ASTROLOGICAL ETHICS
BOB MULLIGAN
Many astrologers examine other peoples charts for their clients quite routinely. I don ' t. Before I see a client for the first time I have them read a three page policy statement called " General Information for Clients." Here is the paragraph on other peoples charts from this statement: " You may have curiosity about other people in your life and wish me to take a look at their chart. The answer is no. Even if the person is not a client of mine I consider it a violation of confidence for me to give you information out of their chart. You can, however, have a chart comparison done with this person, or you can get an INDRA Report done for them. By the same token you should know that I will not discuss your chart with anyone else but you."
When clients ask me to look at someone else ' s chart, the focus is diverted away from their own life. They start worrying or dreaming in regards to this other person.
For me, it ' s an object of faith; whatever we need to know about our own life situation is indicated somehow in our chart. Also, information gleaned from our own chart comes to us in a form that we can digest and use in our life. This is because our chart shows symbolically the whole universe from our personal perspective. Our chart gives advice that will be most helpful for us.
Even with my policy statement, it is with some frequency that clients ask me to look at other people ' s charts. Some years ago, a client asked me to look at his father ' s chart to see when he is going to die. For my client, this was a practical matter. He was scheduled to go to a workshop over the weekend and his dad was quite sick. I looked at his chart in order to have a professional opinion as to how my client should best spend his weekend. Was going to the workshop a good idea? What can my client do to improve his relationship to his father? My advice was not based on, " Is my father going to die this weekend? Yes or No?" Reframing the question allowed me to give advice which re-empowered my client. Call it proactive advice. Looking at my client ' s chart, reframing his question, allowed me to help him. Looking at his father ' s chart, regardless of the advice, would have left my client with the feeling of being at the effect of circumstances beyond his control.
In Stephen Covey ' s book, " Seven Habits of Highly Effective People," he suggests that people who are effective spend most of the their time and attention in what he calls their " circle of influence "( where we can make a difference) and less time in their " circle of concern "( things that we worry about). The circle of influence is the area where your energy can effect change. The " circle of concern " are things of natural interest, but where you are powerless to create any effect. Conscious astrologers automatically pull their clients toward the things they can do something about, their circle of influence. This is why astrologers focus on the chart of the native instead of the charts of other people in the native ' s life. Focusing on other people pulls us away from our true responsibilities and strengths. In other words, we should all " mind our own business "; our chart is our business. Someone else ' s chart is their business.
“ You may have curiosity about other people in your life and wish me to take a look at their chart. The answer is no”.
Granted, we can look at historical charts, or the charts of public figures. We all use other peoples charts in this manner. Charts of non-clients are a purely heuristic device, to enhance our astrological understanding. Here, our motive determines the substance of what we are doing. When our happiness is directly effected by someone else ' s life, we are better off not looking at their charts. This is why astrologers are better off not seeing as a client: a close friend, romantic interest, or family member. After all, surgeons don ' t operate on members of their families.
Of course, astrologers look at other people ' s charts all the time. We look at the charts of our clients. But this is why it is poor practice to have a dual relationship with a client, it becomes too confusing for both astrologer and client. Dual relationships mean dual motivations.
66 КАРЬЕРА АСТРОЛОГА | 4 2013