International Chapter Presidents & Delegates

Zane Stein

International Delegate

How did you get into astrology?

I met someone who was sitting at a table in the college cafeteria, looking at a book and scribbling stuff in a circle. Curious, I said, “Excuse me, but may I ask what you are doing?” She replied, “I’m working on an astrology chart.” I asked, “You don’t really believe in that stuff, do you?” She looked me right in the eyes, asked me for my birth data, turned to a page in the book and began telling me about myself — things she couldn’t have known. I was hooked. I began to study with her, and it soon became one of my main passions in life.

What do you do for NCGR?

I am a technical support consultant for Esoteric Technologies and an astrologer.

What do you do professionally?

I have been a professional astrologer and tarot reader since 1988. I am also an actress and have been a member of the Screen Actors Guild since I was 3 years old.

Would you like to share anything personal?

I was one of the first astrologers to study Chiron when it was discovered. I gave the first public lecture on this body, and I have published two books on the subject.

Why do you love astrology?

Astrology is the greatest symbolic language available for personality analysis and a deep understanding of the cycles of life. It is my great joy to help my clients make the best choices for themselves and to be uplifted and inspired.

Adriana Merchan

International Delegate

How did you get into astrology?

I came to astrology with a curiosity to get to know myself. After an appointment with an astrologer, who talked to me as if it were my soul talking to me, I understood from my birth chart that curiosity was not the reason — it was my soul crying out for me to learn about astrology. I am a hyper-Aquarian woman.

What do you do professionally?

I am an entrepreneur. I have decided to apply my knowledge as an astrologer to the business field — I can describe myself as a spiritual entrepreneur.  I have a company in the financial sector.

Would you like to share anything personal?

I am an Aquarian who is passionate about life and knowledge. I am 46 years old, happily married to a wonderful man and I have two amazing children. I am passionate about studying, understanding and sharing knowledge. My hobbies are reading, practicing yoga, nature, painting and knitting. I love my pets — two dogs and six cats — and I love my freedom to be who I am.

Why do you love astrology?

Because it’s the evolving language of love.

Henrik Bisbo, D.F.Astrol.s

International Delegate

How did you get into astrology?

My future wife introduced me to the subject when we met more than 30 years ago.

What do you do for NCGR?

I frequently conduct NCGR webinars, and I keep the Danish astrological community informed about NCGR.

What do you do professionally?

I work part time as an external consultant on leadership and group dynamics which I also specialize in astrologically.

Would you like to share anything personal?

I am an avid reader with a personal library of thousands of books, including fiction, poetry, psychology, philosophy, astronomy, physics and, of course, astrology.

Why do you love astrology?

Astrology is by far the most powerful and precise means of uncovering motivational factors in any human being and in any group setting. It is the king of human sciences.

Julia Balaz

International Delegate

How did you get into astrology? 

I‘m self-taught through astrology books that I had access to in my teens. My understanding and application of astrology deepened in my 30s when I felt guided to study around 2,000 charts of my hypnosis clients, reflecting on their life stories that they shared and past lives they regressed to.

What do you do for NCGR?

I‘m an international delegate. I also speak about galactic astrology, including its markers of expanded consciousness and our ancestors’ connection to the stars.

What do you do professionally?

I offer daily support to a growing community of students and practitioners of my galactic astrology online courses. I share content about ongoing research into the influence of stars, asteroids, black holes and other deep-space objects on our evolving consciousness.

Would you like to share anything personal?

I love the high we share in a moment when a person recalls a memory about their soul history in an ancient civilization, another star system or even a galaxy, and we find it validated in their natal chart. It's like uncovering stories about ourselves written by the Supreme Intelligence itself.

Why do you love astrology?

The endless amount of detail inside our charts that offers solid clues to our many incarnations not only on earth but in other star systems too. Correctly applied, astrology can offer profound guidance and support in the here and now, propelling us on our evolutionary journey through the cosmos.

Clara Guarnieri

International Delegate

How did you get into astrology?

I have been passionate about astrology since I was 28. My interest came through reading Carl Jung’s books and my mother’s visionary initiative to manage a shop of biodynamic food and self-care products.

What do you do for NCGR?

I promote the organization and the exploration of astrology locally in Italy.

What do you do professionally?

I work as a market trend forecast consultant to small and medium-sized companies. Astrology is a precious part of my job — managing a team of people, empowering the potential of each person and forecasting product and market trends.

Would you like to share anything personal? 

My life is a constant journey of improving myself by experiencing and learning different tools: astrology, together with anthroposophy, are key parts of this wonderful path.

Why do you love astrology?

