What's Inside this Issue

by Barbara Stahura
Mind/Body author extraordinaire, Dr. Christiane Northrup, gives a candid interview that you won't want to miss! One of her core messages, which she fleshes out in the interview, is that rather than "shriveling with age," women can increasingly empower themselves to live richer, healthier, happier lives than ever before. She has long been aware that many of our physical ailments are the result of mental and spiritual aspects of our lives which are out of balance; therefore she sees health from a truly holistic perspective: "True health is only possible when we understand the unity of our minds, emotions, spirits, and physical bodies."

by Tama J. Kieves Tama kicks off the first "installment" of her four-part series on "living your calling," which is really at the heart of her overall vision and message. She states that one literally must choose to be called, and clarifies that it is none other than our higher Self, the Divine within us, which beckons us to live fully. By accepting this calling, we are really embracing the best possible life path for ourselves, one which is full of inspiration, love, and sincerity. Tama has a distinct gift not only for following her true calling, but also for encouraging others to do the same. Take this quote as a good example of this gift: "If your Inspired Self is real -- and yes, honey, it's more real than Kansas -- then there is nothing but your regenerative path, and it's always edging you toward extraordinary results."

by Sylvia Zitting
This is a great (true) Reader's Story, one which I, as editor, personally love; in fact, it would have made a great Twilight Zone episode -- I'm sure Rod Serling would have grabbed it! The author reminisces about how her father told her (age 12) and her sister (age 17) to complete a task that seasoned cowboys refused to do -- escort their herd of horses fifty miles across an exposed plateau, in horrible weather, and then meet him on the other side. It seemed unbelievable that a father would ask his own daughters to do something so dangerous and difficult, but "nobody cried in front of dad," a very authoritarian, demanding man. The two girls embarked upon their difficult journey, and it really was difficult, to say the least. The story is all about the details of their odyssey, which ends in an incredible manner, fortunately, blessed by a certain form of divine intervention which you'll simply have to read about.

by Edgar Lansbury
Nicholas Roerich was a deeply spiritual man who exercised a wide spectrum of talents, including a genius for painting. He drew great inspiration from the Himalayas, where he traveled extensively and ultimately lived with his wife, Helena. His paintings express the magical mysticism of that great mountain range, and this article features many of those masterpieces. Jawaharlal Nehru said this about Roerich's Himalayan canvases: "They remind us of so much in our history, our thoughts, our cultural and spiritual heritage, not merely of the India of the past, but of something that is permanent and eternal about India, that we cannot help feeling a great sense of indebtedness to Nicholas Roerich, who has enshrined that spirit in these magnificent canvases."

by Jack Addington
The author points out that "the surest way of blocking our prayers is to hold a grudge," and he counsels that "The key is Love. Forgiveness oils the lock and Love opens the door to the kingdom of all good." While "our mental tape recorder" tends to preserve our negative, disturbing past experiences, Dr. Addington points out that there most definitely is a solution: "We can pour so much love and understanding on the memory of a past incident that it is completely neutralized. It can actually become a good memory instead of a bad one." Good advice from a wise man!

by Maureen Healy
     Ms. Healy knows a lot about children -- how to encourage them, not just to get by, but to believe in themselves and walk in the direction of their dreams. Her essay is chock full of useful ways to accomplish this, with insights such as this: "Inner power is the ability to persevere when obstacles arise, as they always do, especially in childhood when confronted with bullies, poor grades, rejection, and bruises. It is a knowing that you are valuable and can make it. Such inner strength also encourages a child to courageously risk sharing his or her talents with the world. And in today's world, we need everyone's best."

by Joseph Wahome Gathiru  
This is a very touching story about a man who encounters an insightful, blind beggar, and how this encounter affects his life for the better. The beggar, it turns out, although secluded from mainstream society, possesses wonderful wisdom, which he freely expresses to his new-found friend. As he gets to know the beggar, Jean (our protagonist) begins to sincerely care about him, and also finds, upon going his own way, that his appreciation of life has been enhanced through this magical meeting: "He (Jean) found himself viewing all people around him in a new light; a light that appreciated all nuances in their faces....He began to notice intricate expressions in the human mass around him -- a dismissive wave of the hand, a resigned shrug elsewhere....Through it all, Jean marveled at just how complex and compellingly engaging human nature is, if one just takes the time to look around."

