Planets a Clarifying Force for Braintree Astrologer

Robin Curtin married her high school sweetheart, had two daughters and earned a theater degree from Syracuse University before she dove into what became one of her life's great passions.

She had always read horoscopes, and talked about them with her husband's aunt, who is "really into it." But then one day she opened an astrology book and it just sort of clicked.

"When you read about yourself in a book, a lightbulb goes off," Curtin said in a recent interview at on Washington Street in Braintree, where she has recently begun offering readings.

"I felt like it was something I was really supposed to do."

That was back before 2002, when Curtin, a Brockon High graduate who lives in Weymouth, enrolled in the Astrology Institute, taking night classes in Waltham twice a week. After receiving her certification, Curtin began working out of her home. It took her a while to build up confidence, but eventually she learned enough to teach the basics to others and started taking appointments in Braintree and elsewhere.

"I've always liked working with the public," Curtin said. In addition to acting in local plays, she has worked in customer service and spent 10 years as a concierge at .

Curtin practices astrology by way of explanation and insight, rather than prediction. Her sessions include a map of the planets and stars as they appeared when someone was born, provided now by a computer database. Depending on where those celestial bodies were in relation to one another, and how they move going forward in someone's life, that person may be able to take advantage of certain opportunities and avoid common pitfalls.

"Just like you can learn to read Chinese, anyone can learn to read astrology," Curtin said. "It's a language that you learn about yourself.... it's like you're that [birth] moment walking around every day."

Such signs from the sky led Curtin a few years ago to "Roast beef sandwich with horseradish sauce" – in other words, a slot on the gameshow Wheel of Fortune.

It was 2008 and Curtin was feeling sick the day the show had tryouts at Suffolk Downs. And it was raining. But she saw in her astrology chart that the planet Jupiter aligned in a way that told her it was a rare time for success in the portion of her life relating to the public sector. Plus she was really good at Wheel of Fortune. So Curtin went to the tryout and found 1,200 to 1,500 people vying for 40 spots.

Nevertheless, she made it onto the show and ended up winning a bit of extra spending money. "This is how astrology can help you," Curtin said.

"People are so busy every day with relationships, finances, health," she said. "I see it as helping you see who you are, why you do the things you do."