Astrologer 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."

"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..."

"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.

"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

Greetings to you who remember Robert Ball. My name is dORY, a former student of Robert Ball, and his metaphysical research school in coral gables.

I lived in miami from 1968 - 1973 while i was supposed to be going to college I went to Mr. Ball's classes faithfully. I was 18 and up to by fake eyelashes with hormones, but i rarely missed my astrology class to mr. ball and his assistant who I knew as Nancy Auburn. Nancy took me on and I studied with her in addition to classes with robert. I have never given up my love of the tool of astrology, a deep part of my life still. i remember talking about the aspects associated with this historical moment. I can never separate the gnosis of astrologos from my day and understanding of the universe and mind.

Actually, i met robert ball at the big auditorium there in coconut grove right by the water. I had found the little dell booklets you buy for .25 at the grocery store and read every side. I was hungry for more and didn't know where to look. this was 1969. I was at the only flea market I ever went to in florida, and, honest, I walked up to this old man ( I was 18) and asked him if he had any astrology books, he said as a matter of fact he did. he gave me a complete beginner set of book of rosicrucian origins. and told me his name was robert ball and he was starting a metaphysical research center and I should come. that day I walked up to only one vendor, and only asked one question at the one flea market I went to in all of that time in my life. you can not ignore that.. I didn't. while I lived in phila. I conducted a radio program through university of pa. also taught, and wrote for the then underground paper. I live on a farm and am off the grid, milk a cow and raise my own food with family and friends. we protect the land and seek further union with the plant consciousness, the local source of universal mind. I am now 60. I do see that time as the beginning of the connection with my knowing of syncronicity and seeking of guidance by that phenomena.

I am looking to reconnect with the person I remember as nancy auburn who was very close to and prime assistant to robert in the early 70s. As I say she taught me, she was then into the golden dawn and much I now understand more about. She moved to phila and also had a radio program, she changed her last name. The last I heard from her was in the later 1970s when she got in touch w/me in phila. I would love to find her current name or a way to locate her. she would like it if I found her I think..

If you have any info, that would be great. I remember her husband was a keyboard player for a rock band based in miami at the time, maybe grand funk railroad, she divorced him and moved, for a time to pa. I'll bet she is in her 70s now.

Nice to read about robert ball, a seed being in my life.
Regards
dORY brown,, in 1969 it would have been Dory Razzano....

I had the most wonderful honor of studying with a master astrologer and metaphysician. His name was Robert H. Ball. He originated the Astrological & Metaphysical Research Center in 1970 which I have the great privilege of continuing to this day. He was already 62 when I first met him in 1973 and I continued to study with him until he passed away in January 1988.

In all that time of course, I have many memories of this amazing man. He was in so many ways like a father to me, giving me guidance and counsel when it was needed, and asked for…and at times even when it was unasked for, but badly needed by a young man who was bewildered by the complications of modern living in a large metropolitan American city. Many times through those years a verse from the Bhagavad-gita would come to mind when I thought about him. "Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth." - (Bhagavad-gita 4:34). Occasionally people would ask him if he was what is called in India a "Guru". He would always decline and simply say that he was only a teacher, not a Guru. I now know that he was correct, he wasn't a Guru. However one of the marks of a great soul (Mahatma) is humility and this he had in abundance, particularly as he was a strong Leo.

I will never forget a particular incident when he actually taught me how to go about reading an astrological chart within a few precious moments. I had already been studying astrology with him for a few years and had not yet begun to render professional services to clients for a fee. I was still very much overwhelmed by the complexities of the natal chart. Of course the old master could easily illicit some fragmented statements out of the mouths of us beginning students, but at that time the perspective of the whole was still beyond the grasp of this eager young mind. And then, in a moment he opened my eyes with the torchlight of knowledge.

It was a Thursday evening, as I recall. Thursday's was reserved for "Advanced Astrology". He would put either one or two charts up on the chalkboard, depending on time, and would then lead us through the process of interpretation by asking us questions and offering his thoughts when we were plainly stumped. In this way, using mostly what is called, the 'Socratic Method' he taught us to put the pieces together and begin to glimpse the whole.

This particular evening in the midst of working our way through a chart, the 'old man' asked me to "read the health of this person from the chart." I stared at the chart and found myself speechless. Finally I said, "Robert, I have no idea where to begin!" I already had an active interest in the alternative health field and had been studying a fascinating subject known as 'Iridology'…the study of the iris of the eye and diagnosing the health of a person from the markings and colorations in the iris. Robert was well aware of this interest of mine due to the fact that I had heard of it right there in his studio sometime before.

Robert, in his ever-friendly and easy going manner said, "Jeffrey, I'm surprised at you. OK, follow me now as I walk you through it and you'll understand." With that he pointed to the ascendant of the chart and asked me to identify the sign, which I did. He then asked me whether or not the ascendant had anything to do with the health. I answered to the effect that it did rule the physical body and the constitution. To this he asked me what area of the body the rising sign identified. I answered, already having a slight knowledge of the general areas of the body the zodiac signs ruled. He smiled and acknowledged my reply. He then asked me where the planetary ruler of this sign was in the chart. I answered him again with the sign and house the ascendant ruler was located in. He again asked, "So what area of the body does this sign rule?" I answered, to which he once again smiled and said, "Quite correct!" Then once again he asked, "So where is the ruler of this sign located?" Once again I replied and the process continued.

A smile began to come over my face. I was just beginning to understand what any student of astrology should recognize as simply following the 'dispositor pathways'…or the sign rulership through the chart, wherever they led.

Robert then asked me, "What House in astrology rules the health?" I immediately answered, "The 6th House, of course." He said, "OK, correct. So what is the sign on the 6th House of this chart?"…and the process continued as before until I had completed the analysis of the 'health factors' in the chart. At the end of this lesson he looked at me closely, smiling broadly and asked, "Got it?" Smiling back at my dear Teacher, I nodded and said that I did. A master makes it so easy.

Not only had I learned that evening how to begin to read the health of a person from their natal chart, I had also learned how to approach the entire chart and weave my way through all of the complexities with ease…simply by following the planetary rulers. This method I now teach to my own students when it comes time to begin approaching the subject of natal chart interpretation.

What follows are the lyrics of an old song. The words always remind me of Robert and what he did for me, and they frequently bring tears to my eyes when I read them. Perhaps they will do so for you in thinking about who taught you this wonderful art/science…especially if you also had the opportunity of studying with a Master.