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Dr. Lauren has published her newsletter since 2000. Here's a back issue.

Dr. Lauren's eNews 6: Knowing Your Way in the World
--Leading you toward Knowing your way in the world.
©2000-2004

IN THIS ISSUE
1. Welcome
2. Wise Words & Sage Sayings
3. Centering Yourself During Hectic Times
4. Listen to Your Heart--A Message from the Other Side
5. Intuition News You Can Use - (articles, classes, and web sites)

1. WELCOME

Fall is upon us: this is a time for reflection, meditation, reconnection to my deeper spiritual resources. Maybe you, too, find yourself looking inward as winter sets in. Whether you experience snow and other outward signs of the changing season, this is a time of shifting energies, of subtle movements toward new growth. It may feel as though you're going nowhere, but remember that times of greatest growth often are preceded by a period of quiet. It reminds me of a pendulum swinging to one end of its arc, then appearing to stop entirely just before it moves in the opposite direction. This allows us to prepare, to center ourselves, and to develop a remembrance of what once was so we can reflect on the growth we're experiencing.

To help you center yourself and find that quiet zone during this hectic time, I've written an article you'll find below with several tips to help you hold the spiritual meaning of this time of year--which might help you through those rough patches with family and friends who may not share your wider perspective. I hope you'll find it helpful.

May you be filled with the spirit of peace, love, harmony, hope and wonder during this last holiday season of the old millennium!

Best & blessings to you and yours,

Dr. Lauren Thibodeau

2. WISE WORDS & SAGE SAYINGS

I'm a huge fan of quotations. I read some daily and found these on gratitude to share:

To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven. -- Johannes A. Gaertner

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. -- Melody Beattie

Feeling grateful or appreciative of someone or something in your life actually attracts more of the things that you appreciate and value into your life. -- Christiane Northrup

God has two dwellings; one in heaven, and the other in a meek and thankful heart. -- Izaak Walton

Gratitude is the heart's memory. -- French Proverb

3. CENTERING YOURSELF DURING HECTIC TIMES

Here are some ways to center yourself during hectic times--whether or not it's the holiday season.

MORNING MANIFESTING: Allow yourself a few minutes of closed-eyes time before you get out of bed each morning. Use this time to breathe in deeply, taking in all that you want your day to be, and then out gently, letting go of all that you fear may go awry. Seven breaths, one for each chakra, is a good number. If you're a visual person, you can also use this time to "see" what you want your day to become. Really let yourself stretch with this one!

NATURE BREAK: When you find yourself stressed in any situation, take a few moments' break to reconnect with nature. Getting outside is ideal, but opening a window and breathing deeply, or watching animals and birds outside also will work. If those things aren't possible, simply touching the leaves of a plant because the windows don't open (or there aren't any!), helps. As you reconnect with an element of our natural world, you'll find your breathing slowing, and your energy calming, and your spirit soaring as you recall the healing energy of Mother Earth.

WAVES OF LOVE: When you find yourself frustrated by cranky clerks, idiotic drivers, or anybody else you're reacting negatively to, send love their way. Visualize pink, white, and/or gold waves of energy moving from the center of your forehead out in a beam of healing, loving, supportive light, washing over those who are irritating you in that moment--and yourself, too. After all, you choose your reaction, and a reaction of love is probably the best choice, anytime.

BLESSING BREAK: If you find yourself feeling that your life doesn't offer enough in a material sense--and that's an easy trap to fall into as we watch the excesses of the holiday shopping and gift giving season--count your blessings. While it may seem hokey, it works! Think of, and if you can, write down, 3 to 5 things you're grateful for in that moment. If you're stuck, start with "I'm breathing" and go on from there--you'll find blessings in your life if you make it a goal to do so, which will change your whole way of being. Keep in mind that millions upon millions of people throughout the world struggle just for the basics of food, shelter, and clothing. This is a great exercise when you're standing in a long line tapping your foot!

