Gail Gardner is ASSA's Deputy Chairperson. In this portfolio she handles all communication and subscriptions to the society.

From 2005 till May 2009, Gail held the position of Treasurer. She has an accounting background, and presently supervises the accounts section of a Picture Framing Company.

Her most enlightening and enjoyable accomplishments include her two year Astrology Diploma with Cynthia Thorburn, which she passed with distinction, her Horary Diploma, additional courses in Numerology, Sacred Contract Archetypes, Lifeline, Tarot, Runes, and Metaphysics. She finds that these studies all support her Astrological Counselling.

My first serious introduction to Astrology was via a book by L. Birbeck, who provided shortened ephemerides for the planets. As a mother of four and grandmother to 6 children and one of 5 children, I had a fair number of personalities who were well known to me to gauge the effects of various planetary positions in the charts of individuals and was impressed by the accuracy of the interpretations.

That was around, but probably more than, 15 years ago and I have been hooked ever since. The telephone number of Cynthia – then chairperson of ASSA – was provided in the book. I called Cynthia and arranged to study her course with Carol Cardosa. I have also attended courses with the late Andrew Patterson and Lesley Athol Brown who provided valuable information and techniques in self knowledge and person-centered astrology, and have a diploma in horary Astrology.

The study of Astrology has enabled me to live life with awareness, purpose and humility by understanding and being able to correct aspects of myself that were counter-productive to my best interests.

My day job is in the accounting and auditing field and provides the variety that I need in life.

Cindy Lubner is presently events coordinator of ASSA. She is a proud mother of 2 and qualified and received her diploma in astrology from the Cynthia Thorburn School of Astrology. She acknowledges astrology to be sacred and believes that the consciousness and evolution of life’s journey may be revealed in the astrological chart. She regularly attends conferences here in South Africa and overseas, and continues to study from various sources. Her aim is to take astrology into the schooling system, educating children in understanding the gift of this divine science and enlightening their sacred journeys’. She accepts that both Medieval and Modern astrology are plausible and both have a place in delineating the astrological chart.

Her dream is that in time astrology will be given the credit and respect it so rightly deserves in the world today.

Isabella started her journey with Astrology and Tarot in primary school when she read Linda Goodman’s Sun Signs. She taught herself Tarot at about 22 years old. In 2002 she studied under the mentorship of Cynthia Thorburn, and graduated from Cynthia’s 2003 class with distinction. She has since edited ASPECTS magazine, attended as many courses as possible, taught extra lessons, and run her own practice on and off. She is also a qualified in Reiki II and Hot Stone Massage. She is interested in the magic spark that makes each person unique and incorporates a lot of Psychology into her work. She believes that personal destiny is reached through practicing freewill to overcome karmic influences. She will be launching her own full-time Astrology & Tarot practice in September 2009.

She lives in Alberton with her wonderful husband, Lood, and her beautiful kids Ruby (almost 3 years) and Luan (6 months).Her gorgeous step-daughter, Lushay (13), visits them often. Her parents, Jurie and Merle, her granny, Isabella, and Cynthia have been the biggest influences and inspiration in her life.

In her spare time she reads and reads, spends time with her family, and sketches. She is determined that 2009/2010 will be the best year of her life!

Hilary is an Industrial Psychologist specializing in academic staff development, coaching and career mentoring and has a PhD from the University of the Witwatersrand. She has been studying astrology with Cynthia Thorburn since 2006 and is especially interested in establishing a rigorous research community for astrologers in South Africa.

Cynthia Thorburn is one of South Africa’s leading astrologers and teachers. She has been practising astrology for over twenty years, holds a Diploma (with distinction) with the Mayo School of Astrology and won the Roy Allin Award for the best paper world-wide.

She has attended the London Faculty's Oxford Summer School and has been published in their prestigious Astrology journal.

Cynthia is a founding member of ASSA and served as Chairperson for four years. She is now a director and honorary life member. She has had numerous articles published in ASSA’s magazine Aspects.