Years ago, children everywhere ripped a single sheet of notebook paper from their Trapper Keepers and folded, tore and colored their way to a cootie catcher. The simple device told eager students if they would marry Jonathan Taylor Thomas - or the goofy nerd who sat next to them in art class.

Fast forward ten years later, and JTT hasn't been down the aisle with anyone, and the nerd is probably really hot and dateable. If there's any lesson learned, it's that certain methods are better than others when it comes to predicting what will happen in life.

The intrigue with having prior knowledge of upcoming life events has led many to seek advice from astrologers, healers and other various forms in the metaphysical field.

Some astrologers, however, say the trade has been blemished by 1-800 numbers, scam artists and many people just not taking astrology seriously.

"There are a lot of people who claim to be astrologers that are really scammers. They give it a bad name," said Maria Shaw, a Flint-based professional astrologer and author.

The biggest misconception is that most people don't consider astrology to be a science when it actually is, Shaw said. But deciding how to use the science is up to the client.

"We don't tell them what to do - we give them options or choices," she said. "You still have free will and the power to decide.

"The stars guide, they don't decide," she added.

Shaw has been practicing astrology since 1992, after a career as a news reporter. Tarot card reading, horoscopes and numerology are some of her talents.

When seeking out an astrologer, Shaw said, research their background and listen to what they say during a reading. If someone asks a client too many questions but provides little guidance, the reading may not help.

"Not everyone can tell you what you had for breakfast this morning, but they should at least be able to tell you something that no one else knows," Shaw said.

For her clients, Shaw prepares a birth chart, which is based on the birthday of the person. From there, Shaw determines the positions of the planets of the sky on that day and finds out the person's future from there. This is common among most professional astrologers.

"Ninety percent of people are looking for love and relationship advice," Shaw said. "Most people want to know, 'When am I going to meet somebody, when I will I get married, have I met my soul mate and when will my boyfriend leave his wife.'

"There's a lot of cheating going on out there these days," Shaw said. But, astrologers cannot put "hexes" on anyone, she said.

As an astrologer, Shaw is privy to lots of information about her clients. But she compared her job to that of a psychologist - the problems and solutions are strictly confidential.

"What we do is emotional work," Shaw said. "It's a job - you have to learn to leave it at the office."

Other than astrology, there are other new age methods that can help people discover what can happen in their lives.

Colleen Lemma, a Lansing-based spiritual consultant who teaches numerology - the study of crystals and other metaphysics - said many people may be hesitant to go outside the mainstream. Lemma grew up Catholic, but began to follow her metaphysical path in 1994.

"When people don't understand something, they're less likely to embrace it," said Lemma, who has an office at The Mountain Books and Gifts, 603 N. Waverly Road in Lansing.

But more people are beginning to explore different ways and be more receptive.

"I think a lot of people are seeking their own brand of spirituality," Lemma said. "I think they're seeking something and not always sure of what they're seeking."

Following a metaphysical path helps people better understand themselves, Lemma said.

"In my opinion, the metaphysical field is going to become more important to people's lives," she said.

Lemma said many people she helps have health issues, both physical and emotional. She helps clients determine which is the best treatment, which could be anything from astrology to hypnotherapy or even finding out about conflict in a past life.

Most of her clients come from all walks of life, Lemma said, and range from young ages to as old as 60.

"Even people who you would deem conservative and professional seek out astrological advice," she said.

Astrologers can only do so much to help people because nothing is set in stone, Lemma said.

"There's so many things in our world that are affecting people, it's going to cause them to seek answers," she said.

Aaron Foley is the MS&U enterprise reporter at The State News. Reach him at foleyaar@msu.edu.