2018 Nominees and Winners

Category: Community Service

This award category recognizes service above and beyond the call of duty, promoting good will and positive communication among astrologers. The recipient’s work encourages constructive interaction and a sense of community within the astrological field.

Previous winners: Edith Custer, Marion D. March, Madalyn Hillis-Dineen, Jayj Jacobs, Ronnie Gayle Dreyer, Margie Herskovitz, Joyce Levine.

Roy Gillett

President of the UK’s Astrological Association since 1999, Roy became a full-time astrologer/ consultant in 1976 and has organised and addressed numerous international conferences in the UK, Europe, America and New Zealand. He has defended astrology in the media and before its UK regulator. Roy is a valued Astrolabe astrology software adviser. Publishing mundane forecasts from 1978, and in The Astrological Journal since 2002, he edited Andre Barbault’s only books in English. His own books enhance public access to astrology, showing its cycles clarify and focus the past and contemporary worlds, helping us visualize a happier world for the future.

Steve Pincus

Steve was hooked on Astrology after a traumatic period was explained in his first reading in 1976. In 1980 he began volunteering to record lectures at conferences sponsored by ISAR and SWAC.  He went on to coordinate two National NCGR Conferences. He was President of the San Francisco NCGR Chapter from 1985 to 2015 and is currently President Emeritus. His goal and passion for 35+ years is to make quality astrological recordings available to the astrological community. Visit http://stardialsunrecording.com. Steve retired in 2012 from a 44-year career as a software engineer in the aerospace industry.

2018 Winner: Richard Smoot

Richard has been a certified professional astrologer for over 40 years and has a Social Work degree and a Public Administration graduate degree. In 17 years of direct assistance to astrologers and organizations, his focus has been to promote Astrology and guide astrologers to their highest professional level. In ISAR, he is the Operations Manager, Consulting Skills Chair, and publisher of the ISAR International Astrologer. For NCGR, he is an examiner for all certification exam levels and publishes their journals. For OPA he serves as a group leader. He owned and operated AstroDatabank before turning it over to Astro.com.

Chris Turner

For the last 20 years Chris is probably best known for her facilitation of IAA’s Breaking Down the Borders cyber conferences, and the monthly series of free Webinars the first of their kind. In the 90’s she helped establish “Conjunction”, one of the first Internet astrology groups. She was then elected to the steering committee of AFAN to promote the internationalism of astrology. During the 80’s and 90’s she was very active in the FAA Australia, serving terms as National and State President, Journal Editor and being instrumental in creating a bi-partisan Examination Board, Professional Association and Professional Register.

Donna Van Toen

I have been actively involved in community service for about 35 years. Among other things I have: served 2 terms as president of a local astrology group, facilitated speaker-sharing and cost-sharing between Canadian groups, served several terms on the AFAN steering committee, including a term as presiding officer, served on the UAC Board twice, written hundreds of book reviews, and, setting up and running a conference, which is still running. I particularly like to facilitate things that promote community and provide services. Somebody has to do the work. Where possible, I’ve tried to give back. Thank you for nominating me...

Category: Discovery, Innovation and Research

This award category recognizes those who have developed new tools or concepts to advance the study and practice of astrology. The recipient has discovered a further relationship between astrological factors and phenomena in nature or human activity.

Previous winners: Rob Hand, Jim Lewis, Project Hindsight, Zipporah Dobyns, Robert Zoller, Michael Munkasey, Robert Blaschke

Gary Christen

Gary Christen received the first astrological BA awarded in modern times from Livingston College of Rutgers University and focused his career moving astrology forward conceptually and technically. A founder and CEO of Astrolabe, he helped pioneer the basis of all astrological computing used today and currently produces Solar Fire and ChartWheels. His work created the basis for many conceptual breakthroughs in our field. From developing Difference Theory (Equal Opening Law) to perfecting Paran Clocks, Gary’s ideas led to the organization of Symmetrical Astrology, a framework designed to bring astrology into a positive future. He’s currently authoring “An Approach to Astrology”.

