Astrology for Couples! For Valentine's Day, Wedding Gifts, Engagements or any time!

Compatibility charts show how you and your boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife, or love affair partner connect! The planets on your side and the ones that may provide challenges, the signs of the Sun and Moon and other aspects influence your attraction and interaction! Valentine's Day is a cool time to give or share your compatibility chart, but feel free to email me any time to see how soon I can whip one up for you and your lover or for a wedding, anniversary or engagement gift.  Here's an excerpt from a real one. The names have, of course,  been changed.

 Mars signs influence chemistry and sexual energy between partners. Amanda’s Mars is in Sagittarius and Paul’s is in Gemini, opposite signs. This is a mind connection! You need to be able to talk and explore a variety of subjects and experiences together.  Sagittarius is an adventurous sign for the planet of action, but is also the sign of higher learning. Gemini is the sign of brain activity and Mars influences communication in the sign of the twins. The mental connection feeds the physical, and without that the two of you will feel less interested. It’s important to you as a couple that life be evolving and exciting. You may enjoy change! 

Travel would be a very good way to deepen your connection with each other. Discovering and trying new things together is very attractive to both of you.  Give yourselves time to break out of old patterns and vary from routines from time to time.  Going abroad may be quite appealing, or if not, do physically demanding activities together-for example ski or swim or hike.  Talks you have while engaging in these experiences will be enriching and help you to know each other more.  It’s important to both of you that life not be boring and routine. 

 

Amanda’s Pisces Moon fills a romantic place in Paul’s chart, and since his Moon is in Leo, a generous sign, this is likely to be a very giving relationship.  The Pisces Moon is more about romance, and softens Paul’s Leo Moon.  For Paul, with Scorpio rising, Amanda’s Moon impacts both his home life and his love/creative side. Amanda is able to stir both enthusiasm about life and untapped creativity in Paul.  Paul gains great enjoyment and fulfillment from this aspect of the relationship.

Send birth dates, birth places and times if known to robinivy@maine.rr.com and I will write back to confirm. 
Charts are $50 or $100, are one to three pages long, and vary by amount of material covered! They can be paid for by cash in person, by check or through paypal for $3.00 extra using the email address robinivy@maine.rr.com.


Here's to attraction, love and compatibility!
Robin

Tra

My Paranoid Social Club Video Cameo

I danced so hard. Can't believe they missed that part. Oh, I think at 3:00 you can see me side stage rockin' out. Love the PSC. Yeah!

video shot in Bangor, Maine on 7-31-11 opening for Stone Temple Pilots at WCYY Summercamp.

Maine Bikram Yoga: Open House Saturday November 5th

On Saturday Maine Bikram Yoga will open their doors to all with an Open House and free classes throughout the day at 9 and 11 am and 2 and 4 pm.  Childcare will be provided for all classes so you can enjoy a 90 minute yoga experience without worry about the kids.  In fact, you and your significant other can both go!

Bikram is a very unique hot yoga that was designed as a healing practice.  During each 90 minute session in a room heated over 100 degrees, you engage in the same series of balancing and floor postures each and every time. Millimeters matter! That is one of the premises Bikram is based upon. We make progress in small amounts over time and with practice.  Bikram is a wonderful physical workout, and with regular practice you will build muscle tone and most will lose weight. I sometimes describe my Bikram classes as providing the benefits of a massage, chiropractic adjustment and facial all in one.  Bikram makes your skin glow, your body change, and taps your innate "fountain of youth".  The benefits extend far beyond the physical, however! Your Bikram practice will nourish your spirit and help balance your emotions.  It is a wholistic approach to wellness.

You can practice Bikram even if you've had injuries. In fact my personal experience included starting eight years ago with a hype-rextended elbow, and my doc was recommending physical therapy. I never needed it. My elbow healed in my first 6 weeks and never acted up again.  I have a right elbow issue currently and my teachers have recommended a couple of modifications to postures that require that elbow to work hard.  Your nervous system greatly benefits from Bikram, and you're likely to have less anxiety, tension and compulsions and also to deal with those feelings more easily.

