Upcoming Events

I'm hoping to see many of you this month in New Orleans and Chicago. I still have a few openings for in-person readings August 17-21 in Chicago. Please call ahead at 810-631-6887 to schedule yours. If you are planning on attending ISAR's convention I will be speaking twice and also serving on a panel discussion on how run a full time astrology business.

Lansing and Grand Rapids Clients....
Our customer appreciation fair in Mid Michigan have been great! Thanks to all of you have turned out. We have one more left, Saturday August 27th in Lansing MI. I have appointments open. Please call 810-631-6887. We will be at the Hampton Inn off of Saginaw Highway from 10am to 5p.m. If you are in Grand Rapids, Lansing, Jackson and surrounding areas, please come out and see us. We do not have a scheduled date for Grand Rapids this year so Lansing is the closet we will be!

New Orleans Goddess Event
If you are visiting or live in New Orleans, come out to the Goddess Gathering and Psychic Seminar August 6 & 7 at the House of Broel, 2220 St. Charles Ave. in the Garden District. 11a.m. to 4p.m. Saturday and 11a.m. to 6p.m. on Sunday. There will be a Goddess Gallery Boutique area offering unique jewelry, stones, crystals, new age gifts, cards, essential oils and much more. Seven intuitive readers are flying in from all over the country to showcase their talents and offer free lectures and workshops every hour. They will also do readings 3 for $25. We have massages, life coaches, aura photos, authors and holistic health experts on hand to answer your questions as well. Admission is $10 and includes all classes. A weekend pass is $15. I will be speaking at 11:30a.m. on Saturday about Honoring the Goddess Within and how to create magic in your everyday life. I'm also scheduled at other times throughout the weekend to speak as well. I do have about four openings left for readings so please call ahead if you can to make an appointment.

Radio Show
August 14 (Sunday) it's Affairs of the Heart from 7-8p.m. on 102.5FM WIOG. Call in for your free reading 1-877-330-WIOG

Astro News for August

Are you over your anger yet? Since late June and especially around this past full Moon in July, I have heard from hundreds of you who have been upset, angry and downright mad. This aspect was to get to clear and release past issues. The things you thought you were mad about may not have had anything to do with the real issues.....or they could too. But the lesson in July, was to do some emotional cleansing and clearing. Now that Saturn is out of the sign of Cancer (thank goodness!), we can focus on our individual needs more. When Saturn was in Cancer (since June 2003) your lessons was about the home and family relationships. Some of you were dealing with toxic family ties/relationships in a major way. You let go of negative people, some who you considered family or are dealing with them much differently than in the past. With that lesson completed, you can now turn your attention to you! Your anger will subside soon if it hasn't already.

Mercury retrograde is in effect until the 15th. Also around the first of the August, you may feel burned out and downright tired. If you haven't been taking good care of your physical self, you'll certainly feel it now. On the full Moon August 19th, be wary of people who you FEEL strange about. There is a lot of deception, cheating and lying going on around this time. Be careful that you don't put yourself in a position to be a victim of any of it! By September it is much easier to see people and their agendas clearly.

A Letter from JoAnn Seckus, Chicago, Ill

JoAnn, a speaker on our upcoming cruise this December 4-11 out of New Orleans, writes:

"High Energy, living in one's true self, camaraderie, meeting new people, sharing my strengths, strengthening my weaknesses, all of these are reasons I am looking forward to "Maria Shaw's Conscious Living Cruise" in December.

Last year I truly felt like I was walking on air the energy level was so high, and this year trip promises to be even better. Last year I was a speaker and taught my Palm Reading classes, but I came away from this experience learning more than I taught and thoroughly enjoyed the listening part. There were so many stories to be shared on how everyone got to the levels they were at. And on top of all this, there are the exciting and exotic ports of call to be considered.

Palm reading, Angel Card readings and Psychometry (seeing and receiving messages from a Guardian Angel) are my specialties. I will be teaching my palm reading classes again explaining the basics of a reading. I will also be doing some readings, but the part I am most looking forward to is the "sharing" time. I have made so many friends that I know will be lifelong from last year's trip that missing this one was just not an option.

I hope I get to meet all the new comers this year and acquire a few more lifelong friends. See you (and your Angels) in December.

