Hello StarScopers!

In this issue - we have diet tips and forecasts for all of the zodiac signs as well as a few ways to really enjoy the new year from a spiritual perspective. Also what is your personal diet forecast for 2007? Read on for more but first here's where we'll be this weekend!

Upcoming Appearances

January 13 - Port Huron MI, New Year's Psychic Fun Fair and Free Lecture with Maria Shaw on her annual 2007 Predictions for all signs. Comfort Inn 10a.m. to 5p.m. Around 10 readers specializing in love, money, career, health and family will be on hand for walk in readings. $5 admission $10 readings. I will be doing my annual New Years lectures in the conference room around 1p.m.

January 20 - Lansing MI, Psychic Fun Day! Lansing Hampton Inn 10a.m. to 5p.m. off Saginaw Highway 1 day only! Come out and see us as we will only be in this area 4 times during all of 2007. We will have a gem and crystal area with over 500 pieces to choose from. Also featuring Blue Raven Imports, an independent Xango distributor, specializing in aroma therapy. Offering incense, holders, candles, oils, etc.$5 admission $10 readings.

January 27 - Midland MI - Psychic Fun Fair NEW LOCATION!!!! The Valley Plaza Resort 10a.m. to 5p.m. Admission is $5 and readings are only $10. No appointments needed. Just walk in and choose from a select list of the state's most accurate psychics. We've moved to a larger location. We're on the second floor in the conference center. Gem and crystals- over 500 pieces to choose from. Also featuring Blue Raven Imports, an independent Xango distributor, specializing in aroma therapy. Offering incense, holders, candles, oils, etc. Special Guest Readers this weekend only: Joann Seckus from Chicago and Lyn Hunter from Toronto

January 28 - Flint School of Therapeutic Massage, off Hill Road and US 23 (Ph: 767-1000)
$10 admission 11a.m. to 5p.m. Readings $10
Directions to the Psychic Fun Fair: Take US 23 to Hill Road, turn west off the exit and turn north onto Hill Road Drive; it is a little road before Meijers that brings you back to a cluster of office buildings. The Flint Massage school will be on the left hand side a few offices down.
Includes:
-Free surprise gift to first 25 people ($20 value)
-Free workshops and classes all day
-Light refreshments
-Crystal vendor area
-Jewelry vendor area
-Blue Raven Imports
-Opportunity to get massages and readings for $1 per minute
Special Guest Readers and speakers from Chicago and Toronto
Joann Seckus, the country's most popular palm reader
Lyn Hunter- Angel expert from Canada
10 readers to choose from. No appointment needed
Massage therapists available all day long too
Classes start at 11:30a.m. and go until 4:30p.m.
Including...Soul Mates and Past life Connections
How to Read your Palm with Joann Seckus
Get in touch with your Guardian Angel with Lyn Hunter
The healing power of crystals and much more!
For more info you can call 810-631-6887

Nice Letters We Get

Dear Maria,
I would like to wish you a fantastic year 2007 filled with many Joyful Blessings, good Health and Prosperity. Thank you so very much for the newsletter you send, for your incredible and generous help and for helping me with the readings I had in the past.
Best wishes,
Claudette

Dear Maria - I just wanted to say that I think that what you do is a wondrous thing and to keep up the good work at what you do. From then Internet

Dear Maria; Thanks for the 1 Question reading last week. I was amazed at how much you could tell me in one email for my new year's forecast! Hope it all comes true, the good stuff I mean! Happy New Year, Beth; San Diego

Maria,

I wanted to thank you for your time on December 13. You gave me great advice and answered many of my questions I had before I even asked them!! The one hour reading really helped me realize that I need to take control of my life and not let other people in my life use guilt to control me. I have been trying to make some big life style changes in my life and you confirmed for me that I am going in the right direction. You gave me more information than I expected and I gave me a sense of peace that everything is going to turn out alright.

I enjoyed the time we spoke and hope someday to come to one of your work shops and meet you in person.

Thank You for sharing your gift with me and I hope you have a great year!!!!!

Love, Michele

Editor's Note: If you have one question and don't need a full reading click on the 1 Question icon on Maria's Home page.

Sticking with Your Resolutions

Now that we're into the second week of our New Year's resolutions and for many of us, those resolutions have to do with diets; here's a few tips.....
Provided by Prevention.com

I can only handle one diet change right now. What should I do?

1. Add just one fruit or veggie serving daily. Get comfortable with that, then add an extra serving until you reach eight to 10 a day.

