This Friday the Earth will slip into a cosmic big squeeze when it moves directly between the two planetary bodies that exert the greatest influence on our lives—the sun and the moon, which will be full. The Earth will partially block the sun’s light from reaching the moon. And while the eclipse itself will be less than two hours, its impact on us can be profound and long-lasting.

Astrologically speaking, the Sun represents our soul and the Moon represents our mind; during a lunar eclipse our mind is cut off from our soul’s powerful illumination. If we are unprepared, we may find ourselves struggling in the dark, haunted by imaginary psychic shadows and second-guessing ourselves and the motivations and intentions of others.

Needless to say, an eclipse has the potential to cause a great deal of tension, stress and upheaval in our lives. This is why, historically, eclipses have been regarded by many as negative omens and periods of poor judgment. To this day, astrologers caution their clients not to enter into contracts, splurge on major purchases or make big life decisions—like getting engaged, divorced or quitting a job—in the days before, during or immediately following an eclipse.

Happily, there is a positive and powerful flipside to every eclipse—and this Friday’s eclipse in particular. In Vedic astrology and philosophy, the shadowy period of an eclipse is considered auspicious because it allows our divine inner light to shine more brightly. A lunar eclipse opens a doorway to our innermost self, presenting a perfect opportunity for soul-searching, personal reflection, spiritual contemplation and meditation. In short, by temporarily darkening the light of the luminaries of Sun and Moon, the eclipse empowers us to seek our own light and elevate our spiritual awareness—and few things in life are more important than that!

And as the eclipse coincides with a full moon, the rewards we can reap by delving into our heart and soul will be amplified many fold. If we can tap into that positive heart-mind energy and apply it with a unified focus, we can fulfill old obligations, make good on lingering commitments and wrap up unfinished projects. Successfully balancing our internal powers properly on September 16th will enable us to accomplish a great deal.

Of course, the full moon may also amplify tensions in our public and personal lives—tensions that always arise with a sun-moon opposition, tensions that tug at both our mind and soul, heighten our emotions and make us ready to face off with anyone or anything that opposes us. So we must be extra vigilant in maintaining our perspective for the next week and a half by keeping a cool head at work and a steady heart at home. Be cautious with your words, don’t say things you can’t take back, and don’t allow emotions, ego or temptation to draw you into regrettable situations. And, as mentioned, try to put off making major purchases or life-changing decisions until several days after the eclipse.

The best advice one can offer regarding this full-moon eclipse is to remain calm and meditate as often as possible. Look into your heart and share the love that you find there with everyone in your life . . . and always remember to love yourself—by doing this, we light up the darkness.

If you would like help to most benefit from this powerful full-moon eclipse—or in any other aspect of your life—give us a call at 866-428-3799, or click here to book a consultation. We’re here to help.

 

 

 

 

 

Gerald was a concert pianist; Marge didn’t play an instrument but was a huge fan of classical piano music. One evening, Marge attended a concert in which Gerald played a solo piece; she was so moved by his music that she was determined to meet him. When they were introduced backstage they felt as if they had known each other all their lives—the chemistry was instantaneous, undeniable and profound. It was love at first sight.

They began a passionate romance and became inseparable companions. And although their ardor never cooled, after several months of dating there was definitely trouble in paradise. Gerald felt smothered by Marge’s possessiveness, sudden outbursts of anger, and forceful, demanding nature. That’s when they came to see me for couples’ counselling.

union-line-making-beautiful-music-together-printThe first thing I did was check their union lines (sometimes referred to as the marriage line) and noted that they both had just one, indicating they were seeking one true and lasting love-match. Their partnership was supported by the age-placement of their lines—Marge was 32 and Gerald was 38 when they met and their union lines perfectly corresponded with that time frame. And the fact that both of their union lines extended to the back of their hands suggested they may have known each other in a previous life and had a karmic relationship, accounting for their sudden, mutual attraction and instant sense recognition and familiarity. All this pointed toward a very good match.

The trouble was with Marge’s downward-turning union line, referred to as mangli, which told me the effects of traumatic events or turbulent life changes were spilling into her current relationship. As it turned out, she was dealing with the recent death of her mother, the breakup of her previous long-term romantic relationship and a work-transfer to a new city—the combination of which had made her angry, anxious, insecure and resistant to change. Unfortunately, Gerald was often the focus of these negative emotions.

