Astrological Choices - What Kind of Astrologer Will You Choose Or Choose to Be?

In any human issue category there is a huge number of service providers to choose from and astrology is no exception. Just put any category title into a search engine and you can get thousands or even millions of possibilities. On a moment of curiosity I just Googled my own name and got 4,120,000 entries. I had no idea I was that popular (me and every other name like mine). This staggering amount of information is so far beyond anyone's ability to research just one item meaningfully. Just how do you determine quality within such enormous quantity?

Since our subject is astrology and astrologers, does an astrologer have to be professional, accredited, famous, or just plain available? If you happen to be a budding astrologer you will have to make choices as to what kind of an astrologer you will become. Your choices will involve the services you offer to clients, your skill and credibility. plus personal motivations and goals. I am offering an overview of several considerations to help you make valid astrological choices for yourself and eventually for what you offer your clients. As you understand what underlies your own motivations and choices you should be able to apply the same reasoning to the choice of an astrologer to read you.

Motivation - Where are you coming from in your philosophic outlook? Do you see this as a service project, a way to make money, a profession, love of the study itself or some other basic personal drive? Are you more interested in self-help, fun, business, relationship, evolution, or other astrological technique? How does a study or work of this type fit into your personal belief systems? Personally you will need to resolve any inherent conflicts or face a lifetime of self-questioning. When choosing an astrologer to read for you, you need to be aware that they face the same questions in their own choices.

Personality - Are you clinical or a more personally sensitive person? Some readers are subjectively involved in their reading. Others readers prefer objectivity. Astrology provides a diagram, a personal map of an entity in wheel form that allows examination of their life. You can use the wheel in so many different ways. One of those is the choice between the subjective or objective approach. Do you prefer the personal approach or the arms-length approach? Do you want for yourself or do you want to provide others with a once a year reading done in a one-hour increment perhaps in writing or on a pre-recorded tape or even computer generated? Do you want for yourself or do you want to provide others personal access with the ability to call back with questions? Each of us is human and will choose the role most comfortable, the one that fits into our personal norms and provides us with good results. Look at your self first. How do you see yourself reading as an astrologer? Do you want to be the clinician or the sensitive when you read for others? Then take those questions a step further. What kind of astrologer would you choose to read for you? Do you want the clinician or the sensitive to read you?

Setting - Are you more comfortable in a business-like setting such as a formal office, for either seeing or becoming an astrologer? Are you more comfortable in a home-like atmosphere for being read by another or in doing a reading for another? Do you want strangers ((before the reading) inside your personal space because each person who enters our personal space whether they be astrologers or not bring their personal influence into our space. With the many years I have practiced astrology, I have read clients in both in a business and a personal setting and I have encountered myriad settings when someone reads me. We do what is available and what is comfortable to us. Perhaps your choices will involve the possibility of a setting, urban or rural, private or public, or availability of resource. Many students study in quiet because of religious or philosophical differences with their personal families and their extended or cultural families, Each of us have the choice of setting whether we are studying, or being read or we are reading for a client.

Learning Curve - When I started astrology I was self-taught, spending the first few years busting the books. I never realized there were teachers in my area so I did not have specific teachers. Later I started reading for others and eventually teaching others. If you can learn through this self-taught method, it is simply one specific way to learn. If you were fortunate enough to have a teacher or an established class it is just as valid and possibly much easier than my alone journey. One learning method is not better than another, it is just different. You should choose from what is available to you and feels the most comfortable to your own learning preferences. Students become astrologers by practicing their craft not just by reading or listening. Method and technique are just a means to an end. The proof will always be in the readings. This is true of your own information gathering and conclusions as well as the same learning curve in other readers.

Credibility - This should be a big issue astrologically. There are the usual issues of honesty, integrity, and respect for privacy. No one wants to encounter a scam artist, but they are out there in the same numbers as any other human activity. Just because someone presents themselves as spiritually motivated does not make it so. A spiritually motivated person acts spiritually, never dishonestly. Remember, I am describing both you and any outside counselor you choose to read you. You must be discerning...not judgmental, just observant and dispassionate in your choices. Trust your own instincts. If you feel uncomfortable with a reader, move on to find another. When you have a reading of any type, you allow another human being (potentially unknown game-changer) to walk around in your mind. You need to be comfortable in such choices. Having said all that about an outside reader, you need to face and develop those same credibility issues within yourself as you develop your skills and offer your services. It is important that you have honesty, integrity and respect for privacy. An individual's birth map in skilled hands has no secrets. Astrologers must be respectful of such trust. You have the right to expect that same respect when you put your birth map in the hands of another.

More on Credibility - Unfortunately as mentioned wherever there are humans there will be issues of misuse of information or skills. There are fakes and charletans in every category of humanity. Some people seem to be inherently dishonest and the field of reading is no exception. Again...you must be discerning. If you get burned, consider it an unfortunate life lesson and move on but do not repeat your poor choice or recommend others to that poor choice. Word of mouth advertising is both the best and the worst advertising possible. If you are damaged in any way (financial damage is the least of your concerns), go for remedy or healing as soon as possible. Don't let a problem fester from something minor into something major over time.

If you encounter one who is continually trying to pedal outside services such as lighting candles to prevent negative happenings, preying on your guilt or grief in personal tragedy, or other similar nonsense, it has nothing to do with astrology. An honest astrologer will not go down that negative path. I have run into people who have needed help with such unnecessary negativity in their lives and have helped them as part of my service as a human being. This help was not astrological in nature. To me it was necessary and healing in nature. Choose carefully those you allow into your mind and life. Choose carefully what kind of an astrologer you will become because you have the potential to profoundly influence another person's life and choices. ABC - Always Be Credible.

Information Flow - Astrologers should be able to tell you about yourself and your life without the information pump being primed. I do not believe a reading would be valid and honest if I were to ask you a bunch of questions first or allow you to load me down with information. If I am any good at what I do, I really should not need to do that. I might choose to question an either/or conundrum in the middle of a reading, such as "It could be this or that, how do you see this working in your life?" If you feed me information and I feed it back to you as a reading, it is simply not honest. I ask clients not to volunteer information about themselves and their lives and to allow me to generate the information from the wheel itself. That way I know I am getting the information from the patterns and not prior knowledge of the person. I can't stop people from talking and telling me personal information I would rather not know, but I do try, My solution? I ask my clients if they want to hear their voice or my voice on the tape recording of our session. That is a good illustration of my desire for the cleanest possible reading. Oh...the answer is yes, I do tape my readings. I speak very fast for probably an hour or more and that is difficult to take in with one run-through. As the reading progresses, more and more of the individual is revealed through the reading process and that is natural. Just don't initially prime the information pump whether you are being read or if you are giving a reading.

Credentials - What about credentials? It is possible to go through standardized astrological testing to establish credentials as to your skill. There are several organizations who can administer such tests should you choose and these tests are quite difficult. I know very good astrologers who never bothered to be tested and some equally as good astrologers who did go through the testing procedure. The choice to do or not to do is always individual. A problem would occur if one group decided their way was the only way. But then again astrologers are still considered to be of the human species so there is nothing unusual about the ego running away with the mouth, is there? If you choose an astrologer to read for you, know that passing such testing simply specifies that an astrologer has a grasp and comprehension of the basics of astrology which truly is a great basis for an astrologer. As I said before, proof of skill will always be in the readings themselves.

Psychic or Astrology - Are you psychic as well as an astrologer and want to blend those skills? Astrological skill is very different from psychic sensitivity. I practice and teach both so I do understand the distinction. Psychic stems from an emotional, instinctive or feeling basis and astrology stems from an intellectual, intuitive or reasoning basis. From my perspective, if you are psychic you can apply that skill to any level of your life and it should be a benefit to you and others (if you are reasonably accurate). Psychic has nothing to do with astrology per se, but can be as useful in that context as well. My personal astrologer was both psychic and a good astrologer and successfully blended those skills. Personally I keep those skills separate at least most of the time. My choice. Do you want a purist to read for you as a psychic or an astrologer or are you comfortable with a merged skill set?

These are a few of the issues that you will encounter as you choose an astrologer for yourself or choose to act as an astrologer for others.

Marilyn Muir, author, "Presidents of Hope and Change: Bringing Hope to our Future by Reaching into our Astrological Past." How astrology predicts our nation's future by reaching into our past.

Jefferson, Lincoln, Kennedy, Obama... The Lineage of Hope Using the influential and interwoven cycles of Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus and Pluto to predict issues and trends up to 2012 and even beyond to 2025, Ms Muir leaves us with the clear message of hope as she depicts the future of President Obama at the helm of the USA ship of state.

Read the first 36 pages (PDF) including the charts of all four Presidents - you'll get hooked! http://www.marilynmuir.com

Astrological Choices - Astrological Lore, Its Relevance and Practioners

Astrology is an amazing body of information handed down through numerous generations for literally thousands of years. Through several millenniums astronomy (the measure) and astrology (the interpretation) were one body of information. What started as a combination, with the two sciences treated as one, lasted until fairly recently (the last 300 years or so). Recent history shows the physical sciences began their codification and separated from those elements of their origin which were more speculative in nature. Astrology was commonly practiced in other scientific fields beyond the mere measurements of astronomy as well. A few examples should illustrate some of these broad applications.

· Astrology was an important tool for the medical profession and a doctor who did not know astrology was thought to be lacking, perhaps unworthy of his title.

