Astrologer OPA’ s Quarterly Magazine V24-02 JUNE SOLSTICE 2015 page 12
INTERVIEW- RICHARD SMOOT
Secondly, I value the contribution I made in sustaining the AstroDatabank. Lois Rodden devoted her life to developing a comprehensive and accurate database of over 40,000 people and events, and distributing the software that could locate over 365,000 astrological variables in the database. This was a quantum leap in astrological quantitative research. Along with AstroDatabank, I owned Astrology Software shop where astrologers could review 800 types of astrological software and reports. On average, the website had 90,000 unique visitors spending an average of 45 minutes on the site each month. Eventually in 2008 when people needed to pay for their rent and food rather than buying software, my business went bankrupt. This was a very valuable experience.
Finally, one of the accomplishments to date in my astrology career is the eleven years( 55 issues) of putting together and publishing of ISAR’ s Journal. My vision remains to have a quality astrological journal with meaningful, topical articles and peer reviewed articles from astrologers’ world-over. In addition, my vision was to have a journal that put a“ face” to ISAR, with photographs, world wide events, regular columns with interviews, book reviews and to be inclusive of ISAR’ s membership by providing new writer’ s the opportunity to be published. The journal now has a professional editor / astrologer( Victoria Smoot, an OPA group leader) and host of editors and an advertising manager.
What made it possible for you to become a full time astrologer? It was rather a long road. For many years trying to keep a full time job as a student, a hospital administrator and then an accountant / business manager for a large non-profit recycler. Then, magically, one day the Executive Director at the recycling center told me she loved my work and was very pleased,“ however”, she found my off duty work with astrology was a distraction and that someday I would have to choose between my job and astrology. Well, fire up the Aries in me! I told her that I do not take kindly of threats and I gave her a onemonth notice. No, it’ s not fair to give two weeks for a management position. I was“ out of there”!
I was free! Yes, my wife and children where shocked and angry, however, I was free! This is when I started astrology full time and went to work with Ray Merriman in his office for a while and it left me to devote more time to my practice, astrology and the astrology community. I never looked back.
What is the great thing and the hard thing about being an astrologer? For me there are several fantastic things about being an astrologer:
• Passion for the work we are doing.
• Manage your own time and your own direction.
• Meet amazing clients
• Have an extended family of other astrologers from all over the world.
• Be able to be with“ family’ during conferences and listen and learn from many great teachers.
• Study whatever and whenever you want.
There are several challenging things about being an astrologer:
• Finding clientele to work with, especially when you are involved in the astrology community.
• The uncertainty of a steady income.
• Keeping and maintaining an active client base.
• Having the money to travel for conferences and continue to take classes.
• Focusing on your business day to day.
• Having a business plan that is always evolving.
All in all, the great reasons outweigh the difficulties. It is about passion to help others, passion about astrology and staying on the path. There is no plan“ B”.
Tell us about your story with ISAR? A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away... about 2002 I was monitoring at the 2001 UAC conference. I had just met Monica Dimino and we had a great talk, I was really excited and fascinated. Up to that point I was not affiliated with any one group, except receiving my NCGR Level IV certification and a PMAFA member. During that conference, Ray Merriman came up to me and asked me if I wanted to join ISAR. I really did not know the differences, so he asked me if I was“ west coast or east coast”. I had recently lived in southern California for eight years, so I said,“ west coast”. He said,“ ISAR is where you belong”. So I joined and over the next few years I found myself be introduce to the ISAR Board, and developing a consulting skills program with Gisele Terry. In 2004, Ray asked both Kim Rodgers- Gallagher and I to produce the ISAR Journal. I was elected to the Board for a short period, until I was asked to be it’ s Treasurer and
Operations Manager since it was a paid position. Over the past four years, ISAR had grown to the point that I could no longer do the Treasurer’ s position and continued as its Operation Manager. My task is to be the“ one-point” of contact for all the memberships needs( along with Marguerite dar Boggia) and manage any operational function for ISAR’ s programs, at the Board’ s discretion.
What are your future ambitions in the field of astrology? I suppose this is where a business plan would come into play. Currently I’ m enjoying grading ISAR and NCGR examinations and I’ m taking classes in classical and Vedic astrology. As for my future ambitions, ask me when transiting Uranus and Pluto are done making their“ delicate” modification in my life and attitude. I believe it was Alexander Ruperti in his book“ Cycles of Becoming” said something like,“ The planets Saturn and closer to the earth make us the best person we can be, while Uranus, Neptune and Pluto make us better than who we are.”
What inspires you to be an OPA member? OPA is a place where we are all on the same level, learning about ourselves and learning from our peers. It is in OPA I found a home and family where I learned so much from so many people via their retreats, lectures and their certification process. Nowhere in astrology that I’ m aware of is anyone doing an actual consult with peers for guidance and help in a confidential and purposeful environment. Purposeful in that OPA’ s concern is assisting the astrologer to be the best consulting astrologer. The method is exactly how it was done, on a weekly basis, with other social workers I worked with in California. This experience has been a great accomplishment; especially in the skills I have learned; the people I have met and the family that has developed.
Any advice for those who would like to become professional astrologers? The only magic in astrology is the magic you put in. We are here to serve and assist people to explore and find their answers. We are here to listen, understand and to provide our skills and practice to each client, one at a time. Learn the most you can and do as many charts as you can. Be authentic, ethical and responsible.
Thank you! R
The Career
Astrologer OPA’ s Quarterly Magazine V24-02 JUNE SOLSTICE 2015 page 12