[ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11 ] seling astrologer is the love of people. Guided solely by personal sympathy to astrology, you will give preference to those areas of astrology which you find interesting; thus significantly limiting your range of activity, and missing things important for the client, because they are of little interest for you.
“ The astrologer is a free personality, and he obey no ones, and works by himself.”
If you are engaged in private practice, you are your own boss in terms of time planning. However, our time is often occupied with affairs that you quite possibly do not want to do. Your success as an astrologer will be a direct reflection of your ability to do exactly what must be done. There is an old wisdom:“ Success begins with a win over our own shortcomings.” This is essential in the management of any private practice. Many people become professional astrologers through a desire to be their own boss, but find that this is actually quite difficult. They just do not have enough self-discipline to manage themselves.
“ I have the gift of eloquence, so I can to be a good consultant.” This is one of the most common misconceptions. The ability to quickly to come in contact, start a conversation on any topic and in no time process the information- this is not the most important qualities needed for a good consultant. It is much easier to teach an introvert to ask questions than compel an extrovert to close his mouth. The consultation process involves the interaction of the consultant and the client. A good counselor asks the client the right questions and listens very carefully to him, to accurately grasp, with how the question came to him and how help him. To be an incorrigible chatterbox or inattentive companion makes it very difficult to do a good consultation. Successful consultants know that it is necessary to listen twice as much than to speak. Most people are much better at hearing their own voice than another’ s. It is much more valuable to be an interested person than interesting person. If it is more important for you to be interesting rather than interested, then professional astrology is not for you.
“ Giving astrological consultations is a simple job and pleasant pastime.”
Look at the esoteric salons, astrological sites and social networks, and you’ ll see that they are filled by specialists-astrologers who are gathered together and entertain each other with funny stories. They are not doing astrology: they’ re just gaily spending time. They have no time for counseling clients, or conducting research, or for participation in the public life of the astrological community, or for self-education. These“ specialists” are absorbed with discussion of political events, of popular movies, news, fashion, and cooking.
Remember that the best astrologers work more than 40 ordinary hours per week, and every minute of time is used for something useful for their cause. If you decide to take the path of professional astrology and at the same thinking that you’ ll work, without straining, and be your own boss, then you need to grasp that bosses usually work more than all the other, and usually take work with them wherever they go. If you do opt to specialize in astrology, then use time efficiently, namely: constantly pay attention to the study of the market, study astrological literature, improve your skills, and learn new techniques of counseling. The rational use of time is a professional necessity.
“ It’ s great to be constantly meet new interesting people.” To be interested in new people is a great and necessary quality for the astrologer consultant. But you have to remember that people will not necessarily have an interest to you. In practice, you still have to search out these people, to win their attention, to deserve their time. You have face that people are often reluctant to meet with you. Often it takes great effort to have a meeting take place. Another important aspect is that the sectarians, atheists, and religious radicals will often have an aggressive attitude toward astrology. If you are serious in you intent to become a professional astrologer consultant, you need to be not only master astrological counseling, but also learn techniques of self-motivation.
“ I can find a place in astrology without any training.” If you want to become a truly professional astrologer, you should make astrology your lifestyle. It cannot be just your job, it’ s not enough. Lifestyle means that from the time you wake up in the morning, every step, every breath, every look and every conversation is subordinate to the interests of the cause. Consider questions for astrological research drawn from your personal hobbies. Observe how other astrologers work. Develop your astrological skills and try new techniques. Yours astrological self-education will never be completed, because the world around us is constantly changing. To stay equal to the situation, you ca not stop even for a minute. In addition, ongoing training and familiarity with the new theories will support your enthusiasm. In any case, before you master the skills of a leader in his profession and to gain knowledge on the expert level, you have lots and lots to learn.
Here are some truths about working as a professional consulting astrologer:
It’ s fun! The first positive point in the work of astrologer is that it is really fun. How great is the number of people who are terribly bored with their work? Life is meant to be joyful. And there’ s no reason not to choose a job to our liking.
Astrologers are needed. The demand for skilled astrologers will always be there. Virtually every society feels the need for highly skilled astrologers. And this need is never fully satisfied.
Small capital investment. Working astrologers do have one big advantage: return on our assets with little capital investment. How much is an“ entry ticket” to the profession? You can start a career as an astrologer having an initial capital of investing time and effort spent learning astrology and honing of the professional skills as a consultant.
O P A ❥ The O rganization for Professional Astrology 12 T H E C A R E E R A S T R O L O G E R W I N T E R 2 0 1 4