In 1990, Maria Shaw found her marriage hitting a rocky period. The astrologers she consulted told her she was headed for divorce. She was interested in astrology at the time but hadn’t yet become the celebrity astrologer who now writes horoscopes for the "National Enquirer, Soap Opera Digest and Complete Woman," and gave weekly forecasts to millions on the TV Guide Channel.
But what she knew of astrology told her that Saturn was transiting her 7th house – the house of partnerships -- and also appeared on her husband's chart, opposing his moon, making it a prime time for conflict. She knew she needed to stick it out until it passed. On a day she was feeling rational and calm, she wrote a 1-1/2 page letter telling herself to weather the storm. “It was a hard time for both of us," she said. "He got away with a lot of things he wouldn’t have if I didn’t know astrology,” she said.
Once Saturn passed, they got back together. Shaw – who has also published 10 books, including “Soul Mates and Hot Dates” with a chapter on “Is Your Marriage Blessed or Cursed” – now believes she went through that period so she could help others going through the same thing. Based alternately in New Orleans and north of Detroit, where she conducts personal readings as well, Shaw said that 70 percent of her clients ask about marriage, separation or divorce, and 95 percent about relationships of some kind or a potential partner they just met.
READ 2008 RELATIONSHIP HOROSCOPES
FIND OUT HOW TO PICK AN ASTROLOGER Experts say that astrology – the idea that the position of the planets, sun, moon and other celestial bodies can influence our lives – can warn people of an upcoming rough patch in their marriage or help them sort out the reasons for a divorce. It can also help, they say, to move on, find a new relationship and, most of all, learn something about yourself. At least one in four Americans think they’re right. A
2005 Gallup Poll showed that 25 percent of Americans believe in astrology, a percentage that has stayed roughly the same since 1990. The Harris Poll also found in 2003 that 31 percent of Americans believe in astrology.
Astrology has roots in several cultures dating back thousands of years. Today, the simplest version is the newspaper horoscope and what people refer to as their “sign.” This is the sun-sign and is based on the position of the sun on the date of a person’s birth.
Many astrologers employ more complex methods to interpret an individual’s horoscope using birth place and exact time to determine the position of not only the sun, but also the moon, planets and other bodies as well. This type of astrology also takes into account the relationships and angles between all of the celestial bodies and where they fall into 12 “houses” which represent different areas of a person’s life. When related to relationships, marriage and break-up times, dates and places may also be considered.
THE 7TH HOUSE AND RELATIONSHIPS
When discussing relationships and the horoscope, the 7th House and what goes on there is often mentioned. “Traditionally, the 7th house is concerned with relationships,” said
Sarah Bartlett, author of 16 books including “Fated Attraction - Your complete zodiac guide to Seduction,” and several on love horoscopes. “These include both close intimate relationships, and also ‘open enemies,’ which is what two people in a divorce often become.”
The 7th house has a great influence on how you choose a partner, said
Zane B. Stein, an astrologer for more than 30 years and an astrology expert at
Allexperts.com. And relationships – whether they’re brand-new, going well or falling apart – seem to be the main reason people seek out astrologers, he said, far outweighing the next most common reason, which is money. “If you’re in one and it’s not working, you’re miserable. If you don’t have one and you want one, you’re miserable,” he said. “I think you would find if you talked to most astrologers, relationships are probably the number one issue that we talk about.”
Bartlett, who lives in Essex, England, agreed. “Most of the clients I see have relationship or break-up issues,” she said. “They often ask, ‘Why me?’ Astrology tells you.”
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER The benefit of astrology, Shaw said, is that it can alert you to difficulties coming up. “It helps to know that you’re coming into hard times,” she said. “Most people think their problems are going to last forever, but they’re not.”
In some cases, she said, if your spouse wants a divorce and you don’t, looking at their chart might tell you what is causing their behavior and whether you can wait it out. And if the relationship doesn’t work out, a person’s chart can help them learn what went wrong and avoid future mistakes, Shaw said. “Your chart will tell you what you need from a relationship, what lessons you’ve learned from that other person,” she said.
Bartlett also said your chart can tell you how you approach relationships. “If you know a little bit more about how you love, why you love, what value you place on love, then you can respect, share and tolerate your partner’s perhaps very different values surrounding love,” she said. Astrology can also alert you to potential problems and point you in the right direction, she said. “I don’t think the chart can say, ‘Oh, this person’s going to divorce,’” she said. “But the chart can reveal factors about the potential for break-ups and bad relationships. There are many signs and pointers to the individual’s ability to sustain a commitment and the kind of partnerships they need.”
Stein, who lives in Atlanta, stressed that while the horoscope gives clues to what lies ahead, the ultimate choice lies with the individual. “We make our own future based on the cycles. You can see problems in the road ahead and opportunities, but we choose our own future,” he said. Stein said he would never flat out tell someone to stay away from someone else based on their chart. “If I see they’re heading for trouble, I’ll tell them exactly what kind of trouble to expect and how much work they’ll have to put into the relationship to make it work.”
