Robert Ball
(1911-1988)
Jeffrey Brock remembers his teacher, Robert Ball:
"I met Robert Ball in 1973 in Coral Gables. From the very first meeting, I knew I'd met an amazing man. He was 62 when I met him, and he'd already been an astrologer for over 30 years! He was a man of great wisdom, gentle kindness, and penetrating insight.
"He actually got started in astrology as a result of his wife, Marianne. He told me that she used to like to go to lectures at the Theosophical Society and she'd drag him along to take notes for her. She had severe rheumatoid arthritis. He went with her one Sunday for the lecture and it was an astrologer speaking.
"Robert became very interested, and the man actually taught the mathematics, which Robert faithfully made notes on. He went home and did as many chart calculations as he could before the following Sunday when the astrologer was expected to return. Robert asked the person to check his math to be sure he'd gotten it all correct. He had. That was that! An astrologer was born.
"His studio in Coral Gables was known as The Astrological & Metaphysical Research Center, which he started in 1970 and which I have the great honor of continuing to this day here in Miami. During the years I attended his classes, his typical class schedule was; Basic Astrology on Monday nights, Open Philosophy discussions on Wednesday nights, Advanced Astrology on Thursday nights and Tarot on Friday evenings. I love him so much. He was like a father to me in so many ways.
"I studied metaphysics and astrology with him from 1973 until the day he passed in 1988. He died of pneumonia very peacefully with me and a few other beloved students at his side."
BIRTH AND DEATH DATA: Jeffrey Brock says, "Robert was born in Syracuse, NY, on August 6, 1911, and died in Coral Gables, FL, on January 20, 1988. Ironically, for someone who practiced astrology for decades, Robert Ball was adopted. Birth time is unavailable from any original source. He suspected a Gemini ascendant with Taurus intercepted in the 12th house.
"Robert would go back to Syracuse, NY during the summer some years with his wife, Marianne. He actually did some deliberate searching for birth information on himself. He even hired lawyers to attempt to get records unsealed, etc. No luck on any way he turned. It always bothered him."
Tributes to Robert Ball: "In the late summer of 1984 Jeffrey Brock recommended I seek out his mentor, Robert Ball for a consultation. I climbed the stairs to a downtown Coral Gables studio and was greeted by a wizened, little man who quickly entranced me with a long and detailed reading in which he delved into arcane renderings, and touched on such estoteria as the twelve tissue salts and their correlation to my personal horoscope. I knew at once I was not in the company of an ordinary astrologer.
I could have lingered in his tiny apartment, and continued to drink from his fountain of knowledge, but he was extremely frail and the hour was geting late. I determined to leave but posed one final question. My wife and I, who experienced constant difficulties in a long and troubled marriage were both Libra, born on the same degree and I wished for Mr Ball to briefly compare the charts and elucidate our situation. The old master thumbed through a well-worn and aged ephemeris, stroked his chin with a boney hand and simply said, "Ah, two peas in a pod, from different plants," and with that he summed up two intertwined, but disparate lifetimes..." Robert Scofield
"Robert Ball, whom I met in 1978, floored me with his depth and wisdom from our very first meeting at an Astrology class that Jeffery Brock took me to. With in the first paragraph he looked me in the eye and told me what I least wanted to hear and most needed to know. It was always a magical experience at Robert's he could see behind the veils that most of us forget that we carry. Thanks for honoring him. One of the Greats..."
Grant Freeman, Crestone, CO
"I just wanted to add something to the tribute to Robert Ball, who was my first astrology teacher.
"I remember how we used to go and visit Robert Ball, back when I was still a teenager. Jeff Brock and several of our more philosophical friends would get together on those delightful Wednesday nights, when Ball would moderate his weekly philosophical discussions. He always solicited imput from everyone, and he made sure that everybody got something out of the meeting. After the discussions, he would demonstrate some psychic skills with the group, like past life regressions, aura readings, or psychometry - always teaching and sharing his vast knowledge. I learned so much from him!
"For my 19th birthday, my mother hired him to read my chart. I remember when I walked in, the first thing he said was "I think you were born a little earlier than this birthtime." Several years later, we found a hospital birth record and discovered that he was right. I was born two hours earlier than the time we had given him.
"He also said something else during that reading that changed my life forever. He told me that he was about to start another beginning astrology class and he insisted that I come. He told me that he didn't want me to pay any tuition, and he gave me the ephemeris and table of houses that he sold to the other students for free. He really wanted to teach me astrology. How could I refuse?
"In the first class, he taught us the math. For the next fifteen years, I did charts by hand using the method he taught me that night. I certainly don't miss it now, but I'll always be grateful for that skill. His class started me on an astrological journey that has taken me all around the world -- indeed, all around the universe! I will never forget what he did for me.
"I was taking psychology in college at the time and I mentioned to my psych professor that I had started studying astrology. Half-joking, he asked me to cast his chart and report back to him. Anxious to make a good impression, I asked Ball for some pointers on the chart. Ball had a quick and unique "eye-ball" method for progressions, not unlike primary directions, and he helped me to make a list of important events and dates.
"I read my professor's chart for him during a break in our next psych class and when I got to the dates and important events, he just about jumped out of his skin! When we went back to class, he announced, to the entire class, that I had just really impressed him with the validity of astrology. It was obvious that he was a bit shaken up. I was so grateful to Robert Ball for his help with my first reading!
"I know we used to bother that poor man with our endless questions and vain, metaphysical, pipe-dreams, for we were all just a bunch of student/hippies and looked to him for all the answers. He was very patient, and very tough when necessary. Most of all, he was a good Leo. He loved everyone, gave graciously and had a genuine dignity about him. I will always consider myself so fortunate for being there at all those magical evenings in Coral Gables at the Astrological and Metaphysical Research Center with Robert Ball." ....Courtney Roberts Conrad
I had heard lots of amazing things about Robert Ball for many years before I actually went to one of his Wednesday night classes in Coral Gables, Florida. The year was 1976 and my life was rocking and rolling along with the decade and to put it blunt(as Robert would say)I didn't know which end was up. The very first instant I walked into that room Robert said something to me which was so right on the money I nearly passed out!
For many years I attended Robert's classes...astrology, Tarot and Wednesday evenings "Anything Metaphysical Goes!". He never charged for his classes and would only with great reluctance accept donations. He was always there to help anyone who requested it....and I remember sometimes I needed his help and I would be hundreds of miles away from South Florida....but Robert always heard me "through the ethers" and whatever I needed would manifest.....he truly was the most extraordinary person I have ever known. Today I am a professional astrologer and before every reading I do I say a silent prayer to Robert to watch over me and my client. And, I know he is there.
Christine Schub Clare, Amelia Island, Florida
"I happened to stumble across your tribute to Robert Ball. Many years ago when I was studying astrology, I would call Mr. Ball with questions. Since all my knowledge was obtained by reading books, my conversations with Mr. Ball were an invaluable source of feedback. I never met Mr. Ball and even though I called him randomly for a number years, he always answered my questions. The topic of a reading or money was never mentioned. He had an ability and knowledge of astrology and how it interacted with human nature and free will that guided me in my search.
"Reading your tribute brought back memories of a man who never failed to answer my questions succinctly and accurately. He came across at times as impatient yet never lost the patience to answer my questions year in and year out. Even though I never met the man, I hope somewhere he understands how much he was appreciated."
Gary Pearlman
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CREDITS: The background was designed by Ally's Net. Those photo of Robert Ball as a young man was sent by Christine Schub. The glyphs are from a set by Ancitita. The page design is by Donna Cunningham.