I explained to Marge that she needed to let go of her anger and channel her intense emotions into physical exercise as well intellectual and spiritual pursuits, otherwise she would poison her relationship and make herself sick.

Marge took my advice. We scheduled regular appointments to get to the root of her anger and she had frequent ayurvedic massages to release her tension and faithfully practiced yoga and meditation. And she began studying piano under Gerald’s tutelage.

Over the course of two years Marge completely changed her outlook on life. She became more accepting and open to change and developed an easygoing, sunny disposition. Her union line gradually straightened out, reflecting these internal changes. Her relationship with Gerald improved immensely—they married a year later and have been making beautiful music together now for two decades.

If you would like help with your relationship or understanding your union line, give me a call at 866-428-3799, or click here to book a consultation. We’re here to help.

 

 

 

Dear Friends,

We wish you all a very happy and blessed Ganesh Chaturthi!

Today tens of millions of people around the world are celebrating the birthday of Lord Ganesha—the benevolent elephant-headed deity who is one of the most revered and beloved members of the Hindu pantheon of gods.

It is easy to understand why Ganesha is so widely-loved and held in such high esteem by so many:  Ganesha is worshiped as the the god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune and as the remover of all obstacles standing in the way of our success. For this reason, he is often portrayed riding in a vehicle pulled by a rat—the elephant representing wisdom and might and the rat representing subtlety and cunning. While the elephant can use its size and might to push through the densest of jungles, the rat obtains the same objective using its wits by scampering around or burrowing beneath anything in its path. When the elephant and rat work together, nothing can stand in their way, illustrating that both mightiness and subtlety are necessary to overcome the varied obstacles that can block us from achieving success in life.

Ganesha’s presence is invoked during most religious ceremonies in India, regardless of sect; he is usually depicted as being pot-bellied an affable. His kind, generous demeanor and rotund belly represent the affluence and benevolence sought by those who ask his blessing.

We hope that you will all feel Lord Ganesha’s benevolent presence surround you on this special day, and that you will be showered by his many blessing throughout your life.

Happy Ganesh Chaturthi!

 

Hugh was a 30-year-old palmistry student with movie-star good looks and piercing blue eyes that lit up when he laughed. He was searching for enlightenment, but that changed after his father died. He inherited a multi-million-dollar business but had no interest in working anymore. He wanted to be a playboy; he sold the company, broke up with his girlfriend and set out to travel the world.

Six months later Hugh returned for a consultation. He was laughing and his blue eyes shone brightly as he showed me his hand. I smiled too, until I saw the number of union (marriage) lines on his mount of Mercury. The Mercury mount is known as the domain of Buddha—it reflects our ability to find inner peace and contentment and not be distracted by the many persuasions of the material world. Hugh had so many broken and crisscrossing union lines that I knew he’d found very little inner peace and was extremely attached to material and physical pleasure.

hughs-union-lines-enough-never-enough-printIdeally, our mount of Mercury has a long, single union line that is straight, deep, and free of interference—a formation that reveals a yearning for a loving and committed relationship. It is not unusual to see several union lines, reflecting a number of relationships over the course of a lifetime. But I needed a magnifying glass to count all of Hugh’s jagged, short-lived and blocked lines of union. Hugh had been a good palmistry student and knew why I looked worried.

“I know what you’re thinking Ghanshyam—yes, I’ve had plenty of girls, and I even got dumped by my latest . . . so what? I’ve got a girl in every port,” he laughed. “The world’s an ice cream parlor with a thousand flavors. Why not sample them all?”

“But Hugh, this hedonistic attitude isn’t healthy,” I said. “You have great potential to love and be loved, but you’re squandering it by allowing yourself to be ruled by desire. Your appetite is a bottomless pit that can never be filled—you’ll never have enough to satisfy your hunger. If you spend your life searching for happiness by buying things and having flings you’ll miss out on what’s real, you’ll never be happy.”

“Ghanshyam, I’m young and rich—I can buy happiness.”

