Can we call someone a professional astrologer with a good “practice” – like other professionals. This term “practice” is an issue that I think needs to be addressed. More and more serious astrologers who write for magazines, have books out, went to an astrological school, have founded astrological schools, or generally want to improve the professional standing of the vocation, have strongly called for getting more and more astrologers “certified,” having to pass a test to show professional mastery of the subject. This step in professional credentials brings up the question of practice.
Every profession has people pass a test to get certified. Astrologers want the same thing to be true for their field of endeavor–certified astrologers. This would give astrology a foot on solid educational basis, a curriculum which covers all the aspects of the craft, or profession. And there is strong logic for this: presently anyone who wants can just call themselves an astrologer. Read a book on astrology? You can call yourself an astrologer. Haven’t read a book but get psychic vibes from just looking at a chart? Okay you can call yourself an astrologer.
To me it is a good idea of having to pass some tests to be an astrologer. An astrologer who can say where they got certified (for me, ISAR) assures the unknowing public to know something–this certain astrologer knows his stuff. There are other factors as well, can they do a good consultation? That is a matter of taste or style of the reader, something like bedside manners – and that cannot be tested for, at least I don’t see how it can be known except by the online rating websites like Yelp.
All this leads to the question raised at the beginning of this blog: Can we say that an astrologer has a “practice?” Doctors say they have a practice which is accepted, or one practices law. You get my meaning.
And I assert that astrologers do have a “practice.”
First good astrologers practice their profession by not only doing consultations, but keeping up with the study and academic improvement of skill by studying and reading continually in the field, by being a member of one, at least, professional astrological group. Also important is going to study groups, courses, seminars and conventions and show a passion for keeping up with the current topics of the time.
So from my point of view, professional astrologers can say they have a practice, if certified. This is good as it assures the public that certified astrologers can be expected to at least be truly learned in the Zodiac and all its various intellectual themes and techniques. It gives some standard of quality. And we need the best quality of astrologers with flourishing practices.