Llewellyn Journal - New Orleans Resident Offers Advice for Healing

Hello everyone. As a part-time resident of New Orleans' historic French Quarter, I wanted to write and tell you a few things about this city that I love so dearly and thank you all for your e-mails and calls. Since Katrina hit, I have heard from people from as far away as London, Cozumel, Anchorage, Alaska and all places in-between, asking about the safety of my family and friends and how our house is faring. I am truly blessed because I live in the Quarter on Saint Philip Street near Dauphine and my house is fine! There has been no flooding in the Quarter and no major damage. My courtyard's brick wall is down, there is a tree in the pool and my roof has missing shingles. But compared to what other parts of the city and residents are faced with, I have no problems. I locked the door to my house in mid August to come back up to my other home in Michigan, for a while and was planning on going back in October.

The devastation and horrific events that unfolded since Katrina hit the city are worse than the wrath of the hurricane itself. It has been an emotional rollercoaster ride everyday but I can't seem to turn the news off...any news to give some insight as to what's really happening. I soon found out that some of the news reports were very inaccurate. Reporters were claiming the French Quarter was underwater and that New Orleans was gone. I was able to contact my next door neighbors who's permanent residence is in Arabia, LA. Don and Carla choose to weather the storm in the Quarter, thinking it would be safe there. It was. They lost everything in Arabia; their home and all of their rental properties. I told Carla to go into my house and get any supplies she needed; food, water, etc. She was using the swimming pool water to flush the toilets and had a small battery operated television to keep in touch with the outside world. Our biggest fear was looting as we heard reports of armed gangs coming into the neighborhoods, breaking into homes and holding residents at gunpoint. There were quite a few people who didn't evacuate the Quarter; who choose to stay in their homes during the hurricane. Many left days later, when they feared for their safety because of gunman, looters and the like.

Another friend of mine who decided to stay in her home, is Bonnie Broel, who owns a mansion in the Garden District on Saint Charles Ave. I spoke with Bonnie the night before Katrina hit and she was adamant about staying put. Contrary to reports on the news; the Garden District suffered little damage and no flooding. I am able to get through to Bonnie by phone and her biggest problem is no water. But she has a gas stove and lots of food so she is cooking for about 25 police officers every night, serving them supper and letting them use her phone to call their families. She said she tried feeding the refugees that have been walking up and down Saint Charles Avenue but was told by officials to stop and go back "inside." Bonnie has some broken tree limbs but no damage whatsoever to her house.

I also am in touch with many people via e-mail who are still in the Quarter. Their water is running out and food supply low. Carla told me that our corner grocery store, Matassa's, was not looted but rather police and national guardsmen came in days ago and stripped all of the grocery shelves and took the food to the Superdome.

One friend who lives in Algiers Point, emailed me from Oklahoma. She was in nursing school in New Orleans but has already transferred to an Oklahoma program. Another friend who lived near the Lake, lost everything and is in Houston with friends. She has already landed a job at a bank there. Her husband is job hunting. Many friends evacuated. My friend Clay from Mandeville did and returned Friday (September 2) to find "not a scratch" and the house just as he left it. There are many good stories I could share with you amid the tragic ones we see on the news day in and day out.
I was very worried about losing the French Quarter and all of the history that could never be replaced. It was spared. Video shown on Fox News, reveals some littering, tree limbs down and some debris, but the Quarter looks better and cleaner than it does during Mardi Gras. Neighbors tell me the National Guard is heavy and police patrols, protecting our streets. Some Quarterites emailed me and said there is power back on in our area now.

The folks that built New Orleans two hundred years ago must have known what they were doing because they built the Quarter and the Garden District on the highest grounds in New Orleans. If you watch the news and see the maps of the flood areas, these two areas are the only areas that did not flood. Our old houses can withstand anything. My house was built around 1870. Bonnie's dates back to 1850-something.

