CAYCE'S LIVING YOUNG ADVICE (c) By Polly Guerin

Every woman can become beautiful, every man attractive but the mind plays a pivotal role in maintaining youthfulness. Edgar Cayce the great American prophet ought to know. Although most of his 'Readings' concerned health matters he had also doled out beauty advice to individuals who were seeking information on therapies for Living Young in all aspects of their life. In one of his astute readings Cayce said, “If we would have life, give it. If we would have love, make ourselves lovely. If we would have beauty within our lives, make our lives beautiful. If we would have beauty in body or mind, or soul, create that atmosphere, and that which brings about life itself will bring those (same) forces into the experience. (2096-1).
WHAT WAS CAYCE SAYING? Obviously feeling young and looking good is up to you. As an individual we have the responsibility to ‘make our lives beautiful’ by making a commitment to create an attitude, a lifestyle and an environment that reflects beauty in our daily experience and encounter with others. This commitment will not only contribute to staying youthful in appearance but will make your journey here one of definitive purpose and soul fulfillment.
MAKING THE MOST OF IT Such a daily routine is the foundation of a youthful appearance. While we acknowledge that true beauty comes from within, from the beauty of the soul, there is nothing wrong with beautifying the body in which the soul swells. In other words Cayce advised that one need not be vain or frivolous in caring for the body, but they should make the most of what they have. Even a wallflower with proper grooming can emerge like a rose. Moreover, the Cayce readings are replete with advice and remedies for all aspects of achieving and maintaining a more beautiful you. He addressed some vexing concerns like care of complexion, remedies for skin blemishes, hair, baldness and dandruff, care of nails and feet. Achieving a beautiful mind and keeping the body young demands a rigorous daily regime that includes the Cayce diet, regular exercise, meditation and a positive outlook. Such a daily routine is the foundation of a youthful appearance. Any girl or woman who adheres to this beauty advice can improve her health and beautify her appearance.
MIND OVER MATTER Cayce further answered the question, “How can people avoid aging in appearance?” and answered “The Mind!” (1947-4). I had an aunt who was not exactly a beauty, but she followed the Cayce beauty routine with impeccable grooming and conservative but fashionable apparel and before she left her house she looked in a blue tinted mirror that magically dispelled any imperfections. In her mind she was beautiful. As the old adage goes, “Thinking will make it so.” As a matter of fact my real secret to staying youthful and feeling young is more mind-over-matter. Even a little meditation in the morning or a catch up meditation at intervals during the day might focus on all the things you should be grateful for in life. Indeed, you might go to poetryfromtheheartbypollyguerin.blogspot.com and read “Thanksgiving Reverence” for the many things to be grateful for.
So put yourself in a great state of mind and be passionate about everything you do in life, and remember that there are so many wonderful things to remind us that we are truly blessed every day. Such thoughts will keep you feeling young and looking good with a special glow that comes from inner beauty.