Bikram, it seems to me, is rock star yoga.  The sessions are very intense and can be highly energizing or send you home to bed! It seems that whatever your body needs becomes obvious once you've completed classes.  You do the work in class and the rest comes naturally, instinctively. You peel through layers, releasing what's ready to go, what you no longer need.  That can come in the form of emotions, weight, or habits.  And Bikram Yoga is habit forming.  Even if I take a break for a month or two I go back because I do not feel the same without it.  I love other yogas and physical and meditative activities, but Bikram is the essential one. 

Come to class for free and see! There will be a One Day sale on class cards and newbies always get the best deal. This is the time if you've never been, and if you have, return with a free class and a special price on class cards.

Saturday, November 5th will also include food and a raffle to benefit the Maine Boys to Men organization, supporting the healthy non violent development of adolescent boys.  For $5 you can enter the raffle for a free 20 class card and all proceeds will go to this great, local program.

Most of all, you can meet everyone and see the studio, and try one class for free, babysitting and all!  I am an 8 year Maine Bikram Yoga student this fall. Nothing matches this practice for me.  Hydrate, bring towel and mat and give it a whirl!

Dartmouth Street off Forest Ave. Portland, Maine. Park in CVS parking lot by the bank, cross the street and the stairs down are on the right side of the building.

Robin Ivy

It's Been Too Long! I'm back! With A Severe Joy

A Severe Joy is the new musical performance endeavor of Jose Ayerve, who has been known best for his band Spouse. I asked Jose to play at my birthday party in August. He did so with a costume change from sailor attire to lace up the side black trousers adorned in a red and black mask. We all wore lightstick jewelry and he and I danced together as he performed the final song of the night on Friday, August 5th with about 30 other people in attendance.

This is one beautiful song. Feel free to share it and look out for A Severe Joy shows from New England to California, where Jose seems to have something booked soon after this week's gig in Vegas.



from Jose:

This is the demo for Here Lies Our Pulse, a song I recorded with a Montgomery Ward hollow-body guitar from several decades ago. The vocals are mostly one take.

lyrics:

When I close my eyes I want you to come up for air. And when I turn around, I expect you to be there. If I clear my mind, I wonder what you'll say to me. I'll try to reach you through my heart, wherever you may find yourself. Are you in the past now? Are you in the past now? How do I get back there? I still don't know what you meant that day. When I feel my pulse, I can't help but think it slows me down. If I could shake my body off, I could merge with you into the ground. But I get the sense, that something I did pissed you off. Is it my conscience or is it the message I was to receive? 'Cause you're not around now, the years have gone by and I was hoping you'd guide me. I can't feel you near me anymore. If I meet my death on the day that I may least expect, I hope that you'll be there to greet me and to settle this. I hope you'll understand, I only meant to capture you; what was left of who you were absorbed into the ones you loved. Are you in the past now? Are you in the past now? How do I get back there? I still don't know what you meant that day.

released 28 September 2011 Performed, recorded and produced by A Severe Joy copyright 2010 ASCAP [spousemusic] 

 

 

 

Mad Girl World isn't just for Girls, No Sir!

I'm curating the Local Listening Lounge at Mad Girl World! You know the place or have seen owner Meredith Alex's  super fascinating creations in the front gallery of Port City Music Hall, at a music fashion show, in catalogs or at festivals. She presented the one and only men's fashion show last spring at Port City Music Hall and Marion Grace, Adam Ezra Band, and Sly Chi played too! Remember? Or Pete Kilpatrick Band and Bronze Radio last fall with The Hunt fashion theme? That was Meredith's event too! Well, I've been going into Mad Girl World since she opened her studio shop in 2009, and on a recent visit to find some bright fishnet tights Meredith asked me if I'd like to work with her. When I say "work" I mean play! Because that is what we do at Mad Girl World, where the motto is Live Your Chaos Love the Madness, a slogan that suits me to a t.

