Pola Von Grut, astrologer

Atelier Nubio - 12/03/2020 Pola Von Grut also receives clients in her office in Moret, a charming little medieval town and cosmic hotspot!

Where are your roots?
I am Brazilian, however, my roots are in France and Portugal. And I know that, being Brazilian, I must also have African roots and roots in the indigenous peoples. To be honest, I feel like an 'earthling.' I consider the planet and humanity to be my true roots.

What makes you feel alive?
The beauty of the celestial vault, myths, stories… I need to explore reality and dream the world.

You live in Moret sur Loing, what do you like/dislike about this town?
I love being in a medieval town, where I can walk everywhere and escape into nature at any moment. What I like less is the lack of imagination shown by some elected officials. Moret could be so much more valued in my eyes. It's a gem!

What are your cosmic spots?
Indeed, Moret is a 'cosmic spot' for me. I love going out into my enclosed garden and looking at the stars... Another place I particularly love for stargazing is Umbria in Italy. We go there almost every year in the summer, and the view of the sky in the countryside is a real treat.

What are your favorite forms of physical and spiritual nourishment?
My comfort food is definitely lentils… I love eating them with brown rice and scrambled eggs. And of course, Tabasco! As for spiritual nourishment—that's a vast topic! That said, I always come back to Greek myths. It's a passion I've had since childhood. One of my favorite books is an English translation of Ovid's Metamorphoses by the English poet Ted Hughes.

How do you recharge when you feel things are going too fast or sounding fake?
I focus on my family. My husband and daughters are my treasures, and when I take the time to be with them, I'm happy. Another thing I do instinctively is sleep. I pay a lot of attention to my sleep. And last but not least—running is the best therapy in the world for me.

What was the trigger that led you to launch your astrology business?
I've always loved mythical stories… The first book I read from beginning to end was actually an adaptation of the Iliad and the Odyssey for children. I must have been eight years old.

As a teenager, I spent hours gazing at the astrological illuminations in a Renaissance manuscript called 'De Sphaera'. Without realizing it, I had learned the concept of regencies from these magnificent images… I had my epiphany about becoming an astrologer when I taught online courses for the online school for entrepreneurs, Livementor. I taught their Instagram module, as I've specialized in web communication for 15 years.

After that experience, I thought to myself, 'I'd like to continue teaching… but something that truly resonates with me. Social media is nice, but I want to share something deeper, something lasting…' That's when a tiny voice emerged within me, whispering 'astrology'. I was surprised myself! I had never even considered it…

Of course, I told that little voice inside me, "But I'm not an astrologer!" To which the little voice gently replied, "Then become one..." It was the craziest idea I've ever had! But like a true Virgo with a Capricorn ascendant, I decided I would do it very professionally. I researched schools of astrology—I found the Faculty of Astrological Studies in London (which has been around for 70 years)—and threw myself headlong into the subject. Since then, I've been creating birth charts, leading astrology reading sessions with Mayia Alleaume, and running introductory workshops like this one!

You opened a 'dream-inspired' boutique next to your astrologer's office in Moret. How did you envision this place, the decor, the selection?
As my astrology clientele grew, I realized I needed an office separate from my home. People bring their lives to an astrology practice, and I wanted to separate that from my living space. Last year, I saw that a commercial space—right across from the church in Moret—was available to rent. I knew there was an office in the back—the main draw for me—but I needed to come up with something for the 'public' area! I'm also an artist, and I decided to use part of the space as a gallery to exhibit and sell my illustrations. Since I also wanted to create merchandise based on my artwork, it was only natural to envision a retail space. I sell cushions there, for example, that I designed myself.

I made a selection of products related to astrology (including notebooks and diaries from the Australian brand Magic of I), rollers, gua sha, palo santo and white sage from the brand Sentara Holistic, handcrafted woven lamps from Ghana by Golden Editions, Reiki bracelets, oracles and tarot cards, art books… And to 'close' the project, I found someone to develop the coffee side - Laura from DoucesSoeurs who has an ecological approach (all her teas and coffees are organic) and zero waste.

How would you like people to leave an astrology session?
I want them to leave with the feeling that their lives are broader, that their possibilities are vast, that they don't need to limit themselves. Astrological charts are like cosmic mirrors of our personalities—they reflect our potential and our challenges. The astrologer is a translator of the sky at the time of our birth—they are meant to interpret this sky with kindness and always with a spirit of service. I always hope that a person leaves an astrology session with this deep conviction that they are like the sky: infinite!

What is your most exciting project at the moment?
I'm currently developing a card game that will allow anyone who wants to learn the basics of astrology. I also have an art project illustrating the astrological houses and I'm planning to reinterpret a 19th-century French oracle. My husband and I are co-writing our second children's book, which will be published at the end of the year by Larousse Jeunesse!