After careful thought...

it seems time to say a few words again about forecasting. I got several phone calls in the last few days that gave me pause. Most were to tell me that forecasts done last year were on the mark, and a few telling me they had given me an estimated time, so some things didn't happen. At this point, let me say that if your time of birth is off even four minutes, it can make the difference of a year in forecasting trends with solar arc.

Both extremes (accurate or not accurate) are a little disturbing to me because Astrological forecasting is not supposed to be a performance in prophecy. It is supposed to be guidance in helping a person to make better choices. Your life is not cast in stone and unalterable. Therefore, it is not supposed to be absolutely predictable. Forecasting is just stating what the trends and challenges are for the year and when they will present themselves. No one has ever told me that was not accurate. No astrologer can tell you what other people are going to do or even what you are going to decide to do. Every moment you are making choices, which in turn create your future (and your karma) moment by moment. Many people can, and often do, rise above these challenges and avoid unpleasant circumstances. In short, they make good choices. We can tell you how you feel about things, which way you're leaning and, most importantly, what the lesson is, which is the most important information of all. This guidance is most valuable.

An example of this is the common question: "When will I lose weight?" There is no transit, progression or lunation that will magically drop the pounds off. The choice to alter a life style must be made. Or it may be that a chemical or biological phenomenon has to be altered. That choice or alteration is not something that is within the realm of possibility for a chart to predict. An astrologer can tell you when you might feel like it, or when it might be easier to do. But, in the final analysis you make your own life moment to moment as you make choices. The chart is a fabulous map helping you to navigate your life.

Changes in Services....

As I witnessed prices of other Astrologers going up over the last two decades, I felt a need to keep pace mostly because of that old perception of the masses, "You get what you pay for." No where is that probably more erroneous than in Astrological practice. As I went up in price, I also added value to the service to make it worth it. I realize now that I've reached a saturation point. The $125 package that I offer is too much to convey in one session, and I often feel burned out before it is over. It really should be done in sections in order to give the client real value. From now on, I'm doing either one or the other (character analysis or forecast) in a session but not both. The forecast will remain at $75 and the character analysis will be $50 instead of $75, as it was listed on the website when done separately, so that no one will feel they are paying more than before. I know I will do a better job this way.

Another "burn out" situation is when I offer temporary lower prices (or 'sales' as secular America calls them). I always get more work than I can handle, it takes too long to complete, and then there is no work for a long time until another sale is offered. This has been very stressful for me, so I'll have to suspend that practice, not only for my own peace of mind, but also to give better service in general. Work will be done more quickly, and I'll be under less stress, thereby doing a better job. That brings us to the subject of....

Astro*Parties!

I've been doing small parties for promotional purposes since 1980. There are two reasons for this. First to introduce novices to Astrology so that they can experience what the real thing is all about, and second, to give clients who are economically limited a way to earn an analysis session. The rules are simple (see below). These can be done at a distance too. The hostess doesn't have to have a gathering in that instance, but just collects the guests' fees and birth data, sends it to me, and I send back all the guests' individual tapes in albums plus the free one for the hostess. This has done more for opening skeptical eyes than any length of discussion has. This is such an important thing to me, there is a special price for this now, and I'm lowering it permanently (barring unusual inflation) for future parties as well.

Something New!

A psychic told me recently that my guides said I had been neglecting the artistic side of my nature, and that it should be combined with Astrology. Since I had known this psychic for 25 years, and she didn't even know I had been an artist many years ago, I know it was a genuine observation. I had been feeling the void for some time.

Often when I look at a chart, I feel things of an artistic nature that would resonate with the chart. All I'd have to do is put it on canvas. I just turned 62, and I've often said that I looked forward to retirement and getting back to painting. I thought I'd just paint landscapes and covered bridges, but what a more fulfilling thing this would be!

I should have a sample on my web site soon, and then will take custom orders for them in the fall. If you have any questions, let me know.

Cosmic Views copyright © 2001 Carole Devine/Devine Advantage. All rights reserved.

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