Neuro-Linguistic Programming
and Astrology

How do you know that every behavior has a positive intention? If a behavior were not positive on some level, then you would not do it. If you engage in a harmful behavior. behind that behavior lies a positive reason. You would never intentionally choose to do anything to hurt yourself. We as counselors need to identify the intention and then find more constructive ways to satisfy it.

An example is the nine year old who wants attention from the mother. Perhaps the behavior of screaming and crying has the positive intention of getting attention from the mother. Other people can help to identify other behaviors that will earn attention without negative results. The child can choose better ways to interact with the mother, and the mother can also find ways to encourage the more desirable behavior.

The fundamental belief concerning positive intention underlies my therapeutic work and my approach to astrology as well. No matter what outrageous events occur in a client's life, the client can develop options to bring those events into a positive, constructive pattern.

Desire for Change

A second principle deals with change. When a client comes to a counselor or astrologer, there is a perceived problem that needs to be changed. Another possibility is too much change in the client's life! The client and counselor need to agree on some goals, whether they involve discovering appropriate changes or a slowing of the change process. Once we agree on the nature of the difficulty, then we can work together to find solutions.

As astrologers, we have a sophisticated system that helps identify likely conditions in our client's lives, and we can be very accurate in our assessments. We cast a chart and thereby obtain a body of information about the client's life that can be communicated clearly and effectively. Neuro-Linguistic Programming is a language model that provides a way to convey astrological conclusions in terms the client can understand. An astrologer can utilize such observations to find effective ways to communicate about the chart, just as a therapist can use astrological information to understand the client's personality and needs.

Pacing

If a client is "speedy," you may notice physiological signals like faster breathing. In fact, if I talk to you very fast and move around the room, expending a lot of energy, then you are going to breathe faster yourself. If I really want to get action, I ask you to get UP and do ten jumping jacks! Okay, ten! One, two, three, four... and you speed up. Even reading, this, you may notice that your heart rate quickened.

Physical observation of the client, attention to the quality of his or her voice, and attention to the particular words being used are three ways for us to know how to pace effectively. Pacing is used to establish rapport - to help the client understand that you are interested in what is going on, that you are listening, that you are getting it.

Pacing can occur in any situation. Simply pay close attention to the other person. Notice the speed of the conversation. Notice the hard or soft quality of the words being used. Notice, too, the hard or soft facial expression and body posture. Then use your own voice and posture to reflect what has been observed. If you feel that the other person is responding well, then you know the pacing is effective. If you get some kind of disagreement, verbal or otherwise, then you know the pacing has not been exactly right, and you need to change it in some way.

Leading

A next step in pacing is to identify the particular language your client uses. People use three basic kinds of words, giving you clues about how they are thinking. For example, in telling you about a trip to Mexico, I may say, "You have never seen such blue sky. The vividness of that color was incredible, the tile they have laid on the ground everywhere, with the reds and the yellows and the greens, it was just so vibrant and alive." Here I have used visual words to draw a picture.

I could take another approach to the same story. "The hu-mi-di-ty! Was so oppressive! There must have been 90 percent humidity the whole time we were there, and it - was- hot! The lowest temperature I noticed was about 75, and that was with the air-conditioning on in the middle of the night!" Here you get a different sense of my trip - a kinesthetic sense.

A third system is auditory. Think about the Star-Spangled Banner for a moment. Notice what happens to you when you come to the part that is too high for you to sing. Just think through the tune until you come to that part. It's out of your range - you can't sing that part. Notice what happens - where do you notice that in your body?

The system you use most frequently, visual, kinestetic, or auditory, is the one you tend to listen to and listen for. If I want to communicate with you effectively, I need to know which system you use. Further, I need to be able to use that system, even if it is not the one I generally use. If I am using auditory words and you are thinking visually, then you will easily tune me out. If I use kinesthetic words and you have not been aware of your body for ten years, then you won't get that either.

