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Organization of Professional Astrologers |
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OPA E-News |
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Volume 1 - No. 5 - June, 2001 |
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This month: Results of Last Month's and previous Surveys, New Survey Question, Results of Last Month's Q & A, Astrology in the News
Postings for Rideshares and Roommates
As a courtesy, I'll post your arrival information on the website and in the OPA E-News. This way you can contact each other if you'd like to hook up to share transportation costs to and from the airport.
You'll need to furnish the following: Name and contact information (email, phone, etc), and arrival information (airport where you'll be arriving, airline, flight number, scheduled time of arrival).
I will also post roommate requests. If you'd like us to post your roommate request, furnish the following: Name and contact information, gender, smoking/no smoking preferences
Contact me at: emzucker@netreach.net
Roommate Request:
NSF looking to share room with another NS female. Ellen Zucker Tel: 215 722 6888 Email: emzucker@netreach.net
Van Golay, Hollywood, FL looking for a roommate for Friday, Saturday,and Sunday night, preferably from the Fort Lauderdale area.Tel: 954-431-7659 Email: van@manafoods.com
I have a room available to share (Thursday evening through Sunday) with another male. Contact Richard Smoot at smootfish@aol.com. My phone is 734-484-1897. I will be staying over for Sunday night as well and I'm a non-smoker.
I would like to be matched with a roommate for the conference in November (Friday and Saturday night only). I am female, 62 years old, non-smoker. Contact Carole Devine at cdevine@infi.net Phone: 757/430-1648 Fax: 757/430-1144 Cell: 757/581-5263 Toll free: 877/520-2099
Check here for rideshare postings
Check here for roommate postings
6 of you responded out of 62 who received the newsletter. (9.8%)
Thank you for your time and effort.
2 of you support yourselves solely from your Astrology income. 4 do not.
Sandra Leigh Serio writes:
I am supporting myself purely through my astrology income, and it is not limited to clients, although clients represent about 70% of it. I also earn income from a weekly astrology column, teaching, speaking engagements and public events that I sponsor.
Bob Mulligan writes:
I have no outside income. My entire livelihood has been through astrology since 1974.
Comments by those with other sources of income:
Laura Magnussen finds that Astrology compliments her second source of income, Yoga:
The income I generated for 2000 was 60 % from astrology and 40% from teaching yoga. Since I had over 120 yoga students last year and they know that I am an astrologer, I also generated clients from my teaching. I found that I am much happier with this mix than when I was just doing astrology. Maybe its my Gemini nature, after doing clients all day it's wonderful to get into my body and teach yoga. In addition, I take care of an invalid mother two days a week, being an astrologer allows me the freedom to schedule my work week as necessary.
Ellen Zucker writes:
At this juncture, most of my income comes from my caricature entertainment business. I am in the process of setting up an Astrology practice, but it is not yet far enough along to generate significant income. Down the road, I hope to make Astrology the provider of the majority of my income. Like Laura, I like the idea of having two sources of income Creating Art and doing Astrology uses two very different mental processes-which I like.
Also, I like the idea of having more than one income stream. It minimizes risk. Just like spreading your investments around to minimize risk. .
Laura asks an interesting question about this month's survey questions:
I wonder about the intent of the second question. My spouse generates a greater income than me, but most American's in general come from households where both spouses work and contribute to the living expenses. My household fits in with national statistics. Is there a
difference between a professional astrologer who has sole support of the family versus a professional astrologer who contributes to the household income? Or is there a difference between an astrologer who has to generate an income to survive versus one who makes a living but doesn't solely rely on the income they generate to pay monthly living expenses.
The former certainly is under more stress than the later, but does it change the fact that both may view as a professional and take a lot of pride in what they do.
Ellen Zucker responds:
Some comments made by people quoted in this publication have suggested that many people who call themselves Astrologers view their activities as a hobby. And since their Astrology income is incidental, they are casual about setting rates at a sustainable level and other aspects of their practices. however, there are many people who have other sources of income and are very bottom line oriented in their approach to Astrology as a livlihood. It's a reflection of the mental attitude on the part of the Astrologer-do they see their activity as a hobby or a business? But the Astrologer who is solely dependent on Astrology for their income, like it or not, HAS to take a more bottom line attitude.
