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12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Magical Power of Moon Astrology, February 22, 2005
This review is from: Moon Tides, Soul Passages (Paperback)
The act of holding a newborn infant heavenward in the moonlight, ala Kunte Kinte in the movie ROOTS, may seem somewhat outlandish today. But people throughout time have observed the dance of the Moon across the sky and its effect on human behavior and emotion. As it causes the ocean tides, so it affects our watery bodies, and lunar astrology influences both daily life and all of modern philosophy, psychology and religion.
With this powerful book, author Maria Kay Simms helps readers reconnect with their moon astrology, explaining in great detail how our lives are influenced by the Moon and its phases and cycles, during what Simms calls our Soul Journey. As the Sun is said to affect our actions, the Moon's realm is the subconscious, and astrological techniques, meditation, and journaling will unlock doors to perception and increase self-awareness and faith in oneself.
Enhanced by lovely moon-inspired poetry and vivid moon-goddess paintings, the book includes a CD-Rom with software for calculating personal astrological data, Moon phases for an entire year, and Moon cycles for life. Simms lists examples of the lunar life stories of notable women such as Eleanor Roosevelt and Lucille Ball.
Life today is filled with ever-increasing challenges and constant change. Tapping into the magical power of the Moon and its cycles can bring great comfort and connect us to an ancient, uniting force, something everyone, everywhere has shared for all time. "As above, so below...As within, so without...As the Universe, so the soul."
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A wonderful book on Lunar Astrology, September 6, 2006
This review is from: Moon Tides, Soul Passages (Paperback)
I hadn't given much thought to Lunar Astrology, other than noting the position of the Moon in my Natal chart, and seeing how that related to transits of the other planets. This book does not cover any of that. Moon Tides, Soul Passages teaches you about Lunar Astrology - the cycles of your life based on the phases and signs of the progressed moon throughout your life.
Included with the book is software on CD that will instantly calculate your lunar progressions for about 90 years of your lifetime, in both phases and signs, as long as you have the correct time of your birth (or of anyone else for whom you'd like to create a chart). What Ms. Simms does in the 300-odd pages of this book is explain what all that information means.
Simms, also a Wiccan priestess, starts out by dividing the moon's phases into 8, and correlates them with the solar "phases" of solstice, equinox and cross-quarter days - the 8 sacred days in the Wiccan "Wheel of the Year". She then proceeds to explain what the moon's phases mean in terms of the patterns in one's life, and the influences (for good or ill) that are present during those phases. She explains the sign, house and mode (element) of your natal moon, and goes on to discuss the New Moon and waxing phases and the Full Moon and waning phases. Later chapters discuss eclipses (more on that in a moment), and progressed phases. She illustrates the ideas presented here with life stories and case studies.
She delivers all this esoteric information in a straightforward and lucid manner. You don't need to be an expert at Western Astrology to understand what she is saying. The addition of poetry, both original and quoted, and the fanciful illustrations by her and her daughter engender comprehension on additional levels besides the verbal - the book speaks to both sides of the brain. The rituals and meditations included towards the end are a welcome addition and can be incorporated or adapted into one's spiritual practice, regardless of the path you are following.
I highly recommend this book to those who are interested in Astrology, and those who are following a Neopagan path (especially a Wiccan path). It deepens our understanding of the cycles we exist within, and helps calculate the best times for rituals and spellwork as well as charting patterns within your life, both large and small.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Major Moon Magic, August 5, 2006
This review is from: Moon Tides, Soul Passages (Paperback)
Maria Kay Simms knows her stuff when it comes to astrology. This is one of her finest pieces. I could easily wax on glowingly about this book. Other reviewers have already done that here and there's not much more for me to expand on beyond those critiques. So, let's just cut to the core.
"Moon Tides, Soul Passages" is chocked full of detail and insight. The explanations are written in a way that both beginning and advanced students will find equal value from the book. A valuable resource for any astrology library! There's more than a little something for everyone who has ever admired the Moon and its ever constant presence in every day life.
Like any good self-centered astrology student, I went straight to all the explanations for my personal moon placement and progressions first. Then I progressed to all the explanations of extended family members and friends. The descriptions are meticulous. Plus, I learned more about the Moon than I ever expected.
The software is an added perk (especially for beginning students) but installation was a little rough around the edges. I experienced some difficulty with the software and found that I needed to install a patch in order to get it to work better. Despite my issues with the software, the book more than makes up for the minor glitches.
Incorporating the many facets of the Moon into our daily lives at a comprehensive level is a daunting undertaking for any astrologer. To convey that information so well through her book, Ms. Simms has demonstrated once again why she is one of my favorite authors.
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