Sara’s Universal Soul Show – Shelley Von Strunckel, Astrologist And Spiritual Teacher

Welcome to another Universal Soul Show. I'm Sarah Griffiths here with you for the next hour. My guest today is the perfect guest as we look to the new year ahead and what it may have in store for us. Probably best known for her internationally published astrology columns, she combines her business knowledge with vast experience to address the often challenging mix of unsettling events currently reshaping virtually every element of our world and lives, whether it be personally, politically, financial, socially or spiritually. I'm talking about the wonderful Shelley Von Strunkle. She's going to be joining me in just a couple of moments. In the last part of the show, we'll have the best things in life are Free. And of course, I'll be announcing who's won a copy of Radical Help by Hilary Cottam, who was my guest on the last show. It's always such a pleasure to hear from you. So the ways you can contact us here at the show are via email on presentersomensradiostation.com on Facebook, the Universal Soul show and Twitter. It's mensradiosdn or UniversalSoulsh. Well, I'm delighted to introduce my guest. It is the one and only Shelley Von Strunkle. Shelley, wonderful to have you here. Thank you. It's fantastic. Shelley, probably best known for your astrological columns in publications such as London's Evening Standard, the London Sunday Times Style, and also, of course, literally worldwide, which is brilliant because we're broadcasting worldwide, places from Hong Kong to Dubai, French and Chinese Vogue, and I think recently back in British Vogue, and also Astrology. By no means all you do spiritual teacher too, which we're going to talk about a lot more throughout the show. But can you just explain to us where did your connection to astrology first come from? Well, actually, the spiritual part came in first. I mean, I was, okay, this shows God has a sense of humor. I was born and grew up in Hollywood, the perfect place to develop as a spiritual teacher. Right? And so what happened was the thing about Hollywood is there was a rich vein of interest in spirituality there. And when I was a kid, I had to have been old enough to drive. I used to go to something called the Vedanta Society, a tiny, tiny temple right by the Hollywood Freeway, of course. And Christopher Isherwood used to go there, Aldous Huxley used to go there. And Isherwood actually learned Sanskrit to translate the Bhagavad Gita for them. And so it was this place of spiritual study, but with wonderful writing and books from every faith. So I kind of read My way through the bookshelves and was fascinated by that, and then gradually started doing yoga and learned about tarot cards. And then astrology came in much later, probably 26, 27. And in the meantime, I was also studying. I was marketing. I was a retail buyer and in the fashion business and actually studying the history of fashion at ucla. Now, you would think, now, what does a history of fashion, fashion have to do with spirituality or astrology? But studying it made me aware of the interest in the area and the way it was presented. And from that tiny Vedanta temple with these amazing teachers to what could you call it? The wonkier end of it, the astrology really came in much later. And it only kind of took over gradually in the sense that I had private clients. And then out of the blue, I was invited, found as the heir to the famous Patrick Walker, who was the astrologer in the Evening Standard before me. And he was looking for someone to succeed him. And you were his heir. It's fascinating, Shelley, because I think that is potentially what makes you so unique in the industry. It is this very integrated, grounded perspective that you have relative to both spirituality and astrology. What would you say? So going right back to basics to somebody tuning in today. So what is astrology? What can it do for us? Well, actually. Okay, what is astrology? It's actually a good question because to astrology, and I'm kind of partly responsible for this, is. It's these columns in newspapers and magazines, you know, with the 12 boxes. Yeah, okay. This is a news flash. People really don't realize this. You know, when that started, it's not even 100 years old. It began in 1930 when Princess Margaret got married and the Express newspaper commissioned their astrologer to write about her. And he did. And at the end of that, he wrote something for every sign in 1930. And that's when it started. Before then, astrology wasn't what we think of it as being. And it's interesting because many people perhaps do look in whatever publication they choose, and they do look at that. But there is so much more to it than that, isn't there? I mean, I know you offer personal astrological charts. Just tell us about these. Well, one of the reasons I do that is astrology. Okay, let me take it back a little bit. I think one of the reasons astrology is interesting to people is because there are very few things in mainstream media that's remotely reflective, to say the least. You know, life. And I am not without an interest in stuff. And BLING, So I'm not in any way a renunciate. And we talked about that, didn't we? The fact that they needn't be mutually exclusive. Oh, well, certainly not in my book. So, no, I mean, it's the other way around. A beautiful life is a beautiful life. But I think for many people, astrology is their first step into any kind of spirituality, because there ain't nothing else in mainstream