Astrologically, these three systems do not correspond to any one signs. Within each sign there is a visual, a kinesthetic, and an auditory approach. Each planet has all three capabilities too. However, as an astrologer you can use the pacing technique to be more effective. You observe what is going on in the client's chart. You translate that into the kind of language that the client can understand. If you listen to the client choice of words in the initial telephone conversation or meeting, you can identify some very definite cues about how best to communicate with that individual.

You can make some astrological assumptions about the client's favorite mode, but you will have to test your ideas. For instance, with fire and air are prominent in a chart, I expect a visual type. Earth and water indicated a kinesthetic quality. A powerful Mercury anticipates an auditory influence.

Leading

Pacing is naturally followed by leading. Once you have listened effectively, you will respond from yourself, creating a situation in which the other person can follow your lead. In fact, the client's opening posture and speech is his or her leading, which you follow by pacing. If you then do something to change the client's voice or posture, your lead will be paced by them. The better the rapport, the better this dance works.

If you are mentally speedy and I want you to slow down, first I pace your speed and the I slow down... I'll lower my voice and I'll use soft words ... it's easy to start thinking and relaxation . Easy for us to learn how to rest .take a time out ... Now, your heart rte has already slowed just a bit. My slower, calmer speech leads you to slow down.

Leading is a technique the psychological or astrological counselor uses to help the client to change. The astrological chart is a great tool for leading, as well as pacing, You may begin with an observation such as, "You know that you are a Sagittarius (pacing), but it is really interesting that Jupiter, the ruler of your Sun sign, is in Virgo," When you explain in the proper context - visual, auditory, or kinesthetic - and use words from the client's favorite mode, you combine the best of pacing and leading. You are making a definite observation from the chart, reframing in words the client will understand and appreciate at the same time agreeing with the client's reality.

You continue to delineate, saying, "During the next few months, you have an interesting Mars transit to some of your planets. Mars is going through the same sign your Sun and Mercury are in, and there will be a lot of energy." Now you are leading. You are helping the client to imagine what it is like to have the extra energy of Mars.

You probably will not say the words transit, Mars, Mercury, etc., because those words are lost on the non-astrologer. Instead, you might say, "For the next three months, I think you are going to be noticing that you have a lot more energy. You may even find that heating problem in your house is less noticeable," This is leading, introducing the client to the new experience, to something different from the past.

The process of pacing and leading is what we all do all the time, more or less successfully. It is not new. However, examining these processes is a fresh way to perceive how we act and how successful we are.

Future Pacing

Future pacing suggests to the client, "What do you think would happen if you try it another way?" Astrology provides the content of a story which occurs in the future, with the client as the main character. If the client tries out an experience during future pacing and finds that it will not work, then you can develop another choice by utilizing another transit or natal aspect. You can help the client try out possibilities based on future astrological indicators. Many of you do this already in your practice; when you talk about progressions and transits.

Recalling the concept of positive intention, I must say here that I have a problem with negative, destructive, unprofitable predictions. I want to help my client to find fruitful, effective, and useful choices for the future.

As astrologers, we have a tremendous metaphorical base. Constructing changes or ideas for clients includes mythology, symbol systems, key words for planets and signs, and how they relate to each other. Translating this information into a story, into a metaphor that the client can understand, provides the client with creative information.

I tried an experiment with a friend. I told him what was going on astrologically for him, and he said that was nice. Then I made up a metaphor about the gods and their interaction, based upon his natal chart. I included background music for effect, and I had a story that he really liked! He could get a picture, but he was mainly auditory, so the music became very important. All I did in the story was portray the best way to use the planets as they aspected to each other. The client related to the words and the music in his own way, taking what he needed from the story.

In summary, combining astrological skills with the therapeutic technique of Neuro-Linguistic Programming can help you evaluate what you know about communication use this knowledge with clients. By identifying patterns of thinking and speech, you become a more effective counselor and astrologer. Your only limitation is your willingness to investigate and practice the techniques in the context of your astrological work.

This article first appeared in Today's Astrologer, the bulletin of the American Federation of Astrologers

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