Namaste (“Nah – Mah – Stay”) is a a Sanskrit phrase which means “I bow to the God that resides within you.” To paraphrase the Bible which states “God created us in His image...” Namaste is usually spoken as a salutation among practitioners of Hatha Yoga. By reciting this phrase one recognizes that we are all creations of God and that, because we were created in His image, are all “divine.”

I believe that my journey into astrology began when I was a young boy. On cool clear winter nights I would frequently venture outside with my telescope to view the planets. Usually it was the planets Saturn or Jupiter which seemed to fascinate me the most. I remember once how I ran ecstatically inside the house to tell my parents that I had just seen Jupiter and three of its moons through my small telescope. They of course didn't understand my fascination.

At that time in my life my interest in the heavens was purely scientific. I considered myself to be a hobbyist astronomer. It was when I was 18 and my parents were in the midst of their divorce did I begin to investigate if my life and all of its travails were explainable scientifically or if there was something more spiritual about my existence.

Being raised in a family of catholics, and being educated in catholic schools was not exactly conducive to questioning “Who am I” ,“Why am I here” and “Who or what is God”. I remember how the Sisters of my Catholic elementary school prevented the students from going outside or even looking out the window when a total solar eclipse occurred overhead. The sisters claimed that they didn't want us to burn our retinas by looking upwards at the eclipsing sun. I went home that day dissatisfied because I wasn't allowed to view this major astronomical event. I always felt that the sisters actually had a superstitious fear of the anomalous and mystical event.

It was when I was a freshman attending the university did I one day pick up a book on Astrology. To be honest I was fascinated! Not only because that book spoke of the planets, but it explained the mathematical basis for astrology, namely the construction of natal charts and determining the aspects between the planets. I learned how ancient astrology was modern astronomy's progenitor. I learned how ancient astrologers were held in great esteem by royal courts and  military commanders. I learned how the three magi who followed the star were probably ancient astrologers following the cosmic sign of some ancient prophecy.

So it was at this difficult time where for the first time in my life I more or less felt lost, confused and angry that I was able to seek shelter and distraction by studying astrology. I learned much about myself and others. I prepared myself for certain planetary transits, and then I more or less “tested the cosmos” to see if the effect listed in my astrology book actually affected me in the prescribed way, and sure enough it did! Astrology was such an interesting blend of spirituality and  science that I was hooked. It was so different than the charlatanry of newspaper astrology. In a way I finally began to understand why certain events were happening to me and those around me and the reason why was  truly written in the stars!

I have studied astrology for 14 years now and I still consider myself a student. The complexity of astrology is bewildering, and I have come to the realization that if an astrologer errs on some interpretation it is the astrologer inability to decipher what the heavens are telling him or her. After all, it isn't easy trying to decipher God's work; perhaps better stated as “God's Code”. Scientists who work in the material world have a hard enough time solving their mysteries, imagine an astrologer who deals with the world of the subtle and the immaterial!

As one can imagine there are a myriad of astrological “styles.” What I mean by this is that the modern astrologer comes in different forms based on pedigree. For example, one may be a “Modern” astrologer because they incorporate asteroids in their interpretations. There are “Intuitive” astrologers who are a blend of an astrologer and a psychic. There are “Psychological Astrologers” who view the chart as a map of ones mind. Astrologers seem to come in many flavors, and if they are good at what they do, they should prove to be good counselors to their clients.

I have always been fascinated with all things ancient. It is really baffling to try to comprehend how ancient astrologers were able to chart the heavens with such accuracy. Today, one can cast a chart using a computer in seconds, but the ancient astrologer must have had a more rigorous and time-consuming process in forming a chart because all mathematical calculations had to be done by hand.

My astrology is a blend of Traditional astrology as practiced by William Lilly, with modern astrology. I consider certain planets as “good” or “bad”, whereas a modern astrologer might say that there really is no such thing as “good or bad.” I also incorporate more ancient techniques in my astrology such as the fixed stars, the effects of eclipses and what are called “Arabic Parts.” Arabic parts are interesting because they more or less can fine tune a chart's interpretation and point out something that was originally not clear to the astrologer. I also incorporate modern interpretive devices such as the use of midpoints.

Today it is common that a client order an astrology report, and become bewildered by it because of its breadth and vagueness. The majority of charts today are computer generated, and are filled with a lot of astrological jargon which the client really doesn't have to know. Plus, the reports are usually vague. I believe that charts are best done the old fashioned way – by hand – with an astrologer perusing every aspect of the chart. This is what defines a reputable astrologer, not form fitting interpretations. Rather, an astrologer should treat each client individually. I have always opined that, “Quality beats Quantity.”

Astrology has many facets. natal interpretations; predictive astrology, which is based on progressions and planetary transits; mundane astrology, which seeks to predict world events involving politics and finances; electional astrology, which utilizes astrology to determine the most propitious date and time for an event to begin such as a business venture or a marriage; and horary astrology, which is akin to consulting the Tarot but instead uses the placement of the planets at the time and location of the question to give an answer, whatever the question may be.

I have discovered that my calling is to help people. There are many ways to help people, but in my case it has been through astrology. Helping a person understand a difficult situation which they experienced in their youth or warning them of some looming misfortune, can in itself be the reward for my action.

I am a Practicing Member of the Society of Astrologers . I was born in Tampa, Florida and have lived here all of my life. I attended Jesuit High School, the University of Tampa, the University of South Florida, and St. Petersburg College. My hobbies include photography and I am a practitioner of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. During my free time I can be found reading the fundamental texts of yogic philosophy and ancient astrological texts. At night I can often be found pensively gazing up at the colossal and mystifying sky.

AUM Shanti Shanti Shanti