YOGA, SHAKE 'N ROLL IN THE SKY (c) By Polly Guerin

Planning a trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil was wonderful to anticipate, but the thought of the long flight, nearly 9 hours in a sedentary position, really concerned me particularly how sitting so long would affect the circulation in hips and legs. In preparation for the trip I started to think about ways to relieve the tension from confinement on the long flight. I turned to Yoga as a solution and offer here some suggestions that anyone can adapt for air travel, and if you’re locked at the computer for hours on end in a sedentary job these exercises are easy to do at your desk. Edgar Cayce the renowned American psychic in his readings on health often stressed, “We should do everything in our power to maintain good circulation through exercise.”
BEFORE YOU GO It’s important to prep your body before and after a long flight: drink lots of water, bring a bottle of water to spritz your face and a facial moisturizer, travel light and Ladies avoid restrictive bras, wear loose comfortable clothing instead and slip on shoes, bring a neck pillow to brace your head and a very light blanket to put around your shoulders should the air conditioning be too cold. It is important to start your regime early: before and during the flight eat lightly and avoid salt, alcohol and caffeine. In the airplane cabin don’t cross your legs, it impedes circulation and get up as often as possible and walk about the cabin. If you find a free space stretch, bend over and touch your toes. Sedentary Yoga will help you to maintain good circulation and increase your chances of feeling less stressed and looking ‘band box’ fresh when you arrive.
SEDENTARY YOGA Don’t worry about your seat companion's questionable look. Just say, “Excuse me but in case you’re wondering I’m doing some simple yoga exercises to improve circulation.” With that explained proceed to prep your body for in-flight yoga by getting into the silence in your mind. Close your eyes and visualize the calming color of the blue sky. Start off by centering yourself in the upright seat, feet flat on the floor close your eyes and focus on breathing in an out slowly and meditatively for a few minutes. If you feel uncomfortable about doing in-flight yoga in your seat go to the rest room when it is not busy and do these exercises in privacy.
ROLL AWAY TENSION I always like to begin with Cayce’s head and neck roll exercises which relieve tension and improve circulation to the brain, eyes, face and neck. Do this in slow motion by moving the head to the right shoulder, briefly pause there, then continue around the neck to the left shoulder. You may hear some cracking sounds which is a normal reaction of the body releasing the head and neck from uptight anxiety. Now reverse the head roll starting at the left shoulder. Do this exercise six times in each direction (or more if you desire). Cayce said that the head-and-neck rolls are particularly valuable to relieve muscle tension for people engaged in desk work, typing, piano and other activities (such as sedentary in-flight situations) that strain head, neck, eyes, shoulders, and arms.
SHOULDERING THE PROBLEM Okay, your exercise regime has just taken flight but you need to follow up with the shoulder roll. Children love to do this exercise because it looks so funny but it has tension releasing benefits worthwhile for any adult. In your seat inhale and roll your shoulders up to your ears, hold briefly and then exhale and roll your shoulders down. Again you may hear cracking sounds which only means that tension is being released. Repeat this exercise several times then with arms dangling roll your shoulders forward several times and reverse the action backwards. Hear yourself saying, “Oh, what a relief.” Quite frankly I think the airlines should engage every passenger in yoga in-flight exercises.
ANKLES AWAY It may be a tad difficult to do ankle exercises sitting in your seat but it can be done. Like the head-and-neck rolls start with the right leg and circle the ankle to the right several times and then repeat this action in the opposite direction. This simple exercise on each leg will reve up circulation. Then ever so slightly do the leg lift sitting in your seat. Lift your right leg up briefly hold this position, point toes toward the floor, repeat several times and do the same with the left leg. Now are you ready to walk about the cabin?
WALKING IN THE SKY Remember you’re on a long flight so get out of your seat and walk around the cabin or up and down the aisle. If you can find a space at the back of the airplane do some waist twists to the right and to the left, back and forth, to loosen up the spine. Bend over and touch your toes or dangle at whatever point you feel most comfortable. Rise up and now try to squat and do some knee bends. Embarrassed about such a public display? Want some privacy? When there is a lull in the restroom lineup go inside and do your twists, turns and bends there.
SITTING IN ONE SPOT FOR MORE THAN SIX HOURS WITHOUT RELIEF IS ONE OF THE MAIN CAUSES OF FATIGUE, HEART ATTACKS AND CIRCULATION PROBLEMS. DON’T WORRY ABOUT WHAT ANYONE MAY THINK. WHETHER YOU’RE IN THE SKY OR AT THE OFFICE OR HOME WORK STATION GET UP, GET MOVING, SHAKE AND ROLL YOURSELF INTO GOOD HEALTH!!!

