Week One

Meeting 1: The Consultation

• The consultation setting

  • Creating sacred space

    • Prepare yourself before the session

    • Create a container within which you work — have an opening and closing ritual

    • Clear yourself from all distractions to be truly present - that’s when the magic happens

  • Initiating a sense of trust

    • Ease the client

    • Take a moment to connect with them before you start the session

  • Developing a process

    • A process gives you a framework within which to work

    • The process starts with how they schedule

    • It ends with systems for invoicing and sending charts/recordings

    • Do you want to record the session? Do you invite them to record the session on their end? State this in advance.

  • Boundaries

    • Boundaries of time are important to keep - clients can feel nervous when the session runs long because it goes against their expectations

    • Make sure you know your limits with follow-up questions, keeping recordings, or scheduling throughout your day

      • For example, I allow one follow-up question, I keep recordings for 6 months, and I schedule no more than 5 clients with a 15-minute buffer between appointments

    • Establish your own internal guidelines for having social relationships with your clients

    • Maintain ethical relationships with your clients - for more information, see the IAEA: http://ethicalastrologers.org

• Different types of clients and potential challenges in a consultation setting

  • Talkative clients

    • At times, you will have clients who love to talk, and you don’t want to let them take charge of the session. Gently take charge of the session.

  • The Doubters

    • On occasion, you will have clients who seem resistant or are not readily accepting your information. There are times when a client is closed off, and this can happen, especially when the session was a gift from a parent or partner. When you have these clients, find a way to warm up their hearts. Usually, talking about children or pets will do this. Also, speak from your heart. If you try to prove yourself, you will make the session more challenging. Lead with your heart. Sometimes, you find something in the chart that speaks to their hesitation. You can talk about that astrological symbolism. Humor also works if you feel comfortable with that. More than anything, let your ego know it will be okay!

  • Nervous clients

    • I’ve had a few clients who are nervous and laugh through the whole session or who just can’t calm their nerves. First-timers or people new to astrology may have misconceptions about the field because of the media’s portrayal of fortune-tellers. Build trust with them at the beginning. Sometimes, I’ll ask, “Is this your first time having a session like this?” Then, I’ll add, “I can tell! You have that nervous excitement people have when they have the courage to try something new!”

    • At times, I’ll ask, “Do you feel comfortable knowing everything? Is there anything you don’t feel comfortable talking about?” Sometimes, people are afraid you’ll tell them someone’s going to die or “something bad.” If they seem nervous at the start, alleviate their concerns by asking a question like this.

  • Projectors

    • On occasion, you’ll attract a client who holds a grudge against an ex-partner or their parents. They do not want to look at themselves or be open to seeing things from other perspectives. We want to bring the attention back to them by showing the growth opportunities in their charts — we can show them what to prioritize in healing by identifying the astrological signatures related to those situations and offering some context. Keep the focus on them and not on the other party.

  • Neptunian clients

    • This is kind of a funny identification I came up with after having a series of clients all going through Neptune/Venus transits and involved in similar situations. I define this group of clients as ones who are holding onto a fantasy about someone (often someone unavailable) or something. It can be difficult to suggest alternatives to these clients because their hearts are invested and they believe in the dream. It’s important to be honest about what you’re seeing in the chart while being careful not to burst their bubble. I find it’s helpful to shift attention to other possibilities and stir their excitement about new potential outcomes.

  • Abusive clients

    • I hope you never have to encounter one of these!! Know your rights and pursue legal action if you have a stalker or someone who is violating your privacy or wellbeing. I know I don’t have to tell you… but it’s NEVER okay to tolerate verbal, psychological, sexual, or physical abuse.

  • Pluto’s representatives

    • This is a funny description I came up with after discovering in a session that my client was involved in some covert operations! There are times when you’ll work with someone who is obsessive about a situation and having a difficult time letting go. Or you might work with a client who is secretive about their affairs. There are ethical considerations to working with someone who is involved in organized crime or ongoing criminal activity. I have a strict policy not to discuss these matters.

    • Remember: we are not protected under psychotherapist- or attorney-client privilege unless you are a licensed professional with that status. You can be held liable for what you say in a session or could be called in to testify as a witness for a crime. It’s essential to protect yourself. You can stop a session at ANY time if you feel uncomfortable.

  • Open-hearted listeners

    • Last, but not least, the best clients to work with!! These are most of our clients.

• Ethical considerations - visit the IAEA for more information on the ethical standards of our profession.

  • Judgment-free zone

  • Boundaries

  • Do no harm

  • Respect diversity

  • Be aware of pronouns

  • Ask for permission

  • Respect intellectual property