Revisiting How Astrology Found Me

Moments in the Flow...Reaching my Second Year of writing on Substack

I’m at the 2nd Year mark of writing on Substack, and I want to say how grateful I am for how my readership has grown. I see the evolution of how I went from thinking this would be a good place to write a memoir and discuss Astrology to expanding into a place for me to explore topics I found timely and interesting. I glad to see many of you came along for the ride.

Substack suggested that sharing something I posted in June 2024 might be of interest. And I knew that unless Readers have explore the Archives, they don’t know the backstory of how I became an Astrologer at a time when it was not fashionable and even frowned upon. What follows is an updated version of the original post.

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The web of my life has taken me on many pathways I didn’t seek and would never have imagined. An intersection would arrive, bringing a new meeting or experience that caught my attention and gave me new areas to explore. One of my first departures from the cultural consensus of how to live a life in the 1970s was studying Astrology.

Saying Astrology was not fashionable back then was an understatement. Growing up in the 50s and 60s, Astrology was the sun sign forecast in the newspaper that most considered entertainment. If you were an actual Astrologer, you were labeled weird, and often an called an ungodly witch.  

But somehow in the mid-70s I found myself working for a PR firm with many female account execs who were studying astrology and two psychics running what is now called the Human Resources department. On my first day, I found a chart wheel with unfathomable hieroglyphics on my desk. My new boss had just started studying and was learning how to set up a birth chart (by hand and with an understanding of the arithmetic…it was a labor of love).

I did know I was a Sagittarius and had once bought an inexpensive typed report that I hardly remembered, so I asked her what the chart said. She suggested I take Sue—more advanced in her studies—to lunch in exchange for a reading of my birth chart.

Over our meal, Sue used the chart to reveal my nature and what went wrong in last my relationship. She knew it was unusual that I was also asking questions about how she was seeing these things. Because of this, and some other things she saw in my chart, she took me from the restaurant to one of the few ‘occult bookstores’ in Manhattan. It happened to be near the office and where the other execs were taking classes. There, she bought me my first book. And though I wasn’t a ‘morning person,’ I’d get up early to read more before leaving for work. Astrology was meant for me.

Not long after the book’s information gave rise to questions, a friend introduced me to an Astrologer who would become my beloved mentor/teacher. I spent two years going across town to the not yet fashionable Upper West Side, to take weekly classes with Richard.

When I was ready to practice, it was still considered unusual to be an Astrologer. When some people  discovered this, they left my life. The husbands of some friends were upset about their wife being around me. I think it was lucky that my Christian family never judged me, and even wanted readings.

They were surprised, but still accepting when this study led me to many other places on what at that time would be called ‘the road less travelled.’ What I found was enriching and fascinating. I have written articles about those facets of my life and practice over the last two years.

Astrology and the Four Elements

What I want to convey about Astrology today is that, even though we can’t see the direct connection and influence of planetary movements through the 360 degrees of the Zodiac wheel, we can and do experience the effects.

Far from being evil witchcraft, the study of Astrology in the Western method I use comes down to understanding the nature of the Four Elements: Fire, Earth, Air and Water, and how they relate to each other. Each of the four elements has three ways of expressing. That’s why we have twelve signs, which evenly divide the 360-degree circle.

Two years later, on my Substack page you can find daily Astrology forecasts in my Moondays Report that posts on Sunday evenings. Subscribers get this in their email. At the beginning of the Moondays Report I discuss the significance of the Moon, why I use it for the forecasts, and the importance of your own birth moon cycle and sign. The last section holds information about the week’s Planetary and Lunar events.

Thank you for being a Reader of ShellieWrites on Substack. I always welcome your comments and questions and appreciate a tap on the heart icon, or a restack share.

See you next time!