PLANETARY ENERGIES

Astrologers are in a strange position professionally, when you think about it. We deal in these two-dimensional artifacts called birth charts, written in a symbolic language that looks like squiggles or hieroglyphs to the average person. We use a wide variety of methods to construct these charts — methods gleaned from just about any culture and period in history you care to mention. As a group, we have considerable internal disagreement about which of these many methods are correct, both in terms of casting a chart and interpreting it. And despite the absence of consensus on just about anything, we then attempt to analyze these pieces of paper, in order to answer some of the most difficult and vexing questions of people’s lives.

As for where we sit within the culture — well, we occupy a fluctuating zone that includes television celebrities, hermit intellectuals, telephone psychics, eminent Jungians, financial advisors, and shamanic priests. Most of us hang out somewhere in an ill-defined region between fortune-tellers and psychologists, with tendrils of curiosity curling off haphazardly into history, politics, and metaphysics.

We don’t have much mainstream credibility except as entertainment, and we certainly don’t have scientific credibility. We don’t practice a beautifying or otherwise visually stunning art. We don’t mend or build anything, we don’t heal illnesses, and we don’t put out fires, teach children, or collect garbage.

So what do we do? We must be doing something of merit, because astrology is a rapidly expanding field of inquiry and study. Since I first began studying astrology in the 1970s, it has become a far more sophisticated and confident discipline, despite the continuing lack of validation from the mainstream Western scientific perspective.

Astrology works for people. It goes some of the way toward satisfying the very real human need to relate to the stars, to feel a sense of unity with the cosmos. And in this time of majorchange and global uncertainty, astrology plays a role in helping people to navigate all that change.

We help people with their transformations. We act as commentators on society and politics. We offer time-specific details on the “this too shall pass” mechanism for dealing with suffering. Sometimes, we see with accuracy into the future, although this faculty has historically been shown to be as dangerous as it is useful, as feared as it is lauded. What we do isdifficult. And try as we might to fudge our language and factor in all the variables, it has to be said that we do at times get things wrong.

Being an astrologer is not a simple role. It’s not a straightforward kind of a job. We have to create our own place in society, each and every one of us: there’s no ready slot for us to fall into. No classified ads saying: “Astrologer wanted. Good pay and short hours. Full benefits and four weeks vacation per annum.” Nope, I don’t think so.

Many of us are, of course, Uranian independence freaks who thrive on the unconventional nature of the job description and shrug off the difficulties inherent in choosing such an out-thereprofession. But I suspect that most of us suffer psychologically and financially from having what is really (when it comes down to it) a fringe and usually rather low-paidoccupation, during an era when materialism rules so absolutely.

But if you’re called, you’re called, and that’s the end of it. There are huge benefits to being an astrologer. It’s a fascinating lenson reality, and a field that can be approached from a dizzying variety of perspectives. It is one of the oldest areas of study in human history and used to be held in very high regard. (Perhaps Uranus in Pisces will help us to restore that ancient reputation.) All members of the ancient wisdom schools were astrological adepts (the Magi were actually astrologers, remember).

And despite all these potential problems and thorny issues, astrologers have one great big beaming advantage over just about any other profession. We have our own charts! Look at that! The very thing we do tells us how we can do it best, tells us all about our strengths and weaknesses. Imagine if doctors could tell how they could best practice medicine by, say, taking their own blood pressure or an x-ray of their brain.

How often do we really use our charts this way? Not often enough. But when you think about it, it’s all right there in front of you: the kinds of clients you will attract, the kinds of problems you will run into, whether you will find it easy to make a living as an astrologer, whether you should focus on writing or teaching or both (or neither), whether you work best with people in person or over the phone, in an office downtown or at home — or whether what you really want to do is investigate astrology as an academic discipline and never read a chart for anyone else again.

Of course, over time, most of us figure these things out anyway, but often we miss factors in our own charts that we would see straightaway in someone else’s. In the fine old tradition of the cobbler’s children who had no shoes, we often neglect to ask the questions of our own charts that would aid us most in establishing a professional life that really suits us.

Examining your own chart in terms of your role as an astrologer canhelp you deal with the common problems and pitfalls in astrological practice, We tend to shy away from discussing some of these issues, yet they bear examination. These include: feeling insecure about your work, not knowing how to attract clients, feeling terrified when you do get clients, dealing with a client who wants to date you (or vice versa), having clients totally resist what you are trying to tell them, and clients who want you to tell them whether they will ever fall in love again or how long they will live. And then there is the small matter of making enough money to live on, which demands that you establish a practice that is reliable enough to allow you to pay the bills on time. Being afraid of the expectations of our clients and the responsibility inherent in the work can act as an unconscious block to establishing a solid practice. On the other hand, sometimes astrologers are overconfident (either by temperament or to compensate for their doubts about astrology). Overconfidence can mean that you fail to adequately listen to the client’s needs and feedback or to give them balanced advice, which in the long run will make your clients less likely to return or to refer other people. Facing all these issues and developing strategies in advance can help you to build a healthy practice, avoid burnout or bankruptcy, and have a good relationship with your work and with your clients.

