Learning to Cook
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over of my rendition of chopsticks . I should have started at kindergarten .
I was a mite too big to go run and hide from this assignment , and our wonderful group provided a very safe container , so to buy some time I leaned back and began to explore the source of my unease . I owned up fairly quickly to an unreasonable fear of sounding stupid . I didn ’ t know where it came from and please , don ’ t blame my parents . They were and are the loveliest of souls and I am the last to consider them the source of it . I was encroaching on some tender territory but I hung in there and kept prodding . By the time the rest of my group were half way through their articles I had yet to tap a key .
The realization of which brought another of my insecurities to light . It takes me forflippin ’ - ever to figure out what I want to say and longer yet to say it . The other writers in my track seemed to pop out entire literary babies in the time it would take me to change their baby ’ s diapers . I realized the same phenomena was true of astrologers , who could breathe life into a piece of paper with chart printed on it . A good astrologer could look at a chart and turn it into a real life simulator . In the time it took me to call out “ Sun in Sag in the 6th ”, they had already grasped the plot , moved past the climax and were closing in on the punch line .
Then I thought about my own ( real ) kids , and how during their formative years I kept a record of the milestones that marked the progress of their youth . Hmm ... would that count as me having written a book ? Maybe I could borrow from that and write an article with the intention that it provide a snapshot in time , as a marker along the path of my astrological development . I could look back on it one day to see how far I had come : kind of like how old I was when I lost my first baby tooth ... except I had the distinct feeling sitting there that I still had all my baby teeth . Alright then , I would prod around some more . Surely I could find something to write about .
My “ kids ” had grown and gone now , which is why I thought I had the time to write . Speaking of time , where had yesterday ’ s darling babies gone ? Indeed , where had those thirty four years gone , since the time I exited university with high hopes and honors in English in tow ? Could it be that I was too much a perfectionist - that time would never be able to ripen me to the level of my expectations ?
That was the moment when I heard a comment that one of my fellow writing mates had pitched my way earlier in the day , when I was very obviously editing my essay on the fly as I read it aloud in front of the class . I realized that the comment , delivered with caring intent , had been echoing silently through my mind : “ You ’ re too hard on yourself .” Now that I heard it , it rang true . I wouldn ’ t think of being even remotely “ hard ” on someone else wearing similar baby shoes , so why was I so demanding of myself ? Obviously we all have to start somewhere . And then I heard my another voice in my head , one I recognized as my own . It said , “ if all you do is read about taking a step and think about taking a step , you ’ ll never learn to walk . Give yourself permission to fall on your face . Anyone who ever got anywhere has had to go through the same passage .”
This proved to be a remarkable insight , thank you very much . For all the time and knowledge I have accumulated under my belt - 56 years of it - it was the OPA experience that busted that belt loose a notch or two , and in the process allowed me room to breathe and further expand . Perhaps I will call myself a writer some day , maybe even an astrologer - if I live long enough . This was never about the chicken and the egg . It was about learning to walk , no matter where that takes you . What comes first , the chicken or the egg ? It doesn ’ t matter . Just pick one and run with it . But don ’ t forget to loosen your belt first .
Thank you OPA , I now know why you define your community as a family . I appreciated your support while I practiced my steps .
The President ’ s Report
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{ OPA Group Leaders Mix Work & Play on the Vineyard } your astrology practice , whether you are a professional or amateur astrologer . You , our members , are the organization . Your participation is always welcome and encouraged !
As always , if you have an article about your practice or a piece of poetry , etc ., you would like to submit , please send it to Twink , our priceless editor , at mrmckenney @ att . net .
Wishing you a peaceful , healthy and bright 2014 . — Alexandra
Hal Bahr , Jane Ridder-
Patrick and Rick Levine
Above , Monica Dimino , Vicky and Richard Smoot . Right , Chris McRae and hostess , Arlan Wise .
O P A ❥ The O rganization for Professional Astrology 6 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