Next month (May, 2011) in the Creative Soul Circle I have Astrologer, Emily Trinkaus as my special guest. She will be participating in our Q & A Group so if you want to talk with her personally please sign up below. Sign up is free for the Circle, but access to the private Q&A Group is $19 a month or $144 annually, which includes my Q&A Group, a Moon Musing Group and the Awaken Your Divine Feminine Soul eClass plus lots of other goodies! Join the Creative Soul Circle.
*Every month in our Circle I will be featuring a new guest; in June I’ll be featuring Susan Rodio, Mystical Artist. You can view the entire year's line up of special guests here.
An Interview with Emily Trinkaus, Astrologer
How did you originally become interested in astrology?
When I was 13, a friend gave me a copy of Linda Goodman's Sun Signs and I was hooked! It just immediately made sense to me, and gave me a helpful perspective on myself and the people in my life, some order to the chaos. I come from an entirely non-woo-woo background, and didn't really get the spiritual dimensions of astrology until much later, but it just seemed very practical, which appealed to my Virgoness.
How can astrology help people?
Astrology can help people by revealing a higher, cosmic perspective to what's happening in their lives. Astrology can also help people by validating what they already know, but may be afraid to trust - that is, the most common response to an astrology reading is relief. It's not
like I'm telling the client something they don't already know, but more like I'm giving them permission to be who they are and to trust their intuition in going after what they want.
I also think astrology helps people by connecting them with something bigger, with the mysterious Multiverse. When a complete stranger looks at a page with a bunch of symbols and then gives you an accurate, detailed description of what you're experiencing internally, you know that there's more to this world than what you experience with your five senses.
What is the best way to begin the study of astrology?
The best way to start is to get an astrology reading with a professional astrologer, because then you can get a real sense of what's possible with astrology and how mind-blowing it is. You can study your own chart for years and continue to get new insights and understandings. Study charts of friends and family - you can learn the most through observation, and asking questions. There are many entries into astrology, and it's a very 
individual journey. Follow what excites you.
Are there any downsides to astrology?
Astrology is a tool, and, like any tool, whether it is good or bad depends on how it's used. When astrology is used for predictive "fortune telling" or to give a static description of "who you are," it's disempowering and not useful. This is the mainstream understanding of astrology - Sun Signs and horoscopes - which is an outrageous reduction and misrepresentation of a very complex art and science. When people say they "don't believe in astrology," I say, "I don't believe in the same astrology that you don't believe in."
Can one make a good living as a full time astrologer in today's world?
I believe you can make a living doing whatever you want. And I think it's a great time to be an astrologer - more and more people are ready for this perspective, and are looking for answers to the big questions in life.
What astrological gem of wisdom do you feel is most essential for us to know about right now?
There's so much happening right now - read my blog!
More About Emily
http://virgomagic.wordpress.com/
I fell in love with astrology when I was 13 and read Linda Goodman’s Sun Signs. Suddenly the world made sense! I’ve been a passionate student of the cosmic science ever since. The more I learn, the more I’m humbled by its elegance, power and profound mystery. I started giving readings professionally in 1999.
I also have a background in creative arts – writing, painting and movement – and founded Portland Women Writers. I love working with other artists and writers to offer support for breaking through blocks and increasing access to the creative flow.