media about it. And if it's written by someone who is themselves a spiritual student, then the kind of vibe behind those words is that. And I think that's been the draw. And I think people are looking for guidance. You know, we're living in very, very challenging times, and I know that's where you are called into some extraordinary corporations and businesses, the kind of people that ask you for guidance. I mean, and as we mention earlier, these aren't predictions. This is guidance. Yeah, well, the other part of it is, okay, now, this goes from the star sign columns, you know, the 52 words, not a word more, that I write for the Evening Standard, which also appears in the Gulf News, in Dubai, in the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong and all over the world. The other part of this is the astrology, the bigger astrology, which, if I can just define it, it is about the cycles of nature. And these are what actually, when people settled in the river valleys, they didn't know when the rivers would flood, and that's why they started paying attention to it. But now astrology is used for everything from, can you believe, planting and harvesting wine, biodynamic wine. You're on my subject, Shelley. Yes. To business. Right. And so I do it by drinking the wine and dealing with the businesses, but I advise businesses. And this isn't just about people's star signs. It's actually about the business cycles. Shelley, we're going to talk lots more about this. We're going to hear your first choice of music now, Ride of the Valkyrie from Wagner's Ring Cycle. Why this piece? No, this is. I know I probably need to explain this quickly, but it's so amazing. So I was eight years old, maybe, and I was in the Griffith Park Observatory, which is where, if anyone has seen the movie Rebel Without a Cause, a fabulous movie with James Dean in it. The anchor scene is shot there. Fabulous architecture. And inside there's a pendulum, and there are murals of the symbols for the 12 signs. And I was there, and I was like 8 years old, and they were playing the Ride of the Valkyrie, and I knew I would have to do with both of those. And of course, the signs were there. But also one of my passions is opera. Let's listen to the piece Shelley and then we're going to talk lots more. It's sam. Shelley von Strunkle staying with me, so I do hope you can too. Welcome to Women's Radio Station, the voice of women worldwide. This is Women's Radio Station. You're listening to Avril Price with Kitchen Sink Spirituality. It's Anna Kennedy talking all things autism and my guest today is Karen no. Welcome to future Classical Woman Awards with me, Stefania Passamonte on Women's Radio Station. Women's Radio Station, we want to hear from you. I listen to Women's Radio Station Women. The possibilities are endless. That's what makes us different. Hi, I'm Liz Van Linden, a UK travel consultant for Hazelmere Travel. People come to me as they want unique experiences and a personalized service. This happens from the moment that they inquire till they come back home. I work with luxury tour operators. You can contact me on 078-254-12112 and Liz spelt L I S hazazelmayetravel.co.uk hi, I'm Mariam Jamaux and I'm the founder of WCAN, a young social enterprise ensuring an increase in employment progression and retention of black women in the corporate world. We specialise in the professional and personal development of over 3,000 young black women in the UK. To get involved, please sign up or learn more via wcan.co.uk, visit our Twitter or Instagram caanetwork. If you're a corporation interested in sponsorship, email sponsorshipwcan.uk Are you struggling with money? Turn to us as a national charity helping people struggling to make ends meet. Job loss, illness or bereavement can cause a real financial crisis. We give practical help to get people back on track. Whether you're thinking of having a baby, trying to get out of an unhappy relationship, or just unsure what benefits you may be entitled to, we can help. Visit turntous.org.uk Let me tell you about Jermyn Street Theatre. This is a secret theatre in the heart of the West End. Once found in, never forgotten. This is where careers ignite, where playwrights take risks, where great actors perform just feet away from the audience. This is where magic happens. We would love you to join our mailing list or become a sponsor or just buy a ticket to one of our shows. The website is www.germanstreettheatre.co.uk. Women's radio station is a not for profit community interest company. Supporting women is our passion. We're currently welcoming donations to help towards our running costs to keep this important initiative alive. To donate, simply head to our website. Every little will help. Well, I'm here with Shelley Von Strunkle. Shelley, before the adverts we had that incredible piece of music. It feels like it should almost be your theme tune. I feel like you should be a new character in Harry Potter. Thank you very much. I think, I mean it's interesting how opera has kind of slipped into my life because the LA I grew up in had. Well, it had show business, it had. I mean I lived next door to a guy who created one of the top TV series in my childhood and I dated the odd movie star and that kind of stuff. So it was like around but there was no opera. So when I came to London it was like, oh, wow, there's this thing I can explore. And of course I've not only become very, very interested in it and passionate about it, I'm a bit of an expert on it now. I sometimes speak on