I am going to London in March for a week and a friend, who was awarded a Certificate from the Faculty of Astrological Studies in London last year, sent me the link to the Faculty’s Annual Open Day in case I might like to purchase a ticket and attend.
While scrolling down the program page, I noticed at the very bottom that yet another Faculty Diploma holder has been stripped of her D.F.Astrol.S. This would make Debbie Frank the second astrologer to late Princess Diana to be stripped of her Faculty Diploma–the first being Penny Thornton in 1995–for violating several clauses in the Faculty’s code of ethics(pdf), the most serious, of course, being the violation of client confidentiality by speaking and writing publicly about their work as astrologers to the princess.
The second issue may be the “kind” of work done. Recent testimony given at an inquest into Diana’s death in London revealed that the princess had been given many predictions, not only of her own death, but that of other members of the Royal Family–and indeed, if you read accounts given by both women, much time was spent looking for the possibility for “bad” things to happen to her and/or other members of the Royal Family.
At a recent NORWAC conference, the well-known astrologer, Steven Forrest, spoke about the issue of confidentiality very eloquently (youtube link–go to the 35th minute). Of course, if a client wishes to step forward and speak about her work with an astrologer, that is her prerogative, but when an astrologer does so, she not only betrays the trust given to her by her client, she also potentially damages the work being done by many, many ethical astrologers.
It is not often that astrology organizations are willing to take on a prominant member who has violated this code (in fact, I have not heard of a single case in which an American astrology org has taken this step), so kudos are in order for the Faculty of Astrological Studies for stepping up to the plate in this instance and doing the right thing.
Though one does wonder why it took them so long, as I have been aware of an astrologer called Debbie Frank who claimed to have been the astrologer to the late princess for a few years, but until I read the announcement on the Faculty’s web site, I had no idea that Ms. Frank held a Faculty diploma.
9 March 2008 at 6:56 am |
No one has ever mentioned that perhaps these women should have had their credentials withdrawn BECAUSE the Princess died. Surely, as “foremost” practitioners of their art they should have been able to discern a measure of risk attached to her vacation with Mr al Fayed? And, surely they would have established their credibility with the client in the past by getting it right on occasion, to the extent that she would have heeded their warnings?
I am sorry, but these two astrologers failed their client and the profession in many more instances than simply a lack of confidentiality.
3 May 2008 at 2:36 pm |
[...] British astrologer who revealed the details of her consultations with Princess Diana was ultimately stripped of her education [...]
2 June 2008 at 1:59 pm |
This morning (June 2, 2008), Jack at AFA told me Henry Weingarten went bust late last year. So I went to the net to see if I could confirm that.
Instead, I found your conflation of Weingarten with the Magi Society, of two years ago. I worked for W. for four years in the late ’80’s & had business dealings with him into the late ’90’s.
I’ve also taken the time to run down the Magi folks. They are a group of Shaolin monks who took refuge in Hong Kong after Mao’s victory. They then relocated to Singapore when China reclaimed the British colony in 1999. Their primary goal, over at their offices on 2nd Avenue (now closed), was to recruit Chinese-Americans in order to keep themselves viable. While I could be wrong, I agree with the earlier commentator, that it is unlikely there was ever a connection between them & Henry. Or them & American Christians, or anyone else, for that matter. They know nothing whatever about the Biblical magi.
Now you know how I got here.
So far as the Faculty of Astrological Studies are concerned, they have the known Ph.D. fraud, Liz Greene, hand out their diplomas every year. Imagine, if you will, a known fraud handing out diplomas to graduating students.
As Debbi Kempton-Smith pointed out, no other educational institution strips its graduates of their degrees based on subsequent misbehavior. A degree is given for work completed. Once given, it can only be revoked if qualifying work is found to be bogus. That’s the educational contract that every other institution honors.
But the FAS plays by different rules. Just how good is this school? Frankly I do not know. Someone emailed me their first year reading list, which I put on-line (pdf file). You can see it here: http://www.astroamerica.com/fac%20reading%20list.pdf
You will note it is larded with CPA Press titles. CPA Press is Liz Greene’s own publishing outfit.
All in all, there are better schools out there.
David R. Roell
http://www.AstroAmerica.com
27 April 2009 at 1:00 pm |
Gosh, everyone at astro america has a problem with a) Liz Greene b) Faculty of Astrological Studies. And they’re aren’t much better schoopld out there David Roell. Have you ever read any of Liz Greene’s work, have you ever attended her school or the FAS? Ah, no I didnt think so….but good on you to go slate and make snide remarks! Are there better schools than astro-america? You can bet your backside there are. Whata loser you are!
7 May 2009 at 7:17 pm |
Du1fHC comment6 ,