fbpx Skip to main content

Questions You Might Want To Ask Before Getting A Reading

What kinds of readings do you do?

Here’s a VERY complete description of the types of readings I do.

I’m nervous, and wondering why I’m considering this crazy stuff.

The usual hard questions people ask before trying astrology can be found in my FAQ along with sensible answers.

Why should I see you? Aren’t astrologers pretty much the same?

Nope, not any more than lawyers or accountants are the same. You should like and feel respected by your astrologer, because a reading can get pretty personal. To find out whether I’m the one for you, look at what other people have said after seeing me, or browse my Yelp reviews.

I’d like a reading, but I don’t live near Berkeley, California. Do you do phone readings?

Of course, using a landline or Skype. Either way, you pay nothing for the call, only the reading. Before the reading, you will receive an orientation packet by email to help you follow along. At the appointed time, I’ll call you and record the reading as it happens. We’ll use screen-sharing software so we can look at your charts together, just as if we were in the same room. Afterwards, you’ll receive a high-quality recording of the reading online, so you can listen to it as often as you’d like.

What information do I need to get a reading?

To get an astrology reading, you need an accurate birth date, location (city) and (most importantly) time of birth. Your accurate natal chart is the main tool of astrological self-understanding and doing a record search to find your birth time is well worth the effort. If you need to search for your birth time, this blog post will explain how to go about it. You can also see the Rectification section in my FAQ for more information, but note I am not doing rectifications at this time.

How long are readings?

Readings for new clients are at least 90 minutes long, but after you’ve seen me twice, you can have a reading as short as 30 minutes, depending on what you’d like to discuss.

Can I record the reading?

All my readings come with high quality recordings included in the price of the reading, so no need to record it yourself. I do this routinely because I’ve found that no one absorbs everything from a reading the first time they hear it and that new layers of information unfold with repeat listenings. You will receive your recording as an mp3 audio file (playable on your computer, phone or mp3 player), which you’ll be able to pick up online, usually within 24 hours. All recordings are done in tracks, so that you can go straight to the part of the reading you want to hear. Every reading comes with copies of all the charts we looked at, so you can follow along as you listen. Also, I’ll be keeping a copy of your reading, so if you ever lose it, you can request another.

Yes! I’m ready to book and just need to know how to contact you.

The place to start is with my Services page. There you can see a comprehensive list of the types of readings I do (and if your topic isn’t there, I may not read on your topic–health for example). Each type of reading service has a webform for you to fill out, followed by a way to pay so you can secure and then book your own appointment. It’s fast and easy and if you change your mind, you’ll be refunded fully.

I’d like a gift certificate. How do I get one?

The best way is to phone me and discuss the reading you’d like to get for your friend. I’ll personalize the certificate for you and mail it to you so you can give it yourself, or I’ll mail it directly to the recipient if you prefer. A gift certificate from me is large (8-1/2 x 11) and gorgeous–something you’ll be proud to give.

I’d love to have a reading, but I don’t have any money to spare right now. Do you have any freebies for me?

Yes! Subscribe to Pandora newsletter to get astrology-related news in your inbox around the first of every month. That will point you to my blog where you’ll find tons of free articles on a variety of useful and entertaining astrological topics.

Free teleclasses: I’m often running a free monthly teleclass series and the newsletter is the best way to find out about it—sometimes there’s so much going on that I send out an Events e-letter in the middle of the month too.

Also, psst—I give discounts for referrals! You get $30 off a reading for each friend you refer, which means if you send me 6 friends who book and have a reading, you’ve got yourself a free 90-minute reading!

Is this a Vedic reading and what’s the difference?

Vedic astrology and Western astrology are both rooted in Mesopotamia several thousand years ago, so they are distant cousins, which accounts for the confusion between them. But they differ greatly in the techniques used and the handling of the information generated. Vedic astrologers claim that what they do is more accurate than Western astrology. Untrue. Both astrologies make predictions based on very specific dates. But Western astrology’s approach is more psychological and personal-growth oriented. Western places you in the driver’s seat of your life, and advises you on how to handle the things that happen. Vedic astrologers tend to be more fatalistic in their interpretations and you can leave a Vedic reading feeling stuck in a fate you don’t want, but not really knowing how to change your path. Also, Vedic astrologers assign their clients ways you can change your fate that are rooted in Indian culture and that often seem strange to Westerners, such as rituals or chants to perform, gemstones to wear and visits to temples to pay honor to various deities. Without the cultural context for these assignments, it is difficult to attain more than a placebo effect from doing them.

If you are culturally Indian and you expect these things from a reading, please understand right now that I cannot provide them. But if you want a more freewill-driven approach to your chart (especially if you find yourself in America and you are developing your own Western side), then I’d be delighted to see you.

Is this a Chinese reading and what’s the difference?

Chinese astrology is profoundly different from Western. They evolved independently of each other and the Chinese tradition is about 10,000 years old, about twice as old as the Western/Vedic roots. If Chinese astrology is specifically what you want, you’ll have to look elsewhere, because I know almost nothing about it—but what I do know, I have immense respect for. I do believe, however, that the practice of Chinese astrology could use some updating to catch up to modern lifestyles. There are probably some clever people working on that problem right now.

Will Western astrology work for me if I’m not an American?

Certainly. And one of my specialties is helping all kinds of immigrants and adult children of immigrants adapt to life in the USA and resolve the conflicts between the USA’s ultra-modern culture and the traditional culture you came from. I find all cultures fascinating and have immense respect for the differences and how they help us all grow as human beings.

How do I know what to ask in my reading? About framing an answerable question. . .

Yes/No questions are NOT very useful, like these:
“Will he ever love me?”
“Will we work it out?”
“Are we compatible?”
“Will I have a career I like?”

Questions like these are poison and I refuse to deal with them:
“Is he lying to me?”
“Is he having an affair?”
“Is she going to leave me?”
“Will I be successful?”
“Will I make a lot of money?”
“Will I have children? How many?”

Instead, try framing your question as a “how” or “when” or “what kind of”
“How can I love my partner so well that he will never leave me?” (this question is a good start, but the next one is even better)
“In what ways are my partner and I compatible and in what areas will we need to work things out in our relationship?”
“How can we work out this conflict we have in our relationship?”
“How can I support my love/business partner in achieving his/her greatest potential?”
“When will I go through my next career growth period and how should I respond to it?”
“What kind of career direction will bring me the most satisfaction?”
“When are my next money/career luck periods and how can I get the most from them?”
“What (karmically or psychologically) is in the way of me conceiving a child and how can I clear it?”
“How can I fix the bad relationship patterns I’ve gotten into?”
“What is the purpose of my life and how can I live it in the most satisfying way?”

Sign up for the Pandora Astrology Newsletter

Subscribe to our email newsletter today to receive updates on the latest news, tutorials and special offers!

You have Successfully Subscribed!