Welcome to this issue of the Spiritual Woman Ezine January brings about a feeling of renewal, of awakening , stretching out our feelers to welcome what a new year has to offer. I have felt a real big urge to look upon myself and enjoy every little thing that I am given daily. The power of positive affirmations is not to be underestimated. Looking out of the window it is a dull, rainy, overcast day, leading one to say "Oh what a miserable day", yet out of the mouth of my daughter this morning came this: "Rain makes everything grow Mama, the bushes, the hedges, the grass and Mama we need rain too, we are made from cells, and we have bones, and we are alive so we need water too." And a dull, wet day turned into a nourishing, renewing , thankful experience. To see the beauty, the life , the need for the proper balanced cycle is to really be alive. I am off to place an empty cup outside, catching some raindrops to fill myself with childlike beauty. Please feel free to forward this newsletter to anybody you feel might receive benefit and joy from it :-) a quick peek at todays topics: - Presents for Myself - Artful Winter Challenge Part 2 - The Humble Stranger - A Spiritual Exercise - New Year Soul Soup - New Webpages

Presents for Myself Everybody has been giving and receiving a lot of gifts and I would like to show you my favourites. I presented myself with a Zoom Lens for my camera, oh what a joy I spend a lot of the festive period building up my Lego Harry Potter, I have got Dumbledores Office and my daughter bought me Diagon Alley so we had lots of fun assembling tiny magical pouches and potions a good friend gave me the "We-Moon Diary" another good friend gave me a little mbook called "Angels a Joyous Celebration" with a lovely little angel charm attached to it and I presented myself with something I have felt the need for for a long time. A membership into the The Spiritual Cinema Circle Oh how often I have felt in the mood to watch a good movie and the selection on the tv has been simply uninspiring. So much violence, so much unneccessary anger and hatred. All I was longing for was an uplifting movie, a spiritally inspiring story, movies were love is vibrantly alive, movies were art is celebrated , where the heart and soul are nourished and refreshed, where I can enter into another world for a couple of hours and immerse myself into it happily. When I found the The Spiritual Cinema Circle I knew that I had arrived . With the upcoming Indigo Movie receiving an amazing amount of attention the focus is definelty shifting more and more towards the need for positive media productions. However so many brilliant films never make it to the screens as they are not "commercial enough" . Films like "What dreams may come" and "Whale Rider" simple make my heart sing so I am really enjoying this gift that keeps on giving me exactly what I need.

Artful Winter Challenge This was the challenge I proposed last year, here follows part 2 "Three Questions " This time of the year brings with it moments of reflection. Within wellknown organisational busyness the mind can be free to ponder greater meaning, higher source and placement of self within all that is much like the washing up bowl exercise - its finding moments of clarity and contemplations, whilst stuffing the turkey, peeling seemingly endless piles of potatoes, cleaning the house for guests to arrive and other mondane tasks So lets find some moments ( whilst swinging the broom, whilst washing up, whilst peeling sprouts, whilst decorating for your festival) to consider asking 3 questions: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Challenge: Part 1 If you could ask your Deity, Spirit, God/Goddess, All That Is or whatever you choose to call "it" Three Questions ( and only 3) What would they be? Contemplate and make a note of your answers. I always keep a journal to jot down anything that comes to mind during the course of a day, those fleeting moments of insight, so often otherwise lost... take a pen... think about it, then finalise 3 answers. Part 2 to follow :-) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Challenge: Part 2 You have formulated your 3 questions in your mind, on paper, in your journal, or at the spiritual woman yahoogroup, using words. Now think outside the written realm and "Paint your Questions" Imagine words would not be a method of communication, only images would bring out the true meaning of your question How would you make yourself understood? Contemplate your 3 questions, choose one or all and create an "Imagery Question" , paint it, draw it, collage it, stick it, puzzle it together from magazine cut outs, knit it, sew it, claywork it, anyway you can express your question in the form of an image using no words! If you like fee free to post your images at the Spirtual Woman Yahoogroup photo files Enjoy Lila*

Spiritual Exercise The humble stranger in me: take a walk on the street and pass a stranger try and look at yourself through their eyes see yourself walking by and passing without a further thought see how insignificant you are in this persons life become that other person for a moment and feel the bigger connection powerfully we are all one Ego is very powerful and can hold you tightly anchored to the ground when all you want is to take flight Practise Stretching Your Wings