Astrology is similar to the night-club business: it has about an 80% - 90% success rate for being unprofitable. And similar to the night-club business, the U.S. taxing authority (the Internal Revenue Service (or I.R.S.)) defines astrology as an "entertainment business" for tax purposes. This is despite the fact that astrology remains one of the oldest crafts on the books that is still used for forecasting events and trends for both people and non-human areas, and it's use goes back to ancient Egypt and ancient Mesopotamia.

But was astrology ever meant to be profitable??? The oldest depiction of astrology on a commercial basis goes back to ancient India, where an astrologer would do a reading and hold out a basket. The client would put into the basket whatever he thought the reading was worth, and sometimes it could be very substantial in financial terms. And yes, it sometimes was nothing in terms of financial terms; jewelry (both expensive and cheap (and fake)) was reported to be a common means of payment for an astrology reading in ancient India.

The truth is that there are a few people who were able to make a living at astrology. There are many astrologers who have been spectacular in terms of making predictions, but these same people have little financial gain to show for it.

This survey looks at six astrologers who made financial gains in astrology by virtue of their astrology practice and/or writings.

Joan Quigley

Joan Quigley was Nancy Reagan's astrologer who was hired after the assassination attempt on her husband in the 1980's. She admits to being the infamous "teflon coating" of the Reagan presidency in her biography "What Does Joan Say?" She was relied on so heavily for her astrology advice to the Reagans that she even gave dates for when Air Force One should take off and land.

Uranus rules astrology, and Joan has Uranus very close to world points at 0 degrees Aries 34 minutes. Also note that Uranus is forming a square to the North Node in the 10th House (drawn in pink above). This defines a strong connection with astrology, since the North Node is often defined as a "connection device" according to the Hamburg School of Astrology. The Hamburg School also defines "personal points" to include the Midheaven, the Ascendant, the North Node, the Sun, and the Moon. 

The conjunction of Jupiter and Mercury over the Descendant (drawn in maroon, at 20 degrees Pisces 11 minutes) indicates "a challenge involving successful communications with others in a big way."

This Mercury/Jupiter placement of "communications challenge" in "the area of open enemies" (the Descendant) would turn out to be a possible major event for the craft of astrology in terms of communications; unfortunately it would not be manifested and completed by Quigley. This is because before her death in 2014, Joan Quigley was trying to set up an inexpensive telephone consulting system that allowed clients and potential clients to use the telephone to get astrology information. She was also reported to be interested in the "telephone chat room" phenomena that took place in the 1980's and 1990's, and she talked about using this same type of forum for astrologers (and the astrology curious) to share ideas and so forth. She unfortunately never got these ideas off the ground; she died in 2014 at age 87.

Charles E.O. Carter

Charles E.O. Carter was the founder and editor of Great Britain's "The Astrology Quarterly Magazine" from 1926 to 1955, and was president of The Astrological Lodge of Great Britain from 1922 to 1953. Carter is regarded as one of the most important western astrologers of our time with his bridging of Victorian and Edwardian styles of astrology with modern styles of astrology in the 20th century. 

The very first book on astrology that I ever read was "Fundamentals of Astrology" by Charles E.O. Carter. My very first astrology readings involved me (an emergency room clerk) nervously trying out some of the readings from this book with San Francisco General emergency room staff. Some were very amazed, and some (especially the physicians) said I'd be better off doing taxes for people.

Like Quigley, Uranus is strong on the chart and forming an aspect with a personal point (which in Carter's case is the Sun. Quigley has Uranus forming an aspect with the North Node, which is defined as another personal point). Personal points include the Midheaven, the Ascendant, the North Node, the Sun, and the Moon. Hence, it is fair to say that a successful astrologer may have natal Uranus forming an aspect with a "personal point" of the horoscope.

The T-square of Jupiter / Mercury / Moon (drawn in black above) defines "successful communications " (Mercury Square Jupiter) with "the public who may be in conflict with such communications" (Mercury Square Moon). Carter's publication of The Astrology Quarterly Magazine was met with criticism from cynics, yet he managed to make money off of this publication from 1926 to 1955. Not bad for a "fortune-teller."

Carter would die in 1966 at 81. He reportedly converted to vegetarianism many years before his death, and it was reported to be a topic of great curiosity with him.

Don "Moby D*ck" Jacobs

Don "Moby D*ck" Jacobs was a former Methodist minister and would become the first astrologer to teach astrology at a major U.S. university, in this case the University of Hawaii (for several years). His daily astrology column called "Future News" circulated in 38 different metropolitan newspapers, and he was also a frequent contributor to black-owned and black-community newspapers in the "Mid-Atlantic" east coast region.

While Don Jacobs was noted for earning a spot on J. Edgar Hoover's F.B.I. watch list after he accurately predicted Nixon's Watergate Crisis, Don Jacobs became very much noted for his debates in defense of astrology as a legitimate topic and profession with his "Mercury Hour" newspaper column.

His son Jayj Jacobs would take over the newly named "Experience Astrology" business after Moby D*ck's death in 1981; Jayj was my first astrology instructor. Using Moby D*ck's well-disciplined approach of solar houses and equal house systems, Jayj would maintain this as a successful business up until his death. Jayj Jacobs died in 2011 (and he was a heavy cigarette smoker and loved high-carb foods).