2. Eat at least two servings of a fruit or veggie at every meal.

3. Resolve never to supersize your food portions -- unless you want to supersize your clothes.

4. Make eating purposeful, not mindless. Whenever you put food in your mouth, peel it, unwrap it, plate it and sit. Engage all of the senses in the pleasure of nourishing your body.

5. Start eating a big breakfast. It helps you eat fewer total calories throughout the day.

6. Make sure your plate is half veggies and/or fruit at both lunch and dinner.

Are there any easy tricks to help me cut calories?

7. Eating out? Halve it, and bag the rest. A typical restaurant entree has 1,000 to 2,000 calories, not even counting the bread, appetizer, beverage and dessert.

8. When dining out, make it automatic: Order one dessert to share.

9. Use a salad plate instead of a dinner plate.

10. See what you eat. Plate your food instead of eating out of the jar or bag.

11. Eat the low-cal items on your plate first, then graduate. Start with salads, veggies and broth soups, and eat meats and starches last. By the time you get to them, you'll be full enough to be content with smaller portions of the high-calorie choices.

12. Instead of whole milk, switch to 1 percent. If you drink one 8-ounce glass a day, you'll lose 5 pounds in a year.

13. Juice has as many calories, ounce for ounce, as soda. Set a limit of one 8-ounce glass of fruit juice a day.

14. Get calories from foods you chew, not beverages. Have fresh fruit instead of fruit juice.

15. Keep a food journal. It really works wonders.

16. Follow the Chinese saying: "Eat until you are eight-tenths full."

17. Use mustard instead of mayo.

18. Eat more soup. The non creamy ones are filling but low-cal.

19. Cut back on or cut out caloric drinks such as soda, sweet tea, lemonade, etc. People have lost weight by making just this one change. If you have a 20-ounce bottle of Coca-Cola every day, switch to Diet Coke. You should lose 25 pounds in a year.

20. Take your lunch to work.

21. Sit when you eat.

22. Dilute juice with water.

23. Have mostly veggies for lunch.

24. Eat at home.

Dieting Forecast for 2007
By Maria Shaw

Aries will have wonderful weight loss opportunities beginning mid September and lasting for 2.5 years. Earlier this year, you should watch for a little bit of winter weight gain but nothing you can't handle.

Taurus - Tend to put on weight in their stomach area. It is neither a weight loss or a weight gain year for Bulls. If you want to lose a few pounds, the best time to start your program will be in late March/April and then again in late September and October.

Gemini - You'll be too busy falling in love to worry about overeating. In fact, a new attraction may give you the added determination to lose unwanted pounds this year. Last year was your weight gain year, so in 2007, your metabolism should be back to normal. You'll be able to lose weight if you work at it.

Cancer - Better watch it! Being one of the food addict signs, it'll be easy to pack on a few pounds this year. But only if you're purposely overeating. This is a weight gain year for you although it is not your biggest weight gain year....2001 was. 2007 is more about controlling your appetite and working out. Things most Cancers hate to have to do. I know, I am one!

Leo - You are in a weight loss cycle the first 9 months of the year so make the most of it. Put together a game plan that works best for you. You could have the best body you've had in years! Your weight gain year is 2008 so lose whatever weight you want to now!

Virgo - Your biggest weight loss cycle in over 30 years starts this September 9th and last until late 2009. Go for it! When this cycle hit me a few years back, I lost 40 pounds effortlessly between the spring and the late summer. Some of you who went on our annual cruise, may remember this; a lot of my regular clients didn't recognize me! Then, my weight gain hit, twice in the last 3 years. It's not fair! But it's life. So all of you Virgos reading this, who need to lose weight, your time is coming! So preplan......it's gonna happen!

Libra - Your weight gain year was 2005. Remember? If you're still battling and trying to lose those last extra pounds, lay off the sweets, desserts and chocolate. That's Libras downfall. The best time to lose weight or start a diet plan this year is late February and March; after Valentine's Day; the holiday which rivals Halloween in candy consumption.

Scorpio - Your weight gain year was last year. So this year, you need to get to work and create a diet plan you can live with. Your best bets for starting new programs are in the spring and also you should have some good luck mid October. Once a Scorpio sets their mind to something, they can manifest anything. So hop to it! You won't put anymore weight on and this is your chance to take it off!

Sagittarius - 2007 is the best and biggest year for personal expansion and yes, that could easily be defined by your waistline too. Take extra caution this year with your food intake. Your metabolism is basically dropping. Old diet plans that worked into the past, will not be quite as effective this year. If you can maintain your weight, consider yourself doing very well. It's likely if you don't monitor your calories and exercise, then you will pack on a few pounds.

