'My interest lies in the present, because I shall be spending the rest of my life there.'
Contact Byron at: starr@idirect.com
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Some background... Byron Barwick, Astrologer
Relocating back to Toronto from Montreal and Lower Canada College, an Ad Design course at the Ontario College of Art in the early 60's landed me in a number of design studios. At the same time, work as a musician (while very much engrossed in the study of metaphysics), included collaboration with various talents such as Jon Finley (later of 'Rhinocerous'); bassist Nick St. Nicholas (later of 'Steppenwolf') with Rick James; Shawn and Jay Jackson; Jackie Shane; the Counts Five; The Countdowns; and Blood Sweat and Tears' David Clayton Thomas, amongst many other prominent Toronto R&B musicians. Circa '64. Toronto. 2nd year Ontario College of Art; working weekends as a musician around town, often in Yorkville, when one day, I chanced upon a particular paperback, called 'Astrology, the 'Space-age Science'. Somehow the timing and synchronicity of that moment captured my attention significantly enough to set the stage for a lifelong love affair to be firmly carved on stone a few years later. Fed up with the punch clock mentality back then in my graphic art job days, an invite for the drummer's chair from Crowbar leader Kelly Jay was timely and gladly accepted. (I was never late for a job again, since gigs didn't start 'til 9pm!) Following extensive roadwork through '68, an inevitable maturing of 'soul-stirrings' was hungrily gnawing from deep within, begging for a new perspective and realization. 1969. Vancouver. Living on a houseboat, fueled by a stack of metaphysics and astrology books, very much into raja yoga and other catalysts, when a powerful transcendental experience transpired during a meditation early one morning. (Blew me away -- never been the same since.) And so the message, my message? A no-brainer, really: We are each of us uniquely different, yet the same, with a specific role to play, and with free will to choose how we will go about manifesting our 'reality.' Seems astrology was to be my medium for sharing specifics about our individual 'missions' here. Back in Toronto, gigs with rhythm-section members from Buffalo Springfield, Gordon Lightfoot, and the Platters followed, yet even offers from Carol Pope, Downchild Blues Band, and the legendary U.S.-based James Cotton Blues Band were passed up, as another destiny was calling: increasing attention & familiarity with the Wisdom of the Ancients, an ever-growing wave of progressive thinkers/psychologists and of course extensive, significant people interaction fast became the foundation for a beginning astrological practice in the mid-70s. Music, graphic art, voiceover/extra work & a stint later on as a video production company through the late 80s further colored experience. In the Media: Conferences, Radio, TV, ArticlesGroup activities within the world of astrology began in the early '70s doing conference lectures. The '80s saw the first 'psychic expos', hosting all manner of tarot/card readers, palmists, body workers, a handful of astrologers and various other types of 'diviners' much as can be found today in thousands of such events worldwide. Many articles, magazine contributions, invitations for out-of town astrology group talks, frequent TV and Radio appearances, voiceovers, a commercial, and a few minor film parts followed. Favorite discussion topics as guest lecturer for local astrology groups peppering the past 2 decades include: Relationships: their subtleties, challenges and dynamics; Relating with the client; Expertise any consulting astrologer should have. Various appearances have included:
A book for every driver!Shortly before the turn of the millenium, the urge to compile material for a book (on a subject quite removed from the above) was born. As a conscientious driver, ever a witness to so much stupidity, inconsideration, unnecessary 'accidents,' scams/rip-offs and thefts out there, I felt the urge to get out something to up the ante on everyday streetsmarts so lacking amongst too many drivers everywhere. 'Every Driver's Bible -- Your 'Guru in a Glovebox' will hopefully soon be in print. This you will enjoy! |