Tributes

Sandra Helton's tribute to some of the important people in her life.

As an astrologer and teacher of metaphysics my journey has not been just study, but also encounters of the most extraordinary kind. From early beginnings, being taught by parents who were both interested and believed in the paranormal, my education has been life long. From formal studies through a Spiritualist church with Anne Gehman to studying at one of the first formal astrology schools in the United States, Astrology Dynamics, psychology, and ministry.

It is my belief that if you engage in life from the heart you will also meet your highest destiny and have many extraordinary opportunities.

This is a partial list of those people who have influenced my life either as teachers or as friends - each dinguished in their own right.

REV B. ANNE GEHMAN

Rev. B. Anne Gehman was my first teacher of Spiritualism, mediumship and psychic development. She serves today at her church in Church Falls, Virginia with her husband, Dr. Wayne Knoll.

Rev. Gehman is founder of the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, NSAC.*

*NSAC stands for the National Spiritualist Association of Churches.

Anne was the youngest person to become a certified medium with the NSAC.

She is

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A NSAC National Spiritualist Teacher

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Certified medium

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Commissioned healer

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NSAC as a missionary

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Serves on the board of Morris Pratt Institute

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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.

Her church website is: http://www.thecse.org

I gained a great education from her teachings.

SYBIL LEEK

Sybil was my first formal teacher of astrology. She came to the U.S. from England and founded the first accredited astrology school. Her school, which I attended, was not a correspondence school, but held in-person classes and after written and oral testing, certificates were awarded.

I recall that the classes were very full in the beginning, but narrowed down to a very few toward the end. The math is what seemed to be the factor that weeded out so many. It was complex and not for anyone who made mistakes – one error would throw a chart completely off and it would be wrong. But, I took to all of the studies very well 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 I made the decision to formally learn this very ancient and scientific art. Ironically, once I made the decision that I wanted to study, and that I wanted to study at her school, within six months she moved to the United States and opened a school in the very city in which I lived.

Sybil Leek and Charles Luntz wrote the most in-depth set of courses available at that time. She was a good astrologer and healer which became lesser known when the sensational stories of her mystical powers kept hitting the newspapers, magazines and television shows.

I attended her memorial service following her death on October 26, 1982 in Melbourne, Florida. On the way home I stopped by a shop that was closing to look for a book on a specific subject and there, on the shelf, was the subject matter that I sought, and it was written by Sybil Leek. I did not know she had written on the particular subject matter and was delightfully surprised. The book was a new, hardback copy and marked down to $1.00 – it was a gift indeed! I still have the book as well as the one that was so influential to me along with those invaluable courses. I am sure that her gregarious spirit watches over the world today.

ANDRE NORTON

My personal friendship began with Andre when we met at a fundraising event for saving homeless animals. She, and my mother and I, volunteered with a great animal rescue group that took in homeless animals of all kinds, fostered them and got their medical care. When then were adoptable we found the best homes for them. My mother fostered dozens of dogs and cats as did most of the other members and we all donated funds, items for sales and Andre made the most beautiful cloth dolls. I have numerous of these small dolls stuffed with herbs like Egyptian lavender.

I attended several of her Christmas teas and we enjoyed many hours of conversation about animals, metaphysics and literature. We also enjoyed going to a small British restaurant room for tea and pastries.

During those years she consulted with me as an astrologer and then asked me to collaborate with her on her book, “Wheel of Stars”.* I designed a chart to match the heroine and also gave several pages of description about the chart and character that is in the book as well. It was an honor that she dedicated the book to me and was a surprise since she did not tell me until it was published.

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.

She always encouraged me to write and was encouraging about my work as an astrologer for which I will always be grateful. The sincere love for animals that she and I shared made for a wonderful friendship and one I shall always cherish.

*“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.

SHIRLEY MACLAINE

I doubt there is anyone in the world who does not know who she is - a well known and excellent actress of both film and stage and author whose work has received many awards during her career. The list of her movies and books is extensive. It is an honor to work with her and to be selected to be on her website.

I am currently on Shirley MacLaine's official website as a columnist, and write Your Celestial Compass, about current astrological trends every week.

Just go to: http://www.shirleymaclaine.com

"Wheel of Stars” (1983) Published by Wallaby

(1984) Published by TOR

(1991) Published by

St. Martins Press

This book is dedicated to Sandra Helton..

Sybil Leek often attended spaceship lunches at NASA as a guest. She was consulted by many including government leaders.

Sandra is one of the few to have attended classes and earned certificates from Sybil.

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.