All you have to do is decide what to do with the time that is given to you.

Gandalf – Lord of the Rings: Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien

Welcome

Welcome to the Home page of Sue Merlyn Farebrother DFAstrolS, MA. If you are looking to buy one of her very popular books on Astrology, please see the Books page for information and links to purchase online.

Sadly, Sue passed away in August of 2022. Her family has chosen to maintain this website for now, as a portal to her work and a memorial to her professional interests. Where possible we have left sections only lightly edited and in her own words.

My specialist subjects are Astrology and Tarot, and I have studied and practised both for over 30 years.

If you want  information about learning astrology, or about learning tarot at a variety of levels, or you want to read one of the two astrology books I have written, starting with Astrology Decoded for beginners, you have found the right website!

I also offer consultations for individuals or couples.

My work with clients or students brings together all my years of experience.  For more information about my background, training and experience, see the About Me page, and to see the types of readings for clients that I offer, see the Consultations page.

I love the wisdom I perceive in the astronomical symbols of astrology and in the images in the tarot deck, which inspire me to continue working with these disciplines. Each new learning expands my existing knowledge. Because these two subjects are represented in symbolic form, both can be endlessly expanded.

Astrology

Astrology is of course as old as the heavens. People have been watching, and perceiving omens in the sky, since there were people naturally doing that.

Over the centuries, patterns of stars formed themselves into constellations in human minds, which gradually took on various meanings; the  other visible planets – as well as the Earth – were identified, and assumed importance for individuals and for countries. The myths and stories about the ancient gods grew from these observations.

A birth chart can be calculated for both the individual, for countries, for organisations – anything really that has a birth time. Extraordinary insights can be gained if the subject is studied.

Today we have evolved a complex system for interpreting the universal patterns that describe the character, potential and struggles of an individual – which is mainly what I do. I explore also with you how things are developing in the near time to come.

Tarot

Some 700 years old, to the best of  our knowledge, the tarot deck began life in Italy as a gambling and gaming set of cards. It took centuries for its use to evolve into a divinatory one, which is mainly how this deck is used today.

The order of the 22 numbered ‘picture’ cards has not changed much over the span of time and even the meaning of each card in its everyday order has changed little since it became a consulting method.

Contrary to popular opinion, the tarot is not used by all practitioners for predicting the future. This is generally not how I operate.  I approach my readings, using the card layouts in various ways to provide you with an overview of a situation, in order  to cast the tarot’s light on any question you may have. You CAN of course use the cards to look ahead, but this is not necessarily their primary use.

  • A recurring question is: are astrology or tarot magical?
    The answer is yes and no. Because understanding how or why they ‘work’ is generally not easily explained, and because many followers don’t know anyway, both subjects fall under the category of ‘magical’. Yet astrology and tarot are not the same as magic.
  • A definition of magic is needed – this will be in Tarot Decoded.