How I Became an Astrologer
The short answer to how I came to be an Astrologer is “By Accident”. No one in my family was interested in the occult. My grandmother, I later learned, had prophetic dreams. She was Greek and her culture is inherently spiritual--although some might say superstitious. But I always thought the Ancient Greeks, the myths, and the gods were fascinating. I liked the stories of the gods and goddesses, their foibles, playfulness, passion and anger. They were human with powerful emotions and temperament.
The true impetus for my love of Astrology came from my career in the theatre. I had done plays and pageants in elementary and high school and a few productions in College. After graduating, I drifted and traveled backpack-style through Europe and the Middle East. When I returned to the United States, I thought I had to get a proper job. I became a Program Assistant for a High School Exchange Program. I was also working on a student’s NYU final film project playing a nun. One day, very bored, I decided to take the nun to the office; I showed up in full habit. My colleagues laughed and I wasn’t fired, but I did decide that office work and making arrangements was not the life for me.
At the same time, a friend from college was seriously studying Astrology and we did charts together. As soon as I saw the mathematics that creating an Astrology chart demands, I was intimidated. It is not difficult, just requires patience and accuracy. Luckily, there were some budding computer services that did the calculations for a nominal fee. Later, I did learn to calculate charts myself and felt particularly proud when they matched the computer chart.
Together my friend and I did charts for everyone. I studied my chart and decided that my calling was theatre. And as soon as I decided that, I became obsessed with whether I would Make It. A fabulous movie star and/or a serious classical theatre actor? I was leaning towards classical theatre and started to audition. I saw promise in my chart and possibilities. I ignored the difficulties. I had early success and was cast in a full time classical repertory in NYC. It was hard work and very little pay; exhausting and exhilarating.
My chart told me that this job wasn’t IT and I left the company after a year. I continued auditioning, got some film and soap opera parts, and was member of another classical theatre company. The glamour was wearing off and I started to pay more attention to celebrity charts. What made these people STARS? I knew the hard work that was necessary for getting noticed and being highly paid for work. But STARS had an extra glow that went beyond their charts. They were tough and had factor X. I was beginning to doubt that I had factor X.
During this time, I worked at a part time job in the library of Time Life, Inc. It was the best job I ever had as it required 15 hours a week, gave full benefits, and reimbursements for classes and degree programs. With that stability, I thought about the future. I still loved interpreting charts and thought I would offer to read charts for $5 for anyone interested. I could get print outs from the computer service, but I kept hand calculating because I thought it was important to understand the mathematical basis of a chart. A chart is a map of where all the planets were on the day, time, year, and place of birth; calculating this planetary roadmap was very focusing.
Much to my surprise, many people took me up on my $5 chart offer. Further surprise was when we sat down to discuss their chart, my interpretations resonated. I continued my theatre career but work was very sporadic and not fulfilling. Astrology was more interesting. I got married and continued to study. I worked at parties doing readings and did quick readings on the radio to lady truck drivers who called into SiriusXM.
Then I met my Astrologer or I should say my Mentor. His name was Leor Warner and he was the best, most learned, and sensitive Astrologer I had encountered. After 25 years as a professional astrologer I have never met anyone in the Astrology world who had heard of him... This is unique especially in today’s Pop Astro world fueled by YouTube videos and internet horoscopes. I valued him all the more for his hidden knowledge and refusal to violate his privacy.
We did tutorials. Examining celebrity charts and the timing for their success and, of course, we analyzed my chart. Leor had a way of communicating difficult astrological times that was honest yet comforting. When I heard him say “this is serious,” especially for surgeries ad health matters, I paid attention to the transits that led him to this conclusion. When something “serious” applied to my own chart he always gave me an end date to the chaos or difficulty and most times he was correct.
I took that knowledge with me to work with my own clients. Leor’s rule of thumb was simple. If a client asked whether they should do this or that, or what should they do in general? Leor would say GREEN LIGHT: go ahead, YELLOW LIGHT: proceed with caution, or RED LIGHT, stop and regroup. He never said this job opportunity or relationship is a disaster. And I never saw or heard him steer away from the thorniest difficulties. He punctuated most of his comments “do you know what I mean?”. Being clear was his goal and he was.
Leor was not 100% accurate, none of us are, but he was 100% comforting and knowledgeable. He made you feel whatever the situation was that you would survive, and this difficult planetary transit was part of the great wide web of cosmic and personal evolution. I miss him terribly.
After many years practicing in NYC, Leor moved to California but kept up his practice on the phone. Then he and his partner decided to move to Sedona, Arizona: a mecca for Astrologers and known as a vortex, a swirling energy mass conducive to healing and meditation. He hated to drive but learned out of necessity. One early September morning he and Jim set out at 4 AM to avoid traffic for Sedona.
His chihuahua was in the front seat with him, the accelerator set for cruise control but somehow there was an accident and Leor was killed. His partner was badly injured but survived. The news spread quickly. I kept on thinking to myself, I have to tell Leor that Leor is dead. I couldn’t imagine an important event in my life where he wasn’t there to advise and console.
Quickly I looked at his departure chart: 4AM, Los Angeles, Sept 17, 2007. It was a threatening chart, not peaceful. I still don’t know if he calculated the chart or just figured things would turn out alright. Perhaps they did for him? No matter what the cosmic or practical reason, Leor was gone.
He had many clients, and some knew I was his student. Apprentice would be a better word. In grief, people called me for appointments. I know I disappointed some but others liked my way of interpreting their charts. My practice grew and I kept studying all the printouts and books that Leor had passed on to me from his teacher. I felt incredibly lucky to be the recipient of Leor’s ancient wisdom and I did my best to share this with the people who loved and depended on him.
I would say now that interpreting charts and helping people see the possibilities when the time is right in their lives is my passion and interest in life. It is as dramatic as theatre; doesn’t require a lot of travel; and allows me to get to know and help people. My last name is Stellas and in Greek it becomes Stella, stands for Star, so perhaps I just became a different kind of Star.