 This is the final post of a 4-part series on how to become an astrologer. There can be murky waters being an astrologer. When you’re consulting with people about their lives, and getting intimate knowledge about their lives, murky waters are always close by. First and foremost, confidentiality is an absolute must. People need to know they can trust that you won’t spill the beans about their lives (unless, of course, you’re made aware of illegal activity that can harm people, especially minors, or any kind terrorist activity - that would be common sense, I think!).
The NGCR-PAA has a decent code of ethics that you should read here (it only applies to members, but is a good basic outline for all astrologers): http://www.astrologersalliance.org/about-us/ethics-statement.html The one thing I don’t quite go with in that code is not confusing or being offensive to others. Yes, you should try not to confuse people or offend them, but the problem is, there are people who are confused or offended by everything, and you can’t control what people understand or will accept 100%. So you do your best, but know you can’t please or reach everyone. Some people just wanna be mad and take stuff out on you. Legally, you shouldn’t perform readings for anyone under 18, and you’re required in some places to say that it’s for “entertainment purposes only” and that a reading “isn’t a substitute for legal, medical or other professional advice.” Disclose your rules about your readings/consultations to someone beforehand, if you have any (including what you will/won’t cover, follow-up question policies, and refund policies). It’s usually a good idea to say that you have the right to refuse to perform any reading at any time for any reason. This covers you when you stumble upon someone you want to run away from as far as you can. Yes, those nut jobs are going to come, so don’t be afraid to walk away. If you find they have a mental health issue they’re not addressing, a substance abuse problem, engage in harassing or abusive behavior, you can and should terminate the consult immediately, give a refund, and move on. When you cut it off, be quick and as least-offensive as you can be, but they probably won’t take it well, so be prepared for some anger. For some comfort, most people in that position will be too concerned about other people knowing their problems, so they won’t air their grievances publicly. Generally, you shouldn’t address anything definitively, making statements like, “You’ll never get married,” or “You’ll never have children.” "Never" is a long time! Death is also a dicey subject that’s usually best steered away from; if you see strong death energy in a reading with someone, approach it delicately, and always offer the other ways the energy can manifest. Medical astrologers tend to be the ones who have to be the most careful. With medical astrology, you have to make sure that you’re clear about this not being a substitute for seeing a doctor, taking medications, receiving treatments, etc., and that you’re not a medical professional (unless, of course, you actually are, so it might be a good idea to have a medical background). It’s also a good idea to make clear that you’re not responsible for outcomes, and that everyone has their own free will. So, that concludes this series of posts on how to become an astrologer! In case you missed the first 3, here they are: Part 1: Study and Practice Part 2: Specialize Part 3: It's a Business  This is part 3 of a 4-part series on how to become an astrologer. It’s easy to forget this part, but if you want this to be your job, astrology is a business. Most astrologers are like musicians, lost in the art and don’t want to concern themselves with the business side of things, but if you want this to work, you kinda have to. When you’re an astrologer, you’re working for yourself, and should approach this just like any other entrepreneur approaches their business. You need to be professional and act accordingly. If you want to be an astrologer, you need to be the kind of person who can work for themselves and not spend all day searching cat videos.
Being an astrologer, you quickly find that you have to deal with all sorts of things that have nothing to do with astrology. In the modern world, you need to have an internet presence, which first and foremost means a website and/or blog where people can find info on you, your services, and flesh you out for themselves. This requires some knowledge of how to build a website or blog, design, coding, SEO, analytics, etc. You don’t need to be a tech genius for any of that, especially these days, and can find lots of tutorials online. If you have the money, you can always hire someone else to do this for you, but chances are, you don’t. So there’s so trial and error involved, and learning as you go along with this tech stuff. Social networking has become an important part of any company, and it’s even more important when your job hinges on networking with people, which is the case for astrologers. I resisted social networking for a long time, loathe it with a passion, and do it begrudgingly, hating myself every moment I’m tweeting. But I suck it up. Most of you probably don’t hate social networking, so you won’t have the same issue I do with it. But you do need to remember that you’re selling yourself and your services. These accounts should NOT be treated the same way as personal social networking accounts. Behave professionally, keep it focused on astrology, and don’t post too much personal stuff (no drunk tweeting, no photos of your dog in a tutu, etc.). Use them as a way to find new clients, and showcase your skills. You can use a lot of the same kind of ideas and methods other business owners use to enhance their social networking presence. Some of you may want to consider starting an email list/newsletter. This can be a great way to find new clients, increase your audience, and again, showcase your skills. You can write astrological tidbits, offer exclusive deals on readings, give your consultation schedule, perform sample readings, and just help people get more comfortable with you (comfortable enough to get a reading from you). All of you have to work on getting your name out there. Social networking helps with this, but it can be slow. One of the best ways to get yourself out there is through writing. Find websites where you can submit guest articles and come up with ideas (they don’t even have