HEALTH ALERT, Sounding the Alarm on Stress (c) by Polly Guerin

It’s not surprising to find that modern men and women today are inundated with an inordinate amount of stress in their daily lives. For one thing the computer has made it easier to log in and communicate any of the time of the day or evening. It seems that everyone including businesses are after your undivided attention. In today’s high tech society we are drawn to our computers and the first thing most of us do at work or in home offices is to boot up the computer and stare in disbelief at the avalanche of e-mails. The inbox commands your attention, riveting you to your seat and the whole morning can be wiped out in just one sitting. Responding to e-mails is also the culprit of stress and a good reason why you should manage your computer time more judiciously. Stress brought on by information overload is a serious matter because the computer can contribute to some serious health concerns.
HEALTH CONCERNS
The renowned American prophet, Edgar Cayce, as well as the medical profession has attributed a great many of physical as well as mental illness to stress. Cayce was quite sensitive to the effect of stress on people and never dismissed anything as “just nerves.” In a reading he said, “The strain between the physical and the mental, with the spiritual attributes of the individual, finds expression not only in the brain itself, but in that of the sympathetic (nervous) system. (4566-1) Other stress diseases include skin disorders, diabetes, colitis, glandular disorders, backache and muscular aches and pains: and arthritis, to name just a few.
INFORMATION OVERLOAD
Information overload is causing incredible amounts of Internet postings to deal with, so much so that it can actually contribute to your working longer hours, which eventually could hinder productivity. Just the thought of looking at the computer screen hour after hour can take its toll on one’s eyesight, posture and general feel-good personality. You could suffer pangs of alienation and everyone around you dares not interrupt. If you become a slave to the Internet its grip on your mind can even sabotage creativity.
RECLAIMING CREATIVITY
When we let the computer run our lives we stop thinking of creating. It is no longer in our heads. Computer driven individuals have a different orientation and stop thinking about making things and using their hands in pastime pursuits. Nature is the best medicine. Get out and interact with nature. Brown bag your lunch, bring a friend and picnic in the park. Instead of staying indoors in stuffy, sweaty gyms, take brisk walks in nature, do some calisthenics and pretend no one is looking. Take up a hobby. I have even noted that men also do needlepoint or knitting. In a reading Cayce admonished as follows: “…budget the time so that there may be regular period for sustaining the physical being and also for sustaining the mental and spiritual being. As it is necessary for recreation and rest for the physical, so it is necessary that there be recreation and rest for the mental.” (3691-1)
Best Advice: Forget about the etiquette books. Remember you do not have to reply to every e-mail

HEALTHY CHOICES...Seeing What's Often Invisible (*) by Polly Guerin

Fairies, Pixies, Brownies, Elves and Sprites

Seeing is believing, but what about expanding your senses to seeing what is often invisible? Since early childhood Edgar Cayce, the great American psychic, could see fairies, sprites, angels and invisible friends. As a child, he thought that everyone could see these figures. He was not alone in the wonder of childhood discovery. Much to the surprise of some parents they are amazed when they realize that their child has an invisible, imaginary friend. I remember a little girl, the daughter of a friend, who enjoyed the presence of an imaginary playmate. She sat in a chair opposite her invisible companion and conversed animatedly with total disregard for any adult present. Sometimes children develop these insights due to being an only child who is left to its own entertainments. Others through the innocence of their childhood have expanded their senses to seeing what is invisible.

SPIRIT ENCOUNTERS

Angels have fared a lot better throughout history and in the tales by the Brothers Grimm and Victorian artists. The evolution of the fairytale continues today and people relate to these invisible guardians embracing angel reality as their own. Angel protectors have become popular while angel motifs proliferate in art, literature, advertising and even fashion. Ghosts have also had their day permeating folklore for centuries and reappearing today in Civil War Re-enactment sites and other historical places. However, what about the fairies, brownies, elves, pixies and sprites? There has been considerable testament to the existence of the invisible visitors. Call them playmates, confidants, loyal friend, but the fascination to connect with these unseen spirits appeals to the child in every adult. Brownies for one are good natured Goblins who perform helpful services at night while Fairies have magical powers and Pixies are a cheerful mischievous sprite. Consider this. “Have we become so myopic that we are unable to connect with the magical world of child-like imagination and to see beyond to what is often invisible?”

GARDEN VARIETY

Edgar Cayce recalls playing in his mother’s garden, “One afternoon my mother came down the garden walk calling to me. My playmate (who appeared to me to be about the same size as myself) was with me. It had never occurred to me that he was not ‘real,” or that he wasn’t one of the neighbors’ children, until my mother spoke and asked me my playmate’s name. I turned to ask him but he disappeared. For a time this disturbed my mother, but this changed considerably when we moved and I later had two favorite places where I played with these unseen people.” With these playmates I gathered colored glass, beautifully colored leaves and things of that nature. What disturbed me was that I didn’t know there they (the playmates) came from or why they retreated when some of my family approached.” This question comes to mind. Could it be that the wee folk, those fairy friends depart as soon as an unbeliever, an adult, comes into their presence, and thereby the magical spell is broken?

