TAKE a look up into the night sky in a couple of weeks' time and see what phase the moon is in.

The reason? Singer and actress Toyah Willcox will be opening Gloucestershire's Mind, Body and Soul Weekend and she takes the waxing and waning of the moon seriously.

Toyah has been following a holistic lifestyle for many years and has become a spokeswoman for alternative therapies.

One of her main interests is speaking at shows like the Natural Living Show sponsored by the Isbourne Foundation. She will perform the opening ceremony and appearing as a keynote speaker during the event on October 11-12.

"I have been studying the phases of the moon for many years and believe that everything in health is governed by the moon," she said. "I can usually find the answer by this way.

"I believe the moon is incredibly influential in our lives, from the way our bodies behave to when farmers do their sowing and when surgeons perform operations."

She is encouraging people to come along and get a feel for the information offered on holistic healthcare, complementary medicine and global spirituality without holding any pre-conceived ideas.

"Holistic is a way of life that goes by the belief that prevention is better than cure, so if you eat and live in a more healthy way and look after yourself you are already living that way anyway."

As well as homeopathy, the show at Pittville Pump Room will have stands on a range of complementary therapies and activities, including meditation, aromatherapy, yoga, crystals, acupressure massage and stress management.

"It will give people who are interested but don't fully understand what alternative means the chance to learn more about it, without being too heavy or deep," said Toyah, who, at the age of 50, is living proof that holistic is healthy.

The pop star who started her career in the limelight as a pop singer in the Eighties and has come to this point via I'm A Celebrity, providing voiceovers for children's shows the Teletubbies and Brum, and many acting roles, including her recent appearance as Billie Piper's mother in The Secret Diary of a Call Girl.

She continues to perform with her band and her latest album In The Court of the Crimson Queen has just been released.

Indeed she comes to Cheltenham slap bang in the middle of her latest 44-date tour, with the show acting as a bit of an oasis in the midst of a hectic schedule.

"I live nearby and I think those of us who live in this area are really lucky as it is a fantastic area for living a healthy lifestyle," she said.

"There is fabulous local produce available, plenty of great walks to go on to give you exercise and great countryside. It seems to have just the right mix."

Living near Evesham, Toyah is the first to admit that her house has its fair share of all the mod cons to make life easier, but she also has crystals all over her home to have a positive influence on her moods.

"I have them everywhere and do believe in the energy of them and their ability in them to influence your life and soak up the radiation created by all those modern appliances that make our lives easier," she said.

She assures that her speech at the event will be lighthearted but will also address the fact that holistic is just a natural way of living that has been followed for centuries.

"It's nothing new. Many of the remedies used both in holistic and modern medicine are derived from plants and have been around for hundreds of years.

"When it comes down to it a holistic lifestyle is just a common sense way to live and that's what we hope to get across during the weekend."

■ Gloucestershire's Mind, Body and Soul Weekend takes place at Pittville Pump Room, Cheltenham, on October 11 and 12, from 10am-5pm. Download a programme for the weekend at: www.naturalhealthshows.co.uk or call 01933 652445 for details.