JoAnn

If you would like to join JoAnn and the other 92 people who have already signed up for our spiritual journey on the high sea, please contact Tammy at Vacations At Sea 1-800-749-4950. We only have another 30 days left to register. If you've been putting it off, don't delay any longer. I promise you will have a wonderful time and make lots of new long lasting friends of like mind!

Drawing Love to You
Feng Shui for the Bedroom
By Maria

I've written several articles on Feng Shui and how to use this Asian art to transform your surroundings into peaceful, happy abodes as well as draw prosperity in to your life. Today, we'll look at examples that will help you draw or increase love in your life. The bedroom represents the "love/relationship" section of your house. So we will focus on this room today. These simple little things you can do, can make a big difference in attracting romantic bliss:.

Think Pink...
Pink is the color of love; sometimes self love too. It draws people easily to you. Pink, in most shades, makes people feel huggable and lovable. Wear or decorate your home with softer shades like blush and coral if you want to attract a kind, gentle partner. Brighter, bold colors like red, tend to attract a passionate, sexy lover.

Get rid of the Past and extra clutter in the bedroom!
Get rid of old keepsakes from former lovers or keep them out of sight. Take down photos of you and your ex. They certainly won't help you attract anyone new when the old flame's energy is lingering about. Remove clutter and junk so positive energy flows throughout your bedroom. Pick up clothes and old reading materials. Make sure you dust and vacuum on a regular basis...and don't forget to vacuum under the bed!

Your furniture says it all!
If you tend to have a lot of single chairs in your house, you are stating to the universe, that you are just "fine" being single. If you're truly looking for a mate, buy a loveseat, a double swing for the front porch or a comfy couch big enough for two people. Place your furniture properly by making sure your chairs and settees are at comfortable angles to each other. This confirms to the universe that you are ready for companionship.

No TV in the Bedroom!
What? Yes, if you are looking for love, get the TV out of the bedroom. It is sending a message that you are using the bedroom for another activity rather than sleeping or sex!

Make Room For A Lover
If you're single, empty a dresser drawer, leave extra space in a closet and perhaps an extra pillow on your bed...in anticipation that someone will soon be moving in! When you show the universe that you are willing to "make room" and share your personal space with someone, it will bring you a new love. It's as if you are preparing your room for a guest...you are expecting someone to come into your life. You are ready to share your life with someone and by making room for love, you will draw it easier to you.

Place Your Bed in a Good Position
If your bed is pushed against a wall, you are actually pushing away chances for someone to come into your life. You should arrange your bed so there is plenty of space to walk about it, on each side. Again, we are dealing with the principle of making room for love.

Decorate the Bedroom to Invite Love In
Remember your bedroom represents your love life. Therefore, you should not display photos of your parents, kids, friends, etc. on your dressers and night stands. These will undermine a healthy sex life. It's perfectly fine to put these photos up in the living room and other areas of the house, but the bedroom should be reserved for love and sensual relationships. Use satin sheets or soft, pretty fabrics on your bed. Make sure you have decorated in a romantic, sexy tone. You should feel relaxed in your room and as if it is a private retreat for you and a lover. If you are displaying artwork in this room, do not hang pictures of single people. Use drawings of couples. By doing so, you are reaffirming partnerships rather than the single life. If you're married or already in a relationship, you can use some of these tips to increase the compatibility and happiness in your current situation too!

Every so often, I check my website stats to see which articles I have written are the most popular. Time and time again, I get more hits off of the "Lilith" article I wrote over two years ago. Since we now have tripled our StarScopers membership since then, I wanted to send the article out again so everyone would have a chance to read it. Many of you have asked about Chiron in your readings and for a while, Eros was a big curosity but Lilith is and probably always will be, an interesting aspect for everyone because of what she represents.

Lilith, The Dark Moon
The Shadowy Figure In your Astrology Chart and What It Can Tell You
By Maria Shaw - May, 2003

I am fascinated by Lilith. So much so that I have been driven to write about her. I found that Lilith in my own chart is in a prominent position...therefore the Goddess herself is probably using me as vehicle to educate more people about her legacy. For the most part, astrologers use only the 12 signs and houses when giving a reading. Many of you know that I also have done great research on (see ) and am now becoming acquainted with Lilith. Let's take a look at the history and then the legend of Lilith.