· Mythology is the history of mankind told as story and parable. Astrologers fully used this mythological symbolism to illustrate their readings. Carl Jung, a modern day psychiatrist/psychologist thought that astrology was the psychology of the ancients.

· Agriculture still relies on lunar and solar cycles. Almanacs from some of the earliest records depict the lunar cycle in some of the oldest human artifacts and cave drawings.

· The courts and kings of countries from all over the world relied on their astrologers for counsel to their rulers and for the start and outcome of warfare. The astrological scholars of those days were expected to be right every time. That is particularly difficult to do unless your name is God. History illustrates that false counsel and error could, and did lead to death. That would give you pause, would it not?

· Some countries and cultures revered their prophecies and predictions and others reviled them. Why? Do you suppose the ruling class and religious institutions might have feared the power of prophecy and the people who had the capability to predict the rise and fall of a king, a country, or a religious order?

As with any human endeavor or practice, astrology has waxed and waned in interest and is continually subject to change and revision. What is suitable for one country, environment, climate, culture or philosophy might not be suitable for another. For example, what worked for a waterfront culture might not work in the mountains. Once upon a time these local forms were isolated to one location. Since the advent of world travel and the blending of world cultures, these once distinct practices have been merged. Over the centuries, there has been a sorting and triaging of measurements, techniques and interpretations that has developed.

Evolution requires a constant updating and revising of all fields of human endeavor and astrology is no exception. Science, astronomy, medicine, or law must grow and change or become a stagnant pool of old and useless information. The softer human subjects such as religion, philosophy, education, psychology and yes, astrology, must grow, change and develop as our planet and our human races grow, change and develop. We cannot continually repeat the old teachings ad infinitum, or stagnation or devolution would occur. Progress and change is necessary to growth and evolution. The universe itself is progressing, changing and moving constantly and we must keep up or be left behind.

There are always tried and true principles at the core of any practice. There are principles that do not really change with time or experience, such as gravity. The Sun is believed to be a hot, large gaseous body that exerts gravitational control over our solar system. This principle contains a basic truism we rely upon whether looking back 1000 years, in the present, or a 1000 years in the future. Unless something specific happens to change our minds, that principle has proven to be a pretty reliable belief worldwide.

Other word choices to describe the Sun might not be as universal as those few concepts. For example, if you are in a desert country, or on Earth's equator, your experience of the Sun will be different than that of an Eskimo. Your concepts and interpretations will be different as well. Take that same concept and apply it to any other human practice. Individual experience creates perceptions and we move forward in life based on our developing perceptions. That statement is true of an individual, a group of people, a continent, a world, or for all the subjects we could list.

It is important that as astrologers we recognize the compendium of human experience that is the body of astrological lore and exercise discernment and discretion as to what is appropriate and what is not appropriate to each experience and individual. It is important that since life is continually changing and evolving that we as astrologers keep pace with the change and with the evolution in all phases of life. Each new experience, each change, each discovery, and each modification must be incorporated into that compendium we call astrology.

Astrological interpretation is subject to the skill of its practitioners. We must learn for ourselves what works and what does not. We must examine, develop and contribute to the overall body of knowledge. In short we must expect the best from ourselves. We must respect the same in others and expect their best efforts in return. We must root out discrepancies, error, misuse or blatant dishonesty if we should ever encounter it in ourselves or in others. We are students, readers, researchers, teachers and guides. As such, we should always strive to act in the highest and best interest of those whose lives we touch. We must reach for this excellence not only for our individual clients, but also for the highest and best interest of our subject, astrology, and for those who will follow us down through the centuries.

Skepticism is not new to astrology, it has been with us the whole ride, Skeptics are not going to go away just because we would like them to or we are uncomfortable with them. Skepticism, when viewed objectively, can be positive and constructive and will keep us honest. Of course some skepticism can be very negative, be without foundation or be just plain mean. There are always people out there who just love to rain on other people's parade. If you believe in what you say, in what you read, in what you study, or what you believe, be prepared to stand your ground. If you don't believe in your work or your study of that work, you can be an instant victim of those who deride what they do not know or understand.

An opinion is just that. It is not automatic or ultimate knowledge. Those who have not studied may feel they are entitled to an opinion, as uninformed as it must be by their simple lack of knowledge of their subject. It does not matter what that subject is. Those who fancy themselves as scientists or scientific in principle or practice, fall into that same category. If they are uninformed in the study of astrology, it is just an opinion. A title or an educational degree does not ever make you knowledgeable about every subject. If you have not taken the time to study fairly, or to investigate and research properly, a degree or title only gives a loftier opinion, not an expert opinion.

As an individual, I am free to discuss whatever subject I choose. If I want to be taken seriously it is always a good idea to identify my skills, experience and knowledge base for that specific subject if I expect to act as a skilled or credible advocate/detractor. As people, if we don't know, we could easily admit that we don't know. Do you know how difficult it is to come clean and admit something like that for most people? Humans have a built-in knee-jerk reaction to certain subjects (we all have them), or they merely repeat or parrot what they have heard or read without any personal knowledge. Astrologers are people. Astrology is a subject. Both develop over time, through trial and error. Some astrologers fizzle - some blossom - some get very full of themselves and start believing their own press and publicity - and some are humbled by the opportunity to help others or contribute to the body of information. How each individual uses knowledge is a moment-to-moment choice and can get away from us if we are not careful.

Astrology as used for an individual reading will only be as good as the skill, motivation and attitude of the astrologer. The chart can be right (accurately cast) and the reading can be wrong (personal skill and choice). Besides, it is much harder to predict than it seems. At times I have been very, very right but I've also been wrong over the many years of my study and application. I would not have stuck with this study of 35+ years unless I saw a return on my investment of time and effort. However, I am still in school and will continue to be until I draw my last physical breath. So I will win some and I lose some, as all of us do.

Where are you in all this? Are you excited about what you are learning? Are you excited about the self-help tool astrology can be? Are you excited to share what you are learning with others? Can you live with the fact that not everyone will be interested, will listen or will follow your viewpoint? Can you keep a lid on your ego and identification with your successes? Can you learn that failure is part of learning and that at times it might seem like two steps forward and one step backwards? Can you develop the ability not to throw the baby out with the bathwater if you make an error? Can you learn that doubt or skepticism encountered at moments in your development should not defeat your overall goal? Can you revel in your successes and take your failures in stride? If yes, hang on and enjoy the ride.

Marilyn Muir, author, "Presidents of Hope and Change: Bringing Hope to our Future by Reaching into our Astrological Past." How astrology predicts our nation's future by reaching into our past.

Jefferson, Lincoln, Kennedy, Obama... The Lineage of Hope
Using the influential and interwoven cycles of Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus and Pluto to predict issues and trends up to 2012 and even beyond to 2025, Ms Muir leaves us with the clear message of hope as she depicts the future of President Obama at the helm of the USA ship of state.
Read the first 36 pages (PDF) including the charts of all four Presidents - you'll get hooked!
http://www.marilynmuir.com

Astrological Choices - Sidereal or Tropical Systems

As with most other human endeavors, astrologers don't always keep it simple. There are so many choices for charting, so many techniques and pet theories that it can be difficult to thread your way through the labyrinth of possibilities. Of the people who do believe in Astrology both systems have their adherents, both have their detractors. Do we have a dilemma here? Is one system right and the other not? Are both right? A simple definition of the difference between the Sidereal and Tropical systems should help.

Astrology as we currently know it has been formed from a melting pot of astrological practices from all over the world, ranging from antiquity to modern times. All was retained, little was ever removed from that boatload of information, whether or not it collided, yet everything discovered through new experience was added. Astrology in some form is found on each of Earth's inhabitable continents and elsewhere could be buried under tons of ice and debris or lost to volcanic catastrophes, tsunamis, or earth movement to name a few causes of lost information.

Writing itself is not that old in terms of human occupation of the globe. Most information was handed down orally through the centuries and generations and not all of it made it through to today intact, accurate, or correctly translated. Some of it could be in error, incomplete, re-translated, edited or lost. There is a great body of work, but please try to imagine that such information was perfectly transmitted by selfless beings over the centuries and under all circumstances. That's not remotely possible in my mind, especially when humans are involved. We can be very willful and amazingly destructive. Having said that if a great tablet surfaces somewhere that is carved in lightning by a supreme deity, protected from the possibility of defilement, change, corrosion, erosion and the like, I might be persuaded to pay attention.

There are many sources for astrology and they are quite different from each other. Each was thought to be accurate by those who practiced the method and some are in conflict. What was suitable for a riverbank civilization was not necessarily pertinent to blizzard conditions in the Arctic region or the deserts of the Middle East. Two basic camps of astrology are common depending upon which sky view is in use. Both camps start the zodiac circle with Aries and end with Pisces. This was not always the order in ancient astrology but is true today.

There are those who believe the stars in the sky are "fixed" in relationship to each other and that astrology should therefore be based on the fixed stars and constellations, galactic in measure. Sidereal astrology is used primarily by Jyotish (Hindu) eastern astrologers and also by a minority of western astrologers, This system maps the signs as aligned to the zodiac constellations and maintains a very old system related to constellational astrology, the Fixed Zodiac. At this point in time (2009) Aries occurs from approximately April 14th to May 14th in the sidereal system.

