We live in an image-conscious, materialistic society. Many people measure success in terms of money—what it can buy, the size of their home, cars in the garage, places they travel, and schools their children attend. There is a clear, if albeit indefinable, dividing line between the "haves" and the "have-nots." And millions of people try weekly to make the leap from one category to the other by buying lottery tickets.

For many Americans, materialistic behavior leads to debt. They get caught in the web of easy credit, high interest, and no-end-in-sight monthly payments. Many live paycheck-to-paycheck, in part because installment payments eat up every penny. This doesn't have to be.

Astrology can help. It's an excellent resource because the more you know about your financial attitudes, the better equipped you are to reverse negative habits and maximize your money.

Can astrology help you become a millionaire, a Wall Street Wizard, or the next big-bucks entrepreneur? Maybe, maybe not—it depends on your birth chart, which reflects your financial potential, including spending and saving habits, risk-tolerance, security needs, earning power, and ability to handle credit. With this knowledge you can emphasize your positive traits and better manage those tendencies that can put you in the red.

You might be surprised to discover your birth chart is favorable for entrepreneurial ventures or investing and thereby gain the confidence to take the first steps toward fulfilling that goal. You also might learn the reason why you should rarely, if ever, use credit cards, why budgeting is your best friend, or the odds of receiving an inheritance. And while you might view yourself as thrifty, others might call you "cheap."

It's important to keep in mind that there is no such thing as the perfect birth chart for any financial endeavor or money in general. After all, even billionaire Donald Trump went from the penthouse to near-bankruptcy before he used his planetary energy to rebuild a fortune. And actor Matt Damon, born with a lucky and lucrative birth chart, was anything but financially secure prior to earning his way to riches through hard work.

One of the lessons I learned as I was studying astrology was that the birth chart doesn't lie; at times it can be painfully realistic. Once you accept that, astrology becomes empowering. And the more we understand about ourselves, our needs and wants, the better equipped we are to live up to our true financial potential.

What puzzled me early on in my study of astrology was that my chart showed above average financial potential, yet my bank account didn't reflect that. I also had many experienced professional astrologers refer to my chart as "lucky," and one even said, "With your chart, you'll always have money!" (Does two cents count?)

What I and, presumably, these authors and astrologers, overlooked, for whatever reason, were the potential negatives and the general personality traits that influence everything we do—from relationships to working style to clothing choice. We are who we are, and people rarely, if ever, change. That makes it all the more important to understand our strengths and weaknesses, including finances.

This personal experience motivated me to write Mapping Your Money. Only when we have thorough information and a well-rounded picture can we fulfill the promise of the natal chart and, with that knowledge, make conscious decisions to thrive or merely survive.

As is true of all areas of astrology, difficult influences in a chart often lead to the greatest success. Money is no exception! Yes, life at times seems fateful, such as when a string of unexpected expenses pop up. But we always have choices, even if it seems as though we don't. We can choose a $400 or $4,000 TV set, a Timex or a Rolex. We can choose to save, whether $1 or $100 a day, to cover those unexpected expenses, or maintain a superior credit rating so that borrowing power will be available in an emergency.

You will learn these things and more in Mapping Your Money. To make it easy, Mapping Your Money comes with a CD that generates a report about your (or anyone else's) birth chart and your financial potential! As a bonus, it has an appendix that will help you understand certain financial trends in your life.

I invite you to begin the journey to financial health and security—however you measure it—by learning more about yourself through the pages of Mapping Your Money.