Sybil was Sandra's first formal introduction to astrology
who came to the U.S. from England and founded the first accredited astrology
school which Sandra attended.
It was not a correspondence school, but a classroom setting with in-depth instruction requiring intensive study.
Sandra states, "The classes were very full in the beginning but narrowed down to a very few toward the end as learning the math for chart calculation was challenging. Teachings were complex and not for anyone who made mistakes – one math error throws a chart completely off and it’s then wrong. The ability to synthesize a chart was part of the testing. But, I enjoyed all of the studies and graduated with original certificates signed by Sybil herself."
Sybil wrote more than 60 books about astrology and numerous metaphysical subjects. Her family in England was involved in astrology and some notable persons who visited her home were H.G. Wells, Lawrence of Arabia and Aleister Crowley.
Born in Straffordshire, England, she was one of the most publicized metaphysicians of the 20th century. Her grandmother prepared astrological charts for such as Dame Edith Sitwell. Sybil talked about having foreseen the success of a French captain named Charles DeGaulle, and predicted the literary achievements and death of Ian Fleming long before he wrote the 007 stories.
It was after reading her book, “My Life in Astrology” that Sandra made the decision to formally learn this very ancient and scientific art. Ironically, once she made the decision that she wanted to study at her school, within six months Sybil moved to the United States and opened a school in the very city where she lived.
Sybil Leek and Charles Luntz wrote the most in-depth set of courses available at that time that were not correspondent but required in-person study and testing. She was a good astrologer and healer which became lesser known when sensational stories of her mystical powers kept appearing in newspapers, magazines and on television shows.
Sybil Leek often attended spaceship lunches at NASA as a guest and was consulted globally by many including government leaders.
Known as the person who brought Witchcraft out of the closet she gained great fame with her numerous books though it was her expertise as an astrologer that was the beckoning call to Sandra.
Sandra is one of the few to have attended classes and earned certificates from Sybil and Astrology Dynamics. She learned chart calculations without a computer including natal (birth charts, synastry (compatibility), progressions, transit, and more. Today she continues to research various areas such as Prenatal Epoch, karmic, spiritual paths, ancestry and psychological dynamics.
SHIRLEY MACLAINE
No doubt there's anyone in the world that doesn't know who she is - a well known and excellent actress, dancer and singer of both film and stage, and author whose work has received many awards during her career. The list of Shirley MacLaine movies, books and movies is extensive.
Choosing to step-up to her own commitment to follow her heart and authentic self, Shirley wrote, Out on a Limb, that became a television mini-series and from there she has written numerous books about her own spiritual journey, as well as launching one of the first New Age/Spirituality websites. Now, there’re many New Age websites, though Shirley’s site led the way. As a place to learn and connect with others of like-mind, its extensiveness has brought knowledge, wisdom, and solace for many thousands over the years. Shirley’s chosen mission is to bring as much as possible, awareness that we are all spiritual beings. Her website has been “the place to go” and where Sandra’s weekly astrology column was published, with an esoteric slant that reached an international audience, and as well was referred a worldwide clientele for personal consultations. She was a frequent guest on Shirley’s Independent Radio show that included many progressive thinkers, authors, and leaders. All-in-all, the site is a job well done and we can continue to progress from there as we branch into new vistas to teach, counsel, and further share our always expanding insights.
The myriad of people that came to the sites Encounter Boards became a spiritual family including not just people, but pets and animals which is one of the bright aspects of such a wonderful union of souls. Over the years we’ve expressed joy about them, sent healing to all who were in need including the animals, and shared our stories of their wonderful lives. Leading the packs and prides was Terry, Shirley’s beloved terrier that was clearly the alpha. Sandra states, “I can’t think of a more wonderful alliance and how much they ALL mean to me.”
The column, Sandra’s Celestial Compass continues in a new
format on her Patreon Membership Site website with daily information about what’s happening in
the cosmos and its impact.
ANDRE NORTON
The personal friendship with Andre began when she and Sandra met at a fundraising event for saving homeless animals. Sandra's mother fostered dozens of animals and was part of a rescue group that raised funds for their medical care. Andre donated handmade Victorian dolls that Sandra has and considers them great treasures.
Sandra and her mother became great friend and attended numerous Christmas teas and social time, enjoying many hours of conversation about animals, the mystical world and literature. She, her mother, and Andre often visited a small British restaurant for tea and pastries.