It offers the opportunity to constantly grow on emotional, mental and spiritual levels. The more I get to know it, and above all, how to integrate it into my life — at different levels and in full consciousness — the more I’m living as a free person.

Terumi Kondo

President, Tokyo Chapter, and International Delegate

How did you get into astrology?

My mother was a professional astrologer, and I have been familiar with astrology since childhood, but I didn’t have plans to become a professional astrologer when I was young. Some of my friends knew my mother’s reputation as a good astrologer, and when I became a university student, they asked me for astrological advice. 

What do you do professionally?

I am a professional astrologer, consultant, lecturer and teacher. I’m the president of the JANet School of Astrology. I also direct several popular astrological content websites and mobile-phone apps.

Would you like to share anything personal?

I was included in the recent book, One-Hundred Best Astrologers. 

Why do you love astrology?

Astrology is an art that has developed with human history, and it is a quest that makes us feel the connection between humans and the universe.

Monica Escalante-Ochoa

President, AstroMexico Chapter

How did you get into astrology?

At my Saturn return, a friend suggested that I make an appointment with a professional astrologer. I was amazed at how much information was written in a natal chart. In that moment, I realized I wanted to study astrology to become a professional astrologer.

What do you do for NCGR?

I serve NCGR in four roles: international delegate, international relations director, member of the advisory board and president of the AstroMexico chapter.

What do you do professionally?

I am a full-time astrologer. I teach all levels of Western and Vedic astrology, I offer readings and I write books.

Would you like to share anything personal?

I love to travel, teach, languages and, of course, astrology. I enjoy reading, watching international films and spending time with my friends.

Why do you love astrology?

Because all the wisdom that astrology has represented for centuries is amazing. Since antiquity, it is incredible how much astrology can help people understand themselves better and explain so profoundly the kind of energy someone is experiencing at a certain time and for what purpose. No other science can help humanity in such a way.

Alan Clay

International Delegate

How did you get into astrology?

I got into astrology because I’m a Scorpio, so I’ve been wondering why from an early age.

What do you do for NCGR?

I run the Dwarf Planet University, teaching courses on the astrology of our 10 new outer planets. I believe that the outer planets represent aspects of consciousness, and we discover them when we are ready to embrace this new consciousness in our lives. Uranus is intuitive consciousness; Neptune, spiritual consciousness; and Pluto, psychological consciousness. Now, with the discovery of 10 more planets, we are in a period of rapid consciousness development.

Why do you love astrology?

I love astrology because it provides a rich language that enables us to understand ourselves and the world.

Ana Andrade

International Delegate

How did you get into astrology?

At the time I lived in Buenos Aires, and I felt attracted by the topic and I decided to study a formal program at the Fundación Centro Astrológico.

What do you do professionally?

I work in the intercultural field as a coach and consultant. I also provide consultation services in astrology and participate in conferences.

Would you like to share anything personal?

I love astrology!

Why do you love astrology?

It is a beautiful everlasting relationship with the cosmos. There is always something surprising to learn and to admire. I feel blessed.

Nuno Michaels

International Delegate

How did you get into astrology?

I’ve been drawn to everything esoteric since my early teenage years, and I was blessed enough to find a wonderful spiritual astrology teacher in my early 20s. I had my first astrology class in 1997 and never stopped studying.

What do you do for NCGR?

I’m an international delegate, fortunate enough to have already taught a couple of webinars in my mother language, which is Portuguese.

What do you do professionally?

I’ve been a professional astrologer for more than 20 years now, teaching and consulting with clients on a daily basis.

Why do you love astrology?

Because it inspires me, reminds me of spirit moment to moment and keeps me in awe and reverence for the beauty and love of cosmic intelligence.

Natalie Loh

International Delegate

How did you get into astrology?

Growing up in Singapore, aspects of divination and the occult were not unusual. I got palm readings as a kid, and got a bazi reading on a family trip to Taiwan. I started getting astrology readings during a difficult time in my life, seeking answers (and comfort) as one does. And then it just took off from there! Started learning about the houses and the transits and never looked back.

What do you do for NCGR?

I'm a Singapore delegate!

What do you do professionally?

Product management in tech, with a background in software engineering and web design.

Would you like to share anything personal?

I'm the founder of transitcal.com the first personalized astrology calendar which integrates directly with the digital calendar you already use. It solves the problem of having to manually calculate your transits each year, and it's fully customizable to your preferred house system, display preferences, with helpful add-ons like Sabian Symbols and calculations of the previous time that particular transit occurred.

Why do you love astrology?

Because it reveals a deeper magic to the universe both inside and outside ourselves. And isn't it exciting to be discovering the secret language of the universe.