Three years passed before I saw Hugh again. This time his eyes were dull and he looked miserable. His Mercury mount was depleted and crammed with chaotic union lines.

“You were right about never feeling satisfied, Ghanshyam,” he said. “How can I find peace and happiness?”

“Begin with daily meditation,” I suggested. “Seek happiness within—develop a spiritual relationship, it is the only relationship that offers lasting peace and joy.”

I don’t know if Hugh took my advice—he never came back. But I know this: Palmistry reveals both our negative proclivities and our positive potential—it is up to us to decide what to do with the information the palm of our hand has to offer.

Come and see us to analyze your union lines. We're here to help. Call 866.428.3799 or click here to book a consultation.

 

 

Marie-Christine first came to see me when she was 18 years old and in her first year of college. She was bright, pretty and charming, but unhappy.

“I don’t know what to do with my life,” she told me as I studied her handprints. “One day I want to be a doctor, the next day I want to be a scuba instructor, the day after that I want to be a painter or maybe work with children . . . or quit school and travel the world. There’s so much I want to do in life, but I’m getting nowhere. I can’t even commit to one boyfriend—I keep dating guys who are totally wrong for me because they’re fun, then I stay up all night and miss morning classes. I want to have a career and start a family one day, but it seems hopeless. I’m really lost—can you help me?”

“I’m here to help,” I smiled. “Let’s take a look at your handprints and see what’s going on with you.”

I wasn’t surprised to find two head lines in Marie-Christine’s palm, which is not uncommon in multi-talented individuals. A double head line signals a duality of mind in an individual who is gifted in so many areas that they become too restless or bored too easily to pursue just one. Marie-Christine was being pulled in many directions and reluctant to say no to any experience for fear of missing out on all life had to offer. But her inability to settle on a single career path or romantic partner was preventing her from reaching her full potential, which was reflected in her broken Saturn (or destiny) line. And her indecisiveness was making her miserable.

“We have to mend your destiny line and forge your two head lines into one,” I told her. “I suggest you stop dating for at least a year and focus completely on your studies. Find the subject you are most passionate about and pursue it with all your heart and mind. Ask your family to help you, it is important for you to have a supportive environment.”

Marie-Christine told me that her parents were divorced and she was essentially on her own—both financially and emotionally. She asked me to be her coach and I happily agreed.

At first it wasn’t easy for her to make choices and stick by them, but she persevered and it paid off. She enrolled in child psychology and proudly showed me her straight-A progress report every month—and every month her head and destiny lines showed signs of improvement.

Last year—15 years after we first met—Marie-Christine returned to my office. This time her prints revealed a strong and solitary head line and a healthy, unbroken destiny line; she was running her own successful clinic helping troubled youth, was in a loving relationship and the mother of two young children of her own. She had defeated the duality in her palm and was singularly happy.

defeating-duality-double-head-line-print

For information on our coaching program, call us at 866.428.3799 or click here to book an appointment. We are here to help.

 

 

 

 

The term “squaring off” was coined by a sports commentator in the 19th century describing the fighting stance boxers adopted when encountering their opponent in the ring. It is a stance rife with tension and tightly coiled explosive energy as both boxers prepare to exert their dominance, ward off the blows of the other contender, maintain the upper hand and assure their own victory.

A similar situation occurs in astrology when two planets face each other at a 90-degree aspect—an aspect referred to as “the square”. Like fighters squaring off in the ring, the two planets in an astrological square are wary of each other, highly charged with internal tensions and external pressures, are inclined to block the opposing planet’s individual strengths and continually attempt to preserve their own dominance. The results of these celestial encounters can be bruising and have an enormous impact on all our lives.

At this very moment (September 1st-15th 2016) one of the most powerful astrological squares in the Cosmos is taking shape, and it is an event you want to be prepared for.

Saturn square Neptune is a major aspect that, without exaggeration, is nothing less that a battle between reality and illusion. This is because Saturn’s energy represents structure and truth while Neptune’s energy is illusory and changeable; where Saturn demands restrictions and boundaries, Neptune is amorphous and refuses to be contained. Saturn focuses on practicality and purpose; Neptune is freewheeling, ethereal and idealistic. In short—the two planets are polar opposites. The interaction and struggle between their vastly different energies can call into question everything we believe we know as fact and all we consider to be true and secure—our careers, our relationships, our social structures, even our sense of personal identity.

