Interview with Astrologer / Psychologist Erica Elektra
This month I am highlighting my friend Erica Elektra, founder of The Zodiac Club, who has been practicing Astrology for 25 years and has been a Licensed Educational Psychologist for 10 years.
What are your sun, rising and moon signs?
Sun in sagitarrius
Leo rising
Moon in Libra
What sparked your passion for Astrology?
In the mid 90’s, a friend of mine was taking astrology classes from Risa D’Angeles in Santa Cruz, and she began to share with me some of what she was learning. I began going to classes too, and devoured some basic astrology books, and just delved into that world 100%. For me, it was a language and a set of principles for how to better understand myself. I was able to get insight into why I behaved in certain ways, why I felt certain feelings in various situations, and why I was driven towards particular goals. Astrology helped me to learn more about the important people in my life, where we had areas that “flowed” and where there might be more challenges. I just felt like I finally had a way to understand and perceive the world around me with some sort of structure. And giving readings for other people filled me with this feeling of good will – that I could give them information that helped them in their own lives was a feeling I’d never had before. So I just kept going with it!
What specific astrological traditions or techniques do you specialize in or prefer to use?
I’m a western astrologer and am heavily influenced by Alan Oken, who has written books on traditional astrology as well as “soul-centered astrology.” I’m also influenced by Alice Bailey who channeled information from D.K. (The Tibetan) and wrote many books on theosophy and astrololgy. I look for patterns in a person’s chart, going beyond the simple descriptions of what planet is in what sign and in what house. I look to planetary rulerships, chart dispositors, and find ways to synthesize all the information that is present in a chart. As a psychologist, I also use my interpersonal skills and intuitive nature which helps to draw out deeper information from my clients which can then be reflected back to them through the lens of astrololgy.
How do you use astrology in your own life?
Knowing who I am, at an astrological level, helps me to manage my life and have compassion for my quirks, gifts, and challenges. It helps me to accept myself and know what sort of things will help me and what I need to do to achieve my soul’s purpose. The same goes towards knowing the charts of my husband and children – I am better able to understand their personal needs and tendencies, and I am able to have compassion for them as I know that it’s just who they are.
I also look at the current transits and am able to predict when I might have more difficult periods of life (or joyful/easy times) and can flow into these times with acceptance, letting go, and some emotional preparation. Being aware of astrological transits helps me when planning important events, meetings, travel, etc.
When you look at someone’s chart what is the first thing you look for?
Wow, I love this question! I mean, I think I often just go to looking at the sun, rising, and moon, but often times there is something else that jumps out at me, which is different for each chart. Maybe I’ll notice that there is a combustion between two planets (basically this means that two planets are less than 1 degree apart). Or maybe I’ll notice a grand trine or T-square between certain planets. Or that all the planets are concentrated within two houses. Or that the chart ruler has a particularly strong aspect with another planet. It just depends. But I would say that 9 times out of 10, there is something other than the sun, moon, and rising that jumps out at me when I first look at a chart.
How do you stay updated and continue to deepen your understanding of astrology?
There is always so much to learn. I find that as I’m practicing, I may want to learn more about a particular area in astrololgy, so I’ll read a book on that topic. I have several books on my shelf right now that are in my queue. I’ve been very interested in Chiron lately, so that’s next on my to-do list.
What advice do you have for anyone who wants to dive deeper into astrology?
Get a good beginner’s book on astrology that teaches you how to draft charts using an ephemeris, and read it cover to cover. Do your own chart and do charts for your friends and family, and give them readings. It’s okay to read directly from the book that you have when giving readings, you don’t have to know it all in the beginning. The more readings you give, the more you will memorize and understand all the symbology.
How To Contact for Readings
If you are interested in a reading, having The Zodiac Club astrology booth at your next event, or would like to learn more about the Educational Psychology Integration package, please send me a message.