by Swami Mangalananda     

In his classic book, Autobiography of a Yogi, Paramahansa Yogananda wrote about Anandamayi Ma, "The Bliss Permeated Saint," and thus the West became aware of her to some extent. It turns out that this saint was a remarkable being who led a very unusual life. From birth, she exhibited complete peace and contentment, and at a very young age she spontaneously practiced, at the "speed of light," a dazzling array of ancient spiritual practices, all without being taught -- it arose spontaneously from within! She spent the last 50 years of her life traveling across Northern India, according to the divine promptings she received from within. Everywhere she went, there were throngs of adoring devotees, all eager to have her company, love, and guidance. She stated that she practiced no particular path of realization; rather she preached a strong love for God -- through whatever means the aspirant found natural -- and summed up her perspective by saying "The intense desire for God-realization is itself the way to it." If this story (written by one of her sincere followers) were not known to be true, it would be difficult to believe!

by Jean Walters

 The author writes brilliantly on the topic of perseverance, using several examples to make her point. Two of those examples are Cal Ripken, Jr. and Jim Carrey. She points out the necessity for having an intense desire to reach a particular goal, which allows individuals to endure many difficulties, disappointments, and setbacks without giving up: "It may take a while, maybe even years, but start with a vision of what you want and the belief that you can accomplish it. Establishing and holding a clear goal puts you in a position to get the experience and support you need to eventually accomplish your objective."

by Durga Ahlund
Durga looks deeply into the practice -- yes, practice -- of yogic relaxation, using a few marvelous techniques which she explains in great detail. She points out that "yogic relaxation is not just about rest; it trains you to become an impartial observer. It is about letting go of troublesome material hidden in your consciousnesss. This requires an impartial observer, capable of delving into the unconscious mind to discover the source of one's own destructive tendencies or habits." This is an excellent article for cultivating inner peace and poise.

by Celia Iannelli
The author relates an incident in a supermarket in which she meets a young woman who looks ill, frightened, and very shaken-up. She stays with the woman to help her through her crisis, and finds that she is having an anxiety attack, triggered by her phobia about leaving home. Amazingly, the author used to suffer from a very similar condition, and is therefore well equipped to help her through this episode. Ms. Iannelli (the author) then reflects upon her past, and shares with us how she overcame her own anxiety disorder, which makes for some inspiring reading!

by William Hansen
This is a compelling look at the life of "The Sleeping Prophet," Edgar Cayce, a deeply religious, spiritual man. A photographer by trade, Cayce discovered an amazing ability to help others from a "sleep-like state," in which he seemed to have unlimited access to any information that was needed to help solve a given problem or condition. He is considered by many to be the  "father of holistic medicine," as his readings or dictations often suggested the use of alternative medical techniques, many of which proved very helpful. However, perhaps Cayce's greatest insights had to do with "the development and growth of the human soul along its journey in search of its ideal or purpose," as he possessed an "uncanny ability to experience the interconnectedness of all life." 

by Victor Parachin
This is a great story which encourages all of us to "pay forward" (i.e., share with others) whatever good we are blessed with. He tells the story of Larry Stewart, who was laid off and penniless in 1971. Desperate to eat, he sat down in a diner, ordered a big breakfast, and then acted as if he lost his wallet in order to save face. The restaurant's owner "coincidentally" found a twenty dollar bill on the floor next to Larry, and said "Son, you must have dropped this." After leaving the restaurant, Larry realized that the owner had not really found that money, but used that ploy as an excuse to help him without embarrassing him. From that moment, Larry said to himself "Lord, if you ever put me in a position to help other people, I will do it." Larry did go on to be very successful, and has become a sort of Secret Santa to many people in need. There's much more to the article, but you'll have to read it yourself!