The Local Listening Lounge got it's start about a year ago to give back to the musician/artists of our community. Customers can come in, have a seat on the cool couch or funky seats, don a sweet pair of headphones and preview any local cd off the shelf. If they decide to purchase the cd, they get a recycled gift card guitar pick of their choice and all $10 goes back to the band or artist! It's all to support music here in Maine and create a sense of community since hanging out is encouraged and coffee, tea and sweets are often offered in the Mad kitchen. Musicians such as Hutch Heelan, Joe Gallant, Dean Ford, Anna Lombard McGeachey of Gypsy Tailwind, Mat Zaro of Bass Box, and Peter Bissell (photographer), Kyle Poissoneur (Elykssor Clothing), Angie Weymouth (Bikram Yoga) and Sheridan and Pete Giordano (Heart Shaped Rock, Twisted Roots) have all hung out and had couch time or fun time in the studio on recent days. New titles on the shelves include Sara Hallie Richardson, Spouse, Paranoid Social Club, Zach Jones, Mallett Brothers Band, Marie Moreshead, Hutch Heelan, Joe Walsh, Line of Force, and many more! We've also restocked Eric Bettencourt, Pete Kilpatrick, Amanda Gervasi, Brzowski, and other top sellers.

The shop is also full of fun shoes, clothes, jewelry, hair pieces and other adornments as well as Beer Me and Maine clothing, mugs, coosies, and other locally produced attire and accessories. You should come plan your next outfit or buy a great vintage tie or Super G hoodie here! Mad Girl World is more than a studio or shop, it's an experience! Hours fly by here. It's honestly too much fun!

See!

Local Listening Lounge photo by Peter Jensen Bissell. That's me and Haisel McGeachey wearing a Mad Girl headband!

Peter Jensen Bissell's music photos grace the LLL & he & Meredith Alex have more fun in the works for late summer!

That's Sheridan Giordano of Heart Shaped Rock and me! Sheridan is helping Pete design the Water Closet Gallery as our guest artist for June! The Weekly Poop will be on display!

Dean Ford is a Mad Guy for sure. Dean's music is here in the LLL!

Codi Booher is the artist who designed the recycled gift card picks! Mad World wants to keep the world green and the artists and product local!

Local Listening Lounge info: All southern and central Maine artists are welcome to add to our cd collection, and the only criteria is that the cd be professionally presented with cover art and cd case.  Bring 5 of each title and a Bio that is presentable for the Local Listening Lounge Listing Book. We'd also love to have your band buttons or pins to give away and stickers or memorabilia for the Mad Music Memorabilia Book! Stop in any day 10-6 and join the party!

On Friday, June 3rd our First Friday event will feature Ralph Graceffa live from 8-10 pm

The Water Closet Gallery will house The Weekly Poop, a rarely displayed collection of almost vintage comics created  by Pete Giordano of Twisted Roots when he worked at the now defunct Keystone Theater on Congress Street.

Mad Girl World is at 275 Commercial Street Portland, Maine
email me robinivy@maine.rr.com 


Love, the Mad Girls!

Robin Ivy, Local Listening Lounge Curator
and Meredith Alex, Mad World creator and owner

Happy One Year Hart Yoga, Brunswick, Maine

Hart Yoga in Brunswick is now one year old! I've been meaning to practice there for a long while, and I finally made it happen! Vicki Hart, the owner, was planning and designing the studio while she was teaching at Maine Bikram Yoga where I frequently practice.  She's a Bikram certified instructor who did her training with Bikram when they were on location in Hawaii in the spring of 2007. Vicki says Bikram Yoga practice changed her life in ways she never expected and that with 6 months she knew she wanted to teach and share the practice with as many people as possible.