it. Yeah. In fact, I spoke at Wilton's Music hall the other day on an experience with opera. Have you ever sung Shelley? No. God decided that my voice would be better used in other ways. Exactly. Do you know, talking of your speaking chalet, I mean you do travel the world internationally. If people want to book you as a speaker, are they able to do that? With pleasure. One of the things I speak about, and this is a surprise is speak about the cycles in business. And of course having been a buyer and I say one of my phrases, but this is absolutely true is nothing reproaches you more than an unsold dress. It says you made a stupid decision and it means you weren't thinking of your customer. And that's what I use when I speak about the cycles in business using astrology. And it's so much fun to see the faces of the people in the room because they start out going, yeah, what you gonna say? You know, this sign will buy this. And then I've explained the sign. I love that this sign will buy this. So this is, this is the Aries dress. Probably not like that. However, there are cycles and one, in fact here's because I was gonna give tips for later, but I'm gonna give you one now. Uranus, which is the planet of the unexpected, the planet of innovation. And this is not an advert any organization, however, it's just the way I explain it. I regard Uranus As a planet, it is the Uber of planets, the disruptor. Right. Uranus changes signs only every seven years. In March of this year, in fact, in early March, it moves into the sign of Taurus, which is the sign of finance. Fasten your seatbelts. Now. We're already watching disruption in the form of the entire cyber currency thing. Well, Uranus is also about everything technological. So we have on one hand, this disruptor planet moving into the sign of banking, which is one of the most conservative sectors of all the business sectors, and on the other, this whole cyber currency thing happening. It's a formula for a bit of excitement. But for those who are conservative and want to stick to what they know, I think they should call in an astrologer. Wow. And obviously they can do that, Shelley, because I was fascinated going through your website, www.shelleyvonstrunkle.com. i mean, you offer so support and guidance to people there. Yes. And again, the marketer in me has empathy, sympathy for people who are moving through this world, which is exciting and thrilling, but a teeny bit disorganized at the moment. I mean, the change that's going on, I mean, should we just look at the kind of leadership the world has, which is very wide and varied? And I'm not criticizing anything, I'm just observing that we're in a time of change. So on one hand, you got this planet, which I'm calling the Uber of planet, moving into the financial sector. And on the other hand, there's an entirely different style of leadership which is emerging, which I think is part of a new cycle. But it's what you might call the untidy bit. So perhaps a bit uncomfortable. What do you feel we as individuals can do about the state of the world? Shelly, you know, bad as things can sometimes appear. Well, and this takes me actually to another thing I do. I teach meditation. And the reason I teach it actually is because I mentioned someone should meditate. And they said, where should I go? And I said, well, you could go. And they tried someplace and they hid it and they said, look, you meditate, you talk. You know, I guess it's true. You press the start button, I talk. Why don't you teach meditation? I began doing it, and it's something that I do so far in a class. People have to come, but who knows? Maybe we can do it online. But it is probably the best tool for dealing with this time. Why, unless you happen to be a very special person, you can't change what's going on in the world. But what you can do is change your consciousness and give you like a two minute story about the Transcendental Meditation people who set out to prove that Washington D.C. everyone knows about it, the White House is there, but that's only a quarter of the city. It's actually a district. And three quarters of it has quite a bad crime rate. And they've always had a problem with it. So the Transcendental Meditation people, the guys, the Guru Maharishi Mahashoghi had a group go there. They're top level meditators. They meditated for six weeks and left. They didn't announce it and the police said the crime rate dropped. What happened? And so the TM people went, yep. Wow. So the energetic, literal power of meditation, meditation actually changes the energy field around you and in the world and so changes the vibration. And the fact that we can all do that with absolutely no resource, with no props, anywhere we are at any time is so empowering. I do it on the underground. You have one of the best descriptions of it. I loved it. One of the five things that feed your soul. And you said, for me, it's like a kind of vitamin. Such a wonderful way to put it. It is. I mean, people say, oh, if I could just have a drink, I'd be better. It's like, yeah, but trying meditation. Do that first and then have the drink and then have the drink afterwards. Shelley, we're gonna listen to your second choice of music now. So it's by Donovan and it's Sunshine Superman. Tell us where this choice came from. Oh, in such an LA childhood kind of thing? Well, no, actually LA teenagehood thing. Because. Because the LA I grew up in was half surfers and going to the beach and Beach Boys and half a certain amount of substances around, shall