This is an admin update to let everyone know the changes to how I'll conduct my consultations, some fee revisions, and how I'll be moving forward.

I believe I've reached another milestone that requires me to adjust my fees and make a few essential changes to ensure I can continue operating effectively without compromising the quality of my consultations and analysis.

There's nothing reflective or philosophical here. My blog has ten years' worth of my thoughts and philosophies - please read them at your leisure, especially when you're considering getting a reading from me.

Now, let's get down to business.

Q&As Will Now Be A Paid Segment

Q&A will now be a paid segment and add-on that you must opt for when getting a reading. Whether it's a Single-Chart reading or a Two-Chart Bundle, an additional $200 top-up will apply.

Below summarises the expected costs of the consultations, which are already mentioned in the Consultation Request Form:

• Single Chart Reading - $488 (+$200 for Q&A add-on)
• Two-Chart Bundle - $788 (+$200 for Q&A add-on)

You can opt for the Q&A upfront, or choose the base option first and add the $250 later.

For simplicity, you will receive up to seven formal email replies to your questions, assuming one email exchange per day. Each email allows you to ask up to eight questions regardless of whether you choose the single or two-chart bundle.

I'm charging for the Q&As for a simple reason: It's about managing and influencing behaviour. The Q&A is the most taxing part of the consultation because I have to think of what to say and how to say it while sadly adjusting for the intellectual abilities of some. Again, I need people to take the Q&A seriously and not treat it as verbal diarrhoea or lack self-reflection. Starting to charge a fee for it, hopefully, gets people to take it more seriously. If not, there's no need to opt for the Q&A; you can choose the more economical option or receive a report with commentary.

Now, I know what everyone's thinking. Does this new format benefit only me? The answer is "no." The plus for clients is that if I do choose to take on your Q&A, I am now morally obliged to answer your questions, no matter how stupid they sound. That said, I still reserve the right to refund your Q&A if you're found not to take this segment seriously.

The Report Will Be Even More Thorough; Hellenistic/Western Astrology Will Be Added

I'm not the type to roll out schemes that benefit only me. I'm not that kind of person.

Now that the Q&A segment is chargeable, it's only fair that I make the reports much more comprehensive, given that it is no longer included. The aim is to ensure the Q&A is unnecessary. Your help is needed to ensure your questions are well-phrased and have some context.

As I've always said, the more effort you put into your questions, the better the consultation. If you are devoid of the ability to do some simple self-reflection, not only will the consultation not benefit you, but you don’t need an astrologer to tell you that your life probably sucks and is in shambles for being so insufferably ignorant.

I am starting to charge for Q&As as my last resort to ensure people take the process seriously and avoid undignified questions like "How do I get rich?" or "How do I improve my health?" or "How do I improve my marriage?" First, if you ask me these questions for the sake of it, I will still charge you for my time and thank you for making the consultation easy for me. Secondly, there are better ways to phrase such questions.

Also, certain questions need not be asked. Common sense will do.

For clients with genuine, complex situations that require a Q&A, I apologise that the overall fees are now higher due to the additional time and effort required. Rest assured, I'll ensure your money is well spent and that the fee is worthwhile.

One major perk now is that I will be incorporating Western astrology into my commentary. It has uses and insights that Chinese astrology cannot provide, and it would be a huge benefit to clients.

Gen Z & Younger Generation Privileges

If you are Gen Z or younger, please note that certain privileges apply, although I reserve the right to withdraw them at any time. The latest details will always be listed in the request form, not in this blog post.

I'm doing this because I do not wish to price out the younger generation, especially since they stand to benefit most from consultations.

They are the future and, by far, the least problematic group of clients because they are still impressionable and are very open to what I have to say without taking things personally. On the flip side, some people from the older generations who messed up their lives seem to be stuck in an ego stasis where the pain of accepting that they've messed up their lives is greater than the pain of putting in the effort to change.

Why I Decided To Do This

Everyone knows by now that I believe in the axiom of balance.

There is no point in earning money if I'm not happy; there is no point in earning more if I don't even have time to spend with my family. I don't know the price elasticity of my services, but as a service provider, the ideal scenario is to serve fewer clients while earning more. That's a scenario I'd take any day, given my limited time and energy.

The influx of requests has reached a point where I can no longer manage the volume. This, coupled with the significant media exposure I've received in 2024, has resulted in an overwhelming surge of clients I'm not prepared to accommodate - especially low-quality clients who rushed in without doing their homework or spending time on self-reflection.

I won't delve into the specifics of what I mean by "clients that I am not ready to deal with." By now, everyone should be familiar with my stance.

Fatherhood has undeniably changed my perspective on life. I no longer feel compelled to write impassioned posts explaining why I find Category 4 chart-holders intolerable and why I choose not to engage with them. I've expressed this sentiment in a recent post, and it remains unchanged and always will. I've heard and seen enough to accept and understand that people are born the way they are, most of whom are absolutely hopeless.

We all have paths to follow and karmic debts to settle. I need people to understand that I balance the realist and idealist sides of me. Astrology is impartial and does not care about your optimism or pessimism. If something is meant to be, it will be.

If individuals choose to sabotage their own lives and lack the self-awareness and humility to recognise that they are the source of their own suffering, it's not my concern. Whether or not they seek a reading will not alter that reality.

I am revising the way I operate and indirectly increasing my fees for straightforward reasons:

• The fees I charge have always been a filtering mechanism for my clients. Additionally, I need to account for inflation and GST.
• More crucially, I must prioritise my time for my family.

My approach to business has always been consistent, and it will remain so. I need to manage my time and energy with utmost care to perform my work effectively. If I fail to do so, everyone suffers. Neglecting my well-being leads to mistakes, loss of temper, and eventual burnout. The natural progression of my career should be intuitive: as I gain more experience and demand for my services increases, my fees and client expectations should rise, too.

I have made it clear that I am not the right practitioner for everyone. If you fall into the category of individuals who lack even the basic self-awareness one might find in an amoeba, I strongly urge you to refrain from seeking my services. I do not have the time nor the inclination to engage with such individuals.

My Re-Launched Online School

As you may know, I've relaunched my online school. You can visit it here: Sean Chan's School of Chinese Metaphysics & Astrology

I've decided to offer exclusive, paid content to some of my followers as a better way to engage my readers and to incentivise me to write more, explore astrology more deeply, and free up some of my time from consultations, which are undoubtedly the most draining part of my job.

The more traction and support my Patreon page gets, the more time and incentive I have to churn out better, more exclusive content. This blog will remain active, as it is my diary.

The Eventual Commercialisation Of What I Do

Don't worry. When I say "commercialisation of what I do," I don't mean selling products or gimmicks. It also doesn't mean I take the spiritual and humanitarian aspects less lightly.

"Commercialising" what I do means the lines will be drawn more clearly. I've been trying to do this for the past half a year or so - I've set up a company and got a new business number.

The lines between my work and personal life haven't been drawn that clearly in the past because I didn't see a need to, and I enjoyed the melding of both worlds. I've decided to draw them more clearly for my mental and physical well-being, given that my time and energy are even more limited now, especially when I have children.

I'm still figuring out what "drawing the line more clearly" entails and will refine it. Whatever it is, expect some changes.

- Sean