Capricorn - Your weight should stay the same with little effort on your part until the end of the year, after which time you will be headed into a big year for weight gain. Starting December 18, 2007 and lasting all of 2008, it will be very easy for you to put on extra weight even if you are a person who has been able to maintain a trim and healthy body. Start planning now and incorporate more exercise and fewer high calorie foods in your diet around October,. The sooner you can kick bad eating habits, the better. If you would like to lose weight, you need to do this year because it will be much more difficult by year's end.

Aquarius - Your aspects for maintaining your weight are strong. Your weight should not fluctuate one way or another unless you take some sort of action to swing the pendulum in a certain direction. Obviously if you eat a lot more and don't exercise, you will put weight on. If you exercise and cut crabs, your weight will decrease. If you do not change any dietary habits, the scale will read the same. Your weight gain year is not until 2009 so you can certainly coast a little for now.

Pisces - You are in a weight loss cycle for the next 9 months. This is not the biggest weight loss cycle ever but the cosmos are on your side if you are diligent about losing weight and have a set plan in place. This is something that most Pisces do not like to do. They despise boundaries so therefore you will have to really buckle down and stick to a program. But this is one of the best years in a long time for the aspects to help you do just that.. The best time for you to see results will be the month of February and also in August.

Many of you have used my book The Astro Diet to help you lose weight. You can pick any diet plan that you have been on in the past that was successful but you couldn;t stay motivated on. The Astro Diet will help you stay motivated as well as give you tips on weight loss from a spiritual and astrological perspective., It's a great guide to use as a tool in the war on weight loss.

Here's what a few of you had to say in past letters:

Lost 15 pounds in 27 days!
Good Morning Maria,

I weighed in again this morning. I have lost another 2.5 pounds. That's a total of 15 pounds this month. Yippee!! I am not craving junk food anymore. I feel that I am finally in control. My birthday is tomorrow and my son wants to take me out for Mexican food. I think I will stick to fajitas. This has been a great month. I crave taking long walks, I certainly feel better when I do. I have been unable to walk the last 3 days (Dr.'s orders) it has been difficult. I plan on taking a short walk tonight. Have a wonderful day.
Carol

Natalie who has dropped 12 pounds in less than a month! She's often found it difficult to lose weight in the past but this month she is definitely a BIG loser and a Big winner in the weight loss war! Congratulations Natalie....
Hello Maria,
For my total weight loss. I started at 202.5. I weighed in this morning at 190.5 for a total weight loss of 12 pounds. I feel much better than I did before I started the diet. I incorporated vitamins with my diet because I was doing Atkins. Before my diet I was depressed. Between eating better, vitamins, and the affirmations, meditations etc; I think they all helped very much. Thank you, Natalie

Dear Maria
Had to tell you. I got married on Sat - and it was wonderful!! That's not what I wanted to tell you. Using what you've been telling us, I was able to not only drop the 5lbs I needed to...I've lost a total of 11lbs. I'm down to 140 and WOW!!! Looked amazing on my wedding day and just wanted to thank you for everything. Lisa Reached her Goal for October even though it was her WEIGHT GAIN TIME!!!!
Maria, got on the scales this morning and weigh in at 204. This is the LOWEST I have been in for 4 years. Even though you said I would have a hard time losing weight July thru October, I still lost! Thank God October is now is over! I am happy with the 8lbs lost. Love Laura, Capricorn

Down 11 Pounds in Pennsylvania this month!
Maria, I lost another 3 pounds this past week. So that's a total of 11 pounds for the month. Not bad, but I'm going to continue! I think if I keep it up the weight will start to come off quicker. Thanks for another month of dieting! Take care.
Love,
Cheryl

Dear Maria
I have lost a total of 18 pounds this month. That includes a 3" loss in my waist. 1" in each thigh and calf. I will be asking for a new watch for Christmas. My just spins around my wrist. You have given me the motivation to succeed. I hope to get a reading from you soon. I have been getting lots of positive comments at work. I have a long way to go, but I know that I can do it.
Have a fantastic day,
Carol

Maria's note: yesterday I spoke to Janelle from Troy, MI on the phone who has used the Astro Diet for over a year. When she started she was as size 18. She is now a size 6!

If you need extra motivation to stay focused and stay on your diet, you can order a copy of the Astro Diet through mariashaw.com or call 810-631-6887. Let us know how it has helped you. Identify yourself as a StarScoper and you will receive a free gift!

Staying Happy

And finally, already a week into the new year, here's some final thoughts

From Ode Magazine, here are practical guidelines for staying happy throughout 2007!

