Qualifications
Statement of Qualifications
As matters currently stand, anyone can read a few Sun sign books, declare himself sufficiently inspired and hang out his astrologer's shingle ... and some do. Some astrology associations attempt to certify astrologers, and perhaps this is better than nothing.
However,
- this can only reflect the abilities, methods and standards of the certifying group,
- it may assure a baseline of selected technical knowledge, but this is only a small part of what it takes to be a successful consulting astrologer, and
- this tells you nothing about the range of his experience, his peer reputation, and the other same kind of attributes that distinguish a $50/hr. lawyer (doctor/accountant) from a $500/hr. one-even though they are both equally certified in their field.
Referral is almost always the best method, when a like-minded person links you and the astrologer. It is without doubt my favorite way to gain a new client. But in the absence of that, such as your happening upon a web site like this one, and assuming you don't feel personally qualified to make an evaluation, you can sometimes defer to questions such as these:
- Does the astrologer lecture at high levels to his peers?
- Does he publish books and/or articles that are highly regarded?
- Does he demonstrate other leadership in his field?
- Does his work draw the attention of the world at large?
- Does he attract a very high grade of referring references?
- Does he occasionally put clear forecasts into the public?
- Does he have evidence of related continuing education?
- Does he do astrology full-time thus implying success?
- Does he bring a background that will link to yours?
If the answer is yes to almost all of these, then you have more than reasonable grounds for some confidence in your selection. At that point, the issues may just come down to chemistry and fees. With these suggestions in mind, I provide the following background:
I left the world of high technology and became a full-time astrologer/writer in 1992.
My office is based in the Washington, DC suburbs in the middle of Montgomery County, MD. Prior to going full-time, I was extensively involved in astrology for at least 15 years, but on a part-time research and consulting basis. And prior to 1992, I had a range of exceptional experience in the business world, and potential business clients may find this background of considerable interest. Suffice it to say, as a result, people in the business world, no matter how highly placed, tend to instinctively recognize that I know exactly "where they are coming from."
I've received unusual recognition from the world at large.
For example: My astrological work has been featured twice on the cover of what Paul Harvey has called "The World's Most Exclusive Magazine." This magazine only goes to the world's top leaders, and you couldn't subscribe if you wanted to. (My astrological work has also been featured in other mainstream magazines, such as Today's Investor,and in local regional newspapers from California to Virginia. I also had a column in one of these.)
Television usually does a poor job with real astrology because it is neither visual nor fundamentally sensational. But when NBC attempted a fair portrayal on a network evening prime time special (with an estimated 40 million viewers) I was one of the few astrologers whom they featured in an interview. (I've also been featured on Cable TV multiple times, and on radio such as during Nancy Reagan's "Astrogate").
My first book (The Astrology of Death) drew glowing reviews (see Reviews) from many sources, but much to my amazement, it was featured in a large full-page review in the main Newsletter of the world famous Johns Hopkins University & Medical Center. This was an objective and constructive review that also contained quite a bit of praise - undoubtedly unprecedented for an astrologer (see Books).
Peer leadership in the world of astrology.
I was the sole sponsor of the largest Vedic astrology conference ever held on the east coast of the United States. This four-day two-track event at the Doubletree Hotel just outside of Washington, DC drew hundreds of attendees, and numerous speakers, from around the world. It was widely characterized as a great success.
I am a founding member of the American Council of Vedic Astrologers (ACVA), and I have been solicited annually tolecture at the main west coast conference that they sponsor to train other astrologers in eastern methods. This is THE main training conference for Vedic astrologers in the United States. If you query the sponsors or attendees, you will find that these lectures have always received high praise. (I am also a long-time supporting member of a number of other astrological associations such as the AFAN, the AANV, the NCGR, etc.)
To promote Vedic astrology and Vedic astrologers, I conceived, organized and produced the first one-of-a-kind anthology that features a range of different ideas by 38 different specialists in this field (Hindu Astrology Lessons). A boon to the many people who have long wanted to know more about this topic, this bright and readable book has been selling at an unexpectedly strong pace - much of it by word of mouth. (See Books).
