How do I use Zoom?

Please click and follow these instructions if you are new to Zoom video conferencing. Do not hesitate to email me with questions at aligninglightastro@gmail.com. If worse comes to worse, we just use the phone!

Should I get a birth chart or forecasting reading?

Choose a forecasting reading if:

• You want to talk about the future

  • we can explore smaller and larger frames of time; I have techniques for both

• You want to talk about the future in a fine detail way or a wider-perspective way

• You're looking to strategize future timing of various life moves**

• You’re wondering when to do xyz or how to best navigate future circumstances you know will occur

• You want to orient yourself in Time, exploring where you are timing-wise in larger story arcs

Choose a birth chart reading if:

• You're looking to do more of a "strengths, challenges, opportunities, threats" sort of assessment in general or for specific life topics

• You want to come back to, or remember yourself

• You want to get to know yourself

• You’re looking for affirmation and encouragement regarding both strengths and challenges

• You’re looking for my honest astrological opinion on how well certain things might work out, and if there are challenges, how to mitigate them or where we can find help from other areas of life

• You want to explore past events together and discuss the astrological meaning behind them

If you want to ask astrology a sort of binary/yes-no/black-and-white type of question: this is for Horary Astrology.

**Those looking to discuss timing of medical procedures - READ BEFORE BOOKING:
My approach to this topic is rather cynical. Instead of finding the best times to pursue elective procedures, I mostly share when to NOT pursue an elective procedure. I generally do not elect timing of medical procedures, but will assist in risk mitigation if the topic comes up. It’s not that I think astrology isn’t helpful for this kind of question, it’s that I am not yet at the level of medical astrology where I feel helpful. And I’m not sure if I’ll ever be at the level to confidently say “this is a great day for a surgery”. I can NEVER promise that a surgery will go as planned or well, even with an excellent election. I have yet to see a client who had a previously elected surgery time (by other astrologers, because again, I don’t do those), and not be majorly disappointed or negatively surprised by some aspect of the outcome. I’ve pulled up several charts of procedures elected by other astrologers (given to me by clients) and find glaring mistakes that I would have never allowed. Seeing peers fail at something so delicate gives me pause, and is the source of my cynicism.

What if I don’t know my birth time?

Some parents’ recollections of the birth time are extremely reliable, but frequently, the exact time that is recalled is unreliable. I’ve seen parents be wrong despite their certainty, so I have to be careful about these things. I also understand that official record keepers in hospital waiting rooms aren’t always reliable either. So what’s most important to me, as an astrologer, is the case-by-case story. The more details folks have around the birth story, the more likely it’s accurate in my mind. Hospitals can be wrong, because people can be wrong. So can parents. It was a big, exciting day! It’s understandable how memories can be skewed, so I like to rely on official documentation if available, knowing this isn’t the final word if the client has more story to offer. Sometimes a difference in mere minutes can drastically change the chart, depending on what we are looking at, so it’s worth pursuing as accurate information as possible.

*BIG ASTERISK: If the rising sign is unclear based on unknown accuracy of birth time provided, we can still get a lot of very useful information from the chart, and we can still use timing techniques like transits and secondary progressions. However, I will not read the chart with the use of the houses. This will result in a loss of specificity in the kind of information I can provide, but we avoid inaccuracy by not reading houses we aren’t sure of. Thank you for understanding.

How do I find my birth data?

You can make a public records request, look through personal records, baby books, family religious books or other important family documents, contact the hospital or vital records department from where you were born.

If all else fails, ask parents or relatives about the details of your birth in attempt to get a vague timing (which is very helpful) for instance:

“You were born sometime in the morning”

“…right after evening chores”

“…in the evening”

“…during the 1994 Winter Olympics opening ceremony”

I am still unable to provide any birth data, but I know my age/know my date of birth:

We can still get plenty of useful information from your chart! We will lose some specificity, and some timing techniques will be out of reach. That being said, there is PLENTY to work with outside of the houses. Most people in the history of people have not known their birth time. We can do it!

Another option is a process of reverse engineering the birth time called Rectification. An experienced astrologer can compare the timing of important life events with your natal chart to validate the rising sign. I recommend both Catherine Urban, Patrick Watson, and Cameron Cassidy for this service.

How do I use Sliding Scale pricing?