we say? Because that was. Everyone was doing it first in la. And to me, the sound of that is kind of the sound of the feeling of the LA at that time. On one hand it was, you can say, a real altered reality, and on the other hand, everything was possible. Did you feel American before you felt English then? Were your parents American, Shelley? Oh, yeah, yeah. I mean, the von Strunkl obviously is a bit of an import, but, I mean, everyone in LA comes from somebody someplace else. However, the funny thing is, when I was a kid, I had a British nanny, so I actually grew up on Christopher Robin and Alice in the palace, which is why, even though I do have an American accent, it isn't as strong. And when I'm in America, people think I'm British, but I don't think you could say there is a normal childhood in la, especially when I was growing up. And then what age did you arrive back here in London? Well, I. Gosh, I kind of got brought here by. I had a girlfriend who is a Pan Am hostess in the days when they could just bring friends. And she. I think she was trying to match me up with her cousin and so she kept bringing me for Christmas. What a lovely friend. We're gonna listen to Sunshine Superman by Donovan and we're gonna chat lots more. Thanks a million, Shannon. Sunshine came softly through my window today. Coulda tripped out D.C. but I've. I changed my way. It'll take time, I know it. But in a while you're gonna be mine. I know it. We're doing in style. Cause I made my mind up. You're going to be mine. I'll tell you right now. Ain't a trick in a book and I pay bill all that I can. Superman and Green Lantern ain't got nothing on me. I can make like a turtle and dive far above in the sea. You can just sit there thinking on your velvet throne. Yes, about all the rainbows that you can. I have all your own. Cause I made my mind up. You're going to be mine. I'll tell you right now. Any trick in the book. Can I be bear all that I can find. Everybody's hustlin just to have a little scene. When I say we'll be cool I think that you know what I mean. We stood on a beach sunset do you remember when I know a beach where they bell it never ends. When you've made your mind up forever to be mine. I'll pick up your hand slowly blow your little mind. Cause I made my mind up. You're going to be fine. I'll tell you right now in a tricking I'm looking now baby all that I can find. Superman on Greenland turning God another on me. I can make like a turtle and I fall. You're puzzling the sea. Yep, I get you. You can just sit there while thinking on your velvet throne. Got all the rainbows that you can. I'll have all your own. When you've made your mind up forever to be mine. I'll pick up your hand and slowly blow your. When you've made your mind up forever to bear mine. I'll pick up your hand. I'll pick up your hand and slowly I'll blow your little mind. Sunshine Superman by Donovan There more talk with Shelley Von Strunkle coming up after these few episodes. Women's Radio Station is a fresh new broadcasting platform driven by love and passion. Connecting women around the world in a global network is all about diversity from opinions, career, ethnicity, education. We aim to show the individuality of every woman everywhere, providing opportunities and a platform for your voice. Women, the possibilities are endless. That's what makes us different. I'm Tamina Zaman, founder of Empower and Enrich. 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We provide convict resolution and community engagement services. Our our services include community mediation for neighbour disputes, family mediation for separating couples, special education needs for parents, carers and their children and young adults, as well as workplace mediation and restorative services. To find out more head to womensradiostation.com or theaproject.co.uk let me tell you about German Street Theatre. This this is a secret theatre in the heart of the West End. Once found, never forgotten. This is where careers ignite, where playwrights take risks, where great actors perform just feet away from the audience. This is where magic happens. We would love you to join our mailing list or become a sponsor or just buy a ticket to one of our shows. The website is www.jermynstreettheatre.co.uk. Women's radio station is a not for profit community interest company. Supporting women is our passion. We're currently welcoming donations to help towards our running costs to keep this important initiative alive. To donate simply head to our website. Every little will help. Shelley Von Strunkle is here with me. Shelley, we mentioned Meditation as one of the five Things that feed your soul, just running through the others. And I don't want to run out of time. We've got time with friends, we've got Cooking for friends or even yourself. So again, all that kind of good living. I love coming through people watching sunrises and sunsets, especially when you're at home writing. And also I love this, that, oh, I get it moment when you're speaking to a group about their own spirituality. You talked about your role as a spiritual teacher. How does that integrate with the astrology these days? It's funny because I'm so known as astrologer, obviously. I mean, actually inescapable. So my face is in print someplace in the world every day. But increasingly, I mean, when I started, that was all there was in newspapers or in media that was about spirituality. Now we're sitting here talking on the radio about it. And this will be heard by people all over the