Spiritual orientation – Do you follow any specific practice? No, it’ s eclectic.
What’ s the worst thing and then, the best thing about you? Taking things personally and being over-sensitive. Wanting to make a personal contribution by offering support and generosity in areas of love, friendship and work.
You never tried … Only a few things … that I will get around to trying one day.
You can’ t refuse … A chance to laugh, or eat some good chocolate.
What is playtime for you? Laughing with friends, watching DVDs in bed, reading biographies.
Your Chinese sign? Water Ox / buffalo( 1973).
Your favorite place on earth? My home in leafy, green Kent, known as the Garden of England. Places on the east coast of Australia are a close second.
What would you define is an important evolutionary lesson for you in this life? To follow my own desires, to discover the reasons why I’ m here on the planet, and to have the courage to pursue these with others.
Your chart: 13 April 1973, 08:58, St Pancras, London( Asc 24 Gemini)
Where do you live and practice? I live in Bromley, Kent, just outside London.
How long have you been practicing – how did it start? 25 years. It began with a visit to Tad Mann in August 1989, and that afternoon I returned home and started teaching myself astrology.
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You seem to be everywhere and be a strong force in so many projects, from writing and publishing books, to organizing conferences, lecturing everywhere, and being guest editor of The Mountain Astrologer,( I’ m sure there is more to the list)… how do you keep up and manage?
I love what I do, so it’ s a labour of love and rarely feels like‘ work’. I’ m driven to run my school, write, publish, lecture, and take on new challenges. Life is short and I want to pack a few lifetimes into the time I have. I have lots of ideas and goals, and a very basic, direct Aries philosophy: make it happen!
Your Astrology teachers? I taught myself, but used to go to experiential classes led by Derek Hawkins in London when I was 17 – 18. Derek died last year so I wrote an obituary and the memories flooded back. Living in London, I’ ve been blessed to have gone to some amazing seminars given by some truly exceptional astrological talents: Melanie Reinhart, Liz Greene, Sue Tompkins, Darby Costello, Lynn Bell, Deborah Houlding, and others. I dedicated a recent book to these and many more women in astrology.
Your Astrology hero? Difficult to say – I don’ t really elevate people as heroes, but I do admire talent and the ability to be yourself. I loved the magic that Linda Goodman introduced me to as a teenage reader of her books. When I got interested in researching, then Lois Rodden was a guiding force and I loved the years of corresponding, sharing data and gossip with her, too.
Three favourite Astrology books? Lois Rodden’ s Astro-Data books( and her superb book‘ Money’), Sue Tompkins’ Aspects in Astrology( endlessly informative), and I’ m proud of my own Getting to the Heart of Your Chart because of the hard work I put in to the profiles and observations.
What made it possible for you to become a full time astrologer? As a teenager, it was supportive parents who wanted me to be happy; later, sun sign astrology columns and client work gave me an income.
What is the great thing and the hard thing about being an astrologer? The magic of our astrological language, as seen every day through clients, people in the news and loved ones. The hard thing is encountering people who are bigoted, ignorant of our subject or closed minded.
What inspires you to be an OPA member? Having lectured at the NCGR conference in 2013, I started to meet more Americanbased student and professional astrologers( and other international ones). They were very kind and encouraging. I felt it was a good time to reach out beyond the community of astrologers in the UK. I first heard about OPA from Bob Mulligan via his wonderful book Between Astrologers & Clients.
What are your future ambitions in the field of astrology? Watch this space.
Any advice for those who would like to become professional astrologers? Follow your heart and follow your chart. Know yourself and know what you do best – then work damn hard to be the best you can be and share your gift with clients. Open your heart to receive them and work to inspire them to follow your own gifts.
I’ m reminded of a quote by Edith Wharton:“ There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.’” As astrologers, we have both jobs to do – both are equally important. We’ re the mirror when we’ re able to reflect to the client their inner drives, talents and then‘ turn them on’ to why they’ re here / why they’ ve been born. And we’ re the candle when we personally demonstrate what it is to work in a field like astrology that we love. In doing so we create an energy around us that brings opportunity and advancement, and inspires us and others to‘ follow our bliss.’
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