So, here are some key points, things to look for in your chart that will help you to understand yourself better as an astrologer and to build and maintain a stronger practice — and stay sane at the same time.

(In this article I’m going to focus on dominant factors in the chart. I talk about the planets, but please see this as shorthand for planet/aspects/house/sign/honor. For example, a dominant Uranus is shown by a combination of several factors: Uranus in aspect to the Sun, Moon, ruling planet, or an angle; or a major planetary picture involving Uranus; or a strongly tenanted 11th house; or planets in Aquarius; or Uranus in rulership. Usually, there will be at least three factors involved (more often four or more) in order for a planetary energy to show itself as dominant in the chart, and you may have several of these dominant energies at your disposal. These will show your primary strengths and weaknesses and your major gifts and challenges, and will reflect and comment upon how you work as an astrologer. And please bear in mind that, of course, any of these dominant traits will be influenced and balanced by other attributes of the chart and by transits and progressions.)

The Outer Planets

Tradition and anecdote tell us that it is common for astrologers to have the Sun or Moon closely aligned with the outer planets, especially Uranus or Neptune. As such, astrologers are likely to be people with personalities that are more than just personal. This means that we sometimes find it hard to relate to people who are not transpersonal in their take on life. Astrologers are observers. We stand a little apart and comment on life as much as we live it ourselves. Therefore, one has to have a good dollop of compassion and humility to make a good astrological counselor. Otherwise, it’s all too easy for the shadow aspects of the outer planets to take over and manifest as arrogance and an attitude of superiority.

When Uranus is strong in the astrologer’s chart, there can be a certain coolness, a reluctance to understand that some people really are sentimental and afraid and just hate change and that these people need to be accepted where they are, rather than being made to feel substandard for not cutting off ties that no longer serve them — or balking at taking a leap into a new career.

At the most extreme, Uranus is repelled by the mundanity of everyday life and the problems of unexceptional people. Sometimes, Uranus prefers research to counseling; the bracing rigor of academia to the sticky problems of individuals. If you do enjoy working with people, the impersonality and quirkiness of Uranus may mean that you do best working with clients at a distance — over the phone and the Internet — rather than in a consulting room.

A strong Uranus gives you the kind of mind that can relate to the enormity of the concept of the solar system and can experience it.You can look up at the night sky and feel at one with the universe. Uranus allows you to feel a kind of nonverbal connection with the cosmos that clients can sense. This gives them confidence that you have a natural gift as an astrologer.

Uranus, especially when combined with Mercury, can process and synthesize a lot of data, analyzing a chart with great rapidity and uncanny accuracy. Like a lightning bolt combined with a psychic, Uranus homes in on the core aspects of the chart within milliseconds — glancing at the chart and matching it to the client who walks in the door or begins to talk on the phone.

With Uranus strong in your chart, you need to factor your own unpredictability and need for change into your working life. It’s not advisable for you to have too regular a routine.

With Neptune dominant, the astrologer can suffer from a feeling of spiritual superiority and from being out of touch with the realities of everyday life. Neptunians can over-identify with the client’s suffering, allowing the consultation to devolve into a victimfest. They can also be too vague and idealistic about what their clients can do to help themselves in difficult situations. Boundaries can be an issue, so Neptunian astrologers benefit from counseling training.

All these Neptunian traits, when they are developed and made conscious, can make for a deeply compassionate counselor. A strong Neptune is a good indicator that you will be able to empathize with even the most difficult and troubled clients. Framing one’s practice in a therapeutic context can work well for Neptunians, taking advantage of the natural bent for being a sympathetic listener. Working with client groups where a gentle touch is required can be the key to building the right kind of practice for you. Medical astrology is often a natural fit for Neptunians.

Astrologers with a prominent Pluto love to pathologize and dig out the darkest parts of the psyche and hold them up for inspection, sometimes regardless of whether the client is ready for such intrusiveness. But this kind of ruthless, investigative Pluto can pull information from the chart that a less probing astrologer would miss. Plutonian astrologers can help their clients get in touch with their own power, through an unflinching examination of the shadow. The Plutonian type, as astrologer, needs to beware any tendency to spread gloom and doom and to undercut the client through covert criticism. Plutonians should also make sure to balance the reading with good news and supportive suggestions.

Plutonians often like to study depth psychology, along with astrology. Combining these two disciplines can help to build a strong practice and attract the kind of clients who want to dig deep and who will therefore be satisfying for Pluto to work with.

Jupiter and Saturn

Jupiter and Saturn in the chart of the astrologer tell us something about how we relate to optimism and pessimism — both very important aspects of the consultation.