world. And there's an increasing balance with that. And I think the world is changing. I mean, I think, to put it in kind of jocular terms, we're kind of all stuffed out. We have really all reached the point where are we absolutely sure we need to buy that next pair of shoes and we're looking for something else. And I think that the meditation, spiritual component is what we're finding will bring that satisfaction that a new pair of shoes used to. It's the intangible, isn't it? I think Hillary said last week. My guess, the God shaped hole. And I think much as we recognize we needn't feel guilty about the enjoyment of physical things as we are physical beings, no amount of them will ultimately satisfy that craving to know perhaps who we are deeper than our known selves. But one of the challenges with this is that what we're pleased to call education hasn't included terminology for this. So many people's ability to discern and also to learn about it is somewhat limited. And it's a bit like if someone ever drank wine and was given wines to taste. How do you have the language? And this is one of the reasons why I think conversations in media, just like we're doing now about it, is so interesting. And one of the reasons meditation is a good starting point is because even if you do it for five minutes, that stillness takes you to a place where you begin to recognize what's going on inside. And also that's the beginning. It starts, I feel, almost creating it like a safe portal, a safe haven, a place that you recognize exists that is very real, even though it's technically intangible, but it is real on the level of a vibration. Yes. And it may even be a little bit realer than what we call reality. Ooh, that's one to think about talking about reality for you, Shelley. I mean, you do spend an awful lot of time watching, but this love of the visual. So the sun rises, the sun sunsets. Yeah, no, it's something that's been. I'm a visual person. I actually have a photographic memory, and so I can remember any. I mean, as I was describing earlier, that moment in that observatory in Los Angeles, I can still. I mean, I could describe everything around. In fact, once, briefly, I had moved and all my books were in storage and there was a story in the news about, can you believe astrology and Hitler. And there was a page in a book I had where I needed a quote for the BBC. And by the time they got there, I remembered the whole page, including the dates and all of it. So I have that kind of memory. When did you realize you had that ability? Well, I thought it was normal until I realized. It's interesting because talking to people on the show, Shelley, obviously we live with ourselves. So however we are, however we experience ourselves is what we perceive to be normal. So that exchange and that connection with people is so important. But again, as we reference our inner world more, then we begin to experience that more. And sometimes we talk to people and we have a connection on that level too. Now, I think that's tremendously important. It doesn't just have to do with our well being. It may have a teeny bit to do with successful relationships and being able to understand what's going on within another better. There's all kinds of reasons for it. I love when people accept some of the wonderful personal astrological charts that you do. For example, I know they've been incredibly successful, whether it's for individuals, people talking about children, people talking about relationships. So if they'd like to access you, Shelley, in that way, they can have a personalized chart done. And in actual fact, you very kindly gifted as one for our giveaway in this show. But they can do that by going to your website. Do you also do your personal consultations? Are they available? Yes, with the personal charts, they can order them. And they're about 25 to 35 pages long, depending on the chart. And by the way, let me also just say they're ones about children. And I've had such amazing feedback from people who've had the children's charts done. It's really touching. It's lovely for me. What someone needs to do, because I'm very busy, is they can apply for a reading. What they do is they write an email to my PA saying what they'd like and that kind of thing. And that's palivonstrunkle.com. yeah. The only tricky bit is to actually spell Shelley von Strunkle. Right. There are many consonants wandering around in there. It's easy to mess around, to put it. I'm going to make sure that I spell it out for people later, but it is S, H, E double L, E, Y, V, O, N, S T, R, U, N, C K E, l dot com. Shelley, we're going to have some tips in the last section of the show with you of how we might approach 2019. But just before we do that, tell us about your last choice of music. So, really interesting P. Short Ride In A Fast Machine by John Adams. Yeah, John Adams is a contemporary of mine, actually, an American composer who has this amazing ability to do music that's contemporary because very often contemporary classical music is a bit of the kind of squeak it kind of thing, and his isn't. His is compelling and friendly. And I chose this one in particular because it's very digestible. It's kind of. Well, it's like a short run in a fast car, actually. So get ready, fasten your seatbelts and Shelley's going to be back with some tips for getting the best out of 2019 in just a few minutes. Shelly Von Strunkle staying with me to give us her top tips for getting the Most out of 2019. Welcome to Women's Radio Station, the voice