I offer a sliding scale ($60-$100 for 75 minutes||$30-$50 for 45 minutes) for:

those who have experienced systematic oppression or violence due to gender, race, religion, place of origin, sexual orientation, those who are disabled, immigrants or displaced people, victims of the the US prison/”justice” system, veterans, single parents, sex workers, those affected by care-giver burden, those in poverty or struggling with basic needs, or of any other marginalized identity not mentioned here. No questions asked.

Email me to coordinate our session and payment at aligninglightastro@gmail.com

• I offer a sliding scale because I believe astrology is such a helpful tool that it should be accessible to everyone

• The sliding scale is also my opportunity to give back

Can I book a session to read my child’s chart?

Extremely unlikely. My stance about this has shifted over the last seven years, however this is my current policy:

I generally do not read children’s charts with a parent, unless there are extreme circumstances (i.e. severe disability or barrier to communication paired with having exhausted other possible professional help, AND I’ve already read with the parent and feel they are able to hold astrological information about themselves and others reasonably/responsibly).

Reading for the minor child would need to be solely for the child’s benefit, and not to relieve parent discomfort/strife/worry (which needs to be addressed with the parent’s chart, not the child’s). Looking at another human’s chart is deeply personal and private, and respecting the child’s right to personal privacy means that the benefits of reading the chart in attempt to improve the child’s quality of life would need to significantly outweigh the harm done by such a transgression. I have a more complex case-by-case basis of thought with this issue, because in my 13 years in pharmacy and my three years of reading charts, I’ve come across people in extremely uncommon and difficult circumstances. Past me would have been more black-and-white about it, but life isn’t that simple. Email me if you still have questions.

More on why I am operating this way:

Astrology can be the perfect scaffolding for all of our expectations and fears, a scaffolding propping them up, and reifying them further. Astrology can and does frequently cause suffering in this way for many people who learn the basics all the way to seasoned professionals. It’s hard to not have expectations, even reasonable ones. Even though we know that suffering many times is the distance between our expectations and reality. We hear one little thing from a book, an astrologer, and we never forget it. Astrological insight can have a large, indelible impact on people for better or worse, and I take that seriously. Our minds are fantasy and fear-making machines, because our minds have evolved biologically to predict as much as possible in the name of survival. This adaptation is a huge strength for us as a species, pattern recognizing and prediction-making machines we have become. It also makes us susceptible to the suffering caused when astrological insight isn’t held lightly. Isn’t held with humility that we surely aren’t seeing all there is to see. I can barely manage to balance all of the above in session with a single client, talking about themselves, the only thing they truly have control over. To manage the above challenge with someone about an external deeply cherished other who isn’t in their control, is a tall order I currently can not meet.

Synastry Readings: What is Expressed Permission or Consent?

Synastry readings are when the charts of two people are compared and analyzed as a pair to see where strengths and challenges might show up in the course of relationship. The best synastry readings happen with both people present, however it’s difficult to schedule around one person’s schedule so I understand if only one person can make it. That being said, I don’t talk about a third person without them in the room. This is why I require that any person not present let me know it’s a-ok we proceed without them, usually by email. I keep this requirement in the name of my own personal beliefs but also what defines ethical astrological practice.

This service is for all relationships (romantic, family, business, platonic, etc), but please see the above FAQ regarding minors and parents wanting to read their child’s chart.

What am I like in session?

I’m a very informal person with very formal training. I take my work seriously, but I also like to have fun. I spent decades of my life being in serious, stiff, professional situations that lacked warmth and humanity in many instances. I embrace being soft and casual now, and I hope you will embrace being casual with me as well. It doesn’t mean our work isn’t serious or precise (ask my Mars in Scorpio and Virgo South Node). If you can hold space for both sides of this coin, we’re going to have a great session! No expectations, only possibilities!

I can not tell the future in specific terms, I can give us an outline of it and what possible specifics could fit in there, but we can’t be sure. This is where hearing about your life context can really help, to see which of the myriad possibilities are most likely in your life. Also, I am not here to tell you who you are. I am not here to tell you what you should do. The information or insight gained in the session is meant to help validate or clarify the understanding of self, or guide future actions that are personal to you. If you want to ask astrology a sort of binary/yes-no/black-and-white type of question: this is for Horary Astrology.

We record so you don’t have to memorize everything we say. The future is now and we have the technology. However if you don’t want a recording, that’s just fine with me.

I am a problem solver by trade given my last profession, and while I don’t seek to fix everything, I love problem solving mode if you’re into that. I love pumping people up to take the first step in meeting their challenges head on. The astrology is helpful because it points directly to where the challenges are, as well as potentials areas of support to mitigate those challenges.

