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by Bernie Ashman
Llewellyn Pub.
St. Paul, MN, 2000
 Every
day needs to be perceived in the light of opportunities to
create harmony with a lover rather than to create problems.~
Bernie Ashman
Bernie Ashman is an optimist - I like that
about him! SignMates: Understanding the Games People Play
significantly departs from the typical rule-making pattern
of astrological relationship books by offering a positive
approach to romantic love regardless of your sun sign chemistry.
Ashman describes the global traits of the individual sun signs
in Part I, and then goes on to teach us in Part II how every
combination of signs might interact. This terrific book is
written with a straight-forward simplicity and obvious passion
for encouraging success in every romantic relationship. SignMates
is one of those special books that seriously studies the dynamics
of romantic relationships, while offering light-hearted labels
and clear strategies for the games people play.
Part I of SignMates offers an overview
of each sun sign beginning with the general personality and
ego traits. Three major aspects of each sign that are discussed
in this section are Relationship Tendencies, The Woman, and
The Man. Relationship Tendencies teaches insights about what
your relationship with a particular sun sign might offer and
some of the difficulties that may be encountered along the
journey. The Woman and The Man aspects of each sign acknowledge
that even within a single sign, men and women are different!
Ashman describes the personality of each sign and what makes
someone in each sign a wonderful partner.
In the second part of SignMates,
Ashman admonishes us to "be harder on the problem than
on each other." Each sign is studied in combination with
every other sign, creating 144 potential combinations. Each
sun sign combination carries a title, such as The Scrutinizers,
The Nature Lovers, The Executives, The Dreamers. A brief analysis
of a sun sign combination is discussed, followed by three
games they will likely play with each other. Wonderful, tongue-in-cheek
labels like Paradise Lost, I Am the President, Scatterbrain,
and Visions of Grandeur give us initial clues to each game.
The next section within each combination
is truly where Ashman excels. Here Ashman gives us the strategies
for integrating, assimilating, and overcoming the game tendencies
in order to move forward into the delicious long-term commitment
we all crave. Finally, each combination is shown the rainbow
colors of their relationship. Ashman's optimism shows us that
regardless of the astrological forces that may work against
a particular combination, what we inspire in each other is
truly what matters most in this mortal coil!
With a strong Jungian influence, Bernie
Ashman brings over 26 years of experience in astrology and
working with couples to this thematic work. His genuine interest
in helping others to find and maintain long-term romantic
relationships is evident in the thoroughness with which he
has written about each sun sign chemistry. SignMates
is a must have for those seeking new relationships or those
seeking to improve current relationships. The information
here can be the starting point to a journey of deeper understanding
of yourself and your partner. So if you are a sure-footed
Capricorn in love with a vivacious Gemini, take heart, for
you are The Problem-Solvers!
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