SMARO SOTIRAKI
SMARO SOTIRAKI
When I decided to leave my job- and fat paycheck- working in a multi-national to take up astrology, my mother cried her eyes out for a period of about three days. Naturally, her reaction did not suffice to keep me away from what my inner voice was crying out: that I had finally found my destiny, the work I was born to do.
Since day one as a professional astrologer, I have expressly stated what my profession is and refused to be included in the ranks of mediums or column writers where astrologers are usually placed. However, I soon realised that- from her own perspective and in her microcosm- my mother was right about one thing: every time I would proudly declare I am an astrologer, I would hear the following question:“ how could such a welleducated and cultured person, such as yourself, become an astrologer?” I decided to always answer“ it owes precisely to the fact I am educated and cultured”...
Ultimately, my professional journey was graced with much success, and my mum forsook her initial stance once and for all and became again the reassuring mother she had always been. But, as I was beginning to realise the low standard of those who worked on astrology in Greece, disappointment started growing within me. Unfortunately Astrology’ s exploiters, people who habitually use it to advertise their‘ spells’,‘ jinxes’,‘ charms’- and anything lowly that
lack of education and awareness can bring upon man- live and prosper and still constitute a strong majority.
Another niche of astrologers are the‘ nice’ ones; those who do not sprinkle a pinch of astrology on cards, tea leaves and hocuspocus, but still lack a wider cultural understanding, and continue teaching and standing for an astrology complete with malefic and benefic planets, good and bad aspects, ominous horoscopes etc.
In Greece, the educated and refined astrologers who exercise astrology in the manner it deserves- treating every natal chart as a unique, god-sent being- are still too few. We have recently come together, in October 2011, and founded an association of astrologers and enthusiasts of astrology, under the name PAME ASTROLOGIA, while in November 2011 we held the first major conference of Greek astrologers.
Today, this association numbers few members and needs much work, patience and effort to be purged in order to support astrology’ s true face. The goal is that astrology be elevated and assume the place it deserves in the minds and consciousness of all Greeks. Let’ s hope it shall be attained despite all resistance.
... naturally, I still proudly declare that I am an ASTROLOGER!
Alexandra Karacostas is the one who has told me about OPA and passed on her enthusiasm for an organization that can highlight astrology as a worthwhile profession- a cause that aligns precisely with my own dreams and needs.
I love Astrology and astrologers but I disdain those who exploit Astrology, and false prophets in general. I cherish teaching astrological symbolism and its application, and I dream of the day that Greece will be the astrological navel of the Earth. Since I was a child, I was attracted to esoterism and that is what led me to study Astrology. Astrology’ s magical world impressed me as it helped me realise there is a complete system to know oneself and simultaneously interpret the Universal Law. Regardless of schools and teachers that helped me in my course, I feel that the greatest part of my knowledge has come from my personal research, from studying and examining horoscopes, and from recovering astrological knowledge from within.
My career begun in 1990 and in that time I have worked for numerous Greek TV shows, and for many Greek and Cypriot astrological magazines. Moreover, I have edited in whole, and co-authored the first Greek astrological encyclopaedia that was published in Greece in 2012. Today, I write for the Cypriot magazine‘ O’ and the astrological website astrology. gr, as well as my personal blog smarosotiraki. blogspot. gr, and I pen the video passages for the TV show‘ Stars System’ where I also often appear.
In my personal sessions I focus on the psychological, esoteric and karmic aspect of astrology and specialise in relationship counselling. However, I mostly enjoy teaching and helping my students trace the links between archetypal images and astrological symbolism.
I have written two books 2012-Truths and Lies, and The Astrological Archetypes of Love that were both published by IntroBooks.
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