THE CODE OF ETHICS
When you decide to book a consultation with an astrologer it is difficult to know what you can expect, especially if you are going for the first time. If you are not familiar with the rules of a good astrological consultation, you may not even know what is considered ethical and what isn't. How can you judge whether the person you have chosen to consult with is a good astrologer? How can you recognize if they practice astrology responsibly? What can you expect from a consultation? What are the boundaries of the astrologer's responsibility and what can you do if you think the astrologer has crossed those boundaries?
The astrological consultation looks a little different each time because it is essentially a collaboration between the astrologer and the client. Their dynamic is an important factor which decides the success or efficiency of the consultation, as well as the level of client's satisfaction. Every astrologer has their own approach to birth chart analysis and their own way of conveying information to the client. The client is also an important factor in the equation, as they are the co-creator of the consultation. Besides, no two clients are the same; every person has their own reasons for wanting a consultation and different expectations about it.
Despite all these factors, however, there always is - or should be - one constant in every consultation: respecting the code of ethics, which should be followed by every astrologer. I would like to present a few important guidelines from it, so that you may have a better understanding of the main intention of the astrological consultation, what you can expect from it, what are the astrologer's responsibilities as your counsellor, and what you must pay attention to when choosing your astrologer, or even during your consultation with them.
The standards and guidelines, which are represented and explained here in a summarized form, are part of the ethical standards of ISAR (International Society for Astrological Research).
To read the full text of the Ethical Standards and Guidelines, follow the link:
ETHICAL STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES
1. The purpose of the astrological consultation
The purpose of the astrological consultation is one or more of the following:
(1) help individuals recognize their strengths and talents,
(2) provide insight into life issues,
(3) elucidate patterns of growth and development,
(4) confirm self-knowledge,
(5) suggest the life purpose,
(6) reveal periods of challenge and opportunity,
(7) explore the meaning of a particular experience or phase of life, or
(8) provide guidance as to timing or decisions with regard to a particular course of action.
It is preferable that the astrologer and the client define the goal of their consultation at the beginning of the session. Most of the time, of course, it will be a combination of some of the above, however, the astrologer adapts to the wishes and needs of their client in this regard.
2. Astrological consultation is conducted directly with the client, not through a third party
As a rule, astrologers do not read the birth chart of a person who is not personally present at the consultation because they must respect the privacy of every individual, as well as protect their personal data. If the client is a minor. the consultation may be done in the presence of their legal guardian.
3. Confidentiality and protection of the personal information of the client
The astrological consultation is completely confidential. The astrologer is obliged to protect the client's personal data and their right to privacy, which is why, as a rule, they do not analyze the chart of a person who is not personally present at the consultation or a person who did not personally consent to the analysis of their birth chart. Exceptions to this rule are situations in which the astrologer's silence would endanger the client or a third party.
4. The astrologer must respect the client's wishes
The astrological consultation is conducted according to the client's wishes, meaning the astrologer respects the client's wishes regarding how they want to conduct the consultation (live, as a recording, etc.), how much personal information the client is willing to share with the astrologer, what they want or don't want to talk about, etc. The same goes for topics that are sensitive in nature; if the client does not want to share certain information, the astrologer respects that; if the client does not want to address a particular topic or life area, the astrologer takes this into account and excludes these topics from the analysis at the client’s request. The consultation is intended for the client, so don’t be afraid to say if you don’t want to talk (any more) about certain topics.
5. Non-discrimination
The astrologer is open to the client, regardless of the client's gender, ethnicity. religion, sexual orientation, cultural background and other reasons, which are considered to be grounds for discrimination. The main purpose of an astrological consultation is to provide help; a good astrologer approaches their work responsibly, openly, compassionately, and without expressing prejudice towards the client.
6. Respect and sensitivity towards the client
The main purpose of an astrological consultation is to offer help. The astrologer therefore wants the client to trust them as much as possible; the more confidence the client has in the astrologer. the more they will be willing to open up to the astrologer and share their personal experiences, which significantly contributes to the accuracy and efficiency of the analysis. To achieve such a level of trust, it is important for the astrologer to be open and sensitive to the client, to not criticize the client, their past or potential future decisions.
