Quiron—The largest and one of the least known astrology schools in the western world.

Quiron is located in a beautiful and very large town house in the Chiado, the center of the ancient city of Lisbon, Portugal. This home was once the residence of the Counts of Monsaraz but was converted into an astrological school and healing center by Maria Flavia de Monsaraz. Maria Flavia brought the study of modern astrology to Portugal in 1975 after she returned from exile in Paris when Portugal was freed from dictatorship and became a republic. Originally housed in a much more modest dwelling, Quiron outgrew its previous location and moved into its current home in 1997. Quiron offers a seven-year astrological education to around 350 seated students in the Portuguese language.

Each year since 1997, as the seventh-year students graduate, a new group of some 120-150 new students enter the first year's program. I am the director of the sixth year of study, Esoteric Astrology. In addition to its astrological course of study, Quiron offers monthly Full Moon meditations, free weekly talks on a range of metaphysical and astrological topics, and hosts any number of weekend workshops. Its terraced fountain garden overlooks the Tegus River, that vast waterway that empties into the Atlantic. The impact of Quiron on the consciousness of this country is impressive. The Lisbon Planetarium offers the use of its telescope and dome to Quiron so that first year students may see the relationship between astrology and astronomy. Members of the Quiron faculty also make trips to some of Portugal's other cities to spread the "astrological word."

I was honored this year by being appointed ISAR vice-president for Portugal and in May 2008 at the United Astrology Conference in Denver (where I hope to see a lot of you there!), Maria Flavia de Monsarz and a group of us from Quiron will be in attendance.