The night before Katrina was to hit, I was so scared about what could happen that I sent out a special e-mail newsletter asking for prayers to save the city of New Orleans and keep my friends, family and our homes safe, especially the French Quarter. Did you see what happened? Meteorologists still can't believe it! At the last minute, the hurricane took a turn, placing the left wall of the eye of the hurricane in New Orleans. If this wouldn't have happened, there would be no Big Easy to rebuild.
And there are news reports of people who are saying the city won't be rebuilt. Oh, yes it will! I have no doubt in my mind that it will and possibly sooner than everyone thinks! You can bet there will be Mardi Gras. I intend to come back as soon as the officials allow us to. I already have a plane ticket for October.

New Orleans is a Scorpio city. You can sense this intense Scorpio energy everywhere, especially in the Quarter. Think mystery, ghosts, sex, murder, secrets, etc.....everything that Scorpio stands for. But also consider that Scorpio is ruled by the planet Pluto; the planet of death and transformation; of breaking down and rebuilding. The city's history books tells of two fires that destroyed the French Quarter and other parts of the city. Thousands died during a yellow ever epidemic a hundred or so years ago. New Orleans is no stranger to death. A part of New Orleans has died this past week. It's a city that has been broken down but it will rise again, just as it has for centuries. And just as the phoenix from its ashes, New Orleans will be stronger than ever.

Jupiter, the planet which rules abundance and expansion and is often considered "lucky" will be moving into the sign of Scorpio the last of October. Venus will be moving into the sign as well, within a few days. Both of these planets will bring relief, help and hope to our city.

Astrologically, we are in the beginning stages of some intense energies associated with two eclipses we have in October. We have begun to experience some of these energies now. Eclipses bring in a "needed change" in our lives. They take something away, to make room for something better and bigger to happen....something needed. Time will tell what New Orleans needs. I have not had adequate time to look over the charts of this hurricane and my city, but I will be studying the astrological side to this disaster and hope to share my thoughts in the near future. I strongly suspect, Katrina is linked to a Uranus aspect too.

You've heard positive news from me; the Quarter is still standing and in tact. We haven't lost our history. My friends and family are rebuilding their lives already and they are safe. But what about the thousands of others who did not fare as well as we did?

Many of these news reports are horrific. How could this happen in the United States today? I'm speaking of the losses of life, the refugees with no food or water for days, people dying in the streets and thousands homeless. It appears many are getting help...finally....or at least water, shelter and food. The outpouring of love and the generosity of people from all over the world is amazing. When a disaster like this strikes, the best and worst come out in people. There seems to be no middle ground. The best is coming out in many. People in my other home state, Michigan, are offering their help and services to the refugees, who will soon begin the process of rebuilding their lives. See, there's that Scorpio/Pluto theme again.

I am lucky. I have witnessed first hand (when Katrina hit), what the power of prayer and the spiritual community can do to change things. Now it’s time for the spiritual community to come together and change the vibration in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast; raise it to a higher level to achieve a healing state and do what it can. For example, the group of readers who work for me at my Psychic Fairs and Goddess Gatherings will be donating their monies this month to help the effort, and I’ll be having special events in Michigan. I also urge you to do what you can or give to the Red Cross relief efforts. On top of this, I am asking you to continue to pray and send a white ball of light to the Gulf area. See these devastated cities being healed and the people safe. Affirm though prayer or set your intention that all is safe, sound and healed. Raise the vibration to a higher level in New Orleans and it's a good bet you will see less crime, less suffering and more hope. You may feel helpless and as if you can't do much. But you can! By sending positive thoughts, you are changing "energy." Thoughts are energy that we send out into the universe. Eventually the thoughts will find and hone in on their target and raise the energy to a higher level. Visualize and meditate on a great healing to take place in the Gulf. Put it in a safe bubble of blue light; just like I did with my home in the French Quarter. Take a moment right now to do this and do it often. Sometimes the news reports reinforce the negative. All we are all seeing, talking and hearing is about the "bad." It needs to be reported but we also need to counter it with love, light, positive thoughts and hope. Again, I thank you for your prayers and thoughts. I urge you, members of the Llewellyn and all spiritual communities to come together to lead the way in raising the vibration to a higher, healing level in the Gulf and all of America today.

Bless everyone, Maria Shaw

To donate to the Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund, please visit the Red Cross at the following address:

http://www.redcross.org/donate/donate.html