I feel compelled to write about this topic as it has been coming up a lot around me in the past month. So let’s be inspired!!!

This past July I was able to get away to the Amma retreat in Marlboro MA. And was surprised by amazing experience to begin with. Getting a hug once a year was incredible, but to be around her energy for an extended time was just a blessing beyond words.

During this retreat, there was as lot of opportunity to hear Amma speak about many different topics from selfless service to how to deal with someone suffering from depression and the struggles we are having with the world today.

One topic that really hit home for me was a talk that was prompted by a question a devotee had asked Amma about how she deals with all the suffering in the world and what advice she would offer to us on this matter.

As a Mother to all, Amma says she has meditated on this topic a lot. And it was important to understand that god did not create all this suffering that we see here. We ourselves created this suffering from past lives. Amma went on to explain that we have to work through our karma from all of our lifetimes, hence why some people have a journey with more struggles than others.

Amma mentioned that we can help these individuals, it is good karma on our part to be in selfless service to those who are suffering. Offering them compassion in a life where they see little. But at the same time we cannot absolve them of their Karma.

I loved how Amma mentioned the checkbook. We come into this life time with a balance of good or bad karma that needs to be worked through. And what we do in this lifetime affects that checkbook and positive and negative ways.

The reason for me sharing this information is that many of my clients and friends have been asking about Karma recently and I felt that must mean this information needs to be shared.

Think carefully about what you do to others and about how much selfless service you do out there. One client recently asked me about how she can be of more help to others without affecting their karmic healing.

My personal answer: when someone you know is living a life of suffering in your eyes, you cannot take away, or take on someone else’s suffering. It does not end or clear their Karma. It will only prolong the inevitable and may even compound the effects of that individual’s karmic healing.

Rather, you can offer them compassion. When an alcoholic asks for money to pay the bills, worst thing you can do is give them money. The first thing they are going to do is run to the store and by alcohol. In this case, offer them some alternatives to cash. Or motivate them by helping them balance their bills.

Much better to lead a horse to water. The hard part is to not take it personal if they don’t drink. You did the best you could have by just opening the RIGHT door for them.

Amma offered that prayer is the best. Keep those who are suffering in your positive intentions. Allowing them to work through their karmic healing.

Don’t forget to work on your good Karma. Focus on doing some good deeds in your life. Get that checkbook in the black!!! That way when you come back in your next life you will already have a positive boost going for you!!! Plus, when you are leading by example, you would be amazed at how many people around you will begin to do the same.

In Love and Bliss

Lauren Rainbow

I have to apologize for the months delay in getting some new information out to you all. I have had several instances in which so many of you have asked for new writings. So lets get 2008 started on the right foot. You may recall that last year was a 9 year. Signifying a year of endings for all of us. Of course, on an individual level, what the endings were about will vary significantly. For me personally, it was a challenging year for reasons deeper than I will go into hear. However, I have had a very humbling experience when it comes to what I share with others about my personal life. I learned who was really honest and true to me, and above all, I had to end several relations with friends, whom I loved and trusted dearly.Although I no longer communicate with several of these individuals in my life, I know I will always love them for the journeys we shared… they were important for all of us to grow as individuals.

Yet, new and loving people have made their way into my life and new journeys begin to grow. Still, there are the troopers from the past who have also remained true and willing to work together still… not all that was is lost.Due to these changes I spent a good chuck of 2007 pulled within myself. The boisterous and outgoing, cheery me had to take a back seat, while I spent time in blame and punishment towards myself for the events that shifted these connections in my life. My self inflicted punishment was by disconnecting a great deal from the guidance above me. Discarding the love of my guides and masters as they tried to reach out to me.

Towards the end of the year, I began to see, no matter how much I tried to disconnect myself, spirit was still there, opening doors for me to walk through. And yes, walked through them I did!!! I didn’t take me long to understand spirit will always be there for me. Pushing me forward, and opening those doors of opportunity. So I decided I must get back to some new routine of connecting.

It was hard at first, believing still, I was not worthy of connecting, of being loved by spirit. Instead I focused on my mistakes throwing away years of spiritual knowledge to punish myself. I buried my life in food. Through that, I abused my body. I didn’t feel beautiful anymore.

As 2008, a time of new beginnings, closed upon us, I could feel a shift in my consciousness. I began to seek out the love of my guides and masters again. Wanting to heal what I have done to myself. Looking for self forgiveness. I know I am not alone on this journey. I know many of you were also feeling the same. Disconnected and alone. Now seeking again to open and remember what it is like to be loved again.2008 is just what seeking spirit is all about. It has been a very long time since we have been through such a transition. Where we get to remove all that does not validate who we are. That can be everything from loved ones we care about to ideals and thoughts which may have kept us hostage in our own fear and self loathing. We needed to remove all that was not pushing us forward. So that now we can jump into the energy moving… no propelling… us forward to a new understanding of love unlike we have never felt before.

It is ok to take the time now at the beginning of this year to slowly allow yourself to come out of the cocoon you have created around you. Hibernation time is almost over! By March of this year, you will be motivated in new and different way. Takeing advantage of the ideas and inspiration that will soon flood you with creative thoughts as you have never felt before. Be willing to see that not all things are beyond your abilities. For now the world is indeed at hand. We are four years away from the amazing transformation that is 2012. A transformation into light movement that is beyond your wildest dreams, but beautiful and free in its own right.