Comments anyone?
In response to last month's survey questions about accepting credit cards, Bob Mulligan writes:
I was reluctant to take credit cards for many years. May main reason was that i didn't like the card card company being between me and the client. Through the years though this has not been a problem. It simplifies the accounting to have a charge placed at the time of a telephone appointment. I seldom ever take credit cards for in person appointments.
Bob Mulligan asks:
1. Do you feel isolated as an Astrologer ?
2. Are there local Astrology groups in your area? Do you attend their meetings, listen to their speakers?
3. Are there other sources of networking available to you?
Comments?
Ellen Zucker writes:
A couple of months ago, I recall reading an article in my hometown newspaper (Philadelphia Inquirer) describing how the economic downturn was a boon to some psychics. Apparently, some of them were generating increased business from worried clients. Yet, at the same time, I see many people have become more reluctant to spend money-and to be more value conscious when they do.
As someone who is beginning a practice with the intent, ultimately, of supporting myself with it financially, I wonder about the impact of economic cycles on Astrologers and how you deal with it.
Has the current slowdown in the economy affected your Astrology business? If so, how, and how are you handling it? Have you noticed any correlation between past economic cycles and your volume of business?
Cathy Coleman writes:
Has my business slowed with the economic downturn? No, in fact, my business has increased.
Arlan Wise writes:
I don't have a good answer for the other question. The economy affects the tourist trade. I'm curious to see if there's a change this summer. I find that the clients who need the information will come regardless of what the economy is doing.
Bob Mulligan writes:
The economic down turn should have some impact on our business as astrologers. It really hasn't had a negative effect on my business, but I have noticed people being a lot more frugal in general. Also, I haven't noticed lots of new clients coming to see me out of fear for their personal future. Perhaps it is because I generally discourage people coming for an appointment out of fear, curiosity, or fantasy. Maybe it is these types of motivations that lead most people to see psychics. It's probably different for astrologers. I only like working with people who are interested in working on themselves.
Dear Members,
If you have additional comments on this topic, we will continue to publish them.
Response to Previous Q & A
Ellen Zucker writes:
I attended a meeting at a local Astrology organization when the speaker made an offhand comment to a long-time Astrologer in the audience. He said that the two of them were probably the only Astrologers left that knew how to calculate charts by hand.
Do you think it is necessary for an Astrologer to be able to calculate charts by hand in this age of computers? Why or why not?
Bob Mulligan writes:
Yes Ellen, anyone calling themselves an Astrologer and not knowing the principles of chart construction is like a person saying he or she is a doctor of medicine but doesn't know anatomy or physiology. However, when you say "calculate a chart by hand" do you mean with a hand calculator, or with a slide rule or with trigonometric formulas? Does an astrologer need to know astronomy? In my classes (I run a four year correspondence school) I allow people to use hand calculators when learning chart construction, but, I demand that they understand the principles of how planetary motion becomes a chart. On tests a certain amount of mathematical error is okay, provided the person adequately demonstrates that they understand the fundamental principles.
Just recently, two long time astrologers studying with me told me that they had missed chart construction when they first learned astrology and that taking it up gave them a significantly deeper grasp of what was going on in each individual chart. They saw charts in a new way. Time and again I have been vindicated on this point of insisting that people learn chart calculations. Of course, much depends on it being taught in the manner where the math is connected conceptually with the meaning of the planetary motions.
Ellen Zucker writes:
Personally, it's a royal pain in the butt for this mathematically challenged individual to learn techniques that will seldom if ever be used now that excellent computer programs are so easily available. I DO think a person can do wonderful transformative work with clients without knowing how to consult a Table of Houses.
Nonetheless, for me, knowing how to calculate charts by hand provides a conceptual framework for understanding many facets of Astrological theory and has helped me catch more than one error. In retrospect, I'm glad to have at least a basic understanding of chart calculation.
New Q & A
Ellen Zucker writes:
This month I'm going to handle our Q & A section a bit differently.
Astrology has been in the news this past month. To me that alone is significant.
