Introducing Tosca
As the daughter of prominent Dutch astrologer, Betty Dekkers, I found myself immersed in this magical world from a very early age; everything revolved around the stars and planets and their influences on the lives of family, friends and the many who would later become fascinated by my mother’s incredibly accurate chart analyses.
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Starting my adult life, learning French in Grenoble then European Studies in Amsterdam in the early eighties, I lived and worked in several different countries and, through this, slowly uncovered my own life journey and gained an understanding of my potentials. Working later in Brussels as consultant for the European Commission was quite a change and then, after 4 years of doing this I finally found myself working in the very corporate world of clinical research and this was to continue for almost 30 years.
Living and growing
with astrology
In all of this my mother’s influence stayed and remained very much with me; it created an interest that I would carry inside me for life. As my chief teacher and greatest influence, she increasingly imparted her deep knowledge and awareness of astrology during my formative and also later years. This has now settled perfectly within me and has supported my own individual learning along the road to becoming a professional astrologer.
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Moving to live in the south of England in the late nineties, I studied Astrology at The CPA (Centre for Psychological Astrology) in London under one of the world’s leading astrologers, Liz Greene who gave me a personal commendation on presenting my diploma in 2011.
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This three years of intensive study was invaluable and enabled me to put together the many pieces of the astrological jigsaw, in my own way, and to form my own personal alliance with the influences of the stars and the planets on the human psyche and, indeed, the earth.
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This was to be the underpinning of my life-long journey under the stars; yours could well be about to begin if you are one who seeks a new clarity and direction in your life. My own journey of personal and professional success in the world has indeed been guided by the stars, my mission now is to share this invaluable guidance with others.
My commitment
It is hard to believe that I have spent the past 30 years working within the confines of a purely scientific environment, in clinical research, whilst simultaneously offering consultations in astrology! The two may appear to be polar opposites but I have managed to apply myself in equal measure and passion to both. Science may not (as yet) have found a way to prove or validate astrology but one must take into account that astrology and astronomy were once considered one and the same.. interesting!
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So, turning 60 this year, I have finally decided to follow my heart, to let go of the professional, corporate life and set up my very own astrology practice. This now allows me to fully dedicate myself to my favourite subject and offer myself to work alongside those who find themselves drawn to take a new look at themselves via that wonderful symbolic mirror that is astrology.
The Astrology Centre – Petworth, West Sussex
The Ebenezer Chapel nestles within the historic town of Petworth, West Sussex, hidden behind the great wall of Petworth Park and just a stone’s throw from the main entrance to Petworth House. The chapel is home to the Astrology Centre and the place where Tosca welcomes her clients to have their charts interpreted in person.
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The chapel, built in 1887, was once a simple baptist chapel and continued as such until 2006 when it was left in the hands of the Trust and with an uncertain future. In 2008 the place was almost derelict and covered in cobwebs and debris; a rescue mission, sorely needed, was realised by two enterprising local men, one an architect, who took on the task, not only to restore the chapel but to convert it as living accommodation. This was completed in 2010.
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One dull and rainy day in 2012 (auspicious timing!) Tosca, and her husband, Graham, discovered the Ebenezer Chapel: a chance meeting with a vicar, his ex-wife and a little magic found them both entering the main chapel door and exclaiming “this is it, just what we have been looking for.” And so it was, the birth of a new era and the perfect place for them to set up for astrology, meditation and even, occasionally, yoga.
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The chapel is an historic building in a wonderfully historic town and one could not imagine a more appropriate setting for the study of one of the planet’s oldest and most beautiful sciences, a word I use advisedly!