FAIRY DWELLINGS

I remember visiting Monhegan Island in coastal Maine, where walking along lobster-trap-lined lanes through the jumble of village houses, to the scrambling over craggy shores brought me to the magnificent spruce-clad woods. There I discovered tiny fairy dwellings in the "Cathedral Woods," which captivated my imagination, as did the sea glass and the legendary folklore of fairy spirits. An island tradition, these tiny whimsical houses constructed of found woodland objects were made by children in the forest to encourage their imagination and belief in the unseen. As for the colorful sea glass that had washed up on the beaches from distant lands, they came with extraordinary stories told by an old sea captain who captivated the attention of children and adults alike. He was a magical storyteller, a weaver of the strange charm of elves and ghostly stories.
CAYCE'S COMMENT

Later in life when Cayce was asked during one of his psychic readings to explain fairies, he answered: “Brownies, pixies, fairies, gnomes are not elementals, but elements that are as definite entities as man materialized.” (EC 1265-3) He further stated that the fairies and those other whimsical forms are only seen by those who are attuned to the infinite. (EC 2547-1).

"Rare as they may seem these unseen elements of nature continue to titillate our senses and evoke the mystery of believing in magical possibilities," PG.

*Inspired by John Van Auken’s article in the Edgar Cayce’s A.R.E. membership newsletter Jan. 2010.

SPACE OF YOUR OWN, Refuge From a Hectic Life (c) By Polly Guerin

Creating a refuge of your own, a private, intimate place to call your own is a highly coveted desire for most women. While multi-tasking at home or fulfilling the demands of a career women often find they need a place to escape to where they can meditate, write, daydream, set up a home office or simply meditate and pray in a comfortable and peaceful environment. Balancing all the demands on your time perhaps means there is very little time left for yourself. In these days when most people living in large cities do not have the luxury of space, there is ever more reason to be creative and to carve out your own sanctuary. Whether you can take fifteen minutes or a whole day retreating into your personal sanctuary can have productive and restorative results.
THE CLOSET SANCTUARY
I recall the clever solution that my friend, Carolyn Beiderman a former opera singer created at a time when her children were quite small, mischievous and investigative. She created her sanctuary in a medium size closet, installing therein shelves to hold her opera scores and personal memorabilia, white plastic head forms to hold her wigs, a mirror on the inside of the closet door and a makeup station. “I drew funny faces on the white head forms that scared the children away,” she recalled. “On the door I placed a “Private” sign and everyone in the family knew this was my special place.”
A WRITER ON A SHELF
I was always amazed by my late writer friend, Irene Kleeberg. She was married to a book publisher and everywhere you looked in their apartment books were piled up and there wasn’t a clear space for her work. So she created a sturdy shelf on the inside door of a medium size kitchen closet on which she anchored her typewriter, as there were no computers at that time. In this unlikely arrangement she managed to produce numerous magazine articles that she sold to major magazines. Her focus and creativity was abetted by shelves inside which held her reference books, tools of the trade, and assorted personal items. Not only was this an innovative solution to her daily writing but she also managed to produce self-help books that were very popular.
A NOSTALGIC SETTING
There are some people who are spiritually minded and prefer to create a sanctuary place where they can revere their family and friends. It can be as simple as a place on the top of a bureau or in the corner of a room where they display framed pictures of their loved ones and often add mementos, like a flower, an item of clothing, something that identifies with their departed relative and provides a happy memory. In a similar fashion like other people I have placed silver framed photos of my family and special friends on the top of my closed baby grand piano. It brings pleasure just to look at a photo and to remember the people pictured and the occasion when the photo was taken.
MEN AND SANCTUARY
It’s common knowledge that men have always had their special place to retreat to and get away from it all. They have the den to watch sports, the porch on which to smoke, the garage to tinker with the car or a workplace with tool setup. That’s how they cope with creating their own space and a good thing too. My sister-in-law once said about her husband who took endless hours away to build a small boat in their large garage, “Well, at least I know where he is at all times.” Women however, have always had their kitchen or sewing area but those are really work rooms and do not cut it as a sanctuary.
A refuge from a hectic life can be built to accommodate all sorts of desires. Whether it is meditating, listening to music, writing, thinking, praying, creating or daydreaming finding a private place to call your own is a good thing to bring peace and harmony into your life.

