"The stars are distant and unobtrusive, but bright
and enduring as our
fairest and most memorable experiences."
---Henry David Thoreau...
Barbara Krofel passed away on the Winter Solstice
after battling colon cancer for a year and a half. During her illness,
she never complained and was always optimistic and upbeat. The big hole left
by her death, felt by her friends, family and astrological friends and
clients, will never be filled.
Barb started studying astrology in 1976 under
a Uranus transit. She was part of the National Education Conference of NCGR's
that took place at Princeton College in 1978, which
established the first academic curriculum in the United States for studying
astrology, the blueprint of what we in NCGR use today. In 1981 Barbara
began the astrological practice that she maintained through
her illness until the beginning of 2005. Over the years she had advised
thousands of clients in both business and personal matters. Many of her clients
had consulted her for over 20 years. Upon hearing of her death, they
were as bereft as if they had lost a family member or trusted friend.
In 1982 Barb was a founder of the Northern
Ill. Chapter of NCGR and she taught astrology classes at many colleges around
the Chicago area. Her specialty was teaching the math used to construct
a chart and she was well versed in all schools of astrology, from the psychological
to the mundane. Her love and knowledge of astrology was legendary.
She was able to bring the abstract ideas and theories down to earth.
For those of us who knew her, her loud and
raucous laughter (Sagittarian Asc., with Jupiter there), her brilliant mind (Mercury
in Virgo), her kindness to all (Moon in Pisces) and her unswerving
loyalty, dignity and dedication (Sun, Saturn and Pluto in Leo) will
never be forgotten. She made friends wherever she went and was a shining example
of how one person, an astrologer at that, could influence so many lives.
Barbara always said that as an astrologer the one thing she did for people
was give them hope. To quote Helen Keller: "No pessimist ever discovered
the secrets of the
stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened
a new heaven to the human
spirit...."
One of the last things Barbara said to me about
her chart, months before she passed, was that if she made it through December
she would be fine. She left us while under a Uranus transit, a true astrologer,
minutes before the Winter Solstice with the Sun exactly on her ascendant
of 29 degrees of Sagittarius. I'm sure she is fine now.
Rest well in the Summerland, my dear friend.
Janet Berres
Click
here to see Barbara Krofel's chart and bi-wheel
at time of death.
TRIBUTES:
Oh, my....what a shock...! I hadn't had any contact with Barb in many years
after having moved to Arizona, since around 1989 I think; had even lost
track of her phone number! My son is facing some very intense Federal crime
charges (which are erroneous); and though I've become a fairly seasoned astrologer myself, Barb's amazing level of skill was the First I thought to
consult for what the outcome might be, with my nerves on the barbecue over
it... And then I find this...!
*sigh* Indeed this beloved being is
now Just Fine and in a Better Place; but my goodness, I know how deeply she
impacted my own journey with astrology, how shocked I am to hear this...and
can imagine how those who've walked so closely with her these past years
will be feeling...
I met Barb back around 1982 or 1983; she was then
associated with the Tree of Knowledge bookstore in Westchester IL, doing
readings and classes out of there... I'd been studying astrology loosely for
a few years by then, and wanted very much to learn how to calculate a chart;
this was before PCs and astrology software were widespread... But I'd always
known myself to be nearly flat-line when it came to Math (can balance a
checkbook, but that's about it!) so I was very hesitant to attempt it. I
mentioned this to Barb, and she told me I should take her class on chart
calculation; that if she wasn't able to teach me, she'd refund my money! And
of course, she did manage to teach me... ;-D
Then in the years
afterward until I moved away, Barb would offer me consultations at a reduced
rate, as an astrology student, helping me learn more and fine-tune my
understanding... The speed and clarity of her mind always absolutely Amazed
me; I can still see her sitting behind her desk, glasses perched on the end
of her nose, patiently waiting for my brain to catch up with some whizz-bang
progression of astrological logic she'd just offered...
One day
stands out in particular; this story is worthy of mention to illustrate the
precision of her skill... I'd brought a friend with me; he and I were
planning a trip to Sedona shortly, and I wanted to know if the timing was
good. She took one look at his chart, and then asked how his mother's health
was. He replied that it was fine. She mentioned a particular date several
weeks into the future, and said that if for any reason his mother had not
had a checkup in the past month or so, that she needed to see a doctor
*before that date*, in no uncertain terms; that she saw the potential for a
very severe, suddenly-acute health issue to outpicture for her. Joe didn't
feel his mom would take this seriously, so he never mentioned it to her. And
do you know, on that *exact date*, his mother's large intestine literally
*exploded*?!? She had an intestinal blockage that had been asymptomatic
until it suddenly ruptured the whole area; she nearly died...
We tend
to believe all those beings we Love and who have touched our lives so
powerfully will Always Be There, don't we?
Sending Love and Hugs to all
who knew and loved Barb, as I did, and I'll be lighting candles and spinning
prayer wheels on her behalf, that her Journey Onward will be as Bright and
Beautiful as the gift of herself she gave so many... Will also be keeping
her sweet family in my prayers as well...
Love,
Susan Sanford
I was introduced to Barbara Krofel in 1999 by a massage therapist that
I has been seeing. Barbara helped me through a violent divorce. I can
still hear some of her words in the mind. She was one of the most
influential people that I have ever had in my life. I had tried a
number of times to call her not knowing what had happened. I truly
miss Barbara. She very deeply touched me and guided me through the
most difficult time in my life. She was my Guardian Angel. Barbara i
know that you are in heaven; but on earth you are truly missed. I
still feel your spiritual presence.
Marcy Dub
BIRTH AND DEATH DATA:
Born: Aug. 20, 1948, 3:24 PM, Chicago, IL
Passed: Dec. 21,
2005, 10:33 AM, Lake Bluff, IL
Return to the List,
A-K
To the List, L-Z
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? This memorial is interactive, and we welcome
your memories and tributes, which we will add to the page in the order
received. They may be edited for length, grammar, or suitability. If there are any additional
contributions we should mention or any inaccuracies
in the memorial, please bring them to our attention. We would also love
to have photos to bring back vivid memories. (Photos will be scanned and returned.) To suggest names, share memories, create tributes, or volunteer,
send us an e-mail.
CREDITS: Written
by
Janet Berres who also
provided photos. Memorial
created by Liz Houle with graphics from
Word of Mouth Web Design.