During this transit we may find that many things we have held to be true—both in our personal lives and on the world stage—are dragged into the light of day to test their validity. Just to give a few examples, British actor Emma Thompson is working with Greenpeace to expose the extensive seismic testing in the ocean in Nunavut as the underwater blasts will harm and chase away the marine mammals the people depend on for food. WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange, promises to release more damming material concerning the U.S. elections. After many years of request from the aboriginal people to the Canadian Government, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is launching a nationwide investigation into murdered and missing aboriginal women. And more and more we are discovering how man-made climate change is fueling extreme weather events.

Consequently, both personally or globally, our view of reality may be challenged or even shattered, which—as major aspects often do—can trigger major life changes. And as change is always difficult, and the naked truth often hard to accept, the next two weeks could be a period in which we experience and/or witness a great deal of confusion and possible turmoil.

The good news is that the intense planetary energy driving this change, although initially uncomfortable or painful for us to endure, is filled with positive potential and opportunity. The power dynamic of Saturn square Neptune can spur us to action, forcing us to abandon long-held illusions and misconceptions that may have silently hindered our progress. If we have the courage to accept what we learn and the fortitude not to avoid retreat into denial or delusion, this transit offers us the chance to break with the past, make a brave new start and venture forth to a more truthful and enlightened future.

If you would like help navigating this period, we’re here to help. Give us a call at 866-428-3799, or book a consultation by clicking here.

 

Christina was at her wits end when she called me.

Her husband suffered a fatal heart attack several months earlier and she’d moved from Chicago to Montreal to be with family. But her 13-year-old son Benjamin was not adjusting well to the sudden changes. Devastated by his father’s death and traumatized by the move, he was experiencing panic attacks, had no friends or interests, and was doing very poorly at school, where his bad behaviour landed him in detention every afternoon. While on the phone with Christina, I could hear Benjamin slamming doors and shouting: “I hate my school, I hate my teachers, I hate French . . . and I hate you for making me come here!”

“I’m worried sick about Benji,” Christina said. “We’ve been in family therapy for months, we’ve visited three child psychologists and consulted a psychiatrist—nothing has helped. My sister recommended you; I don’t really believe in palmistry, but you’re my last hope.”

Benjamin was sullen and despondent when he arrived at my office. He slumped into his chair, balled his hands into fists and stared at the floor. His despair was heartbreakingly obvious. His handprints revealed that his pain and anger were blocking him from progressing in life—he was trapped in his grief. He had prominent islands of interference on the life line of his left hand, reflecting his growing isolation, loneliness and despair. I decided to reach out to him through astrology.

“Look at these, Benjamin, they’re the astrological birth charts for you and your father,” I said. His eyes widened as I pointed to the similarities in the charts. “You have the same Virgo ascendant and very similar planetary placements, which makes you and your dad quite a bit alike.”

“Really?” he asked, showing interest.

“Really! And you both have Major Rahu periods beginning at age 13.” I explained that, in simple terms, a Major Rahu is an 18-year period that can bring a lot of change and present us with tough challenges to overcome and hard lessons to learn . . . and sometimes force us to travel to different countries and learn foreign languages. I told him that the way we respond to these challenges can shape our future and determine what kind of person we become. “

“That’s exactly what happened to my father, Benjamin said. He had to move from Italy to America when he was 13, leave all his friends behind, start over at a new school and learn another language.”

“Kind of like you’re doing, isn’t it? I asked. Tell me Benjamin, how did your Dad handle those big changes?”

“Grandma told me it was tough for Dad at first, but he learned English and studied so hard he got a scholarship. Then he started his own company and hired 200 people—and had tons of friends! Everybody loved my Dad. I guess that’s what I’ve got to do, too, isn’t it?”

“It sounds like a very good idea,” I said, giving him a small astrology book and the two birth charts to take home.