to be astrology websites; if it’s for something else, find a way to write an article that ties astrology to their subject matter). You won’t be paid for this though, so it is free work. If you want to be paid for writing, peruse job boards or join job sites like odesk that offer paid writing work. I worked as a freelance horoscope writer for several years, and wrote daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly horoscopes for various websites, apps, and books. It’s a great way to gain more experience, make connections, and make some extra money while you’re building your business. Most major astrologers write horoscopes somewhere, so this is a skill you may want to consider developing (if that's a skill you'd like to work on, stay tuned in April). And of course, blog! You can create just a blog, or a website with a blog, and write posts regularly. It doesn’t have to be daily, but it does have to be often at first. Again, this is free, but you get full credit (and helps with searches), and if you monetize your website/blog with ads, then you get a little pay. If you’re a good enough writer, you can submit to smaller publishers book ideas you have, or you can create your own ebooks and sell them online. The former gets you a wider audience, but the latter gives you full creative control and control over your message. For a more-pay version, you can also ghostwrite astrology books (something else I did), which helps give you some experience and connections, and pays better. If you’re not so good with writing and prefer speaking or video, consider making YouTube videos or podcasts that you post on your website/blog. A web series could be a great way to introduce yourself to new potential clients. Be disciplined, and be ready to dedicate yourself. Like any entrepreneur, you’ll be working 24/7. Vacations? What’s that? Weekends? That’s just two more days for work. I used to hate those annoying phone people who are always working on their phones - then I became one! If this is going to be your job, your career, you have to be willing to put in the hours. Part 1: Study and Practice Part 2: Specialize Part 4: Ethics March 2015 Full & New Moons: Full Moon in Virgo & Solar Eclipse in Pisces
A full moon occurs when the transit (moving) Sun and Moon are exactly opposing one another in the zodiac. It tends to signal a time of endings, culminations, and things coming to fruition. A new moon occurs when the transit Sun and Moon are in the exact same spot in the zodiac. It tends to signal a time of new opportunities, growth, and optimism. A solar eclipse is like an amped up new moon, and can impact you for up to six months. For information on how the new/full moons may impact your sign, read the monthly horoscope. March 5th 2015 Full Moon in Virgo A full moon occurs at 1:05PM ET at 14 degrees 50 minutes of Virgo. In Virgo, we obsess over the details. We pay attention to every little thing and drive everyone and ourselves bonkers. We try to bring order to chaos, but we force too much structure and rules that don’t work. We demand too much from ourselves, absolute perfection, and need to cut ourselves some slack. You’re only human. We need to work on keeping our stress down, otherwise we can see some issues creep up, and it might seem like everyone is catching a bug. This full moon trines (positive aspect) transit (moving) Pluto in Capricorn, and we can get the power we want and take control back, and see those in authority try to do the right thing. If you're a Virgo Sun, Moon, or mid-Virgo rising, you may feel the effects of this moon most. March 20th 2015 Solar Eclipse in Pisces A solar eclipse occurs at 5:36AM ET at 29 degrees 27 minutes of Pisces. In Pisces, this solar eclipse puts the spotlight on our empathy, compassion, and ability to help others. We focus more on trying to reach out and help those who can’t help themselves. Since this eclipse is at 29 degrees, the Anaretic degree, the energy is amplified, and we can go a little too far helping others, or not go far enough. We have to find the right balance when it comes to reaching out. Fantasy can become important, and it can take over reality if we’re not careful. This can also be a critical time regarding water, our oceans, marine life, and we can see oil spills, chemical contamination coming to light, and we try to make people act responsibly. If you're a Pisces Sun, Moon, or late Pisces rising, you may feels the effects of this moon most. General horoscopes are always meant for entertainment purposes only. For a more accurate view, read your Sun sign, Rising sign, and Moon sign.
Aries February 2015 On February 18th, the Sun enters water sign Pisces, and you feel like spending more time in the background, Aries. You’d like to do your own thing without anyone getting in the way, and you feel most like yourself when you’re alone or out of the spotlight. You can begin projects that you’re excited about, but keep it to yourself, waiting for the right moment to let people know what you’re doing. You may come across as more imaginative, compassionate, and sweet. General horoscopes are always meant for entertainment purposes only. For a more accurate view, read your Sun sign, Rising sign, and Moon sign.
Aries The full moon on the 3rd occurs in your love sector, so your love is charged this month. You can share your love more freely, and are inspired by it. If single, you can meet someone you feel spiritually tied to; if in a relationship, you can grow closer with your partner. If in a casual relationship, this is the time where you decide if it should be taken to the next level or if it’s going nowhere. You’re not openly affectionate with loved ones during the first half of the month, and are much more open during the second half. General horoscopes are always meant for entertainment purposes only. For a more accurate view, read your Sun sign, Rising sign, and Moon sign.
Aries During the second half of February, you want to get life started, and jump into a new project or idea. You’re enthusiastic, positive, and willing to do whatever it takes to get started. You’ve felt like you were on hold lately with your dreams, but that starts to lift, and you can hit the ground running. No one can stand in your way once you put your mind to starting something. Your only problem may be actually picking something for you to start, as you have plenty of ideas right now! |
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