Moon Tides, Soul Passages [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Maria Kay Simms (Author), Molly Sullivan (Illustrator), Rique Pottenger (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2006

Now in expanded 2nd Edition, this book guides your understanding of past and present, your power of personal choice and evokes new insights of soul and spirit. Astrology is combined with Goddess spirituality to assist awareness of Moon in your natal horoscope and how a seasonal flow of life is revealed by the lunar phase cycle. Meditations, rituals and Goddess paintings, reproduced in 16 pages of full color, evoke intuitive understanding of the book's themes. The software CD, easy to install and use, provides all personal astrological information needed to apply the book's in-depth interpretive material, even if you've never before studied astrology.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Maria Simms has a knack for weaving ancient traditions with the complexities of modern life in her writing, and this book is the finest example to date. Complete with software designed by Rique Pottenger...allows readers to follow Simms on her latest odyssey through the cosmos completely equipped with personalized information about our individual Progressed Moon journeys...we are initiated into a whole new way of studying our emotional and psychological development...magnificent art, plus the author's gripping writing, make Moon Tides, Soul Passages well worth owning and cherishing for many years to come. --Judi Vitale, The Mountain Astrologer, Aug/Sept 2005

As a basic textbook for understanding the Moon in the birth chart, this book works like a charm...it is clear the author herself not only uses this technique, but is deeply involved...giving her both an intellectual understanding of the lunar phases and a passion for them, a passion that comes alive in every page...well packaged with beautiful paintings by the author herself and her daughter..accompanying software by Rique Pottenger, which is not merely icing on the cake but a main ingredient..The book is a joy to read, but being able to use the printout for my own chart as I read through it proved to be enlightening. I have never quite looked at the Moon in my chart in such a thorough--and yes, accurate--way. Simms' book is destined to become a classic. --Ken Irving, Horoscope Guide, June 2005

Her artistic, mythological and analytical style presents a straightforward road map to personal empowerment, whether that means enhancing spiritual growth, making smart professional choices or developing healthy relationships...accompanied by a CD that readily boots up all the astrological data you'll need to get the most out of the book...paintings and poetic prayers...awaken the reader to an inspiring, aesthetic presentation...After reading, the astrologer will have a new appreciation for the power of the Moon...gain a solid interpretive tool and forecasting technique. --Chris Lorenz, Dell Horoscope, June 2005

About the Author

Maria Kay Simms, who began her career as artist, segued into astrology and writing in the '70s. Now, after 30 years as a professional astrologer, she has combined astrology and art with the Goddess spirituality of her practice as a Wiccan High Priestess within this, her eighth published book. Maria, a former Art Director and then President of ACS Publications, then served as Chair of National Council for Geocosmic Research 1999-2004. She is a member of Association for Professional Astrologers International. Her bios appear in various of the Marquis "Who's Who" volumes. Maria lives in the Seacoast area of New Hampshire. Several of the paintings reproduced in Moon Tides, Soul Passages are by her talented daughter, Molly Sullivan. Rique Pottenger, who has his M.S. in Computer Science from UCLA, never formally studied astrology, but absorbed quite a bit of it from his mother, Zipporah Dobyns, Ph.D. and sister, Maritha Pottenger, both of whom achieved international recognition as astrological authors. Rique, who became head of programming for ACS Publications following the death of founder, Neil F. Michelsen, has since been responsible for updates and revisions to the popular Michelsen "American Ephemeris" series. Rique lives in Opelika, Alabama.

Product Details

• Paperback: 313 pages
• Publisher: Starcrafts Publishing; 2nd edition (August 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0976242214
• ISBN-13: 978-0976242215
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,146,409 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Magical Power of Moon Astrology, February 22, 2005

By 

James Barnes (Traverse City, MI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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."

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book on Lunar Astrology, September 6, 2006

By 

Demanding Reader "voxwoman" (Northeastern United States) - See all my reviews

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.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Major Moon Magic, August 5, 2006

By 

J McCaul "www.lunarliving.org" (Pacific NW, USA) - See all my reviews

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.