We did a story when Mercury was in retrograde, and what that means for you. I feel like people think it's a new idea, despite that it's old and that there were problems with technology at that time. Can you speak to that, and about other over-arching periods of time or themes that affect everyone, and how so?
"Astrologers quake at Mercury Retrograde because communications are off, and people who were supposed to return your calls, don't. Most astrologists advise: 'Don't sign contracts!', 'Don't purchase anything that's electronic!', but I think it wreaks more havoc on Mercury people (people who are Geminis or Virgos, or have a lot of Mercury in their symbolism). Or, if you were born with Mercury retrograde, then you might be in harmony with that particular time. Think of the Void Of Course Moon time (the moon disappears for a while out of its sign, and when it's not there, astrologers recommend not calling, or scheduling appointments): you still have to live your life. People say to me, 'Does astrology run your life?' and I say that I will do absolutely everything, wherever the planets are, and continue my life. Perhaps I'll be more cautious, or do something differently, but I won't stop my life for the period of 18 days that's Mercury Retrograde."

Do you read for people you know?
"I prefer not to read for people I know. It's hard to be objective; it's a subjective thing when it's someone you know. I qualify it first, or I'll put bookmarks in places, depending on what they're telling me, and I'll tell them to read it themselves. People will say, 'You're my spiritual counselor!' and try to turn me into something I'm not. I'm just trying to be their friend, and I'd rather speak as a friend."

My mother used to say, "The lesson will come back to find you, and you'll keep making the same mistake bigger and bigger and bigger, until you learn your lesson!" Is that true? How does Astrology prove that that's true?
"It's a matter of consciousness — I mean, we have patterns! I knew a psychiatrist who said that people would come when they're ready and get what they need, but that doesn't mean that they won't come back if the first thing that stimulated their problem returns. I think your mother's right. Let's say you're a 'fixed person (a person that fights change)'; it will be harder for you than the person who embraces change. Whatever it is you're holding onto, you're needing to keep learning the same lesson over and over again. Circumstance pushes people. Let's say you don't do it for yourself, you've finally made a choice; the writing's on the wall; you're still trying but circumstance comes along and gives you a push."

If this is formulaic, or mathematical, then if I went to another astrologer, would my chart look the same? What makes a better astrologer –– is it just practice make perfect?
"Well, it's all about interpretation. I use graphic astrology because I like to look at it as a larger picture. The best astrologers are the ones that have been doing it for a really long time; they're really seasoned. They're living it."

How do you live it? How does one practice what they're preaching? What are you preaching?
"I don't like the word 'preaching.' It's more about if you're advising someone, then you shouldn't advise someone to do something that you're not doing yourself. So many astrologers don't have a clue on how to have a good relationship, but continue advising people on how to have one. That doesn't mean it's not good advice, or it's not helpful, but if I were going out for a good relationship, I'd seek out someone with a happy, healthy relationship to talk to. The chemistry is important, too –– if you walk in and you feel that something is weird, it's probably not going to work."