ARLAN WISE « LET’ S EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT ASTROLOGY »
In 1991 I wrote a month ' s worth of astrology columns and brought it to my local newspaper, The Martha ' s Vineyard Times. The editor of the calendar section liked the piece and started to publish the column. The newspaper is still running my column 16 years later. Every once in a while a new editor will say, " Why do we have astrology in the paper? Let ' s drop it." But they can ' t, too many people read it, including the owners wife. People are reading and learning astrology when they read my column. I started writing the column because I wanted to teach astrology to the broadest audience possible.
I was also trying to answer the universal question people would ask me " What ' s going on in the stars?"
I knew I was making headway in their educational process when I met someone I slightly know as I was walking oat of a storey and he said, " Arlan, you ' re shopping during a VC moon!"
I call it the cosmic weather report. I write for the day, not the sun sign. This confuses many people and at least 4 times a year I have to repeat that the moon moves through a sign every 2 days and that is a major influence on the day. I tell them to read it like a calendar and not just look at the sign. Yet I continuously hear that when people read the column, they look for the day that has their sun sign. The first piece of education my readers receive is that astrology affects everyone at all times. I use the metaphor that if the sun is out, or the moon is in Leo, everyone feels happy and bright, when it rains, or the moon is in Cancer everyone gets wet and feels moody. Once they get that concept, they learn about the void-of-course moon. And they learn through experience. I knew I was making headway in their educational process when I met someone I slightly know as I was walking out of a store, and he said, " Arlan, you ' re shopping during a VC moon!" And then comes retrograde Mercury. After paying attention through a few cycles people get it and begin to have their cars serviced and appliances fixed before it starts. It ' s a beginning.
I also think that one can teach the public through one ' s words when given the opportunity to be quoted in newspapers and magazine articles. I ' ve been contacted by newspaper reporters from papers such as USA Today and the L. A. Times for various quotes. My first reply is to say that astrology often gets bad press and therefore I need to see the article before it is published. If I get a yes, then I ' ll talk. These are valuable moments when one is given a voice to represent astrology. It ' s important to be dignified and intelligent.
Volunteer to talk to various groups about astrology. It ' s a natural topic for singles groups, teen groups, or library programs. I think anyone who gives an intelligent interesting talk on astrology raises the public awareness.
I have done a few talks in the elementary schools. Usually I ' m asked in connection with a segment on astronomy. Kids get astrology quickly. My first encounter with astrology was in the two pages that described sun signs in the 5-year diary I kept when in elementary school. I can read in that diary that " Richard is cute and he ' s a Sagittarius. That ' s good, because Sagittarius likes Leos." Kids will remember a positive introduction to astrology. If we can educate the children, we will create a fertile audience for astrology and make life easier for the next generation of working astrologers. Can someone invent an astrological superhero? Can someone program and astrological video game? Let ' s get the kids involved.
In a perfect world, I see astrology used as a reference for all major decisions. I see charts being run off in hospital nurseries and given to parents along with the little ID bracelet and free diaper bag. I see teachers understanding the astrology of their students so they take care not to shame the Leo child and to give the Pisces the task of caring for the hamster. I can see high school guidance counselors using the student ' s charts to help suggest appropriate colleges. And in adult life, one sees one ' s astrologer for regular check ups as well as direction and support for making major life decisions. Is this possible? Perhaps, if we astrologers educate the public about what possibilities lie in using quality astrology on a day-to-day basis. •
Reprinted from the February 2007 issue of the Career Astrologer
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