Astrology rides a high tide
6:14 PM 4/14/03
Sharyn Alden For the State Journal

It may seem absurd, even nebulous, in this age of high-tech communication and never-ending scientific discoveries, that Americans spend more than $200 million annually on astrological readings.

To say nothing of the fact that according to a 2002 June issue of Library Journal, two out of five people read their horoscope daily.

Astrology, which predates astronomy, is a form of divination estimated to be more than 4,000 years old. Its formation is credited to the ancient Greeks. Based on the movement of celestial bodies, the sun, moon and planets, and a complex set of data, combined with the exact timing of a person's birth, it's used as a guide to understanding human behavior and the timing of events.

Over the centuries people have used astrology primarily as a tool for making decisions about special occasions such as weddings, hunting, harvesting, and travel.

Astrology's popularity ebbed and flowed during the past 500 years, often because it was said to be intertwined with religion and science.

During the 1960s and 1970s, during the "age of Aquarius," flower children kept it in the spotlight for a number of years. By the 1990s, mainstream America became decreasingly less enchanted.

Yet today, interest in astrology has grabbed a new generation of fans, in addition to many baby boomers who are still drawn to its promise of enlightenment.

Paula Novotnak, who has studied astrology for 30 years, has a master's in creative writing, and is a professional astrologer and astrology teacher, says, "Today, people are eager to learn as much as they can about their behavior and how they can better themselves. They're using astrology to find out what makes them tick."

Plus, others are using it to aid decision-making in the financial and business world.

What's the main draw for today's astrological devotee? Novotnak thinks she knows.

"It's part of a larger trend based on an interest in the connection between mind, body and spirit. Complementary health care, including yoga, tai chi and acupuncture, has helped foster this interest."

Another expert, Nancy Kromm, says "I think we're moving away from a rationally based culture to one that is more open to different types of thinking. Medicine, religion, and physics are in their infancy of merging together now." Kromm is an astrologer in the Chicago area who holds a bachelor of fine arts degree from Northern Illinois University.

Curiosity also drives people to approach astrology. Says Novotnak: "People who wouldn't have consulted with an astrologer 10 years ago are seeking questions about themselves. Astrology is making more sense to more people today. They're more open to understanding how the solar system can influence their lives."

There's also the reality that because of the Internet, more people have access to information about astrology.

"They simply want to improve their lives, and they see astrology as the answer to solving riddles about themselves and life's problems," she says.

Barbara White, a psychotherapist in private practice in Madison, says some people think of astrology as weird hocus-pocus. She's not one of them.

"It's a complex, excellent tool for gaining insight into the world around you," she says. "There's confusion about it because people think it's about good or bad, or about making predictions, but it's really about understanding yourself."

Who is the typical astrological buff? Novotnak says there is no such person because astrology attracts people from all walks of life.

Her partial list of devotees includes clergy members, teachers, business owners, attorneys, nurses, doctors, hospice workers, hairstylists, police officers, UW students and social workers.

Another advocate is best-selling novelist Margaret George, who has traveled the world to research and write historical novels, including the recent "Mary, Called Magdalene," and "Cleopatra."

Some might be surprised to learn that George, a Madison resident and former science writer for the National Institutes of Health, is interested in astrology.

While she reads astrology books mostly for fun, and freely admits to signing up for weekly horoscopes on the Internet, she says, "The timing of many things just can't be written off as coincidence. What astrology reveals about people can be quite profound."

She's quick to point out that even though astrological observations about her life are often accurate, horoscopes can sometimes be way off-base. Case in point: When she recently returned from a trip to Egypt, in conjunction with research for her next book, "Helen of Troy," her weekly horoscope received from www.astrocenter.com, said her week would be full of happy surprises.

"We came home from our travels to an icy house because the furnace had broken while we were gone, plus we had vast flooding in our basement," she says. Happy surprises, those weren't.

Eighteen years ago, White started giving herself an unusual birthday present.

"I was curious about what it's like to have an astrological reading," she says.

She discovered readings (she still gives herself one each birthday) are not "ah hah" experiences.

"It's a complex weaving of information, really a thoughtful process, and not at all a parlor trick. The astrologer described my personality to a 't.' I even asked her if she had talked to someone about me, which she hadn't."

The reading validated past experiences by pointing out specific times that had been difficult for her.

"Astrology is a productive tool because it gives you insight into questions like, Why am I like this? Why am I feeling down? Why can't I be more decisive?"

White, who has consulted with Novotnak for several years, uses this example of favorable timing: "When I opened my practice, I just opened it, but later, my chart indicated it had been a good decision-making period."

Over the years, the religious and scientific community have often denounced astrology as an outdated practice.

Kromm still finds, after 30 years as a certified astrologer, that it's difficult to be accepted for what she does.

"Sometimes, when I walk into a room full of people, and I'm asked what I do, some of them walk away from me. I've heard them say, 'My religion believes it's sorcery.'"

The flip side is that professionals, such as financial advisers, Realtors, headhunters and lawyers, sometimes use astrology to make decisions that affect their clients.
indentBut Kromm notes astrology still isn't "out of the closet." These same professionals who consult with her are often the first to pretend that they don't seek astrological help, because if they did, they fear they'd appear wacko or off-balance.
indentNovotnak says people often misunderstand what happens when a chart is read. Some people want fast answers to life's problems, but they don't take into account that astrologers aren't fortune tellers. She explains that astrological readings or consultations are a combination of complexity and simplicity.
indent"There's a lot more to astrology than knowing what your sun sign is," she says. "If you're a Capricorn, for instance, that's only part of a rich and complex pattern that could apply to millions of people." She says that's why horoscopes, which are sometimes not written by astrologers, are laughed at by those who make a living in the field.
indentNovotnak doesn't tell people when they should buy a house or plan a trip, but she says, "Astrology can look at long-term trends or the end of cycles, then people make their own decisions based on these trends."
indentWhat does an astrological reading cost? Novotnak's fee is $125 per 90-minute session. Sessions are usually audiotaped so people can replay the session at home.
indentKromm's consultations (not hourly charges) can range from $50 to $500. She says it's difficult to charge by the hour because, "People don't realize how rich a language this is and how difficult it is to end a session."
indentHow do you find an astrologer? Astrologers don't usually advertise in the phone book; most rely on word-of-mouth referrals. You might ask for recommendations at book stores, therapists' offices or at alternative health outlets.
indentKromm offers this advice to those who have not had an astrological reading: "It's not a cure-all, which is why I don't encourage dependency on it. Just like a therapist can't live their life for you, astrology can't be everything to everyone."
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