I want to talk about what was said, throw in my two cents, and solicit your comment.
Taken as a whole, the articles in question show various facets of the general public's perception of us and our profession.
I was so pleased to read this particular article. It's a rare enough occurrence to read positive press about Astrology that I couldn't resist printing it. Note the positive mention of some very respected and well known Astrologers including fellow member Georgia Stathis (who will be one of the speakers at our upcoming conference).
Still, is it me, or isn't the rate range quoted somewhat low for Business and Financial Astrologers?
| Wednesday May 23, 12:29 pm Eastern Time LIVEWIRE-Meet my consultant, the astrologer By Susan Karlin LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A businessman once asked astrologer Bruce Scofield advice on whether he should buy a certain hotel. ``It was a classic negative alignment involving Neptune and Mercury, which usually means something looks good on the surface but turns out to be a really bad deal,'' says Scofield (http://www.onereed.com). "I told him the project was full of holes. He didn't listen. Within six months, it had developed so many problems, it turned into a big money pit. ``Another time, I advised a person to set up her consulting business on a certain date,'' he adds. ``That business is now 20 years old.'' Increasingly, businesses have been quietly turning to the stars to help decide on corporate hirings and direction. The trend has bred a new kind of consultant: the business astrologer. More and more companies are weighing astrological profiles alongside handwriting analysis, personality tests, interviews, resumes and references to determine the corporate compatibility of potential employees. (Even companies can have their own charts, based on their launch date.) They also consult celestial alignments for the best times to begin and end projects. ``There's been quite a momentum in the last 10 years and astrologers are advertising more aggressively, although a lot of businesses don't want to admit to using it,'' says Scofield. ``Most questions have to do with timing -- when to buy, sell, open, close, and whether certain personalities will conflict.'' DON'T LOOK FOR INCENSE AND SITARS But don't look for incense and sitar music with this crop of astrologers. Many of these guys come armed with MBAs and Wall Street experience. They charge $75 to $200 per hour and often employ elaborate computer programs that calculate positions and pairings of planets and stars, whose alignments to each other hold several meanings and spell positive or negative outcomes. There's even a trade association: The International Society of Business Astrologers (http://www.businessastrologers.com). ``Financial astrology, which deals with the stock market, is booming, while business astrology is a smaller group,'' says Jeff Jawer, who runs the astrology portal/content site Star IQ (http://www.stariq.com). "But Wall Street has a slightly different attitude toward astrology than Park Avenue, because it's a crap shoot every day. Other kinds of business are, too, but there's more of an illusion of control. ``But consulting astrologers is very controversial,'' he says. ``I doubt you will find a CEO in any Fortune 500 company who would admit to using them, given the considerable legal ramifications -- I'm sorry, we don't hire Virgos.' You also have to consider higher categories of judgment .'' In fact, some 2,000 ``suits'' shell out $250 a year for Crawford Perspectives, an e-newsletter from astrologer and former Merrill Lynch analyst Arch Crawford (http://www.astromoney.com) that uses astrology to help predict stock market trends. ``My mailing list includes Wall Street analysts and executives, and CEOs of three of the larger brokerage houses,'' laughs Crawford. ``And they want it delivered in a brown paper wrapper!'' BABY BOOMERS OPEN TO NEW IDEAS Jeffrey Armstrong (http://www.jeffreyarmstrong.com), a former Apple marketing executive and corporate speaker, and author of ``God, the Astrologer: Soul Karma and Reincarnation'' (Torchlight Publishing), sees the rise in business astrology as a vestige of a hippie generation gone pinstripes. ``Baby boomers, who are the ones out there doing business, were raised in the '60s and more open to alternative, non-traditional ways of thinking,'' he says. But there's also a technological reason. The astrology business in general has blossomed with the computer age, thanks to special software that makes the calculation-intensive practice faster and more accessible. Two of the more well-known astrology software companies are Astrology Matrix (http://www.thenewage.com) and Astrolabe (http://www.alabe.com). ``We have been using computers since the late 1970s to conduct our calculations, which has increased our forecasting capabilities tenfold,'' says Georgia Stathis, a trends analyst and