Picking up on emerging market trends, when the Samuel Weiser, Inc. publishing organization wanted to develop a technical anthology that would feature eight leading specialists who are bringing the values and methods of Eastern astrology to the West, I was one of those chosen to be featured. This book, which includes an introduction by best-selling author Thomas Moore, is titled Eastern Systems For Western Astrologers. I've also developed, and/or distribute, some other completely unique books (such as Digital Astrology, a modernized and westernized repackaging of the ancient system of ashtakavarga) and booklets, and this is again highlighted in the Books Section.
Other peer-oriented articles and lectures.
I have generated over 130 postmarked articles and comment (one article as long as 10,000 words) for widely distributed magazines and newsletters that are more peer-oriented. This includes the Washington Astrological Journal, the ACVA Journal, Vedic Astrology, Considerations, The Astrological Magazine, The Mercury Hour, the AFAN Newsletter, The Wall Street Astrologer, Planetary Focus, The Mountain Astrologer, the NCGR Update, The Clock (my own newsletter available only to retainer clients), and more. This does NOT include a torrent of email-based comment distributed to private mailing lists. It DOES include many specific, postmarked forecasts that have been tracked by a CPA auditor and which later proved to be correct.
Other formal lectures to technical people, at lesser regional conferences and local group meetings, have had titles such as: business astrology, political astrology, the astrology of accidents, medical astrology, financial astrology, prenatal eclipses, tertiary progressions, basic Hindu astrology, lottery winners, suicide by gunshot, ashtakavarga, the astrology of death, and when Fidel Castro will leave office.
Formal lectures to non-technical people have covered subjects such as "Consumer Issues Related To Astrology" (at the Bethesda / Chevy Chase Country Club) and "The Astrological Thought Process" (for psychotherapy students within an accredited college environment). It's often because of contacts like these that my consultations have been requested, for example, to be auctioned off at "Celebrity Auctions" for charity.
I have also been a reviewer of hundreds of new astrology books, and these remarks have been reprinted in retailers' magazines and elsewhere. I can add two other items here. First, I was the only astrologer selected as the "Highest Recommended Service Provider" by Cyberspace, Inc., a national consumer protection online bulletin board (now defunct). And second, some of my unique ideas have been incorporated into several astrological software packages (both eastern and western).
Elements of Continuing Education.
Over the past 20 years, I have attended at least 300 distinct seminar classes at numerous conferences around the United States. At one point I also had over 750 astrology books; I now have about 600. Many of these have now become rare and out of print. I have long subscribed to most of the leading journals. I'll add here that my college degree is in analytical philosophy - although, as mentioned earlier, I'd spent most of my prior career working in high-tech, high-demand consulting fields.
References and Forecasts.
I have many clients who would be willing to stand as references for my work. This includes attorneys, marketing consultants, personnel managers, military officers, University administrators, psychotherapists, surgeons, many company presidents, financial planners, an oil well driller, church leaders, architects, film makers, prisoners, mathematicians, real estate developers, a famous musician, fund raisers, a wide variety of consultants, authors whose books have been #1 best sellers, political campaign managers, and many other categories.
I'd like to post them to this Web site, but most of these people would rather stay in the background until society evolves to the point where their use of an astrologer could not be turned against them. But many of these clients are willing to discretely confirm the value of my work as necessary, and you are welcome to ask.
Before my life became so busy, I used to find more time for forecasting that was public, documented and postmarked. Many of these were quite amazing at the time (although, of course, they often look much less so retroactively). Further, very, very few of my public forecasts have been wrong (so it is not a matter of merely selecting items that look good like a lot of financial newsletters do).
So this is some background which you are encouraged to compare with other people who claim to be astrologers. Again, corporate clients will also want to review the additional layer of high grade business background I bring to any consulting activity. The combination of these two backgrounds can provide a type of "value added" that is just not available anywhere else.