Western Astrology uses a different base from which to measure, the orientation of Earth within our solar system and our evident seasons. The arbitrary beginning is the Vernal Equinox when our Sun, the center of our particular solar system, enters 00 Aries on or about March 21st of each year. The signs follow in order through the zodiac and end with Pisces to complete one full circle just as in the fixed system. Notice the difference in the date of commencement, approximately 24 days difference. This seasonal system is called Tropical Astrology and the majority of western astrologers follow this system (as do I).

Once upon a time these two systems coincided in approximately 290 AD, They have slowly but surely moved apart over the intervening years with the current separation at approximately 24 degrees. Astrology itself underwent a serious transformation just prior to this joining as the body of information known as astrology was seriously researched and codified into a merged body of information, largely due to the influence of Ptolemy. The bulk of western astrological information used today comes from that compendium of information generated and codified at that time. Of course time and experience has added to or modified those methods, but again, little old material is discarded as more is added to the body of knowledge. There is a new drive underway to study the wisdom of our astrological forefathers to develop Classical Astrology. Many well-known astrologers, authors and teachers study and support these old/new rules.

Both the Sidereal and Tropical systems have come down through the ages as reliable systems of information but are quite different in construction and application. Both have strong adherents, some of which are puzzled by the use of the "other" system. Both systems do work, as always depending on the accuracy of the work done, the skill of the astrologer and the experience being explored. My good friend is a Vedic Astrologer, very good at what he does. The entire country of India collectively gets a reading every year for the year ahead. It works for them. Since India has over one billion inhabitants, you can't argue with that kind of success. But the readings for my Vedic friend's Sidereal system and my practice of the Tropical system are very different. Each can contribute to a person's understanding of their life and experience but will follow completely different approaches. My Vedic friend has read for me as well using his system and his interpretation worked in my experience. Again, you can't really argue with success.

There are no rules that say we can't have more than one system. There is no reason to believe that one is ultimately right and the other is ultimately wrong. Each system has its value. Your choice of chart would depend on who you are and what you are seeking from a reading. Acceptance of the technique and information depends on your early conditioning and experience. Whatever reasoning and presentation is "normal" to you will resonate with you much faster and easier. This is not because one system is anymore right than the other, it is simply about what flows easiest for you.

Marilyn Muir, author of "Presidents of Hope and Change: Bringing Hope to our Future by Reaching into our Astrological Past."

Jefferson, Lincoln, Kennedy, Obama... The Lineage of Hope

Based on ground-breaking research by noted astrologer Marilyn Muir, this book describes the remarkable similarities of these four presidents in their Aquarian connections to the USA and their commonalities of character and motivation.

In a non-technical way, the author details how their sky maps (astrological charts) synchronize with the important events that took place during the lifetimes of presidents Jefferson, Lincoln and Kennedy-all of whom held office at profound moments in our nation's history. Ms Muir reaches deeply into the USA past to predict our nation's future. Demonstrating through meticulous astrological research how, under each of these president's watches, the country not only survived deep setbacks, but went onto greater and more successful heights.

The author takes the reader on a fascinating journey through the stars as she details the strengths and weakness in President Obama's own sky map; describing how and where it aligns to not only the birth chart of the USA but also his connections to the specific chart of his own inauguration. Is he the right man for the job?

Read the first 36 pages (PDF) including the charts of all four Presidents - you'll get hooked! http://www.presidentsofhopeandchange.com

Astrological Choices - Astrological Lore, Its Relevance and Practioners

Astrology is an amazing body of information handed down through numerous generations for literally thousands of years. Through several millenniums astronomy (the measure) and astrology (the interpretation) were one body of information. What started as a combination, with the two sciences treated as one, lasted until fairly recently (the last 300 years or so). Recent history shows the physical sciences began their codification and separated from those elements of their origin which were more speculative in nature. Astrology was commonly practiced in other scientific fields beyond the mere measurements of astronomy as well. A few examples should illustrate some of these broad applications.

· Astrology was an important tool for the medical profession and a doctor who did not know astrology was thought to be lacking, perhaps unworthy of his title.

· Mythology is the history of mankind told as story and parable. Astrologers fully used this mythological symbolism to illustrate their readings. Carl Jung, a modern day psychiatrist/psychologist thought that astrology was the psychology of the ancients.

· Agriculture still relies on lunar and solar cycles. Almanacs from some of the earliest records depict the lunar cycle in some of the oldest human artifacts and cave drawings.

· The courts and kings of countries from all over the world relied on their astrologers for counsel to their rulers and for the start and outcome of warfare. The astrological scholars of those days were expected to be right every time. That is particularly difficult to do unless your name is God. History illustrates that false counsel and error could, and did lead to death. That would give you pause, would it not?

· Some countries and cultures revered their prophecies and predictions and others reviled them. Why? Do you suppose the ruling class and religious institutions might have feared the power of prophecy and the people who had the capability to predict the rise and fall of a king, a country, or a religious order?

As with any human endeavor or practice, astrology has waxed and waned in interest and is continually subject to change and revision. What is suitable for one country, environment, climate, culture or philosophy might not be suitable for another. For example, what worked for a waterfront culture might not work in the mountains. Once upon a time these local forms were isolated to one location. Since the advent of world travel and the blending of world cultures, these once distinct practices have been merged. Over the centuries, there has been a sorting and triaging of measurements, techniques and interpretations that has developed.

Evolution requires a constant updating and revising of all fields of human endeavor and astrology is no exception. Science, astronomy, medicine, or law must grow and change or become a stagnant pool of old and useless information. The softer human subjects such as religion, philosophy, education, psychology and yes, astrology, must grow, change and develop as our planet and our human races grow, change and develop. We cannot continually repeat the old teachings ad infinitum, or stagnation or devolution would occur. Progress and change is necessary to growth and evolution. The universe itself is progressing, changing and moving constantly and we must keep up or be left behind.

There are always tried and true principles at the core of any practice. There are principles that do not really change with time or experience, such as gravity. The Sun is believed to be a hot, large gaseous body that exerts gravitational control over our solar system. This principle contains a basic truism we rely upon whether looking back 1000 years, in the present, or a 1000 years in the future. Unless something specific happens to change our minds, that principle has proven to be a pretty reliable belief worldwide.

Other word choices to describe the Sun might not be as universal as those few concepts. For example, if you are in a desert country, or on Earth's equator, your experience of the Sun will be different than that of an Eskimo. Your concepts and interpretations will be different as well. Take that same concept and apply it to any other human practice. Individual experience creates perceptions and we move forward in life based on our developing perceptions. That statement is true of an individual, a group of people, a continent, a world, or for all the subjects we could list.

It is important that as astrologers we recognize the compendium of human experience that is the body of astrological lore and exercise discernment and discretion as to what is appropriate and what is not appropriate to each experience and individual. It is important that since life is continually changing and evolving that we as astrologers keep pace with the change and with the evolution in all phases of life. Each new experience, each change, each discovery, and each modification must be incorporated into that compendium we call astrology.

Astrological interpretation is subject to the skill of its practitioners. We must learn for ourselves what works and what does not. We must examine, develop and contribute to the overall body of knowledge. In short we must expect the best from ourselves. We must respect the same in others and expect their best efforts in return. We must root out discrepancies, error, misuse or blatant dishonesty if we should ever encounter it in ourselves or in others. We are students, readers, researchers, teachers and guides. As such, we should always strive to act in the highest and best interest of those whose lives we touch. We must reach for this excellence not only for our individual clients, but also for the highest and best interest of our subject, astrology, and for those who will follow us down through the centuries.

Skepticism is not new to astrology, it has been with us the whole ride, Skeptics are not going to go away just because we would like them to or we are uncomfortable with them. Skepticism, when viewed objectively, can be positive and constructive and will keep us honest. Of course some skepticism can be very negative, be without foundation or be just plain mean. There are always people out there who just love to rain on other people's parade. If you believe in what you say, in what you read, in what you study, or what you believe, be prepared to stand your ground. If you don't believe in your work or your study of that work, you can be an instant victim of those who deride what they do not know or understand.

An opinion is just that. It is not automatic or ultimate knowledge. Those who have not studied may feel they are entitled to an opinion, as uninformed as it must be by their simple lack of knowledge of their subject. It does not matter what that subject is. Those who fancy themselves as scientists or scientific in principle or practice, fall into that same category. If they are uninformed in the study of astrology, it is just an opinion. A title or an educational degree does not ever make you knowledgeable about every subject. If you have not taken the time to study fairly, or to investigate and research properly, a degree or title only gives a loftier opinion, not an expert opinion.

As an individual, I am free to discuss whatever subject I choose. If I want to be taken seriously it is always a good idea to identify my skills, experience and knowledge base for that specific subject if I expect to act as a skilled or credible advocate/detractor. As people, if we don't know, we could easily admit that we don't know. Do you know how difficult it is to come clean and admit something like that for most people? Humans have a built-in knee-jerk reaction to certain subjects (we all have them), or they merely repeat or parrot what they have heard or read without any personal knowledge. Astrologers are people. Astrology is a subject. Both develop over time, through trial and error. Some astrologers fizzle - some blossom - some get very full of themselves and start believing their own press and publicity - and some are humbled by the opportunity to help others or contribute to the body of information. How each individual uses knowledge is a moment-to-moment choice and can get away from us if we are not careful.

