Astrologers in California — Verified Directory

Richard Tarnas completed Cosmos and Psyche while teaching at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco, and that institution remains one of the clearest markers of why California sits at the center of academically serious, psychologically oriented astrology in the United States. The depth psychology tradition—rooting astrological interpretation in Jungian and archetypal frameworks—has concentrated here more than anywhere else in the country, producing researchers and practitioners with graduate credentials alongside their astrological training. That lineage is visible across the 25 astrologers listed in this directory, several of whom hold doctorates or advanced degrees in psychology, theology, or the social sciences.

Searching for an astrologer in California, you are likely to encounter practitioners credentialed through ISAR (International Society for Astrological Research), which has historically maintained strong ties to the state, as well as licensed mental health professionals—MFTs, MSWs, and counselors—who integrate astrological work into therapeutic practice. Natal and psychological consultation is the dominant mode here, though you will also find practitioners versed in Hellenistic, evolutionary, and mundane traditions. The range means it is worth reading individual profiles carefully: a licensed therapist using astrology within a clinical frame operates quite differently from a traditional or predictive practitioner, even if both are based in Los Angeles or the Bay Area. Filtering by credential type and stated approach will save you time.

Notable Astrologers in California

These practitioners have the strongest reputations and longest track records in California. All take new clients as of mid-2026, though some have waitlists.

Tara Aal, ISAR CAP (Los Angeles) — Evolutionary, IFS-informed, embodied / experiential. Tara Aal began her astrology practice in 2011 and currently serves as Vice President of the International Society for Astrological Research and as Ethics Chair for CAPISAR — where she helped oversee the most recent revision of ISAR's Ethical Standards and Guidelines.

Magali Morales, MSW (Santa Cruz) — Evolutionary with shamanic and spiritual counseling integration. Magali Morales is a Mexican-Guatemalan evolutionary astrologer, licensed social worker, and shamanic practitioner serving as Vice President of OPA and as the organization's Ethics and International Satellites lead.

Becca Tarnas, PhD (San Francisco Bay Area) — Archetypal cosmology. Becca Tarnas is Assistant Professor in the Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness program at the California Institute of Integral Studies.

Patricia Bechdolt, ThD (Los Angeles) — Forrest evolutionary. Patricia Bechdolt holds a Doctor of Theology degree and is a master-level graduate of the Steven Forrest Apprenticeship Program.

Cathy Coleman, PhD (Sonoma) — East-West psychological astrology with locational specialism. Cathy Coleman holds a PhD in East-West Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies and has been a practicing astrologer for more than thirty-five years.

Full California Directory

All 25 practitioners, organized by region where applicable. Click any name to view the full profile, credentials, tradition, and contact options.

Bay Area

• Richard Tarnas, PhD — Archetypal cosmology (San Francisco Bay Area)
• Becca Tarnas, PhD — Archetypal cosmology (San Francisco Bay Area)
• Jessica Lanyadoo — Humanistic with medical astrology focus (San Francisco)
• Cathy Coleman, PhD — East-West psychological astrology with locational specialism (Sonoma)
• Rhetta Rowland, MBA — Forrest evolutionary with executive coaching integration (Sausalito)
• Hamida Judith Dides, MA — Forrest evolutionary with herbalism and flower essences (Santa Rosa)
• Kelli Fox — Western tropical (San Francisco)
• Victoria Stephens — Western tropical (San Francisco)
• Walter Cambra — Western tropical (Hayward)

Central Coast & Inland California

• Dr. Catie Cadge — Choice-centered evolutionary (Santa Cruz)
• Magali Morales, MSW — Evolutionary with shamanic and spiritual counseling integration (Santa Cruz)
• Kay Manley — Western tropical (Paradise)

Los Angeles & Southern California

• Steven Forrest — Choice-centered evolutionary astrology (Borrego Springs)
• Austin Coppock — Hellenistic, Vedic, and traditional astrological magic (Los Angeles)
• Diana Rose Harper — Hellenistic / relational (Los Angeles)
• Joey Paynter, PhD — Depth-psychological evolutionary (Laguna Niguel)
• Tara Aal, ISAR CAP — Evolutionary, IFS-informed, embodied / experiential (Los Angeles)
• Lori Barnes, LMFT — Business astrology with psychotherapy integration (Los Angeles)
• Patricia Bechdolt, ThD — Forrest evolutionary (Los Angeles)
• Angel Dawn — Western tropical (Los Angeles)
• Russell Rowe — Western tropical (Spring Valley)
• Gregg Castellucci — Western tropical (Port Hueneme)
• David Railey — Western tropical (ISAR CAP) (Santa Ana)
• James Schultz — Western tropical (ISAR CAP) (San Fernando)
• Simon Basner — Western tropical (ISAR CAP) (Morro Bay)

What to Look For When Choosing a California Astrologer

Three things to weigh before booking:

1. Lineage match. Different traditions answer different questions. Evolutionary practitioners suit questions about purpose, karma, and soul-level direction. Hellenistic and traditional astrologers are stronger on concrete timing — when will this happen, what does this transit mean. Depth-psychological practitioners suit clients processing therapy-adjacent material.

2. Credentials, weighted by experience. ISAR CAP, FCEA, FAS, and NCGR certifications are meaningful signals of training. But many of the most experienced practitioners pre-date or sit outside the modern certification systems. Years of practice and a coherent body of public work — books, podcasts, teaching — carry comparable weight.

3. Format fit. Some astrologers work primarily by recorded reading; others over Zoom; a few still in person. Confirm format, length, and lead time before booking.

How to Book a Reading in California

Pricing across the directory typically ranges from around $150 for newer practitioners to $500+ for the most established names. A standard hour-long natal chart reading from a mid-career astrologer runs roughly $200–$300.

Every practitioner in this directory is reachable through their OAP profile page. We don't take referral fees, we don't link to per-minute psychic platforms, and we don't recommend the marketplace apps. If budget is a constraint, the Full Portrait Bundle — long-form written readings drawn from your specific chart — costs significantly less than a live session and covers most of the same ground.

FAQ

Are all 25 of these astrologers actively taking clients?

Most are. A few primarily teach and write at this point and take limited individual work. Each profile page notes current availability where we have it.

How is this list curated?

We source from credentialing bodies (ISAR, AFA, FAS, Kepler, NCGR), serious lineage schools (Forrest Center for Evolutionary Astrology, archetypal cosmology programs), and verified independent practitioners. No paid placements. No marketplace listings.

Can I filter by specialty?

Yes. The main astrologers directory filters all 410 listings by tradition, specialty, language, and price range. Sub-directories cover evolutionary, Hellenistic, Vedic, and medical astrology.

Who are the most recognized astrologers on this list?

The three with the broadest public reputations are Tara Aal, ISAR CAP, Magali Morales, MSW, Becca Tarnas, PhD. Each has substantial published work and an established teaching record.

This directory is curated and updated quarterly. See all 410 astrologers across every region or browse by tradition.