of women worldwide. This is Women's Radio Station. You're listening to Avril Price with Kitchen Sink Spirituality. It's Anna Kennedy talking all things autism. And my guest today is Karen no. Welcome to future Classical Woman Awards with me, Stefania Passamonte on Women's Radio Station. Women's Radio Station, we want to hear from you. I listen to Women's Radio Radio Station Women. The possibilities are endless. That's what makes us different. Hi, I'm Liz Van Linden, a UK travel consultant for Hazelmere Travel. People come to me as they want unique experiences and a personalised service. This happens from the moment that they enquire till they come back home. I work with luxury tour operators. You can contact me on 078-254-4122. And Liz spelt lislemeartravel.co.uk hi, I'm Mariam Jamaux and I'm the founder of WCAN, a young social enterprise ensuring an increase in employment progression and retention of Black women in the corporate world. We specialise in the professional and personal development of over 3,000 young black women in the United States. To get involved, please sign up or learn more via wcan.co.uk, visit our Twitter or Instagram. If you're a corporation interested in sponsorship, email sponsorshipcan.uk Are you struggling with money? Turn to us as a national charity helping people struggling to make ends meet. Job loss, illness or bereavement can cause a real financial problem crisis. We give practical help to get people back on track. Whether you're thinking of having a baby, trying to get out of an unhappy relationship or just unsure what benefits you may be entitled to, we can help visit turntous.org.uk Let me tell you about Jermyn Street Theatre. This is a secret theatre in the heart of the West End. Once found, never forgotten. This is where careers ignite, where playwrights take risks, where great actors perform just feet away from the audience. This is where magic happens. We would love you to join our mailing list or become a sponsor or just buy a ticket to one of our shows. The website is www.germanstreettheatre.co.uk. Women's Radio Station is a not for profit community interest company. Supporting women is our passion. We're currently welcoming donations to help towards our running costs to keep this important initiative alive. To donate, simply head to our website. Every little will help. Shelley von Strunkle stayed with me. Shelley, thanks so much for being here and I'm delighted that you've accomplished agreed to give us some top tips for getting the best out of 2019. What should we all be doing or looking for? I say this half jocularly. Take a deep breath is your first step. But I'd say that for two reasons. One is back to meditation, back to having your own center. Why? Because, well actually we just did the fast ride. Well, it's going to be a little like that this year. Things are going to be so that's the theme tune to 2019 and part of that therefore requires that you have a stronger center. But the other portion of that is because a lot will be happening. There will be a lot of changes. They're positive, they're real twists and turns in our world, discoveries, acknowledgements, that kind of thing. News media does, we know, tend somewhat to exaggerate. If your center is strong, you're not going to buy in to those extremes. The other part of it is when choose your Conversations. Choose how you use your time. Why? Because if you're talking to someone who's going, and did you hear? And isn't it awful? And then there's a tendency for people to top that. I heard. You know what happens to your psyche when you do that? Competition. Awfulness is not actually a great thing for anybody. So to be able, first of all, to have your center, second of all, hear the news going on and go, oh, yes, Joss, that sounds extreme. It may or may not be true. Right. So keep an open mind. Don't get drawn into the dramas. That's kind of a big. Part one. Part two is choose your joys and enjoy them. Now, that sounds like. Well, I don't. It's amazing, though, how often you'll be doing something and think, what should I do? And kind of go, oh, I could do that thing I really love doing right now. Whether it is having a cup of tea, eating a piece of fruit, looking at a flower, you can do that. So however small. How extraordinary. Shelley, it's almost like you talked about being a spiritual teacher, but that is almost, in summary, great spiritual lessons. So to maintain one's center and observe what's going around without necessarily being drawn into the drama, to actually gratitude and really have appreciation and take time to enjoy things, be present. Present and choose. We forget we have that power, and we do, and it's the greatest power of all. And also, I love that, Shelley, that the power of choice is our power to be creative. We are creative by nature, that we have choice. Yeah. And that's. We forget that. I mean, there's so much media pressing in on us, and I mean, and I do it, and I miss social media, and I'm doing all of that stuff, and I love it, actually. But really, that capacity to take any moment and make it a golden one, a mystical one, it's ours. No one else can do it for us. And that's the greatest gift of all to have. Shelley, it has been blissful to start our January 2019 with you. I thank you so much for coming in and sharing your wisdom and your joy with us. You very kindly, as I said, gifted us a personal astrological report for three lucky winners, which we're going to have coming up in the best things in life are free very shortly. But in the