The Dragonfly

"Once, in a little pond, in muddy water under lily pads, there lived a little water beetle in a community of water beetles. They lived a simple and comfortable life in pond with few disturbances and interruptions.

Once in a while, sadness would come to community when one of their fellow beetles would climb stem of a lily pad and would never be seen again. They knew when this happened; their friend was dead, gone forever.

Then, one day, one little water beetle felt an irresistible urge to climb up that stem. However, he was determined that he would not leave forever. He would come back and tell his friends what he had found at top.

When he reached top and climbed out of water onto surface of lily pad, he was so tired, and sun felt so warm, that he decided he must take a nap. As he slept, his body changed and when he woke up, he had turned into a beautiful blue-tailed dragonfly with broad wings and a slender body designed for flying.

So, fly he did! And, as he soared he saw beauty of a whole new world and a far superior way of life to what he had never known existed.

Then he remembered his beetle friends and how they were thinking by now he was dead. He wanted to go back to tell them, and explain to them that he was now more alive than he had ever been before. His life had been fulfilled rather than ended.

But, his new body would not go down into water. He could not get back to tell his friends good news. Then he understood that their time would come, when they, too, would know what he now knew. So, he raised his wings and flew off into his joyous new life!"

~Author Unknown~ MountainWings.com

Longer lives - longer civilizations? Some thoughts to ponder... C. Bailey-Lloyd/LadyCamelot

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© Longevity - Can Fat Cells Dictate How Long a Human Survives? 2004 - All Rights Reserved By, C. Bailey-Lloyd/Lady Camelot

References: [1] PM Magazine, "Live to Be 180" [2] Massachusetts Institute of Technology [3] Telomere.net

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3) Have Great Beginnings or Endings: Putting sacred practice at beginning or end of your day will make it easier to remember and do. Starting your day with sacred practice will bring you peace and awareness throughout day. Ending your day with sacred practice will help you rest deeply and beneficially.

4) Take Your Sacred Space Outdoors: There's nothing like nature to bring sacred into our awareness. If you find it difficult to get out of your daily routine indoors, spend a few moments outdoors each day, greeting sky and earth. You'll be amazed at how fast you connect to sacred.

5) Move in Sacredness: For those of us who can't sit still long enough to meditate, walking can also be a way to create sacred. Walking and praying, or walking and talking with our higher powers can create sacred space around you, plus you can take it with you everywhere you go!

Stephanie Yeh is co-founder of the Esoteric School of Shamanism and Magic (http://www.shamanschool.com). Through this online school she helps clients use magical and shamanic techniques to manifest their desires.