky as it is now and for the next six months. While the sky today is the same for each of us, of course, as it interacts or overlays our birth charts, it influences us each uniquely. My transit indicates that this is a good time to “work on myself,” and that the next few months will be a “juicy” time for Me.

Whatever the scientific basis, an hour and a half later, I walked out with some ideas to ponder (readings tend to be 60 to 90 minutes long, and cost between $75 and $150). But what I really liked is that the information I received was filtered by a person who wasn’t simply reading-by-numbers; her skill as a people-person came through. Would the same be true with all readers? I’m guessing that astrological readers tend to rate pretty high on the “I” (intuitive) scale of a Myers-Briggs reading. But, each reader brings his or her own personal and professional life to bear. To find the right one for you, ask your friends (by far the most common route), look in magazines like Nexus or check the yellow pages.

It was evident, too, that a reading might depend on what you ask for; are you looking for a reading of your chart in relation to your partner’s chart? Are you looking for a change in your life and wondering when it might be good to take action? Are you looking for just a fun birthday event?

Clients of astrological counselors tend to have one of two questions: “Am I on the right track?” or, “I feel stuck—how can I proceed?” In terms of the specifics they want addressed, people most commonly seek a reading for the same reasons they seek other kinds of counseling: Work, relationship and health issues. And, not surprisingly, they may come during times of stress or loss.

It doesn’t take a fortune teller to guess that each reading will provide some mental cud that can be ruminated over at length—after all, it’s bound to be “all about Me.”

Resources, local and beyond

For more information on astrological readings and/or counseling, check the following resources:

• www.astrographix.com

• www.astrology.com

• www.divinesparkastrology.com

• Beneath a Vedic Sky, by William R. Levacy (Hay House, 1999)

• The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Astrology, by Madeline Gerwick-Brodeur and Lisa Lenard (Alpha, 2003)]

• Jupiter Signs, by Madalyn Aslan (Plume, 2004)

• Linda Goodman’s Sun Signs, by Linda Goodman (Bantam, 1968). Also look for her other titles: Star Signs, Relationship Signs and Love Signs

• Parkers’ Astrology: The Definitive Guide to Using Astrology in Every Aspect of Your Life, by Julia and Derek Parker (DK Publishing, 2001)

The following are Nexus advertisers who practice astrological counseling. Turn to the page listed after their names to learn more about them:

• Charles Bebeau, PhD., Archetypal Academy; 303-443-4363
• Mary Catherine Blogin; 303-459-0185
• Michael Bonamer; 303-271-1057
• Sara Greenberg; 303-998-0444, saragreenberg@hotmail.com
• Eric Myers, MA; 303-684-8264, www.AstrologySight.com
• Cindy Morris, MSW; 720-480-9322, www.divinesparkastrology.com
• Noël Newnam; 303-886-1979
• Sophie Rose, MA; 303-494-5474
• Lisa Schiavone, CHT, MA cand.; Archetypal Academy; 303-818-0358
• Michael K. Spayd, Whole Mind Coaching; 720-300-5286, michael.spayd@gmail.com
• Mary Stevenson; 303-473-9393, www.vedicstarcharts.com

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