home consultations beacon Marga Laube P.O. Box 552 Ashland, OR 97520 phone: 310.971.0546 email: marga@margalaube.com The name Marga means "The Path" in Sanskrit - it was given to me at birth, and as I grow older I appreciate it's poetic justice more and more. I originally came to astrology in 1988 during a period of soul-searching, and over the years have come to regard this ancient, sacred and mystical science as a sort of Muse that is always available to guide me through life's changes. Because of this first-hand experience of astrology's ability to light the way during my own darkest hours, I find astrology's impact to be greatest during life transitions. While vedic astrology is traditionally taught as a science, to me it is as much an art. There is an art to "Seeing" the life of another. The language I use to describe the astrological observations I make is also to me an exercise in creativity. I put as much effort into this creative end of it as I do into the academic rigor of understanding the science, because it brings me such joy to approach the ineffable in You, in this way. I view the chart in the same way I view the plastic tag in a little plant seedling at a nursery - they both identify and describe typical potentialities. And in the same way that a plant often performs differently than it's stated plant tag potential, your choices are the unquantifiable aspect of your chart. The chart is not meant to replace your own understanding of your moment-by-moment experience. Nor can a reading exempt you from decision-making. But it does help on a very practical level to take inventory of the nuts and bolts you're working with. Relevant background you might want to know: I attended Brandeis University and the Berklee College of Music and am certified in Jyotish by the American College of Vedic Astrology. My primary training has been from 2001-2007 as an apprentice to James Kelleher, a remarkable and experienced vedic astrologer. I've taken many classes over the years in the traditional and very technical aspects of Vedic Astrology from Ernst Wilhelm. I've done trainings in healing work with a powerful healer, David Elliott, and have also done explorations into the use of Intuition with gifted western astrologer Dana Gerhardt. I do consider my astrology practice a psycho-spiritual sort of pursuit. I've seen amazing transformation occur in my own life as a result of the insights that astrology has brought me. My intention for your reading is that it help to gently catalyze the transformation you're interested in. My spiritual background may be relevant to mention here. I spent over a decade deeply immersed in the teachings and practices of Siddha Yoga, with my first spiritual teacher, Gurumayi Chidvilasananda. Since the year 2001 I've been influenced by the teachings of Adyashanti, who is considered a teacher of nondual wisdom, Advaita Vedanta style. I concurrently strengthen my Kashmiri Shaivite tantrika leanings with teacher Sally Kempton. Other equally important influences to my astrology readings include The Work of Byron Katie, a mountain in southeast India called Arunachala, a mountain in Taos, New Mexico, and my childhood violin teacher, Virginia Casabona. In addition, I've had a wide array of life experience that I feel have awakened compassion in me, for all the apparent conundrums in which we humans find ourSelf. I have lived in many U.S. locales, which has taught me to understand the complex business of living, in its many facets. Places I've lived include Pittsburgh, PA; Boston, MA; Brooklyn, NY; Washington, D.C.; San Francisco, CA; Taos, NM; Los Angeles, CA; and Ashland, OR. As a first-generation American, (I am of East Indian and Swiss German descent,) I feel my readings are a fusion of the best of eastern and western philosophy and values. Parallel to Jyotish, I've been involved with music and the visual arts, both personally and professionally, for a very long time. Among my more fun-to-talk-about artistic experiences are a summer touring as a keyboard player and background vocalist for the Tom Tom Club on a national tour, (1990 Escape from New York tour with Debbie Harry and the Ramones), and a time working with the photographers and designers in the Design Division at the National Geographic Magazine. Relevant astrology links: The International Society for Astrological Research Read about Astro*Carto*Graphy as developed by Jim Lewis; order your ACG "Map Kit" on-line at: www.astronumerics.com Use the Astrodienst website to get a printout of your western astrological chart