professor at Kepler College in Seattle, the first accredited liberal arts college to offer bachelor's and master's degrees in astrology. Stathis holds an MBA from Pepperdine University and has a book, ``Business Astrology 101,'' due out this month. ``There are people who have been in technical analysis in the markets for years and designed software that correlates the changing markets with very complicated geometric formulas between the planetary cycles and trade movements,'' she says. Like any consulting approach, this one is subject to different interpretations. Scofield practices the season-based tropical zodiac, which is prevalent in the West; Armstrong uses India's Vedic astrology, which adjusts for the Earth's slowly changing alignment to the stars; Crawford uses a model based on 55 planetary pairings. ``Astrology is half science and half art,'' says Jawer. ``While it uses precise astronomical and mathematical calculations, they can be interpreted differently, just like analysts can interpret the market differently. But it doesn't operate in a vacuum. You need to draw upon what's going on in the world.'' The idea is to allow astrology to indicate existing patterns. It doesn't mean abdication of Earth-bound business plans when hanging out a shingle. ``I can advise of minor red flags and give you general advice on when to buy, sell, open or close,'' says Scofield. "But what mostly counts for success is the people involved, their mission and their own clarity. ``I can pick a time when the road is clear in front of you. But if you drive off the road, it's your own fault.'' (Michelle V. Rafter is on leave through May. The LIVEWIRE column will continue to run with guest columnists. (Susan Karlin is a journalist in Los Angeles. Reach her at skarlin(at)aol.com. Opinions expressed in this column are her own.) |
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After all, Astrology is, in John's words, "a bizarre survival from pre-scientific times."
Well, don't tell that to fellow "bizarre" practitioner Elizabeth Teissier.
Elizabeth Teissier was the Astrologer to French President Francois Mitterand. She also wrote about half a dozen books and authors a weekly horoscope column. If this wasn't enough, the addle-brained woman enrolls in a PhD program in Sociology at the Sorbonne and writes her 900 page doctoral dissertation on Astrology.
It only took her 10 years to do so.
And now the institution is granting her the degree.
Just because she completed all of the requirements for the diploma with a passing grade.
Just like any other doctoral candidate.
What is the world coming to, John Silber might ask . . .
Anyway, that should have been the end of it, except that an account of Ms. Teissier's thesis defense ran on the front page of Le Monde, France's most important daily newspaper.
As you might have guessed, this created a storm. This exerpt from the New York Times article describes the extent of the uproar.
"Over the last few weeks, fueled by fresh revelations — like Ms. Teissier's having referred to Max Weber, one of sociology's founders, as a "pragmatic Taurus" — the debate has only gathered steam, pitting sociologists who insist that the case concerns a thesis that fails to meet minimum academic standards against those who argue that the real target isn't Ms. Teissier but a maverick strain of sociology that has failed to win establishment approval."
Get real. Does anyone really believe that the Sorbonne grants a PhD to someone who hasn't passed muster? ESPECIALLY if her thesis is controversial? I'll bet dollars to donuts that Ms. Teissier's thesis was scrutinized with a magnifying glass.
Institutions and their staffs simply do not stick their necks out without covering their butts. And thoroughly, too, when it's a high profile situation.
"By now, most of the major French newspapers have published opinion pieces. More than 400 sociologists have signed a petition asking the president of the Sorbonne to make an independent evaluation of the case. And the French Association of Scientific Information has assigned a group of scientists and social scientists to review the thesis."
The good news is that we have a Kepler College and the Sorbonne allowed Ms. Teissier to take on Astrology as a subject for her thesis. Still, it seems to me that we Astrologers have a long way to go before Arch Crawford can ditch his brown paper wrappers.
You can read the article at http://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/02/arts/02ASTR.html
Comments?
Dear Members,
Send your comments to Ellen Zucker at emzucker@netreach.net. Comments will be published next month.
It's your Q & A.
Let us direct our collective energies towards brainstorming about YOUR dilemma.
Send in the details. One question will be chosen and posted in next month's OPA E-NEWS.
To write to OPA E-NEWS, send to: emzucker@netreach.net. Articles, contributions are welcome. No attachments, please.