Astrologers usually follow a code of ethics in their work, just as most professions do. The National Council for Geocosmic Research, one of the oldest astrological associations, has a code of ethics on their website that includes some of the following standards of practice:
Avoid making statements that could cause harm through confusion, misunderstanding or fear. This includes predicting the client's death, the death of someone close to them or other disaster.
Make predictions with appropriate qualifying statements, not as final pronouncements. Although our egos would all like to be Nostradamus, it is more helpful to the client to prepare them for a climate of change rather than predict, no matter how accurately, specific events.
Disclose to the public only that information which is publicly available without permission. It is generally thought acceptable to publish birth data which is available in the public records, but when discussing the chart of a third party with a client it is unethical to include personal information that is not in the public domain.
The code of ethics of the American Society of Vedic Astrologers includes a specific reference to the charts of public figures:
Interpretations of the charts of public figures are confined to areas that are considered public domain due to specific achievements or notoriety as revealed in interviews, published documents, or recorded observations. When interpreting charts of public figures, astrologers refrain from making slanderous comments. Information should be presented in a manner that is respectful to the individual whose chart is being discussed.
A reader was concerned that a profile I wrote about Tom Cruise was disrespectful and made assumptions based on my opinions about him, and I really pondered this. I do have a fascination for gossip (Gemini rising in my own chart) and the lives of public figures which fuels the writing of this daily column. My Scorpio Mercury isn't content to learn the superficial details - I want to understand what motivates people, what makes them tick. In doing so, I am writing about people I admire as well as those I don't feel respect for and it is often tempting to use the astrological signatures to express criticism of that indidividual.
My greater goal in these pages is not only to explain character traits through the astrological profiles but also to demonstrate the pathways that each individual can follow to maximize the potential found in their birthchart and take advantage of the gifts and challenges that have been given to them in order to achieve greater wisdom and self-understanding. If I fall into the gutter and miss the mark, I expect you all to let me know!!
photo by William Schick, courtesy of Corbis.
Add to Del.icio.us
Add to Technorati
Add to Digg
Add to Newsvine
Add to Facebook
Add to StumbleUpon
Subscribe
"In some ways, I can understand why female astrologers feel betrayed by Edwards, because they got sucked in by Edward's charm and then, naively believing that he was a "good soul" and "sympathetic to the needy" and then, he turns around and "boinks" one of you MILF's ? (from rj)
Oh dear! Isn't THAT nice!?
While I don't agree with Lynn on the current Democratic presidential presumptive nominee, I do respect her astrological skills and her honesty.
I'm on the outside of professional astrology, just an ethusiastic amateur, the sight of professional jealousy rearing its head here is not very edifying, I must say, rj.
Prediction aside (I find it of very little value in the long run) what Lynn and other astrologers do in using charts of well known characters to show astrology at work is one of the most valuable things anyone can do to demonstrate astrology's validity. For me, that is front and center in my mind in whatever I write, and I have the utmost appreciation for others who do the same.
rj wrote: "In some ways, I can understand why female astrologers feel betrayed by Edwards, because they got sucked in by Edward's charm and then, naively believing that he was a "good soul" and "sympathetic to the needy" and then, he turns around and "boinks" one of you MILF's
Someone needs to review the Rules of Conduct. I must say that the above is a crude comment that would have been zapped if this were my blog. I'm known for holding unpopular opinions and riling people up about popular misconceptions, but at least I don't commit ad hominem attacks. And to use the acronym MILF to refer to Lynn and/or other female astrologers is incredibly disrespectful and I hope it doesn't occur again.
My intention in writing the profile of Edwards was to illustrate how a preponderance of Gemini planets can explain his lack of focus in his political career.
Since YOU claim to be a "professional" astrologer, I was looking for a FAR more in-depth and thorough astrological analysis of the chart of John Edwards and his falling political career, than what you gave us ?
I am not "angry" about you (or anyone), so please get that idea out of your head ! I have never met you, for openers, (or even heard of you, prior to this article,) so how could I possibly be angry at someone I have never met before?
However, in your article, you did come across as very negative and angry at John Edwards and this negativity was unjustified, in my opinion ? When so-called professional astrologers start to simplify complex life situations by using the "Sun-Signs" for answers on human behaviour, it makes a mockery of the art-science of astrology and also, natal chart interpretations, in general ?
Basically, what you are doing is reducing or reverting our craft to the "Linda Goodman era" of cookbook astrology, which shows a horrible regression of thinking in current psychological-need astrology ?
It's also ridiculous that you are lambasting Edwards for being a "superficial" Gemini, and yet, your analysis of him is also superficial ? It guess it figures that you claim you have Gemini rising, natally, since Gemini, according to your article, is unable to provide thorough in-depth answers to complex issues and they have a changeable, immature approach to life, right ?
Maybe you are embarrassed that another astrologer has pointed out your shortcomings and lack of experience in political astrology (and you might well be an otherwise capable natal chart astrologer). However, reverting political astrology back to the days of Sun-Signs seems very amateurish and a step in the wrong direction, in my view?
Meanwhile, telling me to "go away" on a public forum that I have every right to visit (and express my opinion) is clearly beyond your purvue and it shows a "darker" side to your natal Mercury in Scorpio, (i.e. a need to control and manipulate others ?)as well as a stubborness and inability to accept valid criticism and feedback from others.
RJ I think your last para is for yourself, no one can stop your verbal abuse but we fellow readers do have the freedom to ask you to go elsewhere as your negative energy is not constructive or welcome. You have a b.r.a. problem - of betrayal rejection and abandon, and there are so many fellow healers who could help you. I continue to wish you well with peace in your heart and in your mind and many blessings for your week. This website blog belongs to Lynn, with like-minded energy, and we should all respect her. Hey why not create your own website and then you would create your own followers ? This is being constructive.....
Individuals like this one seem to be VERY unhappy about something AND they also want lots of attention. There is a certain meanness, or acridness, in the writing - very unusual tone on Lynn's Blog, this one. Of course there are many perspectives to consider; however, in a kind or professional way would bring more acceptance to the getting the point across.
Lynn - You continue to share wonderful insight. Thank you.
Post a Comment
By submitting these comments, I agree to the beliefnet.com terms of service, rules of conduct and privacy policy (the "agreements"). I understand and agree that any content I post is licensed to beliefnet.com and may be used by beliefnet.com in accordance with the agreements.