meantime, Shelley, I wish you every good wish for 2019 for yourself, and thank you very much for everything that you've shared with us today. My pleasure. All the moon belongs to every Everyone the best things in life they're free Stars belong to everyone they claim that for you and for me Flowers in spring the robins that sing the sunbeams that shine they're yours and they're mine Love can come to everyone the best things in life they're free Moon belongs to everyone the best things in life they're free Stars belong to everyone they glitter there for you and me Flowers in spring they're robin they sing sunbeam to shine all the yo's and the my y' all Love can come to every wanna Best things in life Life they're free all of the good things Every one of the better things the best best things in life they are free. The beautiful voice of Sam Cook there. Well, let's start with announcing the winner from the last show, the giveaway being a copy of Hillary Co book Radical Help. I'm delighted to say the winner is and I know this might seem like a fix, but I promise you it's not. I drew the name out of the hat. It's my brother Rhett. So thank you, Rhett for liking the post, a great supporter of the show. So this is where I'd usually say if you message me your details, I'll get that to you, but I think I can probably manage to do that without you having to message me. Well, if you'd like to be in with a chance of winning one of our guests giveaways, all you need to do is connect with the show in whatever way works for you. You can like a post as Rhett did, You can comment on the show or you can email me here on presentersomensradiostation.com putting the show name as the subject. You can follow us on Facebook, which is the Universal Soul show, or on Twitter mensradiosdn or UniversalSoulsh. So now to this week's giveaway. Thank you so much to my guest, Shelley Von Str, who has very generously gifted us personal astrological reports for three lucky winners. So remember, if you can't wait or you don't want to take a chance on winning, you of course can order one for yourself directly from Shelley's website, which is www.shelleyvonstrunkle.com. but if you'd like to be in with a chance of winning one of those three lucky winners will be chosen in my next show. You'll then provide me with a date of birth, place of birth and time of birth if you can. And Shelley will prepar your personalized astrological report for you. Now, talking of websites, if you want to be literally one of the first people in the world to be part of the launch of my new Soul Mist. It is finally made. It's now available on The Universal Soul Company website, www.theuniversalsoulcompany.com and in any event, I just love to know what you think about it. Well, I thought I'd finish this week's show with one of my favorite poems, desiderata, written in 1927 by Max Ehrman, to take us into what I hope will be a happy and peaceful new year for everyone. Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence as far as possible without surrender. Be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant. They too have their sense story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons. They are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble. It's a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is. Many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself especially. Do not feign affection, neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness beyond a wholesome discipline. Be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars. You have a right to be here, and whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy. Thank you again to my guest this week shall Yvonne Strunkle and to all of you for listening. So wherever you are in the world, I wish you a wonderful 2019. May it bring you everything you wish for yourself and your loved ones. I'll be back with another show very soon. Until then, much love and bye for now. There was a time I used to look into my father's eyes In a happy home I was a king I had a golden throne those days are gone now the memories on the wall I hear the songs from the places where I was born. Upon that hill across the blue lake that's where I had my first heartbreak I still remember how it all changed My father said yeah don't you worry don't you worry child she ever got a plan for you don't you worry don't you worry now yeah. Don't you worry don't you worry she has got a plan for you don't you worry don't you worry now. There was a time I met a girl of a different kind we rule the world I thought I'd never lose her Outside we were so young I think of her now and then I still hear the songs reminding me of a friend. Upon a hill across cross the blue lake that's where I have a first heartbreak I still remember how it all changed My father said don't you worry don't you worry child she ever's got a plan for you Women's radio station is a fresh new broadcasting platform driven by love and passion. Passion. Connecting women around the world in a global network is all about diversity from opinions, career, ethnicity, education. We aim to show the individuality of every woman everywhere providing opportunities and a platform for your voice. Women, the possibilities are endless. That's what makes us different. I'm Tamina Zaman, founder of Empower and when it comes to money, do you clam up or get confused? Do you wish you could save more money or are you hoping you have enough for retirement? You are not alone. 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