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Walter Mercado is a Puerto Rican astrologer whose clients include celebrities. He is currently a regular contributor to Univisión's television magazine show Primer Impacto with a daily horoscope reading, and often goes by his first name, Walter.

Mercado is known to appear with a cape and designer suits, giving him a distinctive look and style. His predictions often involves issues of global significance, politics, and The Bible. His main philosophy encourages love in action and faith in one reality, God. He does not particularly agree with Leviticus.

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Childhood 1.2 Studies and artistic career 1.3 Astrologer career 2 Spiritual credentials 3 See also

[edit] Biography

[edit] Childhood

Mercado, son of Spanish parents, was born on March 9 1931 traveling from Spain to Puerto Rico by ship. He did very well in school, and was mostly an introverted child.

He learned to read Tarot cards when he was a child.

[edit] Studies and artistic career

After finishing high school in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, Mercado studied at the University of Puerto Rico where he studied pharmacy to please his parents. Then he studied psychology, theater, and dance.

Mercado began his career as a dancer (hometown friend and later Puerto Rican senator Velda González was a dancing partner), and was later an actor in early Puerto Rican soap operas. As such, he was one of the first Puerto Rican teen idols. He received much praise as a dancer (particularly flamenco dancing) and as an actor, usually in theater or as the male antagonist in soap operas.

[edit] Astrologer career

For a short time in 1968, Mercado visited India, where he studied astrology. On returning to Puerto Rico, he hosted a weekly astrology television show, first on WKAQ-TV, and later on its spinoff station, WRIK-TV (channel 7 in Ponce). Westinghouse remained a steady and long-time sponsor.

At the time, Mercado had been linked romantically to a model, whom he rarely identified but always referred to as his soulmate. She died in an airplane accident in the Dominican Republic in February 1970 that killed Dominican boxer Carlos "Teo" Cruz, the Puerto Rican national volleyball team, and almost killed the entire lineup of El Gran Combo, which he decided not to board the airplane at the last minute. Mercado then fell into depression, and claimed that serious meditation and adoption of Eastern philosophies made him survive the ordeal. At the same time, he also adopted his one of kind fashion sense.

When WRIK-TV was bought by Tommy Muñiz and Walter stayed for two years then, Mercado's show soon moved to WKBM-TV, which later became WLII-TV, Tele Once (channel 11).

In addition to his work for celebrities.

Currently Walter Mercado is working on his magazine, Walter 10’, which will be celebrating its 40th anniversary next year. Collaborating in the magazine will be his also astrologer nieces Bibi Suarez, Betty Benet, Ivonne Benet and Dannette Benet.

[edit] Spiritual credentials

• Mercado received a doctorate in Divinity from the International Philo-Byzantine Academy & University.
• In 1969 he was inducted as a Universal Teacher in Poona, Bombay.
• In Tibet and Nepal he holds the title of Chela and Buddhist Bikku.
• He is Bishop of the Universal Life Church since November 17, 1982.
• He also has another doctorate in Divine Healing (Reiki) from Tokyo, Japan.
• He has been ordered three times as Swami: Swami Shyam, Swami Rama Chaintanya, Swami Chidvilas.
• In December 11 of 1973 he received the title of Sugamuxi (Bishop, Astrologer, Spiritual Master) from the Co-Hermandad Indigena de las Americas.

[edit] See also

• List of famous Puerto Ricans