Choose your information sources carefully
Beware of psychic pollution. Learn how to put news in its proper perspective. Many of us suffer from information overload and can become addicted to dramatic news with its life-or-death pitch. This is a manufactured reality, like a drug or alcohol high. Limit your digestion of sensational news. Don't allow your thoughts to become dominated by the lives of strangers and events you cannot control. Be ruthless about what you allow into your mind. Make an agreement with yourself about how much time you will worry about a given subject each day. Stick to it. You will notice a difference in how you feel.

Make your world smaller
The domination of media and advertising can overshadow our personal lives with a bigger, more fearful world. We have to choose which world holds our allegiance. If we really look around our own lives, in our own towns and our neighborhoods, we see that things are not as fearful or violent as they are often portrayed in the media. We have to trust the reality of our own lives. Get close to your world. Go out walking in the woods near your house or in your neighborhood. Get to know your immediate environment by getting to know your neighbors and spending more time at home. You will find that a comforting reality exists all around you.

Grow a progressive community
When we feel oppressed by circumstances or by society, it is often because we feel alone. It's important in tough times to find a community of like-minded people who share the same political, social, environmental, or spiritual beliefs.

Infuse everyday events with magic and ritual
Make meals a time of community and connection with loved ones. Eat at home more. Ask friends over for dinner. Turn washing, drying, and ironing clothes into acts that add order and rhythm to life. Rediscover the smell of line-dried clothes. Make your home a place of solace and refuge. Create an inspiring and regenerative personal environment. You will feel a difference.

Sing and dance
In the most difficult of times people around the world sing and dance. Get some new music to listen to in the car or at home. Better yet, get together with friends to listen to and play live music. Teach yourself songs in the shower and the car. Dance anywhere. Dance in the living room, in the car, while you're gardening or working outside. Immerse yourself in music, and it will make you feel better.

Choose your companions carefully
Our companions strongly influence not only our opinion of ourselves, but also our state of mind. The dramatic emotions of others can lead us to develop a more negative and hopeless view of the world. On the other hand, companions who have a new sense of things or who talk of life in positive and hopeful terms can help us to feel strong enough to tackle life's challenges. These friends give us courage.

Lead an examined life
Tough times require honesty and self-reflection. It is easy to take things personally when the chips are down. Increased self-awareness allows us to take responsibility appropriately and to let go of what we can't control. It is important to cultivate the habit of self-reflection.

Focus on others
Sometimes when we are absorbed by a problem in our family or in society at large, we lose perspective. We exaggerate our own importance. Our problems become the worst in the history of the world. Helping others, especially children, can put things in perspective.

Become an activist
Find a cause that you believe in and support it at whatever level you can. Give money or time. Become a member. Educate and organize others. Vote. Register others to vote. And remember that activism is not about instant success, but about long-term social change. Talk to your kids about peace. Protect them from overexposure to war talk and war images. Talk openly with them and others about your beliefs.

Don't be a victim
Often, when times are hard, we bemoan our bad luck. Why me? Why now? When you can refrain from taking life personally, however, you can act more effectively. Tough times will generate courage in proportion to the difficulty of the situation. It is tempting to criticize things as they are without having any idea of how to improve them. Part of the seduction of modern times is the false belief that this is as good as it gets, that things couldn't possibly be any better. The wisdom of living your own reality despite tough times is that your everyday reality ever improves itself; it always gives birth to a more positive future. Spend time imagining solutions to the problems you face in your life or to the problems of society. Talk to your friends about positive solutions. Take action to add at least one positive solution to your life.

Keep your sense of humor
At the heart of an optimistic spirit lies a hearty sense of humor. When you can laugh at yourself and the world, you can keep perspective. When you can't, you know that you need some help. Reach out to others when you've lost your sense of humor. Watch a funny movie or do The Twist. We must create our own personal realities to raise our children with hope and optimism. We must become increasingly active in re-creating democracy in our lives and in our society. Our personal lives parallel the collective. Speak with your own voice and it will uplift others. Work on your own life and it will inspire others. Come together with one another and you will touch others. Keep hope alive for the future, for the children. Children are the evidence that love, not fear, is the answer....

That says it all, have a blessed week!
Maria

Did you miss an issue of StarScopes?
Read all of the past issues on Maria's website.

Comments, questions or concerns?
Drop us a note at askmariashaw@aol.com.

Unsubscribe
To end your subscription, simply [unsubscribe].

Copyright 2006 Maria Shaw, PO Box 490, Genesee, Michigan 48437