Saturn is in Virgo…
Kadiya wrirtes:
I read your blog regularly and enjoy the insights and info you provide. While I have lots of respect for you, there is a little inconsistency that my 9th house Pluto in Libra needs to point out.
How is it that you can say for us to have compassion for Britney Spears when you yourself don’t have compassion for an individual who wrote you two times for advice in a similar situation. And I remember seeing the emails, the emails that you wrote, that said that other readers wouldn’t be able to relate to her situation….
read the rest of the comment here
Kadiya - It is not humanly possible for me to answer all the questions I get so I choose the questions I feel will benefit the most people and I feel very comfortable with this. And if you take a moment and think about this, I have written over 2500 blogs on this blog alone while asking nothing of anyone. I really don’t think I am such a sorry son-of-a-bitch.
I can tell you for sure I am doing my best all the time. I live every day with the best intentions even when if appears otherwise. If there is a way to do more, I have not yet discovered it but I guarantee you if I can find more to give, I will give it as this is my nature.
I also don’t think I am inconsistent and I did not tell anyone they should have compassion for Britney Spears or anybody else. What I said was that I had compassion for her and I explained why. And I said I did not think you should kick a man when they’re down, and that people who had been down understood this.
I am sorry your friend did not get what she wanted when she came to me but being as I am one human being, I have limitations and I have to work with them. If I were four people, or if I were a staff it would not be this way but fact is I am is a single mother with sick kid (we were in the hospital tonight, as a mater of fact) and it would sure be nice if people could recall this… er, reality.
20 Responses to “Responding to Criticism…”
Much love, Elsa.
Wow. Hang in there Elsa. People did not get something they wanted from you - so they will call you to task as if your time and effort belongs to them not you. It all seems so manipulative to me, and trying to control you and your behavior. Very odd. Something wierd in the air. I feel for someone going through something - but I think these things are best handled in a private session with an astrologer - and there are plenty - rather than the public forum of a blog.
best regards
There is a huge difference between the entire public throwing stones at a celebrity and one person giving another person straight, honest, but possibly painful advice AT THEIR REQUEST. I don’t doubt that if Britney asked Elsa for advice Elsa would give it to her straight.
Showing compassion doesn’t mean telling people what they want to hear or coddling them when they are making bad decisions.
I gotta admit that girls reaction fit perfectly in line to mine. I took Elsa’s rejection of my question, so personally that I over-reacted in a very bad way. I guess the only way I could exonerate myself and MAYBE the other girl is that well heck-being in pain and feeling sorry for your self is a full time job, and you can’t, don’t won’t see people for who they really are. And Elsa’s writing is so lucid and right on, that when you get rejected you freak out even more that
I think having this kind of access to an astrologer and the chance to ask a question that you might even be lucky enough to get a respond to (for free at that!) is a luxury.
You are wonderful Elsa.
Elena, you feel bad and she writes well so you are excused? You sound like a drunk telling a cop he hit his wife because she was blonde and he’d had a few.
shell - thank you. And the fact is, almost everyone gets their question answered if it is even remotely in line with the format of this blog. There is frequently a shortage of questions not an abundance of them, I am just not able to get people to see that I am not a free astrologer. I am writing an ADVICE column.
And I am probably going to quit anyway if things continue in the direction they seem to be going.
Number one, there are now at least 1/2 dozen astrology bloggers writing advice and number 2… I just don’t get the questions it takes to sustain a column.
“Here are 3 charts, look at them” is not a request for advice. It is a request for a personal reading which is something I charge for. So there you go. I am going to write advice on this blog as long as there are people asking for it. I leave it up to the fates.
Elsa I hope you mean quitting the advice portion, not the blog!
It’s the advice that got me here in the first place and your great, engaging writing about astrology that hooked me. I can’t believe how much I have learned about astrology from this blog!
kashmiri - no I am not quitting the blog. We are expanding it. We are adding a message board and I still plan to do the interactive TV as soon as it’s ready to go.
I am also going to continue writing advice (I like doing it) as long as there is a demand. At this point the demand is low and I will take no heroic measures to create some. The fates, the fates, the fates!
I’ve only been reading this blog for a short while but it is AMAZING! and I am so GRATEFUL for it.Thank you. It is free advice and I feel that means they have no write to complain about your choice to answer something or not. If someone would like a private consultation with you then that is available and is clear from this website. I know not everyone can afford readings but you take a chance at getting a questions answered and accept that with grace. I’m saving for a reading and untill then I will relish each and every piece of writing that Elsa posts. There may be other astrologers writing their own advice columns but they are not Elsa and we are here because we appreiciate Elsa’s perspective. I love the 1 minute astrology videos, had been searching for something like that on the net and have learnt so much from them.
Once Again Thank you
And you are far from invisible to us (if I can speak for others on this site)
Sending Love to you and your girl.