I am an educator and I find this a necessary part of the process. Of course if you want, I can share my interpretations without any qualification. But I find that when I do this, most people ask follow up questions. If I say “hey, the next month isn’t great for starting new business contracts with people” most people want to know why I’m saying that. Feel free to ask me questions at any point in the session if you’d like me to show my math more than I already do.

I believe in my clients and their ability to learn new things, and it can deepen your understanding of yourself in the process. When I was in medicine, I tried my best to empower patients with knowledge so they understood WHY I would provide the guidance I would. This way, they could make informed decisions about how to take care of themselves. I employ a similar approach here.

It’s the difference between,

“You’d benefit from red yeast rice for your high cholesterol.”

vs.

“You’d benefit from red yeast rice for your high cholesterol. Because the liver (not diet) produces 70% of your cholesterol, this medicine can help your liver manage that. The other 30% of cholesterol in the body can be managed by diet.”

I do this same thing with astrological information.

Finally, I am serious about confidentiality and privacy.

Refund Policy

• No show: no refund guaranteed.

• I reserve the right to refuse service to anyone at anytime.

• I reserve the right to consider refunds on a case by case basis.

Ethics Statement

People frequently find out I’m a pharmacist and ask me medical questions. In the current “wellness” landscape, it’s important to explicitly state my competencies and limitations regarding what I am reasonably able to provide. I am committed to keeping a comprehensive referring provider list.

Though I have over a decade of experience in health counseling and medical triage, I am not a diagnostician. I am not a therapist or healer. I do not practice medical astrology at this point in my journey. I use medicine and astrology as separate lenses through which to view the world, and the only two I claim an understanding adequate enough to serve the public with. In astrological consult, I use ancient timing techniques and chart analysis, relating that information back to the client. Any medical concerns will be considered through a material-world lens per my qualifications, and/or deferred to a personal physician or provider as needed. More frankly, I will never contribute to delays in someone getting necessary medical attention.

See Terms of Service for more detail.

Are these sessions confidential and is my information protected?

Yes, and yes. Your privacy is important to me and I respect the information provided to me in order for me to provide services. What’s said in session stays in session, unless you do a bad crime and I’m legally required to provide information. Please see my privacy policy for more information.

What are whole sign houses? Why do you use them?

I use more than one house system depending on what I’m looking at. That being said, the foundational concepts of astrology were crafted within a whole sign* framework. This is known thanks to translations of ancient astrological texts written in their original language, unavailable to the mainstream until relatively recently. If I am to use Hellenistic-era timing methods like profections or zodiacal releasing, it makes the most sense to use the house system those techniques were designed/discovered within. I use whole sign houses to assign life topics.

However, I do also observe the sky through a quadrant house lens. I use both whole sign and quadrant houses to assign triplicity lords and explore each, as I am still figuring out which system I find more accurate. If planets are near an angle, I still assign house topics to that planet based on whole signs, however I will determine planetary strength by its proximity to the angle, as well as if it is angular or falling away from the angle (cadency). For instance, if your Sun is in the 1st whole sign house, but the 12th quadrant house, I’m going to use both of those pieces of info in my interpretation.

*Whole sign houses are defined by the 1st house sharing the same 30 degrees as the entire zodiacal sign in which the ascendant degree is found. If you are a Scorpio rising, your entire first house will be Scorpio, and your ascendant degree will no longer be at the cusp of the house, but floating within the sign/house.  Each house spans 30 degrees, which is different from other systems where houses can cross more than one sign and be larger than 30 degrees. In this way, using the example above, the second house shares the degrees of Sagittarius in the whole sign system, the 3rd house holding Capricorn, and so on. 

What if a different house system completely changes my chart?

Do not panic. Read the above three paragraphs on whole sign houses where I explain further. House systems are like different languages. Even if they sound different, they each have a role to play in the narrative of your life.  Think of it like looking at an object from different angles - the object doesn’t change, we just get a different point of view that we can put together with other points of view to get a better overall picture. Just because something in your chart changes between house systems, that doesn't mean you were mistaken or read your chart incorrectly. Both lenses are valid to look through and can provide useful information. In fact, I find it really illuminating to compare charts in multiple systems/using multiple house calculations.

To give an example of how I handle this in session, if your Sun is in the 1st whole sign house, but the 12th quadrant house, I’m going to use both of those pieces of info in my interpretation.

The information provided in consult does not, and is not intended to, constitute medical, legal, or financial advice.