by Noelle Sterne
This valuable feature advises us to make the most of our situation, even if some aspects of it seem uninspiring to us. Not that we shouldn't work for our dreams, but there are times when "blooming where we are planted" is a wise strategy. But how do we do it? Answer: by focusing upon all the ways in which our present work benefits others, thus seeing it in a more positive light. The author demonstrates this principle with real-life stories in which the simple shifting of one's perspective brings a wonderful spirit of regeneration into the lives of those who saw their work as boring, uninspired, or demeaning.

by Ed Tooley
If ever a very short (true) story had a very big impact, this one is it! The author recounts how, as a college student, one of his professors was looking for volunteers to help out with a Special Olympics coming up over the weekend. Reluctantly, he signed up to help, and a very simple "miraculous moment" forever changed his life: he witnessed a group of racers in which one of them, a young girl, was wheelchair bound. Everyone finished the race well before this young girl, but she nonetheless "sprinted" in her wheelchair with all her strength, exhibiting phenomenal spirit and joy. By the time she crossed the finish line, the author was weeping uncontrollably, and the entire crowd was on its feet. Now, as an adult, "whenever I get that lazy bug that buzzes in and out of my life, God brings to mind this heroic athlete with the bows in her hair and the joy in her heart."

by Ascended Master Saint Germain
This article reveals a simple but powerful technique which, when used understandingly, can work wonders in one's life. The technique has to do with the recognition "that in the slightest activity in the outer, it is always the Power or Energy of God acting. Know this! Then stimulate the activity of the consciousness into recognizing that as you consciously direct this God Power into the channel of your highest desires, you can enter into its Limitless Use. You do this by recognizing that It is All-powerful and that through your own consciousness you give It full Power."

by Marshall Govindan
The author, a "regular" in this publication, has written one of his best pieces with this contribution, which explores in great detail the discipline of silence and its many attendant benefits. Speaking of the Spirit or Witness Self within, he writes: "Because it is subtle, the mind must become subtle, energized, and silent to apprehend it. For this reason, the observance of silence has been the traditional vehicle for accessing the spiritual dimension. This is evident even in the word 'mystic,' which is derived from the Greek word muein, meaning 'one who is silent.'" The benefits enumerated by the author which arise from practicing a regular period of silence each week are very profound and all-pervasive, going way beyond what the reader might expect. After reading this feature, the reader may be more inclined to "hold his or her tongue!"

by Delia Sellers
Ms. Sellers writes "You may ask why it is so important to accept yourself, even to the point of Self-love. The answer is simple, yet profound: God loves the world by means of you and me. As we truly live in love, we see life differently and draw love from persons, places, and things into our experience." It's true -- the starting point for change lies within ourselves. If we want the world to be a better, more loving place, then we must first love ourselves, and then loving others will flow naturally. However, making this change in ourselves is not necessarily an overnight task -- there is old conditioning which often gets in the way; therefore, it is helpful to consciously transform our negative thought and feeling patterns into positive ones, through the use of affirmations and similar techniques. As with everything worthwhile, if we stay at it, we will succeed.

by Fredda Tourin
This is a charming Reader's Story about the evolution of a mother-daughter relationship. As the mother ages, the daughter is called upon to step up and become more involved in her mother's life; however, there has been a history of arguments and hurt feelings -- the mother was domineering, tough, and actually enjoyed a "good argument," whereas the author (the daughter) was sensitive and less conflict-oriented. As her mother's life begins to fade, and even after she passes, we see a lovely change take place in their relationship, as love becomes the dominant emotion. This is a beautiful story of conflict resolution and healing.

by Rasoul Sorkhabi
Born in 1868, Alexandra David-Neel was a true "feminist" well before the term was even coined. She was deeply spiritual, a traveler and adventurer, and quite fearless in following her spirit's calling. She spent much of her life journeying in the Himalayan region of Tibet and India, and was the first western woman to enter the Sacred City of Lhasa, Tibet. With her magnetic personality, she endeared herself to Crown Princes, The Dalai Lama, and many other prominent personalities in the region, and she became quite the authority of authentic Tibetan Buddhism.