Astrology as used for an individual reading will only be as good as the skill, motivation and attitude of the astrologer. The chart can be right (accurately cast) and the reading can be wrong (personal skill and choice). Besides, it is much harder to predict than it seems. At times I have been very, very right but I've also been wrong over the many years of my study and application. I would not have stuck with this study of 35+ years unless I saw a return on my investment of time and effort. However, I am still in school and will continue to be until I draw my last physical breath. So I will win some and I lose some, as all of us do.

Where are you in all this? Are you excited about what you are learning? Are you excited about the self-help tool astrology can be? Are you excited to share what you are learning with others? Can you live with the fact that not everyone will be interested, will listen or will follow your viewpoint? Can you keep a lid on your ego and identification with your successes? Can you learn that failure is part of learning and that at times it might seem like two steps forward and one step backwards? Can you develop the ability not to throw the baby out with the bathwater if you make an error? Can you learn that doubt or skepticism encountered at moments in your development should not defeat your overall goal? Can you revel in your successes and take your failures in stride? If yes, hang on and enjoy the ride.

Marilyn Muir, author, "Presidents of Hope and Change: Bringing Hope to our Future by Reaching into our Astrological Past." How astrology predicts our nation's future by reaching into our past.

Jefferson, Lincoln, Kennedy, Obama... The Lineage of Hope
Using the influential and interwoven cycles of Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus and Pluto to predict issues and trends up to 2012 and even beyond to 2025, Ms Muir leaves us with the clear message of hope as she depicts the future of President Obama at the helm of the USA ship of state.
Read the first 36 pages (PDF) including the charts of all four Presidents - you'll get hooked!
http://www.marilynmuir.com

Astrological Choices - Why Do You Want to Learn Astrology?

As I enlarge this series on Astrological Choices I want to discuss the choices of an astrologer as to why you want to study astrology in the first place. Are you learning astrology out of simple curiosity, nothing serious, just having fun? That is as good a reason as any. Are you learning astrology for the purpose of self-help, understanding yourself and your life better on multiple levels? Astrology is the best self-help tool I ever encountered in my long study of life and living. Are you learning astrology so you can go farther than simple curiosity, fun or self-help, perhaps so far as reading or teaching others about astrology?

Simple curiosity? Many start with the ever-popular newspaper, magazine or online astrology columns with favorites emerging for those that seem to truly illustrate or illuminate their life and experience. I have done many of these columns over the years for print, radio and television. While twelve sentences aimed at the entire world population tends to be a bit generic, much thought and effort must go into these columns. They are not just random sentences generated from a flip attitude. From columns you can graduate to the popular astrology magazines that give more detail and depth to the issues under discussion as well as the usual sun-sign column readings. From there I would suggest quality sun-sign books. Why? Learning about self-identity (sun-sign) issues on a sign by sign basis does set a good stage for you to do deeper study. Past that point you are no longer satisfying idle curiosity or just plain fun. Past that point you need to move past the columns, the magazines and the sun-sign books and get into solid textbooks and teaching tools.

Self Help? As I said earlier, self-help does not get better than astrology in my estimation. I have had several psychologists as clients and have been told that even a clinician can use assistance in their own lives and that I was helpful. Psychology is a marvelous tool to help you get your life in order and live more successfully. Astrology falls into a similar self-help system but is based on a visual study of our solar system cycles. Having a diagram does help objectify and clarify the self-help elements. I read somewhere that 75% of a healing is done upon recognition of the problem and the balance of 25% is the healing process itself. You do know it is not easy to recognize your own foibles. Once your foibles are recognized through the energy patterns visible in the natal wheel, the history and influence of those foibles can be gauged through the lifetime progressions and the experiences that occur as you work your way through the lessons. In other words, the natal map shows the foibles, the progression shows the development of those issues, and the transits, eclipses, solar returns, etc. help you understand the timing and handling of the experience itself. Where do you begin to recognize your foibles, which is difficult to do for most people? Look to your 12th house and your aspects. Study them one item at a time, particularly those that are currently active by progression or other triggering. Why the 12th house? That is the house of self-undoing, just how do I shoot myself in the foot, my blind spot that may be self-sabotaging. The aspects seem to be the general lesson plans so I would look at them as well.

You want to be an astrologer? Now we are talking my language. I mentioned at the end of the fun or curiosity stage that is was time to move past the popular columns, magazines and sun-sign books. Now you need to get serious about your study, your choice of reading material, your willingness to devote the months and years of work to develop a new language and a new skill. Don't get me wrong, the whole thing is fun to do; but if you want a deeper application you must be willing to do the effort. Good books, lots of practice wheels, perseverance, a great memory and all the ingredients mentioned are necessary to turn you into a good astrologer. Anyone can learn astrology if they are willing to put in the effort. However, only you can turn yourself into an astrologer through your own efforts. There are tons of mediocre astrologers out there. Do not aspire to join the mediocre level, aspire to surpass it for yourself, your client and for the body of work we call astrology. I've met so many people who have read a couple of books or worked on a couple of charts and think of themselves as astrologers. They are students, pure and simple, not astrologers as yet. We will all be students for the whole of the time we study astrology because it encompasses all of life and experience. Past the point of fun and curiosity, this study is not for the frivolous.

You want to be a teacher? Get ready to study even more. I mentioned that astrology covers all of life and experience. That is a pretty tall order for any human and none of us can ever learn all there is to know. Most astrologers are very good at certain facets of human experience, such as natal, self-help, predictive, relational, health, stock market or financial cycles, weather patterns, political or corporate issues to name a few. These are specialists and at times they do read more than one category. A teacher must know astrology in a broader sense, more categories, with the ability to see beyond specific categories into the field at large. A teacher must focus on the development of the student not impress them with the depth of the teacher's knowledge (which is truly a necessary asset to a teacher). The idea of teaching is that the student can work the material and develop the skill. I've been to workshops where the speaker was magnificent as a speaker, but I could not use the material once I was alone. That is not a successful lesson or teacher.

Perhaps someone can teach you to do a specific technique and you are or will become better at that technique than your teacher. This is normal. A teacher may use their experience and study just to develop their teaching skill and the techniques they teach. I remember many years ago when I taught a private student karmic astrology, that student blew right by me in the first lesson. I was awed by the innate skill of that student. I asked why they wanted to study with me since they could do far more than I could ever show them. I got an interesting answer. The student said they were very disjointed or disorganized in their efforts and had to rely more on a psychic sense than astrology to put the reading together for their clients. My body of information and teaching methods helped that student to organize their skills and to place their reliance on astrology and not just psychic flashes. The student (or reader) could still use those psychic insights as they are useful in all walks of life. What was learned was a framework with which to work with the client in a more coherent or comprehensive way. That experience taught this teacher something. My skill is as a teacher and my students can become far better astrologers than I will ever be and that must be okay with me. My job is to teach the skill set. My student's job is to take that skill set to the next level. We want our children to do better and be better than us. A student is a child of your mind. You should want the very best for them and that should include becoming better than what you taught them.

There is more to this discussion of why you want to learn astrology. For now I think it is enough for you to think about your personal interests, your motivations, your level of anticipated development, your willingness to devote the time and attention necessary to develop the skill, and your intended application. Are you curious and want to have fun? Go for it. Are you interested in understanding and self-help for your own life? Outstanding, that is a great usage. Are you interested in developing your astrological skills to help others as a professional reader? Go for quality. Are you a natural teacher, ready to help others with what you have come to understand? There are a few good astrological teachers available. I encourage you to use your experience to help others learn.

Marilyn Muir, author, "Presidents of Hope and Change: Bringing Hope to our Future by Reaching into our Astrological Past." How astrology predicts our nation's future by reaching into our past.

Jefferson, Lincoln, Kennedy, Obama... The Lineage of Hope Using the influential and interwoven cycles of Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus and Pluto to predict issues and trends up to 2012 and even beyond to 2025, Ms Muir leaves us with the clear message of hope as she depicts the future of President Obama at the helm of the USA ship of state.

Read the first 36 pages (PDF) including the charts of all four Presidents - you'll get hooked! http://www.marilynmuir.com

Astrological Choices - Sidereal or Tropical Systems

As with most other human endeavors, astrologers don't always keep it simple. There are so many choices for charting, so many techniques and pet theories that it can be difficult to thread your way through the labyrinth of possibilities. Of the people who do believe in Astrology both systems have their adherents, both have their detractors. Do we have a dilemma here? Is one system right and the other not? Are both right? A simple definition of the difference between the Sidereal and Tropical systems should help.

Astrology as we currently know it has been formed from a melting pot of astrological practices from all over the world, ranging from antiquity to modern times. All was retained, little was ever removed from that boatload of information, whether or not it collided, yet everything discovered through new experience was added. Astrology in some form is found on each of Earth's inhabitable continents and elsewhere could be buried under tons of ice and debris or lost to volcanic catastrophes, tsunamis, or earth movement to name a few causes of lost information.

Writing itself is not that old in terms of human occupation of the globe. Most information was handed down orally through the centuries and generations and not all of it made it through to today intact, accurate, or correctly translated. Some of it could be in error, incomplete, re-translated, edited or lost. There is a great body of work, but please try to imagine that such information was perfectly transmitted by selfless beings over the centuries and under all circumstances. That's not remotely possible in my mind, especially when humans are involved. We can be very willful and amazingly destructive. Having said that if a great tablet surfaces somewhere that is carved in lightning by a supreme deity, protected from the possibility of defilement, change, corrosion, erosion and the like, I might be persuaded to pay attention.

