The Career Astrologer 3 2014 | Page 10

Enhancing Your Astrology Practice

Column by Moon Zlotnick

Welcome to my ongoing column on the ins and outs of being a practicing professional astrologer. I’ ve been reading charts and teaching classes for 40 years. Through the years my practice has changed, and I’ ve gleaned valuable insights about many aspects of improving the practical side of being a professional astrologer. I can’ t wait to share my thoughts with you and I’ m happy to answer your questions.

Today, I want to write about a few ideas relating to building your practice, but first, let me tell you a bit about myself. In college I became friends with a woman who was an astrologer. As I listened to her talk about charts I felt compelled to learn more. I went to the public library where I found the A-Z Horoscope Delineator and began teaching myself astrology. Four years later, after formally training with Zipporah Dobyns, I started charging to read horoscopes.

Currently I rent a sunny one room office in a quiet building about one mile from my home in St. Paul, Minnesota. There’ s a shared waiting room with chairs and magazines and I hold classes in the conference room down the hall. I’ ve always had an office because I need the separation between work and family. It adds about $ 500 a month to my overhead, but for me, the quiet space devoted to work makes it worthwhile. I also like that the building is full of lawyers and psychotherapists; it gives me a sense of being part of a larger service-oriented community.

There is no one right way to build an astrological practice. Some of us work strictly by personal referral; others are more public and attract customers through websites, Facebook accounts and lectures. When I first started doing readings in 1975, I would read for anyone, because I needed the money and I didn’ t realize that I could say no to someone or make a referral. For the most part

I was fortunate and didn’ t experience much negative feedback, although there were people who saw me once and never returned. That got me thinking about how I might better serve my client base.

Until 2005 I ran advertising in the Edge, Lavender Magazine, The Women’ s’ Press and I wrote Sun Sign columns in a couple of local“ New Age” newsletters and magazines. This attracted new customers but some of them were interested in talking to their spiritual guides, or getting past life regressions, none of which fall within my area of expertise. Other people would contact me and after a conversation I would recognize that they needed legal counsel, longterm therapy, or medical advice. As practicing astrologers when we make referrals to other well-established professionals, this can benefit our work. People feel that we are trustworthy, and, if they have a good experience that will reflect back on us. I’ ve found great value in keeping a file of other astrologers with specific areas of expertise, along with professionals in the self-help and healing fields, and giving out their cards or phone numbers.

I begin each new client relationship, whether by phone or email, with a prompt reply and then a conversation about what the person hopes to accomplish during our time together. I try to return calls and emails within two days, and set up an appointment time within two to three weeks of the call. People can become very anxious about their first meeting with an astrologer so getting back to them in a timely fashion shows your concern and professionalism. When I travel both my voicemail and email is set to notify people that I’ m away and inform them of the date I return. Beginning a new client relationship also includes showing up for the appointment on time, keeping the consulting space clean and fresh, and making sure there are no interruptions during the session. I make a digital recording of each session, which I then email to the client within the next 24 hours. This gives them a way to review what was said.

Once you’ ve determined that an astrology reading will benefit the person, I recommend you start your interview or find a convenient time to speak. Each interview is a bit different, but I begin by asking two things: What motivated them to reach out to an astrologer, and how did they find me? Once I know their motivation( I was curious, my therapist suggested it, I’ ve wanted to get a reading since forever) I ask them to describe what they would like to accomplish in our session. This helps me define the type of service fits best with their questions.

I break my work with people into distinct categories: Natal work and Forecasting. For people who are interested in self-discovery I recommend Natal Chart readings. If they are doing depth work in therapy or looking for more intensive self-discovery I offer“ packages” of three to five sessions on the Natal Chart.

Some people will have very specific issues like timing for a job change, how to deal with problems in a relationship, thinking about retirement, starting a business, while some prefer to look at the bigger picture. In the Forecasting area of my work I offer Yearly Forecasts along with Three year and Five year views. By listening carefully I can determine which type of reading will suit each client, and how to best prepare for the session.

There will always be people who don’ t know why they are coming, or what they hope to accomplish even after our conversation and looking at my website. In that case I always start with a Natal Chart and delineating the basics of their horoscope.

At the start of each session I always ask the client to review what they hope to achieve during our time together. I write down what they say, using their language, and during the consultation refer to their list. I incorporate what the planetary aspects are telling me, while staying close to the client’ s goals for session. At the end, I check with them to see if any they have any new questions and to make sure I covered everything.

After the session I give them a two-week period to contact me by email with one or two quick questions for no extra charge. There are times that we can’ t address all the issues a client brings to the session, or the email questions are too involved. I’ ve learned that recommending a follow-up session, at a slightly reduced fee, is a good way to resolve this.

Using the resources of other professionals, screening clients to make sure you are a good fit, staying focused on what they came to discuss and follow-up are just a few ways you can build goodwill with your already existing clients.

I hope this gives you some new ideas for enhancing your practice, and please feel free to let me know if you have any questions or subjects you’ d like me discuss. You can reach me at moon @ opaastrology. com. R

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Astrologer OPA’ s Newsletter for Professional Astrology 2014 page 10