In 1918 astrologers spoke of a second moon near the earth called the dark moon (Black moon Lilith is really a point in the moon's orbit, not a body in the sky). Understanding and finding Lilith's position in your natal chart is very important. It can help you become aware of your "dark side" and bring self defeating patterns and unhealthy behavior to light. This is what I call your "sensitive point."

In a woman's horoscope, Lilith represents which part of life the woman plays a strong role in. Lilith is very evident and dominant in charts of powerful, creative women; Those who are quite successful yet vulnerable and sensitive. Many have unconventional relationships.

In a man's chart, Lilith reveals the type of woman he fears and the type that can drive him over the edge, often to despair. Men...have you ever met a woman that drove you over the edge? She was your Lilith and I bet she shows up in your chart! The ideal position for Lilith in a male chart has an effect that would attract strong and beautiful to him.

Lilith plays a big role in the relationships you encounter especially the intense ones. Say Lilith is making a heavy transit in the love section of your chart next month; if you begin a relationship under her influence or engage in a first date, the liaison would eventually become painful, intense and obsessive. You may also feel some sort of unhappiness and agony when Lilith hits other positions your chart. Why? The answer lies in the myth of the black Moon.

Lilith was the first woman in the garden of Eden according to Hebrew mythology. She came before Eve and was created equal to Adam. Therefore, she refused to submit to lie beneath him while having sex. In a rage she left Eden and lived in caves near the red sea and took up with demons she desired. God sent three angels to bring Lilith back to Adam. First the angels asked and when she refused they threatened to kill a hundred of her children every day until she returned. She refused, so submissive Eve came about. Lilith was very upset, jealous and angered (Sounds like a hell-bent Scorpio, wouldn't you say?) and returned into the form of serpent to the garden of Eden where she tempted Eve to eat the apple. You know the rest of the story.

In the East, thousand of years ago, people believed that Lilith was a threat to pregnant women because she was still upset from the killing of her own children. Lilith was blamed for causing miscarriages. Amulets with inscriptions for protection against Lilith are found in museums to this day all over the world. During the medieval period, Lilith because the woman of the witches. In the last centuries she has been connected the femme fatale. Lilith magnifies revenge, rage, witches, psychics, the temptress and the shadow. Today the meaning of Lilith is about unfilled wishes. She is in all of our birthcharts just as Jupiter, the moon and the sun are. She represents the suppressed shadow side of our personality, our agony and painful experiences. If she is acknowledged and understood, we can gain much from her. Because then we can see what it is we need to change about ourselves. Lilith can lead us to self rejuvenation and release.

Other little Lilith facts:

Remember, for women Lilith represents the power she has in her chart. For men, Lilith may also represent hidden powers struggles and unresolved issues with the women in his life.

For both sexes Lilith shows us what we are most secretive about. Look for Lilith in your chart to see what defense mechanisms you use to hide any emotional wounding. Lilith in everyone's chart represents sexual passion!

If you have Lilith conjuncting your sun, moon, rising sign or midheaven of your chart you grab attention when you walk into a room. You are capable of hypnotizing people with your personality. your magnetism is strong.

If you'd like to find out what sign Lilith is and where she falls in your natal chart, consult a professional astrologer or print your chart off on an astrology website.

Soul Mate Connections
The Llewellyn Journal 2005-08-01
By: Maria Shaw

Have you ever met someone for the first time and felt an instant attraction? I'm not talking about sexual chemistry here, but rather, a deep, soul stirring, magentic pull. As a relationship astrologer, almost everyone I counsel asks me the same question: "Have I met my soul mate yet?" Well, if you have to ask...probably not! You'll know immediately when you do. It's as if you've known him or her all of your life or more likely knew them in a prior lifetime. However, I do want to clear up a common misconception about soul mates. They are not neccessarily your lover, husband, wife, boyfriend or object of desire. A soul mate can be your best friend, a teacher, a family member and for you pet lovers, yes, even your precious pooch or cat Fluffy can be considered a soul mate. In my latest book Soul Mates and Hot Dates, How to Tell Who's Who, I discuss the different connections between people and there are many.

