Who is Ray Couture? He's a soulful seeker. He's an astrologer. He's an ex-soldier, a Buddhist and a Native American. He doesn't know his birth time, but Eclipse watching has told him he's a Pisces rising. I first sized up Ray Couture's Empowerment Astrology at a lecture in San Francisco. He had that kind of authoritative command an ex- soldier compels, rugged and soft-spoken, suggesting a new modern breed of cowboy, a spiritual cowboy. My suspicions were confirmed when we made an email appointment to meet in person, he replying "see you at high noon." I admit I've always loved the word empowerment. In spite of the compelling Piscean image I've painted of Ray, it's that one word that drew me in. Webster's dictionary definition of to empower is: to promote the self-actualization or influence of. To me, empowerment is an ability to act on behalf of one's true self, and overcoming

resistance is implied in the process. But empowerment isn't only a spiritual concept, it's a practical one. Finding a job that will pay the rent is as empowering as discovering a new spiritual tool. Both give us an ability to grow upward. We astrologers offer a sort of twofer one, a blend of spiritual and practical advice.
And we also have a special bird's eye view of that delicate in-between moment, that moment when the columns could close in around us or present entirely new possibilities. By illuminating the power of options, of choice, we attempt to guide someone through resistance, to make that leap of a lifetime.