Astrologers with a strong Jupiter tend to be overly optimistic. I once consulted a Sagittarius astrologer in Los Angeles, who in true Jupiterian style worked with many show business clients. I saw her just as Uranus and Neptune were about to make their conjunction opposite my natal Sun. My world appeared to be fragmenting before my very eyes, and I was concerned. “Oh, don’t worry about that,” she said, gaily. “Venus is transiting your 2nd house! And look, Jupiter’s in your 7th! You’re going to make lots of money and meet a great man!” (Needless to say, that is not what happened to me that year.)

On the plus side, the Jupiterian astrologer can help a depressed client see that life is worth living. Jupiter can assist an astrologer to reframe difficult aspects and make lemonade out of lemons in a creative and useful way.

With a strong or afflicted Saturn, however, we need to guard against a tendency to be too bleak. This is the astrologer who says, upon seeing a Jupiter return: “Hmm, well, you’re coming up to your Jupiter return, but you know, Jupiter transits often coincide with a death in the family.” On the other hand, Saturn gives gravitas to the personality and helps the client feel held in a safe container. Saturn can lend the astrologer a paternal kind of authority that leads resistant clients to pay attention and accept advice or information that they might otherwise reject. Saturn is also really useful for setting clear boundaries in your practice. Saturnian astrologers can do particularly well in financial astrology and in horary astrology with its clearly defined rules.

The Personal Planets and the Luminaries

The personal planets tell us a lot about our communication style and our way of being with the client. With the Moon or Venus (or both) strong in the chart, you’ll be attractive to clients and build a practice easily, but you have to guard against burnout. You may be inclined to mother your clients (regardless of your gender) and to be too soft with people who don’t pay promptly or don’t show up on time.

The attractiveness that draws people to you can get you into hot water: clients may fall in love with you. You must have very good boundaries if you are a lunar or Venusian type, and you need to develop a radar for client projections and learn how to deal with them. But you will often have clients you really like, and that in itself, is a big insurance against burnout.

Working with children and young people often suits lunar and Venusian types, who find it easy to earn the confidence of these clients and create a warm and nurturing atmosphere.

Mercury is often dominant in the charts of astrologers; this energy is useful for teaching and lecturing, which can help you to solidify your reputation and thus your practice. Writing newsletters and appearing on radio or television are also natural avenues for Mercurial types to communicate about astrology. Obviously, a strong Mercury is a great boon in terms of synthesizing, analyzing, and communicating all the information in the chart.

If Mercury is prominent, you often feel most comfortable in the role of the astrologer-as-friend. This can get in the way of establishing a practice, if you allow Mercury to rush around giving free readings to everyone you know. And if you are too friendly, you may not be helping your clients. Some of them will need to see you as an authorityin order to really hear what you’re telling them. Don’t kill the magic by being too informal.

At its most developed, Mercury functions as the psychopomp, the shaman, the guide of the soul through the journey of transformation. One of my Chinese medicine teachers, Ted Kaptchuk, a very Mercurial type, taught me about the importance of magic in the consulting room (and I paraphrase), “It’s a really good idea to have jars of weird herbs in your consulting room, because it helps the patient see you as a magician, as a shaman. That stimulates the beginning of a healing response, before you’ve even done anything.” The same goes for astrology. You can evoke the astrological atmosphere by having charts on the walls, photos of the Earth from space, pictures of the constellations in the night sky, and relevant mythological images. Astrological symbolism is a universal language that, by itself, can have a healing and transformative effect on your clients, before you’ve even said a word.

With Mars dominant in the chart, you can be too pushy and insistent that your version of reality is the one the client should accept. Always listen to feedback, throughout the reading. If the client seems less than enthusiastic about what you are saying, stop and check to see what is going on. Maybe your interpretation is wrong. On the other hand, maybe the client does indeed have a rather lopsided view of themselves. Take the time to figure this out and, if it’s the latter, go slowly and gently. Don’t knock the client over the head with your insight. And don’t project your own Martian zeal to be right and to conquer all.

But what you can do so well with a strong Mars is to fire clients up with enthusiasm and help them find the yang energy to make the changes they need to make. You can pass some of your drive along to them. You can also make good use of your Martian passion and energy to promote your practice, through advertising and personal appearances and whatever else occurs to you.

And the Sun in the astrologer’s chart? The air and water Sun signs show up more often in the charts of counselors, in general, but any Sun sign can make a great astrologer and will attract clients who need that particular flavor of energy and perspective on life. The Sun usually says more about how you function energetically, who you are at root, than anything else in the chart, and it will be reflected, along with the Ascendant/Descendant axis and the Moon’s nodes, in the kinds of clients that are drawn to you.

Here your fate will be mostclearly manifested in your practice. Here, you will experience the wonderful alchemy of the consultation as a process of transformation and a source of enlightenment, not only of your client’s self-perception and experience of life, but also of your own.

© 2005 Lara Owen – all rights reserved

This article was first published in The Mountain Astrologer, December 2005.