7. The astrologer does not make decisions about your choices or your future
The astrological consultation is primarily intended for the astrologer to help the client with their knowledge in order to find the best possible solution or. offer helpful advice regarding the client's situation. The astrologer can advise and offer the client their suggestions regarding potential options and decisions that interest the client, but they have no right to give the client the impression that they know what is best for them or what they should do in a given situation. The astrologer can only offer their advice or point out any complications that may be a potential consequence of the client’s future decision.
8. The astrologer is aware of the limitations of astrology and is open about it with the client
Although a lot of useful information can be deduced from the astrological analysis, it is important for the astrologer to be aware of the limitations of astrology and to make the client clearly aware of this as well. If they talk about the client's financial, medical, legal or other important matters, the astrologer has the duty to warn the client or encourage them to consult an expert in the relevant field about the matter and possible solutions. Remember that astrological counselling is not the same as professional help.
9. The astrologer is aware of their own limitations and is open about it with the client
Astrology is a complex field that requires lengthy and in-depth study. In any counselling, it is also important to understand that each person has their limitations. No one has all the answers, so the client needs to understand that the astrologer can never guarantee the accuracy of the answers they provide. A good astrologer is aware that they do not have all the answers, and they are open about it with the client.
10. Astrology is a symbolic language
The astrologer's work includes analyzing the symbols. Each symbol has a myriad of meanings and each astrologer has different ways of synthesizing information. On top of that, every astrologer is only human and as such is fallible. The client must understand that any astrological predictions are at best speculative. A good astrologer will never give the client the impression that their predictions are a hundred percent accurate. To this end, the astrologer will make sure to use language that reflects this fact; a responsible astrologer will use the terms may, could, might, perhaps, possibly, etc., instead of every, always, never, for certain, any, no one, etc.
11. The most important guideline: do no harm
Clients are often afraid to consult an astrologer because they do not want to hear any negative predictions about their future. Unfortunately, some astrologers believe that they should always be completely honest with the client, but they forget to think about the negative consequences that may result from their "honesty". Any astrologer, who is willing to put honesty before caring for a client’s well-being, works out of his own ego, not out of a sincere desire to help their client.
A good astrologer avoids extreme predictions, whether good or bad. Excessively pessimistic predictions or too bright promises about the future are always dangerous, as such knowledge can have a significant impact on the client’s future actions. In other words, there is a reason why our future is shrouded in mystery. Thanks to their knowledge, the astrologer of course has a slightly better insight into the future, however, this can be dangerous knowledge in the hands of a person who is not aware of the responsibility that such knowledge brings.
The astrologer must be able to judge what information is useful knowledge for the client at the time of the consultation and what is not. A good astrologer will not frighten you unnecessarily and will not make you feel less excited about your future. They will alert you to potential problems that may arise in a particular area of life, but they will also offer potential solutions, so that you have enough information to be able to deal effectively with a potential situation, should it come true. Remember that a responsible astrologer is aware of their own fallibility, so they will not claim anything with a hundred percent certainty.
In short: if the client is sad, frightened, or disappointed in advance about their own future at the end of the consultation, we can say with certainty that the astrologer has failed. The astrologer’s main goal is to offer help and insight, present options, confirm self-knowledge, warn about future challenges and opportunities, explore the meaning of personal experience, and offer advice; everything else is bad practice.
Now that you are familiar with some of the most important points of the code of ethics, I encourage you to talk to your astrologer if you have any doubts or additional questions about anything I have presented here. A good astrologer is open to questions and will do their best to explain anything that interests their client. Don’t be afraid to ask the astrologer even before the consultation if you are in doubt about their way of working, etc. As a client, you have the right to know what to expect. Based on the astrologer’s answers, you can then decide if they are the right counsellor for you.
What if you realize during the consultation that your astrologer is not following some of the guidelines I have presented here? Don’t hesitate, warn them if you feel they aren't following certain rules. Ask them to explain their viewpoint or the reasons for their decisions. Based on their explanation, you can decide whether you wish to continue with the consultation or not. Remember, this is your astrological consultation; if you are uncomfortable or if you do not agree with the astrologer’s way of working, you have every right to interrupt them. Your trust in the astrologer is the first condition for a successful consultation.