Sandra Butler, Cert.Ed., DFAstrolS., Hon.Dip.astrol.c., FAPAI.
Birth of the college
astrologycollege.com was born on 14 August 2002, at 0 hours BST, in Cardiff.
Our Aims
Natal and Mundane Astrology
At astrologycollege.com we aim to teach astrology to a high standard from beginners’ stage to advanced level. We concentrate mostly on birth chart interpretation and analysis for individuals, known as Natal Astrology. We also cover political astrology and global events, known as Mundane Astrology.
Techniques
We encourage you to explore various techniques used in chart interpretation and forecasting. Some of them are modern, developed in the 20th century, while others originate from times long ago, from the ancient Western tradition. There are so many techniques in both natal work and in forecasting that we cannot realistically cover them all, but we teach you the ones most commonly used.
We take quite a ‘Virgoan’ approach to your astrological education in that when it comes to analysis of the birth chart and forecasting we help you to be structured and precise in the astrological symbolism you comment on. For instance, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and hard to find your way in a forest. We help you to pick out what is important and most relevant when looking at someone’s birth chart. When it comes to forecasting, it is common to pick out astrological energies coming up over too long a time range, or to place too much emphasis on what is not important. We want to help you avoid these problems.
People have given us permission to use them as case studies either in the lessons or in the exercises. Their names have been changed and we are grateful to them for their contributions. We also use some biographies of famous people, so that you can see how astrological energies and symbolism have worked out in their lives.
Astronomy
In the Foundation and Diploma courses, there are modules that cover the astronomy you need to know about. Perhaps you are thinking,”I want to study astrology, not astronomy.” However, what you are looking at on a birth chart and when you are forecasting all begins to make much more sense when you understand the astronomy side of the art. We try and make the learning and education fun.
The astronomy relates to what you are looking at on a birth chart; how we measure and locate places on Earth and the Sun, Moon and planets on the celestial sphere. Planetary cycles are fascinating and are relevant when timing major global and political trends. We cover Solar and Lunar cycles, such as the Moon’s phases, eclipses and lunar standstills. Why are there two ways of measuring the Zodiac is covered in the articles on Precession of the Equinoxes. Some astrologers use the stars and you are introduced to how they are used and interpreted. You are given information on what kinds stars astrologers are usually looking at. In the Foundation Course, you will be introduced to three house sysems in common use, but astronomical explanation of these is left to the Astronomy section in the Diploma Course.
Personal Development
Once you start learning astrology, you will find that you are on a journey of self-discovery and personal development. It encourages you to look at your inner motivations, your skills, talents and abilities, and your inner conflicts. While we can’t change our birth charts, we can change the way we handle inner conflicts and tensions. To some extent, at least, we have free will.
Ethics and Psychology
Like the Hippocratic Oath signed by doctors and medical consultants, we concentrate on ethical issues and encourage good practice. “Do no harm”. One of our aims is to help you work safely with clients; listen to their requests and be honest in your response as to what areas you can cover or not. Our approach is broadly psychological in the every day sense of the word. However, we do not teach astrology in relation to any specific form of psychology or psychotherapy.
Doctrine of Correspondences
Astrology can be related to life on many different levels as revealed by the Doctrine of Correspondences. This becomes very clear in ancient medical astrology which we are not qualified to teach because we are not doctors nor herbalists. For instance, many herbs, plants and trees were assigned to the planets, e.g. fruits grown in orchards to Venus, hot peppery herbs to Mars, and many evergreens (e.g. holly, ivy and misteltoe) to Saturn. We encourge you to look at correspondences, or synchronicities as the psychologist , Carl Gustav Jung, would have described them. You will often find that there are coincidences that occur which cannot be explained in logal ways, and then you discover that they are represented by the same planet. For gardeners interested in astrology, we have a Facebook page called www.facebook.com/groups/astrofocus2023. Look for information on plants and their planetary correspondences. This is for people who like plants and gardening and we give no information on medicinal uses.
astrologycollege.com’s legal status
astrologycollege.com is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales. Its company number is 04511241 and the registered address is 6 Lower Buckfield Cottages, Leominster, HR6 8RN. UK.
Membership
astrologycollege.com is a member of the Advisory Panel on Astrological Education
www.apae.org
and is a member of the Association of Professional Astrologers Internation.
www.professionalastrologers.co.uk
Being a member of the APAE and APAI means that the college has been approved as a teaching body for astrology.
Members and Tutors of astrologycollege.com
The members of the company either act in an advisory capacity and/or are involved in running the college and acting as tutors.
