This week we caught up with April Elliott Kent, an astrologer and author living in San Diego, California who uses astrology to help clients better understand themselves and others, and to plot their life course.
How did you initially become interested in astrology?
When I moved to California from a little farm in Indiana at the age of 10, I lived with a big-city cousin (a sophisticated age 12) who informed me that I was a Leo. This was an utterly new concept to me. A couple of years later, I found Linda Goodman’s Sun Signs, and I was off to the races!
Astrology is an extremely complex system. What are some of the specialty areas of astrology that interest you the most?
There was a time I specialized in electional astrology, specifically for choosing wedding dates; but while I like the crossword puzzle-type challenge of electional work, I grew tired of doing that work for clients. My research and lecturing often focus on relationship astrology, but I don’t actually do relationship consultations. And I’d actually love to master horary astrology, but it seems my mind just doesn’t work that way!
At the end of the day, I’m at my best as a straight-up natal astrologer: I love talking to people about themselves and their lives. If I’m at a conference, I’m going to be drawn to the lectures I think will be helpful to me in my client work, whether it’s a technique or system I want to know more about, or just new perspectives on the tools I’m already using.
How can astrology be a helpful tool for self-development?
Well, before you can develop yourself, you need to know yourself, and astrology is a very helpful tool for self-understanding. When approached with skill and sensitivity, I find that it provides profound validation of our best selves, insights into our struggles, and a fantastic guide to our potential.
How do you see the practice of astrology evolving in the modern world?
I’ve been studying astrology for nearly half a century, and practicing since 1990, and I’ve seen at least three huge evolutions during that time. The first came in the 1980s, with the ability to do chart calculations using a personal computer. I’m happy I learned to calculate charts by hand, but glad I don’t have to do it any longer! Then, in the 90s, came the Internet. You know, when I moved to a new city in 1993, I left my entire practice behind because it was based on local, in-person readings and classes. But in 1999, I launched my website and suddenly, it was easy to connect with clients and other astrologers all over the world! And as a writer, it was exciting to suddenly have an infinitely expandable platform for sharing my work, instead of just a handful of astrological publications. Today, of course, social media has been a big driving force behind astrology’s popular resurgence. It’s led to a lot more people being more knowledgeable about real astrology – though sometimes not as knowledgeable as they think they are! What’s next? I don’t have that much imagination – but I know the next paradigm shift will be Aquarian and Uranian, just like astrology itself.
Lastly are there any significant upcoming astrological events that we should be aware of?
Thanks for asking!
- My six-week course in forecasting with transits and progressions begins on February 26. Join my mailing list to receive email updates and details: https://www.bigskyastrology.com/subscribe
- On May 20, I’m participating in a writing workshop as part of OPA’s i-Astrologer conference: https://opaastrologyevents.org/online-program-and-schedule/#writing-workshop
- And Covid willing, I’m speaking at the ISAR Conference near Denver in August! https://isar2022.org