I saw Benjamin regularly over the next several months and he was always eager to see how the lines in his hands were changing and learn about the planets. When he showed up with his mom a year later to take his “After Handprints”, his entire demeanor had changed. He was walking tall, his eyes were bright, his hands were relaxed and he was smiling. His After handprints reflected his dramatic transformation—the islands of interference had completely disappeared from his life line.

benjamin-story-heartbreak-happiness“I don’t know what you said to him, Guylaine—but you inspired him—you opened his heart. His grades are terrific, he’s almost fluent in French, he’s joined the school hockey team and astronomy club—and he’s popular! His new friends are constantly hanging out at our house. I don’t have to worry about him anymore, he’s happy.”

If you or someone you love is going through a difficult time, I am here to help. Give me a call at at 866-428-3799 or click here to book a consultation.

 

Michael’s life was a mess. At 30, he was a chain smoking high school dropout in a dead-end job, 70-pounds overweight, crippled by self-loathing and low-self esteem and using drugs and alcohol to numb his pain.

“Michael, why have you come to see me?” I asked, troubled by his heavy aura of despair.

“I’ve got nothing in my life . . . look at me, I’m a fat loser—I hate myself, life isn’t worth living.”

“Michael, every life has worth; it’s how we live that makes our life worthwhile.”

case-files-flipping-switch-printMichael’s handprints reflected his many troubles—but great potential as well. A beautiful magnetic cross on his mount of Jupiter indicated a deeply sensitive nature, a great potential for spirituality, a yearning to find a purpose in life and a strong desire for a loving relationship. Unfortunately, he was cut off from his Jupiter cross by a downward curving heart line, which was blocking him from loving others, loving himself and from loving life. His descending heart line told me he’d switched himself off emotionally and spiritually. Making matters worse, the downward heart line was disrupting his quadrangle, the space between the heart and head lines known as “the landing strip of the angels” that is a psychic energy zone directly linked to our chakras. When the quadrangle is balanced, our heart is open to the wisdom of spiritual teachers, learning important life lessons, interpreting visionary dreams and receiving heavenly blessings. Michael’s quadrangle was out of balance. His heart line was also marked with many lines of interference.

“These interference lines indicate emotional trauma at an early age, what can you tell me about that?” Michael confided that his father had been a demanding, authoritarian alcoholic who belittled him throughout his childhood. His father’s abusiveness led to his parents divorcing when he was barely into his teens. Michael hated his dad, blaming him for denying him love as a child and for the way his own life had turned out.

“Michael, you cannot blame your father for life . . . it was your choice to drop out of school and poison your body with toxins. Filling your heart with hatred stops you from loving anyone else—not even yourself. You have switched off your heart and can’t access the many wonderful things I see in your hand.”

I gave Michael several yoga and breathing exercises to practice, encouraging him to meditate every day. I also suggested he call his father.

“Be a caring son—let go of bitterness, judgement and resentment. Talk to him with unconditional love.”

Happily, Michael took my advice; a year later I barely recognized him. His eyes were bright and focused, he’d lost more than 50 pounds, had quit smoking, drinking and drugs and had enrolled in night school to “find his purpose”. His ongoing conversations with his dad had inspired his father to quit drinking and his parents were talking again after years of estrangement.

Michael’s interference lines were disappearing and his heart line was beginning to curve upward toward his Jupiter cross, mending his quadrangle. He had flipped the switch and opened his heart.

If you would like professional guidance regarding your love life, we’re here to help. Give us a call at 866-428-3799, or click here to book a consultation

 

 

Beware the Shadow

August 18th marks the beginning of a difficult but potentially rewarding eclipse cycle that commences with a full-Moon lunar eclipse in the early morning and stretches over the next two weeks to the new-Moon solar eclipse on September 1st.

This is a period of shadow and light that will test our perception of reality, make us face hard truths about ourselves, and, if we remain calm, receptive and are willing to learn—can lead us out of darkness toward illumination and a prosperous fresh start.

In Vedic culture and astrology, eclipses are all about the immense energy and influence of the Shadow planets Rahu and Ketu—referred to respectively as the Moon’s North and South Nodes. Rahu and Ketu are not actual cosmic bodies, but points of intersection where the Moon’s path crosses the ecliptic—that is, where the Moon is in alignment with the Sun and Earth.

