How would you describe yourself? Who is Caroline?
I’m someone who tries to see different approaches to life and who
helps others see these in their own lives. I want to help people
to see what could be possible for them.
In addition to that, I’m a self-employed business woman, and I
feel very lucky to be able to do what I love. I’m so much more
relaxed than when I was stuck on the corporate hamster wheel.
What are you working on now?
My work focuses on empowering people to get the most out of their
lives through astrology. Astrology was mainstream up to the 17th
century, but linear and scientific thinking took over during the
renaissance, and astrology was rejected as non- rational and
non-scientific. But as society is starting to shift again, we’re
realising that we are actually part of a bigger whole, and not a
separate entity from the rest of the Universe, as has been the
predominant thinking in the last few centuries. There’s been a
bigger shift towards different ways of seeing the human condition,
and a lot more people are seeking enlightenment through astrology
and other related fields.
I most commonly work with individuals. My client base varies
immensely. People might choose to look me up, for example, when
they’re at a crossroads. They call because they need to know when
the difficulties they’re having will end and they also want to get
some guidance on where to go next. I also have frequent
consultations with very self-aware people who just want to confirm
that they are on the right path and making the most of their
potential.
In my work I begin with a new client by giving an initial
consultation, where we explore the client’s character and
personality through their birth chart. We also have a look at what
the “weather” around them is like, which is the forecast part of
the consultation. This doesn’t mean that I’ll be telling them what
will happen next in their lives however: each individual has free
will and can choose themselves where they go next. It’s just that
if it’s going to be raining, it’s nice to know you’ll need an
umbrella!
I also offer follow-up sessions. These can include working on
affirmations according to the birth chart, or using the power of
the new moon to set goals. I also offer yearly forecasts, or work
in any number of other areas, such as relationship consultations,
children’s charts and also astro- locality work. This tells you
where in the world certain features of your birth chart will be
more prominent, where you might have most success or find love,
and which places to avoid!
My clients are predominantly female, probably because women are
generally more in touch with their emotions and inner life. I
don’t get many male clients, though it sometimes does happen,
which is a treat! The age can be quite varied, anything from early
30s to late 50s, from all walks of life. Astrology is very broad
in terms of who you can reach and anyone can benefit from this
type of work.
In addition to my client work, I’m also putting together a
series of workshops, which will kick off in August. Last year, I
approached a summer school which runs adult education programmes
to get into this year’s syllabus, and I’ll be running a workshop
for them entitled ‘Introduction to your Birth Chart’. I’m very
excited about this as it’s a new departure for me.
I also have a radio slot every Thursday on BBC Radio Leicester.
It’s a very good way to get the message across about what
astrology is and to show people how it could help them in their
lives.
What has been your journey to what you are doing now?
I had a standard, background in sales and marketing. I disliked
the way that the corporate world put profits ahead of people, and
I also didn’t like the feeling that other people were directing my
journey.
For my 30th birthday, my partner’s family got me my birth chart
analysed as a gift, which really sparked my interest. We moved
abroad for a while, and when we came back, I went back to my old
employers, but I realised then that there was not enough to go
forward with anymore. It felt strange to leave a well-paid
‘respectable’ job, but I felt that it was time to start taking
astrology more seriously.
I left full-time employment in September 2000. This was
followed by two years of intensive study in astrology. I started
my own practice in early 2003. Working for yourself is as much a
process of self- discovery as it is developing a business. You
learn so much through talking to other people and reflecting on
what you are going through yourself. So it feels like a two-way
process. Yes, I’m giving my clients advice and encouragement, but
they also teach me things I often don’t expect. It’s extremely
rewarding.
I’ve also recently moved, so am continuing to build on my
client base from a new location. I’ve started giving phone
consultations, which work really well and mean you’re not limited
by geographic location.
I have clients all over the UK, and even as far as South
Africa, which is great.
Did you have any voices of doubt along the way?
You’re bound to have voices of doubt when you make such an
enormous change t your life. But you’ve got to start building new
ways of living and thinking. A question I often ask my clients
when they are at a crossroads is: ‘what’s the worst thing that can
happen if you take the plunge? And so what if it did, would it be
the end of the world or would you pick yourself up and start again
having learnt something?’
Yes, I had doubts about the reduced income, and whether I was
doing the right thing. My partner was very supportive, and I kept
on thinking what’s really important here? What truly matters?
What’s better? To have tried to do something that feels right or
to live wondering “what if...”? Yes, my friends were fairly
surprised with my decision, they thought it sounded a bit whacky,
but they were supportive as they knew I was single minded once I
decided something.
I’ve had some fantastic experiences, mainly because I’ve tried
to keep an open mind. I’ve been philosophical about what I’ve come
across. No experience is a wasted one, as long as you move forward
with whatever it gives you. You start finding out more about
yourself, and the old saying is true: ‘what doesn’t kill you makes
stronger’.
How are you feeling now?
Very optimistic for what’s coming up. I’ve achieved a lot already.
I’ve carried on with my studies, and have recently got my Diploma
in Medieval Astrology, which gives me another set of skills to add
to my toolkit. I produce a monthly newsletter, where I write about
astrology using current events to demonstrate it’s validity in all
of our lives. The radio stuff is also exciting, and very
rewarding.
I want to carry on developing my business, though I’m not
really a long-term planner. I tend to be more open to
opportunities that come up. For example, the radio gig came
completely by chance. I have an entry in the local Yellow Pages,
and that’s how they found me. They were looking for an astrologer
for a Valentine’s Day special, got in touch, and afterwards
decided to make it a weekly thing!
Would you do anything differently?
That’s a very difficult question to answer. I think in life you’ve
got to just move forward with what you have. So no, I actually
think I wouldn’t. This has been such a great learning experience
for me as an individual, it’s affected all parts of my life.
One of the hardest things for me has been to learn to trust my
gut feel and do things my own way with no outside support. I’ve
also had to redefine how I view personal achievement, as I’d been
conditioned by more conventional concepts of what that means (lots
of money, status, material possessions, etc).
And it’s also been strange to move from a 9 to 5 office
environment to creating my own working pattern – when there isn’t
anyone there you have to report to; it’s all about being self
motivated. But that’s all been part of the fun – and like I said,
I’ve learned so much about myself in the process.
What advice would you give to other people in similar
situations to the one you were in?
• You can’t wait for things to change from the outside, you need
to change things yourself
• If you did take a risk and change things, what’s the worst thing
that could happen? The flipside is if you don’t take the plunge,
you could be missing out on new and potentially exciting
experiences, going places you never thought possible. Wouldn’t it
be a shame to risk losing that opportunity?
• One of the biggest fears most of us have is losing the financial
security that our jobs give us – but if you weigh being in a rut
(and secure) against actually going out there and doing something
that could bring you more satisfaction, as well as new, exciting
experiences, playing it safe just doesn’t really add up!
• Always use what comes along as a positive learning experience:
if you do this you can only grow and benefit from life!