THE GIFT OF SELF: You can offer kind words, time together, or chores done for those whom you'd like to honor in your life, even if they're strangers. The best gifts that are forever aren't necessarily diamonds!

4. LISTEN TO YOUR HEART: A MESSAGE FROM THE OTHER SIDE

Many thanks to my friend Scott for sharing this touching story with me. The author is unknown. It’s a bit long, but please, read it. You’ll resonate to the message that when you listen to your heart, you change your life—and probably the lives of others, too, as you’ll see.

As a teacher of origami (the ancient Japanese art of paper folding) at the LaFarge Lifelong Learning Institute in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Art Beaudry was asked to represent the school at an exhibit at a large mall in Milwaukee. He decided to take along a couple hundred folded paper cranes to pass out to people who stopped at his booth.

Before that day, however, something strange happened-a voice told him to find a piece of gold foil paper and make a gold origami crane. The strange voice was so insistent that Art actually found himself rummaging through his collection of origami papers at home until he found one flat, shiny piece of

gold foil. "Why am I doing this?" he asked himself. Art had never worked with the shiny gold paper. It didn't fold as easily or neatly as the crisp multicolored papers. But that little voice kept nudging.

Art harrumphed and tried to ignore the voice. "Why gold foil anyway? Paper is much easier to work with." He grumbled. The voice continued, "Do it! And you must give it away tomorrow to a special person." By now Art was getting a little cranky..... "What special person?" he asked the voice. "You'll know which one," the voice said.

That evening Art very carefully folded and shaped the unforgiving gold foil until it became as graceful and delicate as a real crane about to take flight. He packed the exquisite bird in the box along with about 200 colorful paper cranes he'd made over the previous few weeks. The next day at the mall, dozens upon dozens of people stopped by Art's booth to ask questions about origami. He demonstrated the art. He folded, unfolded and refolded. He explained the intricate details, the need for sharp creases.

Then there was a woman standing in front of Art. The special person. Art had never seen her before, and she hadn't said a word as she watched him carefully fold a bright pink piece of paper into a crane with pointed, graceful wings. Art glanced up at her face, and before he knew what he was doing, his hands were down in the big box that contained the supply of paper cranes. There it was, the delicate gold-foil bird he'd labored over the night before. He retrieved it and carefully placed it in the woman's hand. "I don't know why, but there's a very loud voice inside me telling me I'm supposed to give you this golden crane. The crane is the ancient symbol of peace." Art said simply.

The woman didn't say a word as she slowly cupped her small hand around the fragile bird as if it were alive. When Art looked up at her face, he saw tears filling her eyes, ready to spill out. Finally the woman took a deep breath and said, "My husband died three weeks ago. This is the first time I've been out. Today...." She wiped her eyes with her free hand, still gently cradling the golden crane with the other. She spoke very quietly, "Today is our golden wedding anniversary." Then the woman said in a clear voice. "Thank you for this beautiful gift. Now I know that my husband is at peace. Don't you see? That voice you heard. It's the voice of God and this beautiful crane is a gift from Him. It's the most wonderful 50th wedding anniversary present I could have received. Thank you for listening to your heart.”

5. INTUITION NEWS YOU CAN USE

A great general reference to all matters metaphysical is http://www.spiritsearch.com It's well-designed and organized, too, which is always a plus.

Here's another website that offers a number of links, including to spiritually oriented chatrooms if you're looking for internet buddies who share your interests. Sometimes it's lonely when your longtime friends don't understand that you've embarked on a spiritual path. Check out http://www.spiritnetwork.com

I've always enjoyed the work of Sanaya Roman and Duane Packer. They wrote "Creating Money: Keys to Abundance" as well as two classics, "Spiritual Growth" and "Living With Joy." One of my favorites is "Opening to Channel" Visit their site at http://www.orindaben.com/home/home.htm -- it's rife with good "stuff" in a very spiritual vein.

Dr. Lauren Thibodeau
--Leading you toward Knowing your way in the world