Story of the Stars: Madeline Mareos

In the early decades of the 1900s the public perception of Astrology in the United States dramatically shifted from being considered a form of fortune telling to the scientific spiritual practice that is so popular today. 

This shift in part can be attributed to Evangeline Adams who ran a massively successful Astrology consulting business, wrote several popular books about Astrology such as Astrology: Your Place in the Sun and Astrology: Your Place Among the Stars, and successfully defended her astrology practice in court after being arrested for the practice of fortune telling. 

By the 1930s others were beginning to offer astrological consultations more publicly, and a new popular interest in astrology was beginning to saturate the public who were becoming more curious and interested in studying astrology. 

In 1932 in Rochester, New York Madeline Mareos advertised private instruction on Astrology as well as an Astrology class that met 8pm each Tuesday on Monroe Ave. Mareos had been lecturing and teaching Astrology at least as early as 1928 when she was listed as giving a lecture on Astrology at a Rosicrucian Study Center. 

Later in the year in the same year, the Rochester Astrological Society hosted a lecture in the Blue Room of the Hotel Seneca on "Popular Astrology," with Madeline Mareos as the main lecturer and also the President of the Society. 

From 1935 to 1936 Madeline Mareos had her own radio show every Monday and Friday at 1:15pm on WHEC called "Story of the Stars with Madeline Mareos," the tagline read that "Miss Mareos takes her listeners on a fascinating trip through the Zodiac in a style that has made her nationally famous." On the show Mareos would give practical instruction on the basics of Astrology, and advice for each sign of the Zodiac. 

In 1941 Madeline Mareos was publicly challenged by "a group of mathematicians and astronomers" sponsored by the Rochester Astronomy Club to publicly defend the teachings and principles of Astrology. When asked how she felt about the debate she replied, "I'm not worried about answering their questions, because I, too am a mathematician." 

During the event Mareos gave a lecture defending the scientific nature of Astrology and concluded explaining that "whether or not you believe in Astrology it works" as she finished, several of the men from the Astronomy Society challenged her to defend her knowledge of planetary movements, which she did. She reportedly "sprinkled predictions" through out her lecture, and seems to have accurately predicted that the United States would enter into War with Germany. 

Mareos continued to lecture at several events, particularly Women's Clubs and Society Dinners and Fundraisers. She also continued to offer private instruction on the principles of Astrology. 

Palm Springs Spiritualism: The Society of Spiritualist Studies

The earliest mention of the Society of Spiritualist Studies was in 1987. The Society was founded under the direction of a Rev. Peter L. King, and held regular Sunday Services. The Society advertised Healing, Lecture, and Message Services, and also noted that their workers were certified through the National Spiritualist Association of Churches (NSAC). 

A few events the Society sponsored were a series of lectures dedicated to the spiritual approach to holistic healing, and another lecture given by the director of the Desert Hospice Program which discussed end of life care. 

In 1987 the Society held their services at 55 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs. In 1988 the Society changed locations and met at the Aladdin Chapel, in Indio. In 1989 a PO Box is given and rather than regular Sunday services being listed, a phone number was listed to call regarding dates and times for classes and discussion groups. 

During 1988 another interesting change seems to have taken place, the Society seems to have disaffiliated with the NSAC and became chartered with the American Federation of Spiritualist Churches. The American Federation of Spiritualist Churches was formed in 1980s when the Camp Etna Spiritualist Association in Maine disaffiliated themselves with the National Spiritualist Association of Churches, and reorganized under their own leadership. This most likely implies that Rev. Peter L King had a strong connection to Camp Etna, and possibly may have been from Maine. 

Although the Coachella Valley has had several spiritualists, psychics, and healers serve the community over the years, the Society of Spiritualist Studies was interesting to research as this seems to have been the only organized Spiritualist group that left any actual documentation of themselves. 

To end with a quote from the great Spiritualist leader Emma Hardinge Britten, "Geographically considered, the harvest ground of this great American movement has been spread over a surface of country extending from Maine to California."