lara simmons

"Peace is the answer to every question right now." -- Lee Anne Peters , in the Weekly Guidance for April 29th through May 5th I love this advice (which, by the way, was also in The Weekly Guidance for last week). PEACE is the answer to every question right now. It's easy to say, but sometimes hard to get there. So how do you do it? Here are some of my favorite ways to find a little peace: 1) Sit down and MEDITATE - Even 10 minutes when you are feeling less-than-peaceful can help you find that place of peace again. So often it is our thoughts that are leading the charge against peace - what we need to do, what we haven't done. what so-and-so said to us, etc. Sit. Breathe. Watch your thoughts just drift on by. 2) Get outside and EXERCISE - Or inside. Again, even a short walk around the block will get those endorphins flowing, increase your sense of well-being and augment your ability to choose peace in every moment. And the fresh air on your skin and in

"Embrace who you are and teach your kids to do the same." --The Universe in meditation

The spiritual path can be a lonely one, which is why it is always comforting to meet a fellow traveler. I had tea with one of my favorite co-inspirators the other day and came away with these gems: "The competitive struggle for existence has got to end." "When faced with someone whose beliefs seem completely opposite to mine - and incomprehensible - I try and remember that they are looking at the world through their own window. It may seem smaller than mine, or narrower than mine, or more clouded, but it is theirs and if I look hard enough I can find ways in which they are similar and I try and focus on those." With many thanks to JM until we meet again.....

"Just when I thought it was over and I could finally settle down, Life continues to challenge me to rise up and hold my ground!" -- Tom "Kaypacha" Lescher Another gem from my sister, this weekly astrology forecast is not for everyone, but I love it. Hope you will too!

"So I'll be bold  As well as strong  And use my head alongside my heart." -- Mumford & Sons A couple of weeks ago I saw Tsoknyi Rinpoche speak at NalandaWest in Seattle. One of the main themes of the talk was heart vs. head. He talked a lot about how what he teaches in the West is the very opposite of what he teaches in the East. In the West, he tries to teach us to open our hearts. In the East, he needs to teach his students how to use their heads. In Nepal and India, for instance, he teaches his students about "healthy fear." This is apparently an unknown concept to them. They do not fear germs and disease and dirty water. And thus, health problems stemming from these hygiene issues are rampant. In the United States most of us are fortunate enough not only to be aware of the necessity of cleanliness and good hygiene, we also have access to plenty of fresh, clean water with which to wash and keep clean. What we need to learn is those skills t

"Don't allow your worries to control your moment." -- Lee-Anne Peters I love this one. So simple. So true. And sometimes so hard. But definitely worth the effort.