In the next four years you will take the creative light energies that are moving and put together the REAL ideal that you have always wanted. But we could not have done it without the closing of 2007. Your positive view that you are rebuilding towards yourself at this time is going to be the foundation of energy that will keep you moving towards your new goal. Don’t get stuck in the mud of your mind. Instead expand your thoughts to allow as much light as possible within. Cast aside the shadows of your past, to see that light that you are truly meant to be.

Ready to begin anew?? Don’t take to long as time is of the essence and moving faster…. hop on the wave or get pulled to the undertow…. you decide.

Yesterday, I learned how much really goes into being a mother. At 31 years myself, I still have yet to become a mother in the physical sense. Most of my life, I have denied the desire to have children. Many who know me, tell me I would make a great mother. I myself, have yet to see those qualities.

My friend, Leela and I, treated ourselves to a Kirtan and Satsang with Baba Hariji in Portsmouth on Mothers Day. We really enjoy these high energy, spiritual evenings as a good time to connect with each other and get a spiritual “Awakening”.

On our way, we were discussing motherhood. We both have gone quite far without having our own children, and have both debated within ourselves the desire to do so… one of the common grounds we have shared as friends.

At Satsang, Baba Hariji spoke about motherhood and the tremendous role it really is. One of the most amazing comments of the evening he shared with us, was how it takes more than giving birth to become a mother. Also, that giving birth is not what makes a mother. I have reflected much on this comment in the past day. Being grateful, for my mother and her presence in my life.

The blessing I have been given to have such and open-minded intelligent person in my life as my mother is beyond words at some point. In my 31 years, she has been the best support of my life. In all my craziness, and daring adventures, she has let me be me at all times.

But I have been blessed with many mothers along the way. Many friends of mine, have brought me into their homes and shared their loving mothers with me. I have always joked about being adopted many times over. And for all these amazing women in my life, I am grateful.

Then there is the goddesses above, Sekhmet, Kwan Yin, Mother Mary, Kali Ma, Athena, Sophia, just to name a few of the divine ladies above, who have shared there loving support from above, and the Gaia mother below me, who keeps me here, with her loving gravity, she mothers us all.

Having been in the arms of my guru and spiritual mother Amma. From the moment of my first hug with her, I knew I had found the essence of unconditional love and long to experience it everyday. Just another example of how the essence of motherhood is all around. Mothers are unconditional love.

Recently, I have been given the opportunity to present myself in a motherly way to a very young and adorable being in my life. And it scares me!!!!!. My boyfriend’s son, has been in my life for only a few months. Although our time together is always very brief, I have found myself holding back from experiencing a true connection with the wonderful boy.

Sometimes I feel as though he is holding back from me, but I have recently learned he is only mirroring me. Presenting my fears right to me. Since being with Baba Hariji last night, I realize spirit is bringing me the opportunity to be an unconditionally loving mother. To step into this role, slowly and easily. I pray now to help me embrace this journey with grace and ease.

However, I take a moment to honor and commend all mothers out there. Especially to those who have taken it within their heart to bring motherless children into their homes and love them as if they were their own. There are so many children in the world who need a loving mother, and to all these children I wish them the opportunity to experience this love.

Rainbow Blessings
Lauren Ellen Rainbow

Yes, this can mean rare or, fat chance in hell, but really a Blue moon is two full moons in one calendar month. So guess what? You can litterally say that once in a blue moon has actually happened, as this month of May 2007, has two full moons; May 2 and May 31.
To me, this is litterally a month of rare happenings since the last blue moon month was July 2004. What does this mean for you?
I like to call this a time of miracles if you are thinking in the positive mind frame. Since it is twice the power of heightened energy in this month, get your intentions set high and clear for yourself. But watch out for the new moon this month as well; May 16 . As the new moon is a time for releasing. Since the actual “blue moon” is the second full moon of the month. You really want to do much clearing between May 2 and May 16… Best time to do your mental, emotional and physical clearning. Then the best time for creation to in this month is going to be between May 17 to the 31.
Take some time for yourself in that second half. Be a little selfish in the intentions that you put out for yourself. Be crystal clear about your intentions as well. And I mean crystal. For example, A good friend of mine and I were discussing “the Secret” and we are learning that it has a few flaws. He was intentioning checks in the mail, instead of bills, and he did indeed get checks in the mail, but they were never checks he could cash… LOL… always a catch behind those sneaky advertisements. So BE SPECIFIC. See gifts of money in the mail instead!! A word of advice from me… you cannot be specific enough!        But even more, send a little love to Gaia… I cannot stress enough how much she needs the love. Look around youself at the changing weather, and let this be a sign from her that she is screaming for help.
But even more… take a little time to have some fun on Cinco de Mayo. It will be my last day at my job before I move out into the great unknown. I know I will be having fun that night.

Rainbow Blessings
Lauren Ellen

Cabin Fever… it is driving me insane. As I sit here in my office at work, writing this entry, I desire to be outside, running around, on this beautiful, warm day in