2018 Winner: David Cochrane

David’s innovations and research in astrology cover a wide spectrum of topics, including pioneering insights into astrological signatures in the charts of rock musicians and athletes, the foundations of astrology in sacred geometry, and breakthrough research methods that are implemented in the Kepler, Sirius, and Pegasus Research software. David is a polymath who collaborates with psychotherapists, medical doctors, mythologists, physicists, and metaphysicians, and he excelled in graduate studies in research methods. David’s breakthrough discoveries and insights are freely available in 300 YouTube videos which average a half hour in length and are viewed by tens of thousands of people.

John Halloran

Starting with a public domain astrology program in 1985, John Halloran has been creating software tools for astrologers for 32 years. Halloran Software’s AstrolDeluxe for Windows included a research module. Its Famous Charts collection has grown to include 5500 of the most famous people. AstrolDeluxe Platinum does 26 types of searches. John has researched biographies to write aspect pattern interpretations and male and female interpretations for Chiron, the Moon’s Nodes, the Black Moon Lilith, and the 45-degree and 135-degree aspects. He is now researching 480 male/ female declination parallel/contraparallel interpretations. He created an aspect frequency table for 22 categories of people.

Alphee Lavoie

Certified Astrologer, Ncgr Level IV, Alphee’s a full time counseling astrologer for 53 years. NCGR Research Director for 12 years, he’s lectured worldwide at major conferences. He’s authored three horary books and writes the monthly horary column in Dell Horoscope for over 15 years. AIR Software company offers 20 astrology software programs and award winning Astro financial software. He appears on Bloomberg and CNN. Alphee founded the Astro Investigators Research group, known as the ‘Gators, in 2002 whose international membership continues extensive scientific astrological research published in many journals. The ‘Gator’s incredible findings were featured at various astrological conferences. www.astroinvestigators.com.

Melanie Reinhart

Melanie Reinhart B.A., D.F.Astrol.S., is a patron of the Faculty of Astrological Studies, and a prize- winning holder of their Diploma. She also trained in Horary with Geoffrey Cornelius and Deborah Houlding. Astrology has been central to Melanie’s life since 1959, and she became a professional astrologer in 1975, offering workshops and consultations, writing and teaching internationally. Since 1989, she has frequently presented original material on new celestial objects, notably the Centaurs. Books include: ‘Chiron and the Healing Journey’, ‘Saturn, Chiron and the Centaurs’, and ‘Incarnation’. Melanie has a special interest in meditative experience as a healing modality. Website: www.melaniereinhart.com.

Category: Education

This award category recognizes the work of teaching through the published and spoken word, or the founding of schools and study programs. The recipient’s work inspires and guides others to master astrology, and thereby encourages future generations of astrologers.

Previous winners: Marion March & Joan McEvers, Zipporah Dobyns, Joan Negus, Karen Hamaker-Zondag, Joanne Wickenburg, J. Lee Lehman, Ena Stanley UAC 2012

2018 Winner: Steven Forrest

Over twelve hundred people have passed through Steven Forrest’s Astrological Apprenticeship Program since its founding in 1998. Currently he leads three groups in the United States, along with annual programs in China, Italy, and Australia. Many of his certificate holders are now professional astrologers, writers, and teachers. Steven is the author of several astrological bestsellers including, THE INNER SKY and YESTERDAY’S SKY. Since 1984, he has been a major proponent of evolutionary astrology—an astrology which integrates free will, grounded humanistic psychology and ancient metaphysics. He lives in the Anza-Borrego desert of southern California with his partner, artist Michelle Valborg Kondos.

Clare Martin

Clare has been a professional astrologer, teacher and lecturer for over twenty five years. She was a regular lecturer and supervisor of Diploma students at the Centre for Psychological Astrology, for which she also developed and taught the Introduction to Psychological Astrology course, the result of which is her three volume work, Mapping the Psyche. President of the Faculty of Astrological Studies for nine years, Clare was awarded the Fellowship of the FAS in 2010, bestowed for exceptional service to astrological education. She is now a tutor and supervisor at the Mercury Internet School of Psychological Astrology.

