by Colleen M. Quinn

As most people know, astrology is an ancient art of old that dates back thousands of years and to many bygone civilizations. But that doesn’t mean it’s outdated by any means. Just as it did millennia ago, astrology has as many practical applications. Just ask Steve Judd, an astrologist based in England who offers “Intelligent, contemporary, state of the art Astrology for the discerning human being.”

For Steve, astrology is a tool that improves one’s life and personal well-being. Having developed his own individual brand of practice in astrology, Steve aims to be an impetus for change in others, both mentally and spiritually.

Steve is completely self-taught in the ways and subtle nuances of astrology; he has educated himself through countless books and writings on astrology, as well as through trial and error. Steve believes there is no one wholly correct school of thought.

“This way [of learning astrology] is much harder,” says Steve, “But it’s more rewarding. If you want to do something worthwhile, you have to do it the hard way. Take it slowly and properly.”

Steve also attributes his experience in astrology to time abroad. He spent more than fifteen years outside of his native England, traveling through and living in Holland, Germany, the West Indies, and parts of North Africa. “Everyone ought to travel,” he says, “You need to see what the world is about.”

Steve counts these experiences of different cultures and places as some of the most valuable of his life. He gained from his travels a deeper understanding of people – how others think, feel, and act in inherent ways. This awareness of human nature is incredibly important in understanding astrology and how people may benefit from it.

Steve has appeared on television and has been heard on radio, spreading his understanding of astrology and lending his personal knowledge and opinions in areas both astrological and social. While his experience and astrological techniques are of his own making, during 2005 Steve received a Master of Arts Degree in Cultural Astronomy and Astrology from Bath Spa University in Bath, Somerset, England. He is currently working on his PhD.

Steve says that understanding the connections between people’s lives and celestial bodies and events is the goal of astrology. The most common application of astrology is through a horoscope or astrological chart, which essentially maps out these connections. Steve describes horoscopes as “translations of astrological elements,” when applied to things like the time and place of a person’s birth.

A chart can be created for individuals, relationships, businesses, etc. For a single person, a reading of an astrological chart may be very enlightening. Charts describe personality traits and talents, as well as challenges and obstacles, and offer insight into a person’s life.

One common misconception about astrology is that it is fortune telling. While it can’t foretell specific events or experiences, it can uncover information upon which an educated guess about the future can be made. According to Steve, astrology serves as a catalyst for others.

“I don’t tell people what they don’t already know,” Steve says, “I just tell it in a different way.” People use astrology as a tool to learn about themselves, and, through such insight, empower themselves.

The understanding of the connection between people and the astronomical bodies make a skilled astrologer, and Steve is no exception. His process for completing a horoscope or reading combines not only these two central elements but a certain amount of intuition, as well.

He first studies the planets: their positions, their relation to the time of year, and how they interact with each other. To do this, Steve maps out astrological elements using geometry and geography, but he also instinctively connects with them, too.

“I get a feel for each planet,” says Steve, “Each has a meaning that I know.” Meditating on these things, following both the information gleaned from the planets and his own intuition, he then constructs a horoscope. While this process may seem simple and quick, in actuality it requires deep concentration, an intimate understanding of various astronomical objects, and sharp perception.

Most of Steve’s astrological work is done through his website, www.stevejudd.com, where people choose from a variety of services that best suit their needs. Steve focuses primarily on personal horoscopes, which he recommends that people have done annually, following their first consultation. To date, he has recorded over seventeen thousand horoscopes, many of which are clients who return to him for regular readings. Laminated charts are also available.

Steve also does event prediction readings, which, he explains, are on a global scale and general in terms. These predictions are based on current events worldwide, as well as an analysis of planetary movements and positions, through which Steve makes an educated prediction. *more on what these are*

More recently, Steve has added astrocartography to his repertoire. “It’s basically a horoscope on a globe,” he says, explaining that a person’s horoscope can be applied to their physical environment. Astrocartography combines astrology with geographical locations to determine which areas around the world have good or bad influences for a particular individual. For example, astrocartography can be used to pick a location for a job hunt, a new business, a new home, or a particular event like weddings and vacations.

www.stevejudd.com also features his global forecasts, articles written by himself and others, a biography, and a gift shop. Users may subscribe to his newsletter, Samhain, for updates and future predictions. While his astrological services are provided through his website, Steve is not shy about publishing his personal philosophy and political viewpoints as well.

“My website is also a place for my own political opinions,” he says, explaining how astrology is not only a tool for personal growth but also a way to understand our world a little better. For example, an ideal that Steve holds in high esteem is the importance of independent thinking, especially in the modern world of mass media and entertainment. He believes that astrology is one way to think and realize common experiences in a different light.

As a self-described activist of fifteen years, Steve also helped found the Big Green Gathering in 1993, an annual festival in Glastonbury dedicated to green issues. The festival is primarily green itself, using alternative energy sources and promoting organic living. It has grown since 1993 into a gathering of more than twenty thousand, drawing people from around the world and raising awareness. “I empower through nonviolent, direct action,” says Steve.

“I believe in a kind of unified intuition,” says Steve, “There are huge changes coming … astrology is a tool to prepare for them, and will suggest ways to deal with the future.” This “unified intuition” is what Steve believes is one of the most important aspects of his astrology. It helps people as a whole evolve spiritually and mentally; it helps them connect with each other. “The rising population exponential [of today] is being matched by technology, but also by an awareness of spirituality,” he says, “People are becoming more psychic.” For Steve, astrology offers an optimistic view of the world and its future.

Steve believes that if people truly think and feel for themselves, they may discover an entirely new level of understanding and consciousness. “Everyone has their own relation with the divine,” he says, adding that open minds are necessary for change on both local and global degrees. “People can make sense of it,” he says, “If they open [their] eyes, they can understand.”

As for himself, Steve has in many ways already discovered this type of understanding in the ways that astrology has shaped his life. “I can’t imagine my life if I hadn’t discovered astrology,” says Steve. During his trek through astrological education, Steve has encountered personal pain and poverty, but this is something he embraces. “It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and I would do it again,” he says, “Astrology has kept me going.”