God, it’s that Neptune in Midheaven again…
Kadiya, I certainly agree in people stating their opinions however difficult they may be for others to hear, HOWEVER, if you take such a strong approach, make sure your definition of concepts is correct.
You state “true compassion is doing something for your fellow man”. With a Moon in Pisces I have learned the hard way that this is not true at all. Often detaching and not doing anything is the highest compassion one can show for an other. Having worked with many ill people I can tell you that often in the healing process the patient really needs the space to be allowed to access their own inner wisdom and power, and everyone should move out of their space and allow them to go through such a process.
I can see Elsa does her best in responding to her column. Maybe not receiving an answer for your friend was THE sign that it was not meant to be for her.
Please keep in mind that what Elsa is doing is not easy . . . people who send us questions often neglect to mention important details figuring that you as an astrologer can perform miracles using the birth data only. That she gives great quality FREE feedback consistently is the mark of a great astrologer and student of human nature. Plus she deals with those dratted projections/expectations stemming from her Neptune/Midheaven aspect!!
Hey, Elsa!! You’re doing a fabulous job!! 
I don’t think people keep in mind that you’re doing a job, a service, and it’s for your and your family’s livelihood. It’s easy to just see the part you want, the entertaining blogs, the astrology, the soldier stories and think of you as someone you are not. I know I’ve done it before, way back when I first started reading the other blog. And then I smartened up.
I’ve had questions rejected before but had many more answered, going back more than 5 years now. I think too many people cross the fine line between asking for advice and a free reading, because hell, if you let them, they will. You have to set boundaries! Good for you for sticking to your guns. And thanks for all you do.
Elsa… screw the complainers. you have enough on your plate.
In addition to your family life and dealing with your kids illnesses, etc. you also work.You deserve to ENJOY your work, to have it be a source of sustenance and PLEASURE for you. An outlet, a bright moment of two– or let’s say HOURS of moments.. when you get to escape the mundane, the responsibilities, the day to day shit. When you get to share your skill and expertise.. How dare a reader chastise you for not giving enough!!!!!!!!!
Elsa, You are a bright light in the astrological community and we should all be grateful for the advice and repartee you provide.
For everyone wanting FREE READINGS: GO to the grocery store tonight and kindly ask them for a bag or two of free groceries and see how far you get..Better yet, after you INSULT THEM ask for some free stuff.. geezus. I can’t believe some of what I hear in the blog world.
>>Better yet, after you INSULT THEM ask for some free stuff.. geezus. >>
Thank you, Madeline. This is what I meant by asking shouldn’t you cross the bridge before you burn it? http://www.elsaelsa.com/archives/2007/10/16/words-of-wisdom-%E2%80%93-all-saturn-types-please-weigh-in/
I don’t understand this. That and, “you suck, you suck, you suck and okay, I guess you don’t suck but oh yeah, you sure do suck.”
It’s like beating up a hologram or your own reflection. It is like some freaky cartoon. Just because you put my name on it does not mean it is me!!!
Reminds me of the time last year when someone wrote to complain that I wasn’t posting enough on my blog. As I explained in my response, I was working 55 hours a week with a three-hour commute and still using my extremely limited free time to post a couple of articles a month.
People get used to free stuff on the Internet, and they don’t realize how much time and energy it takes for someone like you to provide not just FREE content, but QUALITY free content.
As for expecting free readings, we face this all the time. A variation on that theme is what we charge for our services. Although many of us are self-taught, we spend longer than doctors and lawyers studying in order to do consultations, and we continue to study for the rest of our lives. I hope that as more people get astrology readings, it will become apparent that $150 or $200 is a drop in the bucket considering how it helps to get one’s life in order.
The thing is, even though we know that it’s their problem when people complain like this, it still stings when we work so hard and put ourselves out there. Obviously, you’ve got a lot more fans than detractors, so hopefully that helps.
Elsa, I just wanted to say thanks for the advice youve given me before (You’ve answered two of my questions, and your answers were really helpful! I’ve never actually said thanks before).
And about your shortage of questions — assuming that people out there think the way that I do, I think part of the problm is that we feel we might be bothering you if we just keep sending you questions! But now I know that you really wouldnt mind more, I’ll feel free to send more. And you- PLEASE feel free to not answer them, if you dont want to. Its YOUR OWN damn website!
Love and Blessings to you, and hope your daughter feels better soon 
i had to just skip that one.
there’s too much to get worked up over as is.
i learn from most of the questions you answer, even when they’re not mine. i’ll keep trying to send them in (i’ve been getting a lot of server errors lately) but i just don’t see why people can’t read the very polite little “that’s a matter for a consultation” notice you send. it’s pretty clear and respectful.
*shrug*
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Son of a gun!
I guess that’s the burden of being such a wise-woman. I never realised there was a ’shadow’ side to your popularity.
You take care of you and your little girl. I’ll say prayers for you all.
Blessings and a hug,
Carrie