There are many sources for astrology and they are quite different from each other. Each was thought to be accurate by those who practiced the method and some are in conflict. What was suitable for a riverbank civilization was not necessarily pertinent to blizzard conditions in the Arctic region or the deserts of the Middle East. Two basic camps of astrology are common depending upon which sky view is in use. Both camps start the zodiac circle with Aries and end with Pisces. This was not always the order in ancient astrology but is true today.

There are those who believe the stars in the sky are "fixed" in relationship to each other and that astrology should therefore be based on the fixed stars and constellations, galactic in measure. Sidereal astrology is used primarily by Jyotish (Hindu) eastern astrologers and also by a minority of western astrologers, This system maps the signs as aligned to the zodiac constellations and maintains a very old system related to constellational astrology, the Fixed Zodiac. At this point in time (2009) Aries occurs from approximately April 14th to May 14th in the sidereal system.

Western Astrology uses a different base from which to measure, the orientation of Earth within our solar system and our evident seasons. The arbitrary beginning is the Vernal Equinox when our Sun, the center of our particular solar system, enters 00 Aries on or about March 21st of each year. The signs follow in order through the zodiac and end with Pisces to complete one full circle just as in the fixed system. Notice the difference in the date of commencement, approximately 24 days difference. This seasonal system is called Tropical Astrology and the majority of western astrologers follow this system (as do I).

Once upon a time these two systems coincided in approximately 290 AD, They have slowly but surely moved apart over the intervening years with the current separation at approximately 24 degrees. Astrology itself underwent a serious transformation just prior to this joining as the body of information known as astrology was seriously researched and codified into a merged body of information, largely due to the influence of Ptolemy. The bulk of western astrological information used today comes from that compendium of information generated and codified at that time. Of course time and experience has added to or modified those methods, but again, little old material is discarded as more is added to the body of knowledge. There is a new drive underway to study the wisdom of our astrological forefathers to develop Classical Astrology. Many well-known astrologers, authors and teachers study and support these old/new rules.

Both the Sidereal and Tropical systems have come down through the ages as reliable systems of information but are quite different in construction and application. Both have strong adherents, some of which are puzzled by the use of the "other" system. Both systems do work, as always depending on the accuracy of the work done, the skill of the astrologer and the experience being explored. My good friend is a Vedic Astrologer, very good at what he does. The entire country of India collectively gets a reading every year for the year ahead. It works for them. Since India has over one billion inhabitants, you can't argue with that kind of success. But the readings for my Vedic friend's Sidereal system and my practice of the Tropical system are very different. Each can contribute to a person's understanding of their life and experience but will follow completely different approaches. My Vedic friend has read for me as well using his system and his interpretation worked in my experience. Again, you can't really argue with success.

There are no rules that say we can't have more than one system. There is no reason to believe that one is ultimately right and the other is ultimately wrong. Each system has its value. Your choice of chart would depend on who you are and what you are seeking from a reading. Acceptance of the technique and information depends on your early conditioning and experience. Whatever reasoning and presentation is "normal" to you will resonate with you much faster and easier. This is not because one system is anymore right than the other, it is simply about what flows easiest for you.

Marilyn Muir, author of "Presidents of Hope and Change: Bringing Hope to our Future by Reaching into our Astrological Past."

Jefferson, Lincoln, Kennedy, Obama... The Lineage of Hope

Based on ground-breaking research by noted astrologer Marilyn Muir, this book describes the remarkable similarities of these four presidents in their Aquarian connections to the USA and their commonalities of character and motivation.

In a non-technical way, the author details how their sky maps (astrological charts) synchronize with the important events that took place during the lifetimes of presidents Jefferson, Lincoln and Kennedy-all of whom held office at profound moments in our nation's history. Ms Muir reaches deeply into the USA past to predict our nation's future. Demonstrating through meticulous astrological research how, under each of these president's watches, the country not only survived deep setbacks, but went onto greater and more successful heights.

The author takes the reader on a fascinating journey through the stars as she details the strengths and weakness in President Obama's own sky map; describing how and where it aligns to not only the birth chart of the USA but also his connections to the specific chart of his own inauguration. Is he the right man for the job?

Read the first 36 pages (PDF) including the charts of all four Presidents - you'll get hooked! http://www.presidentsofhopeandchange.com

Astrological Choices - Moon-based Research, Sun-based Application

Just when I thought I was done with this series I came up with another piece of the astrological choices we consciously or unconsciously make or that others make for us in our ignorance. It is not difficult to know or understand how we make choices unconsciously. Most of us have experienced moments of knee-jerk reactions stemming from some old memory or trauma. We cannot say that they were conscious actions on our part because they stemmed from old conditioning stored in largely forgotten memories. Just how could others make choices for us, of which we are ignorant?

Humanity as it exists this moment includes you and I along with every other person alive on this globe. That count includes the astronauts on the space station and every person airborne. The last time I looked it up that was 6.8 billion. The current collective of humanity is a current rendition of an evolving species. Some of what is in us as a species is hard-wired such as physical survival, perpetuation of the species (sex), and other self-preservation mechanisms. This is often referred to as our reptilian brain functions of which we are largely unaware because they are automatic. We eat and drink. We seek shelter. We want to feel safe. We wear garments to replace the fur we lost or never had (helps with the sensation of vulnerability). We like company. We collect "things". We are territorial. All these and more unconscious motivations are related to instinctual survival and are hard-wired into our physical and psychological make-up. Yes, these traits do get screwed up at moments or may motivate people to the exclusion of common sense, but they are natural to us all. We just do not think about them often.

Humanity is unconsciously conditioned by whatever our ancestors encountered or developed through its long evolution. What has been learned through the ages has become a part of our unconscious makeup. Most of this is inherent in our species but is not necessarily conscious knowledge in an individual human. By analogy, as astrologers we are completely conditioned by the body of information from all over the world that has been developed over the centuries. We take this whole body of information as it exists and study what we know to be old teachings. Initially this was orally transmitted and those records are non-existent. Some were eventually codified and preserved through written documents. Most was researched by untold thousands of practicing astrologers. In modern times, new theories and applications were developed and we absorb those as well, as much as our poor brains can encounter, retain and apply. We do that with both good stuff and bad stuff because we do not necessarily know that the information is one or the other. Unfortunately we do not always practice our powers of discernment.

Just as the mass of humanity has been influenced and educated by huge amounts of historical experience and theory, astrology has been influenced and educated by astrological history and theory. As students we earnestly commit it all to memory and then we forget that we ever knew it until we need it. Magically it appears in our consciousness when the need or application arises. Consciously we forget that we know that unconsciously whatever we encountered has been stored in our vast memory banks. When we need it, somehow we retrieve it instinctively or through triggers provided by that individual wheel.

I have written about this oddity in astrological lore briefly in other articles, but it just struck me this morning that such an ancient information source does affect our Astrological Choices in a very unsuspecting way. This is my personal take on what I think happened. My personal take is not scientific but it is the only one I have.

The ancients observed the skies around planet earth and made observations that were perhaps more calendar related initially. The cycles that affected the Earth profoundly affected their survival. They were in tune with nature and eventually realized that the sky patterns repeated themselves seasonally and could be used as markers. Seasonal observations refined themselves as shorter-term cycles were incorporated. The lunar cycle was easy to see, measure and codify so carvings of it showed up on some of our earliest relics. Observation of cyclic activity of all sorts developed along with application to human experience. Astrology became an oral tradition, recorded in a rudimentary fashion on physical objects, today's relics. Eventually it became a written body of information.

I have described the overall effect of the developing body of information that came to be known as astrology. However there is an interesting underlying effect that I have encountered only in a few references of my 35+ years of studying astrology. Ancient man studied the night sky for the most part. Why? The Sun was so bright during daylight hours that making observation of other objects or patterns difficult if not impossible. The night sky was what ancient man studied for the most part. The Sun for its part was very predictable. The Sun rose every morning and set every evening. It was not only visible but it was dominant during the day and eliminated visibility of most other cosmic objects except the fluctuating Moon. Occasionally rain, fog or blizzard obscured direct vision, but the effect of its light was observed throughout the day. A rainy day was still far brighter than any night.

Motion of the rising Sun set the calendar as it moved through the seasons, further north at the summer solstice, further south in the winter solstice, and directly on the center horizon point during the spring and autumn equinoxes. Measurement of the various stone circles such as Glastonbury shows that our ancestors could precisely measure such solar phenomenon. These were the seasonal markers previously mentioned: spring, summer, autumn, winter helped ancient man with his physical survival, migration patterns, planting, hunting, celebrations and rituals. Other than that the night sky was what could be observed for greater detail. Once the Sun descended below the horizon at dusk the universe suddenly became crystal clear (white on dark) until the dawn announced the arrival of the Sun the next day. Yes, hazily at dawn and dusk, we might be able to see Venus or Mercury as Morning or Evening Star for a few minutes and perhaps we might see Jupiter occasionally (which is quite bright at times). It would have looked like an interloper because it was not part of the usual pattern. If that is true, Jupiter might have been seen as a challenger to the supremacy of the Sun. The Sun would eventually win that imagined battle because Jupiter, if ever visible, would not stay visible near the Sun for long. This occasional possibility would have presented an interesting story in itself.

