Book Review: Midlife Is Not A Crisis: Using Astrology To Thrive In The Second Half Of Life

     I turned 36 this year and that birthday was a doozy.  Typically, I'm not a person that panics about celebrating another birthday, but this year was different.  As my birthday approached, I began feeling

Watch out for that birthday.
It's a doozy!

an increasingly noticeable shift in myself.  My energy, my attitude, my outlook, my desires.... they were all changing.  Those changes, however, took a back burner to the anxiety and frustration I had also begun feeling.  The anxiety, fear, and frustration showed up at about the same time I found a steal gray hair on the top of head. It all came crashing in on me at that moment.  I was going to be 36 years old and what have I done? What have I accomplished? Where is my life going?  I'm closer to my 40's than my 20's and what do I have to show for almost 40 years on this earth???  

     I was a whirling dervish of crazy on the inside while faking calm and composure on the outside.  Then, right on cue, a package with a new book to review arrived in the mail.  I opened the envelope and immediately began maniacally laughing at what I found inside.  I snapped a picture of the book, sent it to a friend and told her "The universe got jokes".  Divine timing, synchronicity, coincidence, or the universe desperately wanting me to get my shit together; call it what you will, but it showed up just in time to pull me out of my crazy and give me the perspective I desperately needed.

     Midlife Is Not A Crisis isn't your average astrology book and Virginia Bell isn't your average astrologer.  She's lived, what I consider, a very adventurous life.  In her early 20's, she moved to Europe to work as an actress in films.  She returned to the states in the sixties to continue working in the film industry and when her Saturn return hit, she left the movie business and opened not one, but two restaurants.  She began studying astrology in the late 1980s and now works as a full time astrologer and writer.  

        Like most astrology books, her book begins with a quick astrology overview.  Then it dives into astrological life cycles; starting with the Saturn Return (age 29), leading you through the cycles, and all the way into your 80s. Well thought out and easy to follow, you don't need to be well versed in the science of astrology to follow this book. 

This book taught me that:

• I felt like my legs had been kicked out from under me during my Saturn return because that's exactly what happens.  " ...Jupiter gives us crutches while Saturn takes them away."
• "...midlife isn't just an event, it's a journey; like any great voyage, it's also an inner process, certain to change us if we pay attention."
• No, seriously, midlife is a journey that spans a decade and involves almost all the planets getting their hands dirty.  (Sooo buckle up and pick a good wine for the trip)
• Virginia Bell explains the process planet by planet, sign by sign etc., giving insight for what to expect, what to do and what not to do.  
• Knowing is half the battle....

Midlife is coming...  Do I get a dragon?? 

    When my Saturn return hit, I was completely caught off guard.  I was living in NYC and things just weren't going how I'd planned. On more than one occasion, I came home, closed my apartment door, slid to the floor and began to ugly cry harder than a seasoned soap opera star.  Saturn had brought me to my knees (which, apparently is what he does best during your Saturn return). It was a dinner with a friend and professional astrologer that helped me understand what was happening.   She sat quietly, listening to me tell her everything that was happening. At the end of my emotional dissertation, she said (in her thick staten island accent), "How old are you.... oh, well no wonder... it's your Saturn Return. That's why everything sucks."  

     I had no idea Saturn was coming for me.  I was unprepared and playing a losing game of catch up.  I also had no idea my midlife cycle was about to begin; with other cycles to follow. But thanks to this book, I know what's coming and how to prepare.  I'm standing at the precipice of my midlife cycle and I feel like I need to pull my life apart and put it back together again; rearranging everything. I felt crazy (well, crazier than usual) because I've worked so hard to get my life to where it is now.  How can I just rip it all up and start again?  How can I say this life is too small for me now and I want something bigger?  That's pretty risky; especially at my age, right? Virginia Bell's book said, "I know you feel crazy right now. It's normal and here's what to do."  I wish I had this book during my Saturn Return (because good Gods was that a shit show to behold) and I'm going to hold onto it for the future.  Virginia Bell has given us a book that will help every reader prepare for their inevitable life cycles.  Midlife Is Not A Crisis has a permanent place on my go-to bookshelf and I recommend anyone, with even a mild interest in astrology, to pick up this book and discover how astrological cycles can affect their life.  

You can find Virginia Bell in these places:
Website: http://virginiabellastrology.com/
Publisher/Purchase: http://redwheelweiser.com/detail.html?id=9781578636129
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Virginia-Bell-Astrology-213487410884/


Bright Blessings,
~A

   

Book Review: Numerology, Plain and Simple

     Numbers and I have never been friends. Math class was my worst fear growing up and it took tutors, extra credit and regular begging to the math gods to get me through it with a passing grade.  I've always been better with words.  History, literature, philosophy etc were always my preference and once I passed my last math class (a requirement to graduate college) I was sure that numbers and I were done for good.  Goods Gods, was I wrong.  It turns out you not only need math as an adult but sometimes studying numbers can be fun.  **Enter Numerology**   If you google the meaning of numerology this is the definition you'll find: 

1. 