Most of our past life ties are with family members. I believe we choose our parents. They are the very first relationships we encounter in our current lifetime and we use this relationship as a basis for all future ones. Many people have karma with their families and reincarnate again and again to work out issues created over several lifetimes. Most souls reincarnate with promises to meet up with other souls for specific reasons. The majority of time the reasons are as follows:

To pay back a debt
To receive a debt
To Learn a lesson
To right a wrong
Because of an early death in a former lifetime
For the soul's growth
To complete or finish something
To Help other soul on their path
Out of Love

In many of the couples past life regression work I perform, I have found that spouses often have made the same vow, over several lifetimes to come back together. They reincarnate and get married time and time again, lifetime after lifetime. Ever hear of the term "eternal love"? This is probably as close as it gets.

Some mothers carry twins but one baby lives and the other dies before it makes it through the birth canal. The parents wonder what they've done wrong for their baby to deserve such a sad fate. Probably nothing. Perhaps, the babies' souls agreed eons ago that one twin would stay on the earthplane and the other go back to the spirit world. Perhaps the living child's soul was scared and did not want to make his transformation alone and needed the extra support from the selfless soul to get through the process. They may have made pact to spend time together in the mother's womb until it was time to be born. This is a very special soul connection involving great karma.

I believe we all have soul friends too. These are our very closest and dearest friends that seem closer to us than our own blood family. You and your soul friend will go through everything together: marriages, divorces, secerts, jobs losses, the highs and lows of life. Your soul friend will always be there for you.

There are also soul groups. These are people who come together for a specific reason to fulfill a goal to make the world a better place or right a wrong. They are on a mission but must do it as a team. My client Barbara was let go from her long term job at a hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. Her serverance package was generous and she didn't feel bad about losing the position. In her heart, she felt there was something she was meant to do and was hoping the universe would help her find it sooner rather than later.

Being directed by her intuition, she sold her home and moved to a little Georgia town. There she started working at a free health clinic as a volunteer to fill time. But in a matter of months, she was running the clinic and making plans to expand it. Soon, other volunteers started showing up to offer Barbara help. They wanted to give her support. Her dream of expansion became theirs. Barbara's team was made up of about seven people, doctors and nurses, who all felt like family. They worked hard and soon were granted federal funding and built this clinic into a full fledged medical facility offering the latest in medical science and care. Patients came from all over and many were well served.

Soon after the facility was off the ground, federal health experts came in and fired everyone, replacing Barbara and her dedicated team with new staff. Barbara came to me upset and desperate to understand why such a thing could have happened when she had worked so hard to build this clinic from the ground up. As I led her back into a past life meditation, we discovered that Barbara had lived in the Civil War and was a nurse in a Confederate hospital in a little Georgia town. She recognized the doctor and other caregivers in that lifetime to be the staff that helped her build up the current medical facility. While in her meditative state, her mind searched for answers and she saw visions of the Yankees charging into the Confederate hospital, setting it on fire! It burned down and all of the injured soliders and hospital staff perished in the fire too.

It's obvious, isn't it? Barbara and her team died some 140 years ago and were not able to escape or save their patients and the hospital. So in their current lifetimes, this group of souls all subconscioulsy agreed to meet up again and rebuild their hosptial. Once they did exactly that, thier souls' mission was complete and they were fired. Their vow, karma, promise, whatever you want to call it,was finished, so they parted ways.

Soul Mates and Hot Dates explains these types of connections as well as love and relationship ties. I have a special compatibility section in the book featuring 144 combinations of the zodiac signs that will tell you how well each connection will work (or not!). Also included are a numerology formula to predict how old of a soul you are and what your current lifetime mission is. There's also a chapter titled "Is Your Marriage Blessed or Cursed?" By using your wedding date as a guide, couples can determine what their spiritual lesson is.

There are also some fun chapters on how to dump anyone and how to attract anyone based on thier zodiac sign. But I think the "meat" of the book is really about spiritual connections with those that make an impact in our lives. I often preach how important it is to cherish even the bad, horrid relationships that have ended, for those are the ones that offer us the most spiritual growth. We learn so much through challenges. Yes, we love the good times but we grow through the bad. So please look at all of your relationships, past and present, and be thankful. There is something to learn from everyone, something to love...a purpose that we come together and a past life promise your soul needs to fulfill.

Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd.
Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd. grants permission to use this article as originally posted at:
The Llewellyn Journal -- www.llewellynjournal.com
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