Logically, the huge body of astrological information developed over the eons of our existence was primarily based on observation of the night sky. Much of the recording of data was devoted to the lunar patterns, which is the largest and closest body to us. This is our Cosmic Mom, counterpart to Cosmic Dad, the Sun. Because of the peculiarities of size and distance, they appear to be a matched pair in size and in the ability to shed light on our world. Continually changing, the Moon returning now and again to her husband the Sun, these were the celestial pair whose repetition of a 29-day reunion was seen as the celestial marriage. The Moon's light diminished as she approached her husband the Sun and he was supreme in that moment of conception, overwhelming her with its light-giving rays. In about two days, the Moon again became visible as a crescent near the horizon as a steadily enlarging body. She was thought to be pregnant with life until she released that treasure at what we call Full Moon, that which had been conceived at the prior union (New Moon). Then Mom gradually diminished in size as she prepared for her next encounter with her husband, the Sun. The Sun was the planter of the seed and the Moon was the womb and carrier for that seed. Many old rituals were based around this celestial marriage.

Ancient astrologers were few and far between and attended to the needs of the state and its leader as society developed. As national treasures, astrologers were bound to their service and while not technically prisoners, they were not allowed to stray too far. So astrologers were quite isolated in their studies and practice. In addition, astrologers had better be right or their lives could be forfeit. The kings and regents had full power and control over everything, including life and death. While it might not be a good to kill your only astrologer, the ruler just might exercise that power. Now there is a hard line to walk on, do you think? Would you have wanted to be an astrologer during those exciting times? Just how good an astrologer are you?

Once travel became easier and astrologers were free to move about and meet each other, they eventually got together a couple of thousand years ago. At that time they collectively gave prime influence to the Sun. They took the entire body of what appears to have been lunar-based information that had been gathered over millenia and ascribed it to our current Sun-based system. I find that adaptation interesting. They took a lunar-based body of information and made it into a solar-based application. I certainly cannot argue with their expertise as they were much closer to the source than I can ever be. However, I do believe some discrepancies may have developed as the basis of the observations and resource were re-dedicated to a differently-based system.

As you study astrology, know that such choices were made for you by a group of then well-known and respected ancient astrologers a couple of thousand years ago. When you learn astrological systems, they may have been influenced by that particular set of educated decisions. Astrological research on these old systems and bodies of information has been and is being conducted by very smart professional astrologers and researchers.

Do not ever be afraid to question your astrological knowns. If they are valid they will hold up under scrutiny. If the information does not hold up to research and questioning, be prepared to let it go or supplant it with new, provable sources. I tend to put such questionable practices on a back burner until I can learn more about them. I'm not good at throwing stuff away just because it presents a puzzle. I will wait until I can prove or disprove it before I decide to throw away what has worked successfully for others. As an astrologer you are like a book that is continually being written. Your knowledge is subject to correction, edit, and new information. I find that very exciting.

Marilyn Muir, author, "Presidents of Hope and Change: Bringing Hope to our Future by Reaching into our Astrological Past."
How astrology predicts our nation's future by reaching into our past.

Jefferson, Lincoln, Kennedy, Obama... The Lineage of Hope
Using the influential and interwoven cycles of Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus and Pluto to predict issues and trends up to 2012 and even beyond to 2025, Ms Muir leaves us with the clear message of hope as she depicts the future of President Obama at the helm of the USA ship of state.

Read the first 36 pages (PDF) including the charts of all four Presidents - you'll get hooked!
http://www.marilynmuir.com

Astrological Choices - What Kind of Astrologer Will You Choose Or Choose to Be?

In any human issue category there is a huge number of service providers to choose from and astrology is no exception. Just put any category title into a search engine and you can get thousands or even millions of possibilities. On a moment of curiosity I just Googled my own name and got 4,120,000 entries. I had no idea I was that popular (me and every other name like mine). This staggering amount of information is so far beyond anyone's ability to research just one item meaningfully. Just how do you determine quality within such enormous quantity?

Since our subject is astrology and astrologers, does an astrologer have to be professional, accredited, famous, or just plain available? If you happen to be a budding astrologer you will have to make choices as to what kind of an astrologer you will become. Your choices will involve the services you offer to clients, your skill and credibility. plus personal motivations and goals. I am offering an overview of several considerations to help you make valid astrological choices for yourself and eventually for what you offer your clients. As you understand what underlies your own motivations and choices you should be able to apply the same reasoning to the choice of an astrologer to read you.

Motivation - Where are you coming from in your philosophic outlook? Do you see this as a service project, a way to make money, a profession, love of the study itself or some other basic personal drive? Are you more interested in self-help, fun, business, relationship, evolution, or other astrological technique? How does a study or work of this type fit into your personal belief systems? Personally you will need to resolve any inherent conflicts or face a lifetime of self-questioning. When choosing an astrologer to read for you, you need to be aware that they face the same questions in their own choices.

Personality - Are you clinical or a more personally sensitive person? Some readers are subjectively involved in their reading. Others readers prefer objectivity. Astrology provides a diagram, a personal map of an entity in wheel form that allows examination of their life. You can use the wheel in so many different ways. One of those is the choice between the subjective or objective approach. Do you prefer the personal approach or the arms-length approach? Do you want for yourself or do you want to provide others with a once a year reading done in a one-hour increment perhaps in writing or on a pre-recorded tape or even computer generated? Do you want for yourself or do you want to provide others personal access with the ability to call back with questions? Each of us is human and will choose the role most comfortable, the one that fits into our personal norms and provides us with good results. Look at your self first. How do you see yourself reading as an astrologer? Do you want to be the clinician or the sensitive when you read for others? Then take those questions a step further. What kind of astrologer would you choose to read for you? Do you want the clinician or the sensitive to read you?

Setting - Are you more comfortable in a business-like setting such as a formal office, for either seeing or becoming an astrologer? Are you more comfortable in a home-like atmosphere for being read by another or in doing a reading for another? Do you want strangers ((before the reading) inside your personal space because each person who enters our personal space whether they be astrologers or not bring their personal influence into our space. With the many years I have practiced astrology, I have read clients in both in a business and a personal setting and I have encountered myriad settings when someone reads me. We do what is available and what is comfortable to us. Perhaps your choices will involve the possibility of a setting, urban or rural, private or public, or availability of resource. Many students study in quiet because of religious or philosophical differences with their personal families and their extended or cultural families, Each of us have the choice of setting whether we are studying, or being read or we are reading for a client.

Learning Curve - When I started astrology I was self-taught, spending the first few years busting the books. I never realized there were teachers in my area so I did not have specific teachers. Later I started reading for others and eventually teaching others. If you can learn through this self-taught method, it is simply one specific way to learn. If you were fortunate enough to have a teacher or an established class it is just as valid and possibly much easier than my alone journey. One learning method is not better than another, it is just different. You should choose from what is available to you and feels the most comfortable to your own learning preferences. Students become astrologers by practicing their craft not just by reading or listening. Method and technique are just a means to an end. The proof will always be in the readings. This is true of your own information gathering and conclusions as well as the same learning curve in other readers.

Credibility - This should be a big issue astrologically. There are the usual issues of honesty, integrity, and respect for privacy. No one wants to encounter a scam artist, but they are out there in the same numbers as any other human activity. Just because someone presents themselves as spiritually motivated does not make it so. A spiritually motivated person acts spiritually, never dishonestly. Remember, I am describing both you and any outside counselor you choose to read you. You must be discerning...not judgmental, just observant and dispassionate in your choices. Trust your own instincts. If you feel uncomfortable with a reader, move on to find another. When you have a reading of any type, you allow another human being (potentially unknown game-changer) to walk around in your mind. You need to be comfortable in such choices. Having said all that about an outside reader, you need to face and develop those same credibility issues within yourself as you develop your skills and offer your services. It is important that you have honesty, integrity and respect for privacy. An individual's birth map in skilled hands has no secrets. Astrologers must be respectful of such trust. You have the right to expect that same respect when you put your birth map in the hands of another.

More on Credibility - Unfortunately as mentioned wherever there are humans there will be issues of misuse of information or skills. There are fakes and charletans in every category of humanity. Some people seem to be inherently dishonest and the field of reading is no exception. Again...you must be discerning. If you get burned, consider it an unfortunate life lesson and move on but do not repeat your poor choice or recommend others to that poor choice. Word of mouth advertising is both the best and the worst advertising possible. If you are damaged in any way (financial damage is the least of your concerns), go for remedy or healing as soon as possible. Don't let a problem fester from something minor into something major over time.

If you encounter one who is continually trying to pedal outside services such as lighting candles to prevent negative happenings, preying on your guilt or grief in personal tragedy, or other similar nonsense, it has nothing to do with astrology. An honest astrologer will not go down that negative path. I have run into people who have needed help with such unnecessary negativity in their lives and have helped them as part of my service as a human being. This help was not astrological in nature. To me it was necessary and healing in nature. Choose carefully those you allow into your mind and life. Choose carefully what kind of an astrologer you will become because you have the potential to profoundly influence another person's life and choices. ABC - Always Be Credible.

