Maria K. Simms
Maria Kathleen Simms was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She passed away peacefully January 8, 2025. She was born November 18, 1940 in Buda, Illinois to Frank B. Simms and Anna Haurberg Simms. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, James L Jossick.
All who knew Maria witnessed her ability to transform everything into art, her boundless creativity clearly evident in the world she created, often transcending traditional art forms. Over the course of her life she found expression through painting, drawing, textiles, music, dance, cooking, gardening, and more. Her art was inspired by the magic of the cosmos, the divinity of the human form, and beauty of the natural world. She could be found singing Christmas carols beside her daughters and granddaughters, creating beautiful cakes for birthdays, and with her hands in the soil every spring. It could be said that Maria’s greatest art was her ability to inspire others to find expression in their own right. She was continually reignited by the creativity of her children, grandchildren and community.
Maria was an accomplished artist, author, teacher, lecturer, and internationally recognized astrologer. She authored many books and traveled the world to lecture and teach. Following the death of founder Neil F. Michelsen, Maria headed Astro Computing Services, an astrological publishing house, for several years, and served as chair of the National Council of Geocosmic Research.
Maria studied astrology under Charles Emerson, learning the techniques of the Uranian Dial, which later inspired her book Dial Detective, where she explains this method in detail. Her first book, Twelve Wings of the Eagle, explored astrological symbolism in biblical stories. Among her works, her most popular book was Your Magical Child, an astrological guide to child-rearing that was also adapted into a beloved report for ACS. Another notable book, Future Signs (out of print) provided insights into making astrological predictions.
In 2004, Maria founded Starcrafts Publishing, through which she released Moon Tides, Soul Passages exploring goddess mythology and the phases of the Progressed Moon, and A Time For Magick published by Llewellyn (out of print) providing optimal timing for performing meditations, rituals and spells. Her final book, Astrology and the Power of Eight, examined the eight-part Saturn cycles within an astrological chart.
Maria was also widely know as Lady Mari, high priestess of the Circle of the Cosmic Muse and held ministerial credentials through the Covenant of the Goddess. Maria wrote The Witch's Circle, originally published by Llewellyn publishing, a book exploring Wiccan spirituality and inspired her coven to seek their own truths and embark on unique, personal spiritual paths.
Maria attended college at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois. She proudly served as chapter President and an active member of the Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority. Maria graduated in 1962 with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts and Painting and went on to start a professional career which spanned many fields and disciplines. She began as an elementary school art teacher in Illinois, went on to become a professional gallery painter in San Francisco, business owner in San Diego and New Hampshire, and renowned astrologer, writer and artist.
Maria was fiercely intelligent, constantly challenging the status quo and encouraging others to do the same. Throughout her journey, whether through academics, religion, or art, Maria maintained her role as a student of the world. Maria - mother, grandmother, wife, steadfast writer, imaginative scholar and passionate artist. Those who love her know she was equally grounded on earth as she was fascinated with the stars. She was always curious, lived bravely, created ceaselessly, questioned constantly and loved steadily.
Maria is survived by her daughters, Shannon Sullivan Stillings (husband, Kris), Molly Sullivan and Elizabeth Jossick (partner, Giancarlo), and her granddaughters Tessa Stillings Hanson, Hayley Stillings, and Reilly Sullivan Sanders: Seven stepchildren James l. Jossick Jr, Lorraine M. Weber (husband, Tom), Ami T. Conlan (husband, Timothy), Sandra J. Anderson (husband, Gordon), David J. Jossick, Daniel J. Jossick, Kenneth J. Jossick: and their children Lindsay Lara, Sophia Jossick, Charmaine Jossick, Andrew Conlan, Eric Conlan, Brandon Jossick, Jonathan Jossick, Kevin Jossick, Jay Weber and Tom Weber, Jr.; A private family service will be held for Maria in the spring. In lieu of flowers, a tree can be planted in her honor at TheTreesRemember.com