Per Jacobs horoscope, Uranus is again the main focus of the horoscope, with Uranus in it's natural house (the 11th house) and in conjunct with Mercury (drawn in pink). This pair forms a sextile (60 degree angle) with the Ascendant, and again the concept of Uranus forming an angle with a personal point hits again. Also note that this Mercury/Uranus conjunction (Sextile Ascendant) fits well with defining  "communications to others of an advanced technology or craft in the environment"; the Ascendant rules the environment, Uranus rules astrology, and Mercury rules newspapers and radio (and Moby D*ck also did many radio shows).

Jacobs was known for his colorful graphic applications of the planets that helped others learn about astrology (including me), and I attribute this to the trine between Venus and Saturn (drawn in green).

Here's an example of one of Jacob's techniques that I still use today:

Alan Leo

Uranus is very well-placed in the 10th house, and is in a midpoint formation with 60 degree sextiles ("opportunities") to Jupiter/Sun in the 12th house and the Moon in the 8th house. Again, we have Uranus involved with personal points of the horoscope.

Referred to as "the father of modern astrology," Alan Leo founded a magazine in London in 1895 called "Modern Astrology." It's offer of a free horoscope reading to all new subscribers was met with great success, and Leo found himself having to do 1,500 free horoscopes for this new magazine. Business grew rapidly, and he hired 6 more employees in 1898.

Business was booming in the 1900's, but so was surveillance of his business due to a provision in London known as "The Witchcraft Act," which astrology was listed under (along with "palmist," "clairvoyant," "card reader," etc.)

By 1912, the streets of London were filled up with professions that fell under the definition of "The Witchcraft Act," and Alan Leo would be the first astrologer in this category to be punished for "fortunetelling" not just once, but twice.

Leo had placements of Sun Sesquiquadrate Neptune ("disappointment or stress involving self-expression), and Saturn Opposition Chiron on the Ascendant ("government involvement with advanced technology in the environment"). This may indicate issues with government or conflicts with others about how one expresses themselves and with their "tools or technology of the trade."

Leo received tremendous public support and pleaded not guilty both times. He tried to explain astrology in a court, but they wouldn't hear of it. He would have his first case dismissed (but he still had to pay court costs), and his second charge (in 1917) had him fined an equivalent of $3000 in terms of money value for today.

By 1915, Leo produced over 15 books on astrology. He founded the Theosophical Society of London that year, and this may have enraged the local London government since it gave an open forum for "practitioners of witchcraft and fortunetelling" (which may explain why Leo got hit with a second "fortunetelling" charge in 1917).

Alan Leo died in 1917, shortly after his second charge of "fortunetelling" and paying his fine.

Leo was the first western astrologer to address the subjects of karma and reincarnation in western astrology, and it's role in astrology. His contributions were huge, and he had a profitable business despite being harassed by local authorities. 

Linda Goodman

Linda Goodman would become well-known for her easy-to-afford Sun-sign paperback series called "Linda Goodman's Sun Signs." It was the first astrology book to earn a spot on the New York Times Best Selling List, and was followed with "Linda Goodman's Love Signs." As an astrologer, she would receive a record $2.3 million in paperback rights.

Not bad for a fortuneteller.

Uranus in the 12th house and the Moon in the 7th house are involved in a sesquiquadrate formation, and AGAIN we see an angular relationship between Uranus and one of the personal points (which in this  case is the Moon).

But Linda's big triumph is the square between Jupiter ("publishing") and Sun/Venus ("attention on relationships").

GOODMAN'S ANALYSIS OF RELATIONSHIPS WOULD PROVE TO BE VERY FINANCIALLY FORTUNATE, AND THIS SEEMS TO BE DESCRIBED IN HER HOROSCOPE WITH THIS JUPITER SQUARE TO SUN / VENUS.

Note that in addition to her NY Times bestselling "Linda Goodman's Love Signs," Linda Goodman hosted a World War II WCOM radio show called "Love Letters From Linda" which featured readings of love letters between soldiers and their loved ones. It is fair to say that her success from relationship astrology may have began with this radio show, as this may have given her ideas about relationship astrology based on the Sun signs of the soldiers and their loved ones. 

Dane Rudhyar

Once again, we have Uranus forming an angle to a personal point (in this case, Uranus Trine North Node). But what makes Rudhyar's chart fascinating is the 11th House placement of Uranus (since Uranus is in it's natural home) and in the exalted sign of Scorpio (since Scorpio rules psychology, and elements of human behavior that are hidden from others).

My opinion of Rudhyar's placement of Neptune at the Descendant (drawn in brown) may indicate that spirituality and the unknown (and the aspects of service to others associated with such) would be a great challenge and an area of conflict for one to define to others, and Rudhyar would use astrology in a successful way to help explain such aspects.  

The sextile between Venus and Jupiter would prove to be very helpful with attracting relations with others over this esoteric and nebulous subject of "hidden aspects of psychology (especially related to Jungian psychology)" and "it's relationship with the horoscope chart." This analysis of "hidden aspects of psychology in astrology" (Uranus in Scorpio) is an area of astrology of which Rudhyar did very well with, and earned him a spot among the "top ten astrologers" of many different polls taken regarding best astrologers of all time.

Conclusion

Uranus forming an angle to one of the five Hamburg School personal points (the Midheaven, the Ascendant, the North Node, the Sun, or the Moon) appears to be prominent in all of these presented charts of successful astrologers. Placements of Jupiter and Mercury are also noteworthy.

Conflicting aspects of Venus appear to define more prominence and success with writing and publishing, and good aspects of Venus indicate success with one-on-one astrology counseling.

Finally, please note that there may be exceptions since these are only six charts. Astrology is not a science, and I have been wrong before. And I don't like to be wrong with my astrology interpretations.

Thanks for reading.

Love to all,

Malcolm