Information Flow - Astrologers should be able to tell you about yourself and your life without the information pump being primed. I do not believe a reading would be valid and honest if I were to ask you a bunch of questions first or allow you to load me down with information. If I am any good at what I do, I really should not need to do that. I might choose to question an either/or conundrum in the middle of a reading, such as "It could be this or that, how do you see this working in your life?" If you feed me information and I feed it back to you as a reading, it is simply not honest. I ask clients not to volunteer information about themselves and their lives and to allow me to generate the information from the wheel itself. That way I know I am getting the information from the patterns and not prior knowledge of the person. I can't stop people from talking and telling me personal information I would rather not know, but I do try, My solution? I ask my clients if they want to hear their voice or my voice on the tape recording of our session. That is a good illustration of my desire for the cleanest possible reading. Oh...the answer is yes, I do tape my readings. I speak very fast for probably an hour or more and that is difficult to take in with one run-through. As the reading progresses, more and more of the individual is revealed through the reading process and that is natural. Just don't initially prime the information pump whether you are being read or if you are giving a reading.

Credentials - What about credentials? It is possible to go through standardized astrological testing to establish credentials as to your skill. There are several organizations who can administer such tests should you choose and these tests are quite difficult. I know very good astrologers who never bothered to be tested and some equally as good astrologers who did go through the testing procedure. The choice to do or not to do is always individual. A problem would occur if one group decided their way was the only way. But then again astrologers are still considered to be of the human species so there is nothing unusual about the ego running away with the mouth, is there? If you choose an astrologer to read for you, know that passing such testing simply specifies that an astrologer has a grasp and comprehension of the basics of astrology which truly is a great basis for an astrologer. As I said before, proof of skill will always be in the readings themselves.

Psychic or Astrology - Are you psychic as well as an astrologer and want to blend those skills? Astrological skill is very different from psychic sensitivity. I practice and teach both so I do understand the distinction. Psychic stems from an emotional, instinctive or feeling basis and astrology stems from an intellectual, intuitive or reasoning basis. From my perspective, if you are psychic you can apply that skill to any level of your life and it should be a benefit to you and others (if you are reasonably accurate). Psychic has nothing to do with astrology per se, but can be as useful in that context as well. My personal astrologer was both psychic and a good astrologer and successfully blended those skills. Personally I keep those skills separate at least most of the time. My choice. Do you want a purist to read for you as a psychic or an astrologer or are you comfortable with a merged skill set?

These are a few of the issues that you will encounter as you choose an astrologer for yourself or choose to act as an astrologer for others.

Marilyn Muir, author, "Presidents of Hope and Change: Bringing Hope to our Future by Reaching into our Astrological Past." How astrology predicts our nation's future by reaching into our past.

Jefferson, Lincoln, Kennedy, Obama... The Lineage of Hope Using the influential and interwoven cycles of Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus and Pluto to predict issues and trends up to 2012 and even beyond to 2025, Ms Muir leaves us with the clear message of hope as she depicts the future of President Obama at the helm of the USA ship of state.

Read the first 36 pages (PDF) including the charts of all four Presidents - you'll get hooked! http://www.marilynmuir.com

Astrological Choices - Moon-based Research, Sun-based Application

Just when I thought I was done with this series I came up with another piece of the astrological choices we consciously or unconsciously make or that others make for us in our ignorance. It is not difficult to know or understand how we make choices unconsciously. Most of us have experienced moments of knee-jerk reactions stemming from some old memory or trauma. We cannot say that they were conscious actions on our part because they stemmed from old conditioning stored in largely forgotten memories. Just how could others make choices for us, of which we are ignorant?

Humanity as it exists this moment includes you and I along with every other person alive on this globe. That count includes the astronauts on the space station and every person airborne. The last time I looked it up that was 6.8 billion. The current collective of humanity is a current rendition of an evolving species. Some of what is in us as a species is hard-wired such as physical survival, perpetuation of the species (sex), and other self-preservation mechanisms. This is often referred to as our reptilian brain functions of which we are largely unaware because they are automatic. We eat and drink. We seek shelter. We want to feel safe. We wear garments to replace the fur we lost or never had (helps with the sensation of vulnerability). We like company. We collect "things". We are territorial. All these and more unconscious motivations are related to instinctual survival and are hard-wired into our physical and psychological make-up. Yes, these traits do get screwed up at moments or may motivate people to the exclusion of common sense, but they are natural to us all. We just do not think about them often.

Humanity is unconsciously conditioned by whatever our ancestors encountered or developed through its long evolution. What has been learned through the ages has become a part of our unconscious makeup. Most of this is inherent in our species but is not necessarily conscious knowledge in an individual human. By analogy, as astrologers we are completely conditioned by the body of information from all over the world that has been developed over the centuries. We take this whole body of information as it exists and study what we know to be old teachings. Initially this was orally transmitted and those records are non-existent. Some were eventually codified and preserved through written documents. Most was researched by untold thousands of practicing astrologers. In modern times, new theories and applications were developed and we absorb those as well, as much as our poor brains can encounter, retain and apply. We do that with both good stuff and bad stuff because we do not necessarily know that the information is one or the other. Unfortunately we do not always practice our powers of discernment.

Just as the mass of humanity has been influenced and educated by huge amounts of historical experience and theory, astrology has been influenced and educated by astrological history and theory. As students we earnestly commit it all to memory and then we forget that we ever knew it until we need it. Magically it appears in our consciousness when the need or application arises. Consciously we forget that we know that unconsciously whatever we encountered has been stored in our vast memory banks. When we need it, somehow we retrieve it instinctively or through triggers provided by that individual wheel.

I have written about this oddity in astrological lore briefly in other articles, but it just struck me this morning that such an ancient information source does affect our Astrological Choices in a very unsuspecting way. This is my personal take on what I think happened. My personal take is not scientific but it is the only one I have.

The ancients observed the skies around planet earth and made observations that were perhaps more calendar related initially. The cycles that affected the Earth profoundly affected their survival. They were in tune with nature and eventually realized that the sky patterns repeated themselves seasonally and could be used as markers. Seasonal observations refined themselves as shorter-term cycles were incorporated. The lunar cycle was easy to see, measure and codify so carvings of it showed up on some of our earliest relics. Observation of cyclic activity of all sorts developed along with application to human experience. Astrology became an oral tradition, recorded in a rudimentary fashion on physical objects, today's relics. Eventually it became a written body of information.

I have described the overall effect of the developing body of information that came to be known as astrology. However there is an interesting underlying effect that I have encountered only in a few references of my 35+ years of studying astrology. Ancient man studied the night sky for the most part. Why? The Sun was so bright during daylight hours that making observation of other objects or patterns difficult if not impossible. The night sky was what ancient man studied for the most part. The Sun for its part was very predictable. The Sun rose every morning and set every evening. It was not only visible but it was dominant during the day and eliminated visibility of most other cosmic objects except the fluctuating Moon. Occasionally rain, fog or blizzard obscured direct vision, but the effect of its light was observed throughout the day. A rainy day was still far brighter than any night.

Motion of the rising Sun set the calendar as it moved through the seasons, further north at the summer solstice, further south in the winter solstice, and directly on the center horizon point during the spring and autumn equinoxes. Measurement of the various stone circles such as Glastonbury shows that our ancestors could precisely measure such solar phenomenon. These were the seasonal markers previously mentioned: spring, summer, autumn, winter helped ancient man with his physical survival, migration patterns, planting, hunting, celebrations and rituals. Other than that the night sky was what could be observed for greater detail. Once the Sun descended below the horizon at dusk the universe suddenly became crystal clear (white on dark) until the dawn announced the arrival of the Sun the next day. Yes, hazily at dawn and dusk, we might be able to see Venus or Mercury as Morning or Evening Star for a few minutes and perhaps we might see Jupiter occasionally (which is quite bright at times). It would have looked like an interloper because it was not part of the usual pattern. If that is true, Jupiter might have been seen as a challenger to the supremacy of the Sun. The Sun would eventually win that imagined battle because Jupiter, if ever visible, would not stay visible near the Sun for long. This occasional possibility would have presented an interesting story in itself.

Logically, the huge body of astrological information developed over the eons of our existence was primarily based on observation of the night sky. Much of the recording of data was devoted to the lunar patterns, which is the largest and closest body to us. This is our Cosmic Mom, counterpart to Cosmic Dad, the Sun. Because of the peculiarities of size and distance, they appear to be a matched pair in size and in the ability to shed light on our world. Continually changing, the Moon returning now and again to her husband the Sun, these were the celestial pair whose repetition of a 29-day reunion was seen as the celestial marriage. The Moon's light diminished as she approached her husband the Sun and he was supreme in that moment of conception, overwhelming her with its light-giving rays. In about two days, the Moon again became visible as a crescent near the horizon as a steadily enlarging body. She was thought to be pregnant with life until she released that treasure at what we call Full Moon, that which had been conceived at the prior union (New Moon). Then Mom gradually diminished in size as she prepared for her next encounter with her husband, the Sun. The Sun was the planter of the seed and the Moon was the womb and carrier for that seed. Many old rituals were based around this celestial marriage.

Ancient astrologers were few and far between and attended to the needs of the state and its leader as society developed. As national treasures, astrologers were bound to their service and while not technically prisoners, they were not allowed to stray too far. So astrologers were quite isolated in their studies and practice. In addition, astrologers had better be right or their lives could be forfeit. The kings and regents had full power and control over everything, including life and death. While it might not be a good to kill your only astrologer, the ruler just might exercise that power. Now there is a hard line to walk on, do you think? Would you have wanted to be an astrologer during those exciting times? Just how good an astrologer are you?