Glenn Perry

Glenn Perry, Ph.D. is research director and ethics chair for ISAR. Glenn lectures internationally, has authored nine astrological texts, and is a faculty member at Nodoor Academy in Beijing, China. From 1997-2000, he was adjunct professor at The California Institute of Integral Studies where   he taught astrology to graduate students. Since 2003, Glenn has been director of The Academy of AstroPsychology, a two-year, online school that provides courses and training in astrology. More recently, he was program coordinator for the M.A. program in Archetypal Cosmology at The Graduate Institute. His current research centers on integration of astrology with developmental stages.

Bruce Scofield

Since 1970 Bruce has recognized the need for better educational opportunities and standards in the field of astrology. He participated in the 1979 meeting in Princeton, NJ that produced the NCGR curriculum and has served continuously on the education committee of NCGR as either member or director, presently serving as president of PAA. Since 2000 he has taught (and served on the board) for Kepler College and has taught science at the University of Massachusetts. A dedicated advocate for education, Bruce has professional certification from AFA and NCGR, holds an M.A. in history, and a Ph.D. in geoscience.

Noel Tyl

Noel Tyl is one of the foremost astrologers in the world. His thirty-five textbooks have led the teaching of astrologers for two generations. Tyl wrote the comprehensive professional manual for the field --the 1,000 page text Synthesis & Counseling in Astrology-- which put astrology securely in pace with the most sophisticated disciplines of humanistic studies extant today. In the 1970s, it was Tyl who first integrated psychological need theory into astrology. He has lectured throughout the western world, including China, Japan, Africa, and Russia.

Category: Professional Image

This award category recognizes astrology at work in business, in community, and in the public media, nationally and internationally. The recipient’s work enhances professionalism in our field and elevates the public’s perception of astrology and astrologers.

Previous winners: Michael Erlewine, Lois Rodden, Ray Merriman, Noel Tyl, Nick Campion, Richard Tarnas, Chris McRae

Frank Clifford

Frank Clifford has been an independent, creative force in our community for almost 30 years as a writer/publisher of 30 books, a data researcher, and writer/guest editor for The Mountain Astrologer. Through his London School of Astrology, Frank has introduced a new generation to our subject and has spent years promoting astrology to the public, fundraising for students, working with companies (such as Universal Studios, BBC, Oxford University Press), and giving 1000 talks in  a dozen countries to students, companies, banks and universities. Frank is currently working to change British law to ensure birth times are recorded on birth certificates.

Robert Currey

Robert Currey is a consultant astrologer, Astro*Carto*Grapher and researcher. In 1989 he founded the Astrology Shop in Central London - still attracting international visitors. Robert’s company, Equinox operates world-wide bringing astrology to the masses. He’s co-authored several books and presented a TV documentary on Astrology with actor Christopher Lee. Robert has featured in the media; refuting criticism of astrology with interviews, articles and via astrologer.com. He’s lectured in the USA, Europe, Asia, Australia and received international awards. He is Science Editor at the Astrology News Service and authored five peer reviewed papers for Correlation Journal showing empirical support for astrology.

Grace K. Morris

Grace K. Morris, M.A. (NCGR-PAA, ISAR-CAP, PMAFA), president of Astro Economics, Inc. which publishes the Astro Economics Stock Market Newsletter, The Right Time and the annual book series How To Choose Stocks to Outperform The Market. Sponsors the World Conference of Astro Economics (Chicago, Singapore, Sydney, London, New York, Vancouver). Working with traders and CEOs in her Chicago-area corporate offices she helps set up successful businesses worldwide including McDonald’s franchisees. Articles in Forbes, Financial Times, BusinessWeek, Crain’s Business, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles, Denver Post, etc. Appeared on CNN Business News, ABC, CNBC, CBS.

