The History of the
Atlanta Astrological Society
by Louise Bromley
This is a short history of the Advanced Astrological Studies Association of Atlanta, which later
expanded its membership to form, on September
25, 1971, the Atlanta Astrological Society.
In September 1959 a small group of interested
persons met for the first time to form an astrological study group. Mrs. Ruth Stillman was the
group leader. All the members ordered Charles
Luntz' lesson material, a course divided into three
parts -- basic; delineation and progressions.
Each part consisted of 15 lessons. The group
studied one lesson per week. During the first year
(1959-60) the group met at the headquarters of
the Theosophical Society in Atlanta during the
day, later meeting in individual homes in the
evening, usually on a weekly basis.
In early 1960 Mrs. Stilhnan was called out of
town and asked me to take over the group leadership on a temporary basis. However, after returning, she asked me to continue as group leader, a
job I held for the remaining 11-year period. The
nucleus of this group continued studying for approximately 12 years, with the membership fluctuating as some dropped out or moved away and
others joined. It is impossible to recall all of the
original members but to the best of my recollection, they included Ruth Stillman, Patricia Barrett, Martha Languirand, Dorothy Blalock, Clare
Sears, Mary Nell Santacroce, Paula Walker, Russell Lowery, Rosie Clark and Louise Bromley.
Rosie Clark, Clare Sears and Louise Bromley
were in the group in the beginning and belonged
throughout the I2-year period. Throughout the
years, because of requests and apparent need, I
taught beginner classes in astrology and as the
students progressed through the basic three
stages, they were then invited to join with the
other (now more advanced) study group.
Some (but probably not all) of those who joined
after completing beginner classes were Ernestine
Johnson (who had studied previously for a number of years), Anne Harris, Wanda White, Larry
Hallfor, Maxine Taylor, Marilyn Russell and Mr.
and Mrs. Richard Holcomb.
Members who had extensive knowledge prior
to joining the group, and who found us after
moving to Atlanta were Rosemary Jones,
Sylvia Carroll and Clare Coppage.
Some of the techniques employed and studies
undertaken by the group were:
Here
are some of the other types of studies undertaken through the
years by this group:
- Research (particularly illnesses)
- Rectification (the group used several methods, including
pre-natal epoch, but came to the conclusion that major
events in the native's life produced greater accuracy)
- Several books incorporating new techniques of interpreting
progressions and transits were studied.
- Delineation. We incorporated the natural chart and the
solar chart with the natal chart
- In-depth studies of the individual planets.
- Solar and lunar returns.
- Marriage charts ( and we progressed them)
- Comparison charts
- Astrodynes
- Primary arcs
We are unique in Atlanta in another respect. In March 1970, the
Governor of Georgia signed into law a bill passed by the General Assembly which placed astrology on a professional basis in the
city of Atlanta. In August 1970, the Atlanta Board of Aldermen, after hearing testimony given by members of this group, passed an
ordinance which was signed by the mayor, Maynard Jackson, creating the Atlanta Board of Astrology Examiners - a seven member board designed
to protect the public from the unqualified practitioner and to uphold standards and give qualifying examinations for the professional practice of astrology in
Atlanta. Atlanta is the second city in the United States to obtain legislation and to have implemented it by having an Examining and Licensing Board.
The Board members were chosen on the
basis of their astrological knowledge and competence and by the
excellent reputation they had earned in the community. The
original Board members were Louise Bromley, chairperson; Clare
Coppage, vice-chairman; Sylvia Carroll, secretary; Rosemary
Jones, Clare Sears, Marilyn Russell, and Maxine Taylor.
Throughout the 12-year period much astrological growth, and I
like to think personal growth as well, was experienced by the
individual members. The group combined their talents and knowledge and had some tremendous group experiences. There was a
group spirit which always pervaded and which added greatly to the
continuity of the experiences gained. Our ability to help others
was always a cohesive factor that bound the group together in a
mutual feeling of service, not just to each other, but to those outside our circle.
I cannot help but believe that the motives and attitudes cultivated
in the group have contributed to the Astrological climate in the
Atlanta area. And this is not due to any one person's effort, but to
a combined group effort. Everything must have a beginning,
however small or limited. and I like to think that some good
astrological seeds were planted way back in 1959, which, as a
result of the sustained nourishment over the years, are now
bearing fruit. Because of the overwhelming interest in astrology
in the past three or four years, members of this group have
become professional astrologers. The first to turn professional
was Maxine Taylor, who also teaches astrology. Two members, Rosemary Jones and Sylvia Carroll, have formed a private company and have written an astrological correspondence
course. Ms. Carroll also teaches private classes and both are
licensed to practice professionally, as are some of the other
members of the group, including myself. I believe there are a
total of nine persons licensed by the City of Atlanta to practice
professionally at the present time.
In September 1970 I was invited by Emory University to teach
astrological courses as part of Emory's Community Education
Program - "Evening at Emory" - and I am continuing each year
with these courses. Ms. Carroll has taught in the Oglethorpe
and Kennesaw Junior College adult evening programs. I am
not trying to sing anyone's praises, but am merely trying to
show that phenomenal interest and growth have taken place
over the past decade and without some kind of group effort I
don't believe this ever could have happened. And now, more
recently, on September 25, 1971, the Atlanta Astrological
Society has come into being as an outgrowth of the Advanced
Astrological Studies Association of Atlanta. You can see from
the very nature of the aspirations and growth of the old original
group just what we believe will be the aims, aspirations and
responsibiIities of the new Atlanta Astrological Society.
Our hopes and goals are that we will emphasize cooperation
rather than competition, and that we will continue to grow
together, in our astrological knowledge as well as in our
feelings of mutual trust and respect. We hope that our efforts
will promote and spread the highest ideals of this age-old
science throughout the community, which will, in turn, contribute to astrology's again taking its rightful place in the
scientific world. |