   
   

     That's a pretty short description for an incredibly broad topic that dates back to 5th century BC or thereabouts.  Numerology, Plain and Simple is the latest in the Plain and Simple series and provides a good starting point for those unafraid of the numbers and interested in studying numerology.  The author, Anne Christie, has written a number of books (see what I did there.... haha... **clears throat**  sorry) on varying topics including numerology, astrology and Egyptian magick.  Numerology, Plain an Simple begins with a brief history of numerology, offering information about Pythagoras, Kabbalah and early correlations between letters and numbers.  After that, make sure you have pencil and paper handy because the rest of the book is spent exploring different methods and equations of numerology. You'll discover everything from your Name Number, Heart Number and Karmic Number.  

By the end of this book I discovered that:   

• My name number is 5 and the description of 5 people is fairly accurate.
• My personality number is a 9 and the description was again, fairly accurate. 
• It's possible to calculate the  compatibility of a relationship (romantic, business etc) using numerology
• Numerology can be used for predictions, for both long-term and short-term forecasts.
• Use numerology on your home or business address and see how those numbers affect your life.    

     If you're looking for extensive, in depth history and explanations you won't find it in this book. With its modest 150 pages, Numerology, Plain and Simple is just that... short, sweet and to the point. This is not "the only book you'll ever need" if you decide to take your Numerology education further but it's a great starting point.  Well written and organized, Anne Christie's book is the perfect starter book for anyone interested in the realm of numerology.  Numerology, Plain and Simple is published by Red Wheel/Weiser Books and can be purchased here.



Brightest Blessings, 
A

Book Review: Practical Astrology for Witches and Pagans

     I'm kind of a nut when it comes to books.  I have a lot. When I say a lot I mean multiple overflowing bookcases and I'm pretty sure I helped Borders bookstore stay in business a few extra years. From candle magick and divination to historical texts, the books in my house encompass a wide range of topics. One of those topics is astrology.  I have quite a few books about astrology but it's a subject I gave up on years ago. Don't get me wrong, I love astrology. I listen to and read monthly forecasts put out by my favorite astrologers. I see an astrologer whenever possible, having my chart scrutinized, listening to every word with curiosity and focus. I know the basics like Mercury retrograde shows up 3 (sometimes 4) times a year, kicks you in the shins then skips away laughing. I've always assumed I was a lost cause when it came to understanding astrology and using it in my practice/life. In school I was a menace in chemistry class, lost in physics and knew math was created by the devil himself. Why should astrology be any different? So I put it away and gave up, sure I would never be able to pack all the information into my head and understand it. I put it away until a few months ago.

     That's when I started reading a new astrology book and my view of astrology and my abilities to master it completely changed.  Practical Astrology for Witches and Pagans, the latest from Ivo Dominguez Jr., is here to come to the rescue of every person that's ever felt like understanding astrology was just out of reach.  Ivo isn't just some random guy writing about astrology. He's been active in the Pagan community since 1978 and began teaching in 1982. He continues to share his knowledge by teaching classes on a wide range of topics at festivals, events and shops throughout the country. (Follow the link below to see his event schedule.)

"It is true that Astrology is a huge field of study and it could take several lifetimes to achieve mastery. The same can be said of Mathematics, but many people are able to learn enough math so they can function in their day-to-day life and manage their finances. My intention with this book is to teach the core concepts of Astrology so that Witches and Pagans would then be able to truly apply Astrology to their practices."

After a brief history, Ivo proceeds to break down and explain astrology in a way that makes it more manageable, tangible and user friendly. This book eliminates the complicated jargon found in most astrology books on the market today. He likens aspects to verbs, explains the construction of planetary glyphs giving each deeper meaning and compares using a single glyph to a simple used in herbalism (all things this writer/kitchen witch greatly appreciated). Reading Practical Astrology for Witches and Pagans made me realize there was another way to approach astrology. I don't have to master astrology and I probably never will but I can still incorporate it into my life and benefit from its use.  Instead of looking at astrology as a complicated whole, Ivo offers the information in small manageable bites, using the simplest ingredients creating an easy to follow recipe.  
     I loved this book, I enjoyed reading it and I've been able to begin working with astrology which is something I never thought would be possible. However, there are few points in the book that are hard to follow. The Astrology of Time chapter was complicated and wordy. The information is valuable but I had to read it a couple of times to get a grasp on the information. Also, there are a glaring number of grammar issues throughout the book that sent me searching for a red pen to make corrections. Despite those issues this book is worth reading and I would recommend it to anyone on the road to understanding astrology, especially as it applies to their personal practice. If you're just beginning the journey, lost on the road or just want to learn some basics to aide your magickal practice, this book should be on your shelf.  It won't make you an astrology master but it will help you take the first step in understanding it just enough to apply it to the magickal and mundane sides of life.  


~BB~



Practical Astrology for Witches and Pagans
Author: Ivo Dominguez Jr. (www.ivodominguezjr.com)
Publisher: Red Wheel - Weiser (http://redwheelweiser.com/)
Released: Januaray 2016