“I have dyslexia and when I was at school, my teachers told me that I was stupid, that I’d never be good at anything.
I was put in a special class and ostracised by the other kids. As the eldest in my stepmother’s extended Polynesian family, I always looked after the younger kids, so I naturally gravitated to a life of service.
I moved from Wellington to Sydney when I was 20. It was supposed to be for a short time but I ended up staying for 33 years! I got accepted into nursing at St Vincent’s Hospital, which worked well for me because nursing is a practical, hands-on career. I created my own system for learning the theory and have spent most of my life helping to heal others.
I’ve always been interested in astrology and after doing a short course, I was hooked. I followed that up with courses in colour therapy, aromatherapy and energy healing.
On one of my many visits to India, a friend asked me to support her to be drug-free and I was amazed at how effective the ancient Indian system of Ayurveda was. By eating the right food and herbs, having oil massages and various heat therapies, the toxins were flushed out of her body.
Your horoscope can tell you so much about your energy flows, physical constitution, relationships, finances, where to live and even the career best suited for you.
As a registered nurse, medical astrology was a natural progression for me because it combines my knowledge of the body with clients’ astrological energy. It enables me to help people understand major psychological and medical dimensions which contribute to stress and disease.
For example, people come to me wanting to know the best time to have elective surgery or the right time to get pregnant.
I can also look at their chart and see if they have the potential for illness which helps them take preventative measures. I recently worked with someone who had the potential for problems with their liver.
I advised them to do a liver detox, take herbal treatments, change their diet and reduce their drinking to avoid possible liver injury.
I never tell anyone what to do. I simply give them the information they need to make the best decision for their own situation. My work is all about helping people take control of their physical and spiritual body, to help people live their passion and understand their truth.
I moved back to New Zealand three years ago to be closer to my father, who is ill. My partner Andre moved over with me and we stayed with family in Napier for a year. We fell in love with the city and decided to establish our lives here.
I have clients all over the world who I work with by Skype, phone or email. Clients also visit me here for face-to-face consultations.
Christina and her partner Andre moved to Napier, where she has many clients visit.
For years, I juggled nursing contracts with astrology work but have recently taken a sabbatical from nursing to devote all my energy to astrology and finishing my first book, which has taken six years to write.
The book is about the many dimensions of health, from how to work out your astrological health, to spiritual health and even some Ayurvedic recipes. I also talk a little about my personal health journey. I’ve got a publisher lined up and am very excited about getting it out there.
People often ask if I’m against Western medicine, but I believe there’s a place for conventional and alternative therapies. I’m a strong believer in conventional medicine when it comes to trauma and necessary surgery.
My approach is it’s important to choose how you maintain your health, whether via orthodox or alternative methods.
I always remember Oprah Winfrey saying to spend your life doing what you love, otherwise there’s no point. Astrology is my bliss and I’m so lucky I get to live in that bliss.”
Quick fire
Three words that best describe me are… Passionate, inspiring and spiritual.
In my spare time, I like to… Connect with like-minded people, discuss ideas and problem solve. I also love reading psychological mysteries and spending quality time with my partner.
My dream is… To establish a healing centre for patients to build their immunity before and after surgery, as well as for others to come and de-stress.
As told to Sharon Stephenson