Once travel became easier and astrologers were free to move about and meet each other, they eventually got together a couple of thousand years ago. At that time they collectively gave prime influence to the Sun. They took the entire body of what appears to have been lunar-based information that had been gathered over millenia and ascribed it to our current Sun-based system. I find that adaptation interesting. They took a lunar-based body of information and made it into a solar-based application. I certainly cannot argue with their expertise as they were much closer to the source than I can ever be. However, I do believe some discrepancies may have developed as the basis of the observations and resource were re-dedicated to a differently-based system.

As you study astrology, know that such choices were made for you by a group of then well-known and respected ancient astrologers a couple of thousand years ago. When you learn astrological systems, they may have been influenced by that particular set of educated decisions. Astrological research on these old systems and bodies of information has been and is being conducted by very smart professional astrologers and researchers.

Do not ever be afraid to question your astrological knowns. If they are valid they will hold up under scrutiny. If the information does not hold up to research and questioning, be prepared to let it go or supplant it with new, provable sources. I tend to put such questionable practices on a back burner until I can learn more about them. I'm not good at throwing stuff away just because it presents a puzzle. I will wait until I can prove or disprove it before I decide to throw away what has worked successfully for others. As an astrologer you are like a book that is continually being written. Your knowledge is subject to correction, edit, and new information. I find that very exciting.

Marilyn Muir, author, "Presidents of Hope and Change: Bringing Hope to our Future by Reaching into our Astrological Past."
How astrology predicts our nation's future by reaching into our past.

Jefferson, Lincoln, Kennedy, Obama... The Lineage of Hope
Using the influential and interwoven cycles of Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus and Pluto to predict issues and trends up to 2012 and even beyond to 2025, Ms Muir leaves us with the clear message of hope as she depicts the future of President Obama at the helm of the USA ship of state.

Read the first 36 pages (PDF) including the charts of all four Presidents - you'll get hooked!
http://www.marilynmuir.com

Astrological Choices - Astrological Lore, Its Relevance and Practioners

Astrology is an amazing body of information handed down through numerous generations for literally thousands of years. Through several millenniums astronomy (the measure) and astrology (the interpretation) were one body of information. What started as a combination, with the two sciences treated as one, lasted until fairly recently (the last 300 years or so). Recent history shows the physical sciences began their codification and separated from those elements of their origin which were more speculative in nature. Astrology was commonly practiced in other scientific fields beyond the mere measurements of astronomy as well. A few examples should illustrate some of these broad applications.

· Astrology was an important tool for the medical profession and a doctor who did not know astrology was thought to be lacking, perhaps unworthy of his title.

· Mythology is the history of mankind told as story and parable. Astrologers fully used this mythological symbolism to illustrate their readings. Carl Jung, a modern day psychiatrist/psychologist thought that astrology was the psychology of the ancients.

· Agriculture still relies on lunar and solar cycles. Almanacs from some of the earliest records depict the lunar cycle in some of the oldest human artifacts and cave drawings.

· The courts and kings of countries from all over the world relied on their astrologers for counsel to their rulers and for the start and outcome of warfare. The astrological scholars of those days were expected to be right every time. That is particularly difficult to do unless your name is God. History illustrates that false counsel and error could, and did lead to death. That would give you pause, would it not?

· Some countries and cultures revered their prophecies and predictions and others reviled them. Why? Do you suppose the ruling class and religious institutions might have feared the power of prophecy and the people who had the capability to predict the rise and fall of a king, a country, or a religious order?

As with any human endeavor or practice, astrology has waxed and waned in interest and is continually subject to change and revision. What is suitable for one country, environment, climate, culture or philosophy might not be suitable for another. For example, what worked for a waterfront culture might not work in the mountains. Once upon a time these local forms were isolated to one location. Since the advent of world travel and the blending of world cultures, these once distinct practices have been merged. Over the centuries, there has been a sorting and triaging of measurements, techniques and interpretations that has developed.

Evolution requires a constant updating and revising of all fields of human endeavor and astrology is no exception. Science, astronomy, medicine, or law must grow and change or become a stagnant pool of old and useless information. The softer human subjects such as religion, philosophy, education, psychology and yes, astrology, must grow, change and develop as our planet and our human races grow, change and develop. We cannot continually repeat the old teachings ad infinitum, or stagnation or devolution would occur. Progress and change is necessary to growth and evolution. The universe itself is progressing, changing and moving constantly and we must keep up or be left behind.

There are always tried and true principles at the core of any practice. There are principles that do not really change with time or experience, such as gravity. The Sun is believed to be a hot, large gaseous body that exerts gravitational control over our solar system. This principle contains a basic truism we rely upon whether looking back 1000 years, in the present, or a 1000 years in the future. Unless something specific happens to change our minds, that principle has proven to be a pretty reliable belief worldwide.

Other word choices to describe the Sun might not be as universal as those few concepts. For example, if you are in a desert country, or on Earth's equator, your experience of the Sun will be different than that of an Eskimo. Your concepts and interpretations will be different as well. Take that same concept and apply it to any other human practice. Individual experience creates perceptions and we move forward in life based on our developing perceptions. That statement is true of an individual, a group of people, a continent, a world, or for all the subjects we could list.

It is important that as astrologers we recognize the compendium of human experience that is the body of astrological lore and exercise discernment and discretion as to what is appropriate and what is not appropriate to each experience and individual. It is important that since life is continually changing and evolving that we as astrologers keep pace with the change and with the evolution in all phases of life. Each new experience, each change, each discovery, and each modification must be incorporated into that compendium we call astrology.

Astrological interpretation is subject to the skill of its practitioners. We must learn for ourselves what works and what does not. We must examine, develop and contribute to the overall body of knowledge. In short we must expect the best from ourselves. We must respect the same in others and expect their best efforts in return. We must root out discrepancies, error, misuse or blatant dishonesty if we should ever encounter it in ourselves or in others. We are students, readers, researchers, teachers and guides. As such, we should always strive to act in the highest and best interest of those whose lives we touch. We must reach for this excellence not only for our individual clients, but also for the highest and best interest of our subject, astrology, and for those who will follow us down through the centuries.

Skepticism is not new to astrology, it has been with us the whole ride, Skeptics are not going to go away just because we would like them to or we are uncomfortable with them. Skepticism, when viewed objectively, can be positive and constructive and will keep us honest. Of course some skepticism can be very negative, be without foundation or be just plain mean. There are always people out there who just love to rain on other people's parade. If you believe in what you say, in what you read, in what you study, or what you believe, be prepared to stand your ground. If you don't believe in your work or your study of that work, you can be an instant victim of those who deride what they do not know or understand.

An opinion is just that. It is not automatic or ultimate knowledge. Those who have not studied may feel they are entitled to an opinion, as uninformed as it must be by their simple lack of knowledge of their subject. It does not matter what that subject is. Those who fancy themselves as scientists or scientific in principle or practice, fall into that same category. If they are uninformed in the study of astrology, it is just an opinion. A title or an educational degree does not ever make you knowledgeable about every subject. If you have not taken the time to study fairly, or to investigate and research properly, a degree or title only gives a loftier opinion, not an expert opinion.

As an individual, I am free to discuss whatever subject I choose. If I want to be taken seriously it is always a good idea to identify my skills, experience and knowledge base for that specific subject if I expect to act as a skilled or credible advocate/detractor. As people, if we don't know, we could easily admit that we don't know. Do you know how difficult it is to come clean and admit something like that for most people? Humans have a built-in knee-jerk reaction to certain subjects (we all have them), or they merely repeat or parrot what they have heard or read without any personal knowledge. Astrologers are people. Astrology is a subject. Both develop over time, through trial and error. Some astrologers fizzle - some blossom - some get very full of themselves and start believing their own press and publicity - and some are humbled by the opportunity to help others or contribute to the body of information. How each individual uses knowledge is a moment-to-moment choice and can get away from us if we are not careful.

Astrology as used for an individual reading will only be as good as the skill, motivation and attitude of the astrologer. The chart can be right (accurately cast) and the reading can be wrong (personal skill and choice). Besides, it is much harder to predict than it seems. At times I have been very, very right but I've also been wrong over the many years of my study and application. I would not have stuck with this study of 35+ years unless I saw a return on my investment of time and effort. However, I am still in school and will continue to be until I draw my last physical breath. So I will win some and I lose some, as all of us do.

Where are you in all this? Are you excited about what you are learning? Are you excited about the self-help tool astrology can be? Are you excited to share what you are learning with others? Can you live with the fact that not everyone will be interested, will listen or will follow your viewpoint? Can you keep a lid on your ego and identification with your successes? Can you learn that failure is part of learning and that at times it might seem like two steps forward and one step backwards? Can you develop the ability not to throw the baby out with the bathwater if you make an error? Can you learn that doubt or skepticism encountered at moments in your development should not defeat your overall goal? Can you revel in your successes and take your failures in stride? If yes, hang on and enjoy the ride.

Marilyn Muir, author, "Presidents of Hope and Change: Bringing Hope to our Future by Reaching into our Astrological Past." How astrology predicts our nation's future by reaching into our past.

Jefferson, Lincoln, Kennedy, Obama... The Lineage of Hope
Using the influential and interwoven cycles of Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus and Pluto to predict issues and trends up to 2012 and even beyond to 2025, Ms Muir leaves us with the clear message of hope as she depicts the future of President Obama at the helm of the USA ship of state.
Read the first 36 pages (PDF) including the charts of all four Presidents - you'll get hooked!
http://www.marilynmuir.com