MANTRA MESSAGES IN THE NEW YEAR (c) By Polly Guerin

As the New Year brings with it promise of new beginnings, new opportunities and new surprises, there is great reason to rejoice and welcome the new challenges. But somehow worries, doubts and unanswered prayers seem to creep into our thoughts and the stress of this negativity can debilitate our well being and ambition. It might sound too good to be true but a Mantra, a single phrase, an affirmation, repeated over and over again can combat stress, reset your mood and elevate your emotions to positive levels of peaceful contemplation.
WHAT IS A MANTRA?
A mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that are considered capable of “creating transformation.” Perhaps the most familiar to Westerners is the famous one from Buddhism, OM mane padme hum (Ohh-mmm, mahn-ee pahd-mee hooom). This Buddhist mantra, translates to “the jewel of consciousness (the mind) which has reached the heart’s lotus.” This mantra is practiced more than any other in the world. One of the mantra’s simple but profound concepts is that when the mind and heart become united anything is possible. If you want to change your life, this mantra should be your spiritual icon.
UNLOCKING YOUR ENERGY CENTERS
You may wonder how sounds can affect the energy centers. Repeating the Sanskrit words OM mane padme hum stimulates the body’s chakras (the energy centers in your body). The ancient clairvoyants looked at the energy centers as spinning wheels of light, called Chakras, which in Sanskrit means ‘wheel.’ Each Chakra resonates and vibrates to a specific color in the spectrum and corresponds to a specific musical note on the C scale. The crown Chakra (top of the head) the crown of enlightenment resonates to the sound “B” on the C Scale. The Indigo Chakra resonates to “A,” the Blue Chakra to “G,” the Green Chakra to “F,” the Yellow Chakra to “E” the Orange Chakra to “D” and the Red Chakra to “C.” These musical sounds pull in spiritual energy and create harmony in your life. TRANSFORMATIONAL PHRASES
Your voice repeating the OM mantra can have a profound transformative effect on the Chakras and through them on your mind and body. When the two are joined possibilities open to eliminate stress, stabilize emotions, create serene health, and opens the path to enlightenment. Repeating the OM mantra can be personalized by a certain need in your life. It can be accompanied by a personal “thought “affirmation, as simple as, “I always focus on the positive,” “I expect success in my career,” “I am worthy, I am loveable, I am free,” or to attract prosperity, “I attract abundance in my life.” Repeating transformative phrases as an everyday practice not only shifts your focus away from stress and negativity, it centers you with peaceful contemplation for the positive aspects in your life.
TIME TO CHANT
If you cannot provide a specific time in the morning or evening to sit quietly and repeat the OM mantra then you can mentally chant the mantra while you’re waiting for the traffic light to change, while you’re waiting on line running errands or while you’re jogging. Take advantage of waiting time at the dentist or doctor’s office; at the spa or hair salon let the mantra fill the idle hours. If you can afford to set aside time from your busy schedule here is a simple exercise that puts the principle of the OM mantra to work. Sit comfortably in a straight-backed chair with your feet flat on the floor, rest your hands on your lap and close your eyes, breathe naturally several times through your nose until you feel relaxed. Focus on your affirmation and start chanting the entire mantra, OM mane padme hum! (pronounced Ohh-mmm, mahn-nee pahd-mee hooom!) Do this pronouncing all the syllables in a single breath. Repeat this five times, and then relax. The sound of the Om mantra can have a profound transformative effect on your mind and body and at the same time help you to realize your affirmation.
THE VIBRATING SOUNDS OF THE OM MANTRA, THE SPEAKING VOICE, UNLEASHES THE DEEPEST MYSTERIES OF THE GIFT OF PEACE AND HARMONY IN YOUR LIFE.