Hart is a hot yoga studio primarily, and offers a variety of classes including hot vinyasa and yin yoga as well. The studio can accommodate up to 35, though you'll often find about 10 people in class at a time. Several who frequent the studio work in the health field including massage therapists, nurses, doctors and chiropractors. You'll also find stay at home moms, self-employed, and the occasional fishermen from the Rockland to Harpswell area in any given class. 5:30 and 7 pm classes provide time for those with traditional working hours. Vicki has had students as young as ten (with their Moms) and as old as 70. Her own parents are 61 & 65 and they practice twice a week. Though the majority, as in most yoga studios,  are women average ages 25-45, there were three men of about 9 of us in the Thursday 5:30 pm class I attended. There were also college students. There was no one type of person in this class. The studio is comfortable and welcoming for all!

The studio itself is really nice! I loved it the instant I walked in. There are custom oak sconces that complement the trees outside the back windows. The lighting seemed perfect, with natural light filtering in as well. The colors are calming, greens and blues, and the floor is a very special feature.  It's called PEM Yoga flooring and is a virgin PVC designed especially for hot yoga. It breathes and does not hold sweat or water and therefore bacteria and mold are no problem even with the heat. It's also as skid resistant as most sneakers. I wish I could describe it to you better, but it looks sort of like ropey woven plastic. I found it excellent to practice on. It feels good on the soles and neither my feet nor my mat slipped during class. I would like to have this in my basement at home!

There are also curtained changing rooms, two bathrooms and a shower. In the changing area everyone was friendly and I talked with two girls who praised the studio and said they enjoy the yin yang class and instructor as well as the Bikram class we took, taught by Vicki who is due with her first child in May! Gentle Yoga and Yoga for Kids are also starting soon at Hart Yoga.

Hart is on Facebook at this link.

Now that I've been there once, I'm really looking forward to practicing at Hart again. I had a great class there even though I was tired going in. I found the studio to be very relaxing and the atmosphere to be both beautiful and welcoming. These photos were taken in class that day.

" Photography by Eric Schnare, you can see more of his work at http:// ericschnare.com 

My plan is same time next week and I'm going to try to make it like once or twice a month. It's kind of nice to get out of routine sometimes. Check out the studio on Stanwood Street off Pleasant in Brunswick.

Vicki Hart, the owner, teaches many of the classes. 

Bright Eyes at The State Theatre Portland, Maine 3-11-11

photos by Robbie Kanner

Quotes from the audience:

Connor Oberst was at home last Friday NIght at the State THeater. He showed a lot of love for Portland Maine, reigning accolades on one of the world best mastering engineers. "He walks amongst you" he said in reference to the great Bob Ludwig. Connor's energy and performance was contagious. He played multiple encores as the audience erupted over and over again. from the beautiful acoustic ballads, to the full on rocking arrangements, Bright eyes played to every nook and cranny of the State Theater, leaving Portland Maine in a state of awe I haven't seen in a long time. It was a night i will never forget... Ralph Graceffa of Marion Grace

I've had the oppurtunity to see Conor play in different formations (The Desaparacidos, Monsters Of Folk, Solo)....This was my first time actually seeing Bright Eyes, and it was spectacular. The presentation and song selection was top notch. Besides "Gold Mine Gutted off of "Digital Ash....:", the stuff off "The People's Key" were my personal highlights, and quite honestly, i think its the best stuff Conor's ever done... Miek Rodrigue of Holy Boys Danger Club

The show exceeded all expectations... felt like you could have cut the nostalgia in the air with a knife. Amazing energy from both crowd and Conor + Co...Kelsey Munroe

Seeing the band perform with Jim James, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings in 2006 at Bonnaroo, at the height of their careers to that point (coming off dual releases of "I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning" & "Digital Ash in a Digital Urn"), I never thought those moments and the emotions that set instilled in me, could ever be attained again. That is until I stood 10 feet away from the stage at The State Theatre and was engulfed in visual and sonic bliss. Conor and his new band (a Saddle Creek all-star lineup), welded beautifully the meloncholy madness of his earlier work and the hopeful and spiritual synth-fused indie rock of his newer material. The show is still replaying in my mind days later and is destined to stay there for quite a while...Billy Lynch of Deep in the Belly Management