For over three decades, Stephanie Johnson has been weaving her passion for human understanding with the ancient art of astrology.
Her journey began with an insatiable curiosity about what lies beneath the surface, nurtured through a background in journalism and spiritual exploration. From studying birth charts to co-creating the groundbreaking Solar Fire astrology software, Stephanie’s career has been a testament to her commitment to making astrology practical, accessible, and deeply personal.
In this exclusive interview with MysticMag, she shares the inspirations, challenges, and insights that have shaped her path, offering a glimpse into the profound impact astrology can have on understanding and embracing life’s mysteries.
What inspired you to pursue a career in astrology over 30 years ago?
That’s a great question. I’ve always had an interest in what makes people tick—what lies beneath the physical. While working in journalism, I met people from all walks of life, but I sensed there was something more, something beyond what was visible. This curiosity led me to explore that “something extra” in various ways.
I have a background in the Anglican Church, which I was deeply involved in, even joining a religious community for a time. My exploration of the spiritual side of life was always ongoing. Astrology, for me, was a natural extension of that journey.
What truly inspired me to pursue a career in astrology, however, was that I began studying it more seriously. Initially, it was something personal, just for myself. But over time, it became more pragmatic. I was a single mother at the time, and journalism was a tough path to follow. So, I thought I’d give astrology a try, see a few people, take some small payments, and see where it led. And it just grew from there. It felt like it was meant to be.
How has your background in journalism influenced your approach to astrology?
My background in journalism has made me very practical in my approach. In astrology, as in anything, I’m focused on how it can help us live better lives on Earth—how it enables us to embrace our strengths and keep our hearts open, even when we face challenges.
Through journalism, I had the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life. One thing that really struck me was how you could tell when people were living in alignment with their true passions, when they were doing what they felt they were meant to do. Whether it was the simplest individuals or famous people I interviewed at press conferences, you could sense who was truly happy and who wasn’t.
Journalism taught me that there is more to people than just their physical appearance or psychological makeup. Astrology helped provide some of the answers I was seeking. When you delve into something, you either pursue it further, or you don’t. It either takes off or it doesn’t, and sometimes, it’s meant to be, and sometimes, it’s not.
Can you share your experience co-creating the Solar Fire suite of astrology software?
When I started studying astrology more seriously, I met my business partner and personal partner at the time, Graham Daws. Together, we explored both esoteric and traditional (or exoteric) astrology. Around that time, Windows was starting to gain popularity on PCs. I was using a Mac, which I loved, but when it broke down, I had to switch. My partner was a Windows user, but I wasn’t keen on using DOS-based programs. So, we decided to create Solar Fire for Windows.
The name “Solar Fire” came to me during a meditation, which we were both practicing a lot at the time. We discussed the software’s structure and decided to design it in a way that was intuitive, drawing on my experience as a sub-editor and his expertise as a brilliant programmer. We made it visually appealing and structured it similarly to word processing software like WordPerfect, with familiar functions like “File” and “New Chart.”
The project grew out of our shared office space, and as we continued to study and learn, we added new features. Eventually, I suggested that we could actually sell the software. So, we started promoting it within the astrology community. It took some time, but eventually, people started to catch on. And, if you’ll pardon the pun, it took off like wildfire—Solar Fire.
What role does the Part of Fortune play in an individual’s birth chart?
The Part of Fortune reveals how good fortune is likely to manifest in your life. The sign it falls in shows the general way in which this fortune may come to you. For example, if the Part of Fortune is in Capricorn, like mine, it may indicate that good fortune comes through hard work. If it’s in Libra, it might come through your relationships with others.
The house placement of the Part of Fortune further refines this, showing the specific area of life where you’re likely to experience fortune. For instance, if it’s in the 8th house, good fortune might come through inheritances, taxes, or business dealings. If it’s in the 7th house, it could indicate that your good fortune comes through partnerships—whether personal or business.
In essence, the Part of Fortune shows how and where good fortune is likely to flow into your life.
How do you integrate esoteric astrology into your consultations?
That’s an interesting question. I studied esoteric astrology many years ago, and after that, I learned traditional astrology from a wonderful teacher named Robert Color. Over time, through the software and my exposure to various astrological techniques, I’ve incorporated esoteric astrology into my consultations. However, I don’t consciously use it unless someone specifically requests it.
What common misconceptions do people have about astrology, and how do you address them?
I think sun sign astrology has been incredibly helpful in introducing people to astrology. With one in twelve people having their sun sign in a particular sign, there’s enough truth in it that people can relate to it and explore further. However, a common misconception is that astrology is limited to the sun sign. If someone doesn’t identify with their sun sign, they might dismiss astrology altogether, which is unfortunate because a birth chart has so much more to offer.
One common misunderstanding is that if a person doesn’t relate to their sun sign, astrology must not be accurate. But education is key here. It’s important to help people understand that there’s more to astrology than just the sun sign. For example, you could be a typical Pisces, but if Saturn is close to your Pisces sun, it can dramatically change how you express those Pisces traits.
Another misconception is that astrology is just “woo-woo” or that it predicts the future and removes free will. While there are certainly some fated elements in astrology, we also have free will to shape our lives.
Finally, many people don’t fully understand what astrology can do for them. It’s great that astrology is becoming more popular, and more people are seeking astrology readings, but I’d love to see everyone have access to astrology. In countries like India, astrology is quite common and accessible, and I think it would be wonderful if Western society embraced it in the same way. Astrology can help people understand themselves better, time things more effectively, and live in alignment with who they truly are, rather than what society or their families might expect them to be.
Find out more at: www.seeingwithstars.net
