History
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:
Delineation
One member of the group, who knew the identity of the person to be studied, would give the other members the birth data for the erection of the chart, designating whether male or female. There was usually, though not always, some critical problem that the person faced. Sometimes this was a friend, sometimes an acquaintance, or sometimes a member of the contributing member’s family. The group work involved both an in-depth study of the natal chart as well as progressing the chart for the period under question. The group would then form some kind of decision as to what would be the wisest course of action for that particular person to take.
At the meeting the following week, each member made his contribution. The one who had submitted the chart would then make known from his first-hand knowledge, some of the outstanding characteristics of the person whose chart had been studied. This showed the group the degree of accuracy of their findings. The group studied all kinds of problems – personal problems, problems in marriages, in health, in business ventures and in legal transactions. The person who had contributed the chart could then go back to the person whose chart it was and give him or her a consensus of the findings of the group. Though I speak especially for myself, I’m sure I speak for all in the group when I say the group opinion helped tremendously – many times- in presenting to the person (be it friend, acquaintance or member of the family) not just one opinion, but the combined effort of the group.
Progressions
A successful technique employed to learn progression was for one member of the group to submit a chart with an interesting event date. The chart and event date remained anonymous to all but the contributing member. The others had one week to study the chart and come up with their individual findings. I suppose there was sort of an unwritten code that no one discussed their findings with any other member of the group before the meeting.
Whatever our findings, right or wrong, we wanted them to be our own individual opinion, and we gave this opinion along with the astrological reasons for it. This approach was used for a quite lengthy period and those who worked faithfully on the charts submitted became quite experienced in their ability to determine the nature of the event. It was not at all unusual for this group to score 85% to 100% accuracy on the event charts. The charts were often complicated because there were usually a number of critical happenings in the life of the open whose chart was studied, aside from the main event. Examples of charts studied included marriages (as well as chart comparison for suitability of a marriage), divorces (triangles), all kinds of accidents, deaths (including those of a violent nature), complicated illnesses, births (or trouble in childbirth), and successful or unsuccessful business ventures.
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 responsibilities 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.
Join MAAS!
Membership is open to everyone. Join us to get access to our archives, upcoming classes & lectures, and our amazing library located in The Rene Goodale Learning Center in Tucker, GA.