Sandra Butler, Cert.Ed., DFAstrolS., Hon.Dip.astrol.c., FAPAI.
Teaching. Sandra qualified as a teacher in 1975, specialising in primary education. She taught in schools in Kent and Dorset from 1976 until 1987.
Astrology. In 1985, Sandra passed the Diploma of the Faculty of Astrological Studies. She was appointed as one of their correspondence course tutors in 1989, a position she retained until 2002. There she taught exam revision classes in birth chart interpretation at both Certificate and Diploma levels. She contributed to Diploma level course material; and ran the Students’ Support Service from December 2000 until June 2001.
From 1985 -1987, Sandra taught beginner and advanced astrology to L.E.A. Adult Education classes in Dorset, and later in Shrewsbury from 1996 – 1997. She ran informal astrology home study groups and private classes from 1985 to 1988 and 1995 to 1999. Sandra also gave talks on astrology to the Women’s Institute and similar groups in Dorset and Shropshire. In 1997 she appeared on Shropshire Radio to discuss astrology.
astrologycollege.com. Sandra was one of our tutors from 2003 to the end of 2015, was responsible for dealing with enquiries, and helped with the preparation of the exercises and generally editing and proof-reading. She wrote some of the articles for the course material, namely giving guidance on writing a birth chart analysis and synthesising forecasting.
Jean Elliott, Dip.Soc.Admin., DFAstrolS., RCAstrol., Hon.Dip.astrol.c., FAPAI.
Social Housing and Welfare Rights. Jean did a Diploma Course in Social Administration at the London School of Economics in the early 1980s. Her main work was in social housing until 1995, when she worked as an administrator, a housing manager, welfare rights worker and trainer.
Astrology. Jean started learning astrology in 1976. She has been working as an astrologer since 1984 when she gained the Diploma of the Faculty of Astrological Studies. In 1992, Jean completed the Counselling within Astrology course with the Faculty. Jean worked as a correspondence course tutor for the Faculty from 1999 to 2001 and helped with the development of course material. She ran a private practice from home, part time, while living in London. Then Jean moved to Leominster, Herefordshire, where (time permitting) she sees clients.
Jean was a member of the Astrological Association council from the mid to late 1980s, and helped run the London fortnightly talks and lectures. She was an astrology tutor for Lewisham Adult Education in South London during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Camps and festivals. From the early 1990s to 2002, Jean helped in running Rainbow Circle Astrology Camps. After that, she was involved in setting up the Wheel of Astrologers who work at festivals. Jean has made astrology gardens at camps, conferences and festivals since 1990. In 2018, she made a Nakshatra garden (27 lunar mansions) with Sonal Sachdeva for the Astrological Association’s 60th birthday conference.
astrologycollege.com. Most of Jean’s time is spent working as the director, and taking overall responsibility for course development since 2002. She has written some of the course material, and has given talks at the Astrological Association Conference on behalf of the college.
Teresa Dellbridge, DFAstrolS., Hon.Dip.astrol.c.
Counsellor and consultant. Apart from working as an astrologer, Teresa is a trained counsellor and hypnotherapist. She is a First Degree Reiki Practitioner, and has a diploma in nutrition.
Astrology. Teresa gained the Diploma of the Faculty of Astrological Studies in 1989 when she received the Gold Medal and Veritas awards. She was appointed a Faculty correspondence course tutor in 1995 and continued as such until 2002.
Teresa has always used astrology to support people in becoming more self-aware; to keep life events in perspective and understand their place in the scheme of things. She has worked in private practice for many years. Teresa has an MA in Cultural Astronomy. A professional writer, she has written over 50 books on astrology and aspects of the occult. She is a regular writer for Kindred Spirit.
astrologycollege.com Teresa is one our tutors. She has written course material on ethics, astrology in our times, and on becoming an astrologer.
Elizabeth Paige
Teaching. Following her graduation, Elizabeth gained a Post Graduate Certificate in Education, before spending four years teaching Humanities at secondary level.
Astrology. Elizabeth started studying astrology with the Faculty of Astrological Studies in 1979, gaining her diploma in 1983. She has worked as a consultant astrologer, and taught at evening class for two years. She went on to become a correspondence course tutor with the Faculty of Astrological Studies in 1986, a post she held until 2002.
astrologycollege.com Elizabeth has been one of our tutors since 2003, and she has contributed to some of the course material, introducing students to forecasting techniques in the Foundation Course. Another of her contributions has been proof-reading. She is the Student/Tutor Coordinator.
Angela Radcliffe, BSc(Hons)., DFAstrolS., Hon.Dip.astrol.c.
