On September 9, Dana will be presenting the lecture “Meeting the Planets with a Magical Mind”; on September 11 she is offering a workshop entitled “Venus Retrograde: Desire, Seduction, and Mastery”. She’ll also be offering personalized AstroChat sessions on September 10. To contact her and learn more, visit her website at www.mooncircles.com.
What brought you to astrology?
Twenty years ago while meditating, I heard an internal voice that said, “You should be an astrologer.” I was taken aback. I’d never heard a voice in my head like that and I had no interest in studying astrology. I’d had a couple astrology readings in my life but they weren’t memorable. I’d been working earnestly on new career options and had just done an exercise called “Your Ideal Career” that required making a list of all the activities I most enjoyed doing. After hearing my astrology message in meditation, I got out that list. Being an astrologer fit every item on it! I got chills. I began studying that very day, but I was miserable until Pluto transited my Mercury three months later and I discovered the authors—Liz Greene, Howard Sasportas, Stephen Arroyo, and Donna Cunningham—who ignited my delight.
Why do you practice astrology—what makes it juicy for you?
My 3rd house conjunction of Mercury and Venus in Scorpio loves entering into deep conversations with people about their current life dilemmas. Before I became an astrologer, I lived for the times I could do this with friends. Now people call me from all over the world to do just that! As a former English major, I love pondering symbols. As a mystic, I love dialoguing with the archetypes. Astrology brings all these pleasures together in a continually fresh and surprising way.
What is your specialty or focus?
I hope my specialty is listening to people and bringing them the information they most need at that moment. Right now I seem to be attracting a lot of empaths and intuitives. For years I regularly attracted clients who were in their progressed Dark Moon phase, which is one of my favorite times.
From your unique perspective, how do you see what’s come forth recently with regards to the current astrological weather (e.g. Cardinal Cross)?
Yeesh… I’m not inclined to make predictions or pronouncements, but clearly these are “interesting” times.
A columnist for The Mountain Astrologer since 1991, Dana Gerhardt is an internationally recognized astrologer. Her work has appeared on the Astrodienst, StarIQ and Beliefnet websites, as well as American Astrology and Aspects magazines. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Occidental College, did graduate work at Columbia University and earned a Masters in literature at CSULA. She currently lives in Southern Oregon and practices astrology full time. Her astrology reports, Moonprints and Venus Unleashed, and her ongoing Twelve Moons workshop are available through her website: www.mooncircles.com