During a solar eclipse, Rahu—known as the “Dragon’s head”—symbolically swallows the light of the Sun and prevents it from reaching us. During a lunar eclipse, Ketu—the “Dragon’s tail”—blots out the light of the Moon.

This bestows Rahu and Ketu with the power to darken the three most important influences in our lives—the two cosmic luminaries of Sun, representing our soul, and Moon, representing our mind; and the Earth, representing our body. So the Shadow planets have great sway in influencing our destiny and, during eclipses, have the ability to create both chaos and spiritual growth within our lives and in the world.

Eclipses can trigger major events on a global and individual scale. The Nodes are famous for planting obstacles along our life path and forcing us to stop and question why we are doing the things we do, why we attach value to the things we love and cling to, and the true motivations behind our every deed, thought and action. In this way they spur us toward illumination, giving us the opportunity to gain self-knowledge, burn off accumulated karma, and make a fresh start on a firmer, more enlightened spiritual footing.

The Nodes can awaken us to the harsh reality that things we have been pursuing and struggling to achieve have not brought us the happiness we had longed for. This disheartening realization could propel us in the opposite direction of enlightenment, leaving us feeling angry, sad or despondent.

So, it is important for us to appreciate and master this ecliptic dance between the Nodes and the luminaries to free ourselves of any misconceptions and move forward with a renewed sense of truth, self-awareness, faith and optimism. Rahu and Ketu represent re-birth, transformation and regeneration—out of the darkness comes new insight and understanding.

The full-moon lunar eclipse on August 18th will be at its maximum at 5:42 a.m. EDT. The new-Moon solar eclipse on September 1st reaches its maximum at 5:01 a.m. It is extremely important during these periods, as well as the days in between and the weeks immediately following, to remain centered, calm and mindful of our thoughts and words, to be of service to others and to practice devotional activities such as yoga, prayer and meditation. Chanting a mantra, such as the Gayatri Mantra or the Shiva Mantra, is also very beneficial. By taking care of ourselves and others, we can draw on the power of this ecliptic period to reshape our lives in a brilliantly positive light, and avoid being caught up in any negativity.

If you would like help making the most of this ecliptic cycle, give us a call at 866-428-3799, or click here to book a consultation. We’re here to help.

Our product suggestions for this eclipse cycle

There was an urgent message on the office answering machine the morning of July 25th.

“Guylaine, it’s Marc. I am having the day from hell—I am coming to see you, it’s an emergency!”

Marc, a long-time client who is usually sweet-tempered and calm, was soon banging on my door.

“What’s going on with you Marc?” I asked.

“It started yesterday, Guylaine. I’d been edgy all afternoon and when my wife and I went out to dinner with friends I inexplicitly ordered two bottles of wine for myself and a second meal. I ate and drank until I felt sick, then I insulted the waiter and was rude to my wife and friends for no reason at all. I woke up this morning feeling anxious and emotionally drained—I snapped at my wife again, cut off other motorists while driving to work and almost quit my job just because my boss didn’t say “good morning” to me. Why I’m behaving like a crazy man?”

“Don’t worry Marc, you’re not crazy,” I said. “Mercury is in the 29th degree of Cancer and its taking a toll on all of us in different ways. This transit’s intense nervous energy can make us lash out illogically over trivial things and push us to overindulge and neglect our health. Read the article The Storm Before the Calm:  Monday’s 29th Degree of Mercury in Cancer and you’ll understand what’s happening to you. And don’t worry, Mercury enters Leo tomorrow and will bring a lot of positive, creative energy with it. It will be a great time for you to find inspiration and make a fresh start . . . and to apologize to your wife.”

Marc called a few days later and said he was quitting drinking, beginning a fitness routine and making it a point to be nicer to everyone—especially his wife.

“I’m taking advantage of Mercury in Leo. Thanks for telling me about the article about the 29th degree, Guylaine—it was an eye-opener!”

We should all heed the maxim: As above, so below. What happens in our stars echoes in our lives; it’s wise to know what’s going on in the Cosmos so we aren’t caught by surprise.

If you’d like help understanding your planets and how you can use them to your advantage, give me a call at at 866-428-3799 or click here to book a consultation.