Education and counselling. Following her graduation in psychology in 1996, Angela embarked on training and assessment in further education, and also trained as a Couples’ Counsellor.
Astrology. Angela has given talks and run workshops in astrology since 1987. She taught astrology evening classes in Swansea for two years. Then, from 1993 to 2002, she was one of the Faculty of Astrological Studies’ correspondence course tutors. Angela assisted in the presentation of Faculty course material. In 1994, she took over the running of the Student Support Service for the Faculty, addressing student concerns and referring them on for additional help where necessary.
astrologycollege.com Angela was one of the directors of astrologycollege.com from 2002 to 2006. During this time, she oversaw the administration, and contributed to the astronomy module in the Foundation Course. She is the artist of the diagrams in Modules 1 and 2 (chart interpretation); and for the astronomy diagrams in Module 3. In Module 6, she wrote an article introducing synastry – the study of relationships. Also, she helped design the course material.
Janette Russell, DFAstrolS., Hon.Dip.astrol.c., FAPAI.
Qualifications. Janette is qualified in Reiki, regression therapy and hypnotherapy, apart from astrology.
Astrology. She started studying with the Faculty of Astrological Studies in 1978, gaining her Diploma in 1988. In 1990, she began working as a correspondence tutor for the Faculty, and continued as such until 2002. While working for the Faculty, Janette was Council Secretary, and she looked after the Diploma membership renewals. As well as working as an astrological consultant, Janette has given talks and offered private tuition to students.
astrologycollege.com. Janette was a director of astrologycollege.com from 2006 to 2012, and was one of the college tutors from 2003 to 2012. One of her main contributions has been to give advice and support on tutor-student co-ordination. She has also given talks at the Astrological Association Conference on our behalf.
Christine Tate, BSc(Hons)., DFAstrolS., FFAstrolS., Hon.Dip.astrol.c.
Qualifications. Christine was one of the first people in the UK to be awarded an RSA Certificate for “Counselling Skills in the Development of Learning.” She also has a BSC (Hons) in psychology. As a healer member of the National Federation of spiritual Healers, she has found the blending of astrological skills and counselling techniques invaluable in therapeutic work. Christine has also trained as a past life regressionist and is particularly interested in karmic astrology.
Astrology. Christine received the Gold Medal when she obtained her Diploma from the Faculty of Astrological Studies in 1983. She soon joined their correspondence course tutor team continuing as a tutor until 2002. Christine was co-founder of the London School of Astrology and was responsible for its administration until November 2002.
Her background in astrology is extensive. She has taught local authority education astrology classes. During her time with the Faculty she held various posts, namely – as its Librarian, Examinations Secretary, and Director of Studies. She also organised their successful Summer Schools. Christine was a past Chairman of the Advisory Panel on Astrological Education – a body which monitors the standards of astrological teaching in the UK.
astrologycollege.com Christine’s experience has been invaluable in giving guidance in writing the course material. She was co-author of the Guide to Chart Calculation.
Jeannine van Dun, BA(Hons)., DFAstrolS., Hon.Dip.astrol.c.
Career in statutory services. Jeannine has professional qualifications in counselling, mental health and social work. Currently she has a demanding job in community health and in social services.
Astrology career. Her passion for astrology has been life-long, and she gained her Diploma from the Faculty of Astrological Studies in 1991. Since qualifying, she has taught astrology in local authority adult education as well as privately in groups. One group, Broad Oak Astrology Group, ran for nine years. This enabled some of its members to use their astrological knowledge in their own practices such as homeopathy, healing, fine art, shiatsu, teaching and writing.
She enjoys being part of the Wheel of Astrologers offering professional readings at Glastonbury Festival every summer. Currently, she is working with a fellow astrologer and therapist to develop an education programme for a new astrology group.
astrologycollege.com Jeannine has written some of the course material for an extra diploma level module – An Introduction to Psychology. This is due to be released in 2020.
“I derive enormous pleasure from working with astrologycollege.com; the quality of the teaching and the quality of the students. Their dedication is a real inspiration.” Jeannine.
Sonal Sachdeva (Dip. PsychAstrol)
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Contributors to Course Material
Apart from the members’ contributions referred to above, the following astrologers have contributed to our course material: David Baker, Hans Baker, Jill Freeman, the late Helene Haw, Babs Kirby, Lyn Lovell, Sue Martin, Jaki Miles Windmill, Gerasime Patilas, Wanda Sellar, Helene Schnitzer, Christeen Skinner, Tchenka Jane Sunderland, Sue Tompkins and the late John Ware.