During those years she consulted Sandra for her expertise as an astrologer and asked her to collaborate with her on her book, “Wheel of Stars”.* Sandra designed a birth chart to match the heroine and also gave several pages of description about the chart and character that is in the book as well. Sandra states, "It was an honor that she dedicated the book to me and I loved working with her."
Andre had more than 300 books and stories published throughout her long and successful career and any search will give you a great amount of information about her work. The movie, “Beastmaster”, was from one of her books and a person of great dignity and refinement.
She always encouraged Sandra to write and was encouraging about her work as an astrologer.
*“Wheel of Stars”
(1983) * Published by Wallaby
(1984) * Published by TOR
(1991) * Published by St. Martins Press
The heroine inherits a watch that houses a secret wheel that is an astrological chart which becomes part of the mystery of the standing stones that is part of the mysterious world in which she is cast. It is a novel about good and evil and traveling through time. This book is dedicated to Sandra Helton.
B ANNE GEHMAN
Rev. B. Anne Gehman was Sandra's first teacher of Spiritualism, mediumship, healing and psychic development. She has two books about her life, the first, "The Priest and the Medium" about her and her husband Dr Wayne Knoll.
Rev. Gehman is founder of the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, NSAC* and the Spiritual Research Society, NSAC*, where Sandra studied directly with Anne and obtained certifications in mediumship and healing.
*NSAC stands for the National Spiritualist Association of Churches.
Anne was the youngest person to become a
certified medium with the NSAC.
She is
• A NSAC National Spiritualist Teacher
• Certified medium
• Commissioned healer
• NSAC as a missionary
• Serves on the board of Morris Pratt
Institute
• Elected to the International Congress of Parapsychologists and paraphysics in Prague, Czechoslovakia
You may read about her in the books, “Miracle Workers”, “Adventures into the Psychic”, and “You Can Communicate with the Unseen World.” Anne is listed among the top 100 Psychics in the country, and has worked with the University of Arizona on a research study regarding after death communication, which is documented in the book, "After Life Experiments" by Dr. Gary Swartz & Linda Russek.
Her credits are too numerous to mention, but you may read about her on her church web site. Look for the new school being formed that is the first accredited Spiritualist College.
A special note regarding Anne's husband, Wayne, who was a shinning light on the earth and is certainly a bright guiding light from the spirit side of life. Dr. Wayne A. Knoll was a distinguished Professor at Georgetown University and a former Jesuit priest who taught at Georgetown for over 40 years.
Anne believes in the continuity of life, that no one really dies, but simply leaves their earthly body and passes into a spirit realm with personality intact. She communicates with those on the spirit side of life and always instills the truth of the spirits survival of bodily death. She has dedicated her life to Spiritualism. Her teachings led Sandra to become a Spiritualist minister and they have remained friends.
Books by or about her are, The Priest and
the Medium, About Life, Love, Mediumship, and the Spirit World (Through A
Medium's Eyes) – Ruth Shilling; Self Empowerment: Nine Things the 19th Century
Can Teach Us About Living in the 21st – by B. Anne Gehman, Ellen Ratner and
several other publications.
SYLVIA DELONG
Author of The Art of Horary Astrology, Presidential Elections, and Guideposts to Mystical and Mundane Interpretations and a great teacher
“Looking back on my career as an
astrologer I owe my access to the best books to Sylvia DeLong who was a great
astrologer with a bookstore offering texts for professionals. My graduating
from Astrology Dynamics wasn’t a simple task as it required extensive study and
the ability to calculate mathematically (without a computer) birth charts,
progressed charts and also transits, in addition to knowing what it all means.
Sylvia was an expert mathematician and her bookstore was my first place to purchase
what was necessary – Ephemerides which were books of pages of planet placements
in 24 increments for various years (My preference because of accuracy which she
had in stock were published in Swiss and German.); Longitude and Latitude
books; Table of Houses (strings of degrees and minutes to convert using
sidereal time and other space alignments); and the ever growing Time Changes
books both National and International. Sylvia also carried books not found in
regular bookstores as well as her personally published three books. Her
workshops were amazing. She was the definitive resource of knowledge and when
she retired I was honored that she gifted me her library.”