Edward Snow

Edward Snow is Managing Editor of the Astrology News Service (ANS), the jointly-sponsored volunteer news organization that has been tasked with advancing public awareness of astrology. The organization’s online news magazine has published about 300 articles, editorials, interviews and news features since going online in 2011. And the ANS news team has distributed professionally- written news features to thousands of print, broadcast and online media contacts. A graduate of San Diego State University, at age 26, Snow was named manager of General Electric’s West Coast News Bureau and later became an executive with some of Chicago’s leading public relations agencies.

2018 Winner: Tem Tarriktar

Tem began studying astrology in 1982, and started seeing clients and teaching classes a few years later. In 1987, he launched The Mountain Astrologer magazine as a typewritten newsletter. With the help of a talented, hard-working staff and the support of the astrological community, TMA evolved into an important communications hub for astrologers by the mid 1990s. Under Tem’s leadership, the editorial team at TMA has provided a vehicle for 600 writers to share their knowledge, has maintained high professional standards, and has enhanced the public image of astrology for 30 years.

Category: Theory and Understanding

This award category recognizes one whose work demonstrates the use of astrology with other disciplines, and thereby encourages the acceptance of astrology as a separate philosophical model or recognized discipline.

Previous winners: Liz Greene, Stephen Arroyo, Michael Lutin, Donna Cunningham, Demetra George, Bernadette Brady, Nick Campion

Chris Brennan

Chris Brennan is a professional astrologer from Denver, Colorado, USA. He is a graduate of the original Kepler College degree program, and went on to serve as the past President of the Association for Young Astrologers, Research Director of the National Council for Geocosmic Research, and electional astrology columnist for The Mountain Astrologer magazine. Since 2012 he has hosted a weekly program called The Astrology Podcast, which won an ISAR award in 2016. In 2017 he published the first comprehensive survey of the ancient Greco-Roman tradition of astrology in modern times, titled Hellenistic Astrology: The Study of Fate and Fortune.

Benjamin Dykes

Dr. Benjamin Dykes is a leading traditional astrologer and translator of Latin and Arabic who taught philosophy at universities in Illinois and Minnesota. In 2007 he published Bonatti’s complete Book of Astronomy, and since then has translated and published numerous traditional works in all areas, including the introductory Traditional Astrology for Today (2011). From 2013 he began to publish a mundane series, Astrology of the World. He is currently translating works from Arabic and writing a traditional natal course. He offers the Logos & Light philosophy lectures on MP3 and speaks to astrological audiences worldwide. See: www.bendykes.com.

Adam Gainsburg

Adam Gainsburg is an author, teacher and consulting astrologer focused on invigorating today’s astrologers with the living intelligence of a reunited astrology+astronomy as direct experience. His work on the heliacal cycles of the visible planets, the physics of the lunar nodes, a tantric map of Venus and Mars, a four-stage process for Chironic wholeness, and a model of the Sky Factors of the planets are assisting the astrological vision to more fully meet the demands of our post-postmodern world. Adam also owns Intrepid Astrology Software and spearheaded the creation of Sky Engine, the world’s first graphical synodic search engine.

James Holden

James Herschel Holden was a Fellow of the AFA, and was best known for his many translations of classical astrological works from the 2nd through the 16th centuries. He also wrote a History  of Horoscopic Astrology and a Biographical Dictionary of Western Astrologers.  Considered to  be among his greatest contributions are his translation of Mathesis by Julius Firmicus Maternus, and books from the Astrologia Gallica by Jean-Baptiste Morin (Morinus) that deal with astrology.

2018 Winner: Deborah Houlding

Founder of the School of Traditional Astrology (STA), Deborah’s research commitment is evident in many articles, books, lectures, and resources she has developed; from The Traditional Astrologer Magazine / Ascella Publications in the early 1990s, to the Skyscript website (www.skyscript.co.uk) one of the most extensive, resource-rich astrology sites available. Deborah’s work seeks to strengthen understanding of astrological symbolism by illuminating its underlying philosophical rationale.   It is respected and quoted by academics and historians, and has been instrumental in countering media misrepresentations of astrology, where she frequently reminds broadcasters of the need to understand and respectfully report astrology’s important historical principles.