AN INTERVIEW WITH ARLAN WISE BY MARGARITA VYSOTSKAYA .
- The first question is not original , but the subject is always interesting and relevant : how a man discovers for himself astrology . So , Arlan when you started take an interest in astrology ?
I became interested in astrology when I was a child . I had a diary , a book where I would to write a few sentences about what happened during each day . In the front of the book there was a description of each zodiac sign and the dates for each sign . When my mother gave me the diary a few years ago , I saw that I had written about my friends and which sign they were . When my children were born I went to an astrologer to have their charts done . I knew then that I had to learn astrology . My astrologer told me to read mythology and look at charts .
- What influenced the development of your astrological career ?
I started slowly , doing a few charts a year for money . I did many free charts for friends . These gave me experience and trained me how to give a reading . It was a case of learning by doing . In 1994 I went to an OPA ( then called ProSig ) conference and met the astrologers who would become my friends and mentors . It was the first conference that taught how to be an astrologer instead of teaching astrology . I joined the board of directors in 1995 and have remained on the OPA board of directors since that time . OPA has been a major influence in my astrological career . I saw that every time I returned from an OPA conference my practice grew . Maybe it was from the confidence I got from being among my peers and mostly from the good discussions and ideas I received at the conferences .
- Arlan , you are engaged in counseling since the end 70 ' s . What has changed over time : how have changed society ' s attitude to astrology and astrologers , did they change themselves astrologers ? Did customers change and the questions they ask an astrologer ?
I see that younger people know more about esoteric things . Many of the things that we older astrologers had to discover , like yoga , the beliefs of eastern religions , and depth psychology , are now mainstream knowledge . People still come to an astrologer for relationship advice , business advice , and the more usual things , but also are now interested in their spiritual growth . There are more books on astrology available and the Internet opens up ways to search for answers to questions about astrology and how useful it is . I used to write an astrology column for the local newspaper and I was amazed by the people who told me they read it and liked it . People are more open to accepting astrology now .
- Arlan , we know that you are very welcoming and happy to open his home on the island for confreres-astrologers . How did the idea to organize a " Martha ' s Vineyard ", and what do astrologers at these meetings ?
OPA has been giving retreats for astrologers for ten years . In these retreats , we have teachers who work with the same small group of students for three days . This gives in depth learning , and a chance for intimacy to develop and gives the comfort to share personal concerns . The group leaders meet at my house on Martha ’ s Vineyard a couple of months before the retreat . Martha ’ s Vineyard is an island off the coast of Massachusetts in the northeast part of the United States . I have lived here for thirty years . During the weekend we discuss what we will do in the part of the retreat when we all meet . We also work in small groups to share our problems with clients , we read each other ’ s charts , and we talk about our astrology business and our goals . We all help each other . By gathering together and living and eating in the same house we form bonds and become close . The good feeling we create then extends to the attendees when we have the retreat .
- In your opinion , what are the main problems that hinder the astrologer to write ?
I think that the main problem is avoiding sitting down and writing . A writer needs to sit down every day and write . A writer needs to make friends with Saturn . Without Saturn , the inspiration of Neptune dissolves away . Saturn gives discipline to a writer and I tell my writing students that they have to make friends with their Saturn . Many astrologers still have a lack of confidence , that is not good and will hinder the writer . One must be sure of what one wants to say . I don ’ t know how astrologers are perceived in Russia , but there are still people here in the USA who see astrology as entertainment or a hobby rather than a serious vocation . A writer must be proud to be an astrologer in able to write good astrology .
- What would you advise young astrologers who want to stand up on the writer ' s path ?
Write . Write for local newspapers , write for journals , and write blogs on the Internet . Write letters to astrology magazines . Write emails to your fellow astrology students and colleagues about astrology . If anyone reading this can translate their writing into English , write for our OPA journal , the Career Astrologer . And , read as much as you can . Read astrology books but also read good literature . The more you read , the more you learn how words work together . Read what you write out loud . Don ’ t ever be discouraged , start again and write every day . We have a saying - Practice makes perfect . ■
КАРЬЕРА АСТРОЛОГА | 3 2013 23