Maki S. Zhai

President, Taiwan Affiliate

How did you get into astrology?

When I was 8 years old, I received an astrology book, but I discarded it at the age of 14 because I didn't believe that people could be divided into just 12 types. When I turned 33, I started seeing the number 33 everywhere, and I felt puzzled. Eventually, I decided to follow that number, and I stumbled on an astrology book. As soon as I opened it, I saw chart calculations. From then on, I decided to pursue the study of astrology.

What do you do for NCGR?

I established the first NCGR chapter in Taiwan and introduced NCGR-PAA certification. Now I am the president of NCGR’s Taiwan affiliate.

What do you do professionally?

My foundation is in traditional astrology, but my aim is to integrate both traditional and modern astrology, bringing them towards the future.

Would you like to share anything personal?

I have Uranus on the Ascendant, and my Mercury is positioned at the midpoint of Uranus and Saturn. I have a fondness for animals, particularly dogs over cats. Surprisingly, I currently have two turtles, each belonging to a different breed. It seems even astrologers receive unexpected gifts of cosmic humor!

Why do you love astrology?

It's because I enjoy solving puzzles, and I also appreciate the feeling of being alive that is connected to the universe.

Winai Ouypornprasert

President, Thailand Chapter, and International Delegate

How did you get into astrology?

I have lived in an environment of prediction since I was young. When I obtained my doctorate in civil engineering in 1988, I had an idea to predict earthquakes by using celestial factors. One of my elder sisters introduced me to an astrology teacher in 1990.

What do you do for NCGR?

I became an NCGR lifetime member in 2008 and I founded NCGR’s Thailand chapter in 2012. I am now the president of the Thailand chapter and the Thailand delegate. I published two technical papers in NCGR Memberletter, and I have presented at NCGR conferences and in international webinars.

What do you do professionally?

I am a university professor, engineering consultant and the owner of the Rasamichan Publishing House and five civil-engineering companies.

Would you like to share anything personal?

My hobbies include astrology and many sports. I am good at basketball, running 100-meter races, volleyball and takraw, or foot volleyball.

Why do you love astrology?

My life has been much more successful with astrology, and I can help a lot of people by using it.

Baris Ilhan

Member, NCGR Advisory Board, and President, Turkey Chapter

How did you get into astrology?

In my teen years while trying to make sense of my conflicts with my friends, I started reading about the characteristics of zodiac signs.

What do you do for NCGR?

I have been a member of the NCGR advisory board since 2002, and I established the Turkey chapter in 2003. We have offered NCGR-PAA testing every year since then.

What do you do professionally?

I work as a professional astrologer: I offer consultation, I teach and I write. I also publish translated astrology books for Turkish readers.

Would you like to share anything personal?

Being around during this transition period in the world of astrology is very interesting. I really wonder how it is going to develop and turn out — I hope I will be able to witness it.

Why do you love astrology?

It’s the most useful tool and guide for self-actualization.

Christeen Skinner

Frank Clifford

International Delegate

How did you get into astrology?

I was always fascinated by tales of psychic predictions that my mother told me, and after reading Sun Signs, I wanted to be the Aries that Linda Goodman described! I went to see Tad Mann at a full Moon in August 1989 when I was 16 and returned home that afternoon determined to understand all the glyphs and squiggles that were on the chart he gave me. My studies began that afternoon and my teachers were books, biographies and birth charts.

What do you do for NCGR?

I’ve just joined as the UK delegate, but over the years I have spoken at various NCGR chapters in person and online.

What do you do professionally?

My work has always been astrology and palmistry. After beginning my studies in my teens, I began seeing clients at 21, writing and researching my first book in my early 20s, then around my Saturn return at 29, I began lecturing and teaching. I run the London School of Astrology, which, I like to say, is one of my many full-time jobs. My weeks consist of writing, seeing clients and teaching. I’m definitely a hyphenate, not only as an astrologer-palmist, but also as a teacher-consultant-researcher-writer-publisher and probably a few other things, too.

Would you like to share anything personal?

I’m happily married, and I share my time between London and Mexico. I feel very blessed to work in an area that I love and that inspires me.

Why do you love astrology?

It offers a path towards self-understanding and self-acceptance, and towards understanding and accepting others. It’s one of the greatest ways of recognizing why we’ve been born — what we signed up to do — and it’s a remarkable tool for helping us find meaning in all that happens to us and surrounds us.

Why do you love NCGR?

In a world currently divided by reactions to each other’s differentness, a study of astrology reveals how we’re all unique yet interconnected. For many years, NCGR has led the way in helping us learn from each other, stay connected and celebrate our differentness.