Mother's Intuition - Fact or Folklore?

Like most mothers, I feel a deep connection to my son. A few years ago, I experienced "mother's intuition" at its finest, in a strange and wonderful way.

My son, Sam, was attending college in Boston and he called to say he wasn't feeling well. What started out as a bad cold had progressed to what seemed like a nasty flu. He went to a walk-in clinic, was prescribed antibiotics and a cough suppressant, and was told to take the medication and return in two days. I spoke to him on the phone after he had returned from the clinic. He was going to take his first dose of medication and go to bed. Because he was under a doctor's care and on medication, I trusted that he would soon be back to his old, healthy self.

A few hours later, I felt a strange urge to meditate and send some "healing energy" to my son. This was really foreign to me. I had never done anything like it before, and didn't know where the impulse came from. While I had been dabbling with meditation, I had never attempted to use it to send energy to anyone. It sounded rather silly. But there the compulsion was, sitting in my head (at least I thought it was in my head-I found out later that it actually came from my heart). Strange as it seemed, I decided to listen to this natural inclination.

I began to meditate and I visualized Sam standing before me, facing me. In my mind, I put my hands on his head and started to massage his scalp. I was hoping these efforts would help him to sleep really well so he would wake up feeling better in the morning. In the visualization, he leaned into me and placed his head on my shoulder. I kept massaging his head and his back, returning him to an upright position because it was easier to massage him that way. But Sam kept leaning into me and putting his head on my shoulder. This happened quite a few times in the meditation, so I eventually gave up and continued to massage his head and back from this position. After about 20 minutes of visualizing this I grew tired and fell asleep, hoping that he would have a restful and restorative sleep.

Meanwhile, a few hours after talking to me on the phone, Sam took his first round of antibiotics. Shortly after, his world began to tilt and flash and he started to vomit blood. His room-mate called 911 and he was rushed to the hospital via ambulance. Sam was experiencing a severe allergic reaction to the antibiotic he had taken. Completely unaware of his crisis, I was engaged in my impromptu meditation, sending Sam "healing energy" because of the strange compulsion I felt.

When Sam came home for Christmas two weeks after his trip to the hospital, he and I were talking about what happened. I remembered the visualization and I was curious about the timing of events. I didn't mention the visualization until he had explained the timeline of his ordeal. I was dumbfounded when he told me that he was in the ambulance heading to the hospital somewhere between 8:00 pm and 9:00 pm. This was the exact time I felt the need to visualize the healing massage. It was the exact time he kept leaning into me and putting his head on my shoulder as I tried to massage him!

There is a difference between thinking and knowing. When we think, we use our brain and this requires a low level of awareness. When we know something, we use our intuition and this requires a much higher level of awareness. We think with our brain but we know with our heart.

Our heart is in constant communication with us. It always communicates. It never stops. But the messages from our heart come to us in intangible ways. We can't see or touch the messages, we can only feel or perceive them because they come to us outside of our reasoning process. The information we perceive with our heart comes to us through an intuitive process. We seem to somehow just know things without knowing how we know.

When we learn to tap into this knowing, our heart guides us in strange and wonderful ways, just as it did when my son was in crisis. While my brain wasn't aware of his crisis, my heart somehow knew. The paramedics and doctors helped him physically, and I helped him energetically without even realizing what was happening.

Not everything can be proven. Some things just have to be experienced.

We all have access to deep intuition, especially us moms.

In order to tap into your mother's intuition, all you need to do is accept, trust, and act upon the deep urges you feel in your heart whenever you experience them.

The Beauty Myth - How Do Women Really Feel About Their Looks?

In 1991, Naomi Wolf published The Beauty Myth detailing her understanding on how women continue to be oppressed throughout society for the benefit of men.

Wolf argued that the instigation and use of the myth of beauty would be men's ultimate weapon against women and their perceived rising power.

Women continue to face blockades in the workplace due to the political and systemic use of beauty to define worth. Although men define the ideology of beauty, the demarcation of beauty is not defined thereby leaving the female confused about her own feelings of self.

This allows big corporations to levy unfairly the work that women do increasing their revenue whilst enriching both female expenditure and manageability. This has in turn reduced the female's self-esteem, a powerful tool for control.

Naomi Wolf wrote this book in 1991 following both the first and second wave of feminisms. Are we embarking upon a third wave of feminism? Many skeptics of feminism report that the previously overwhelming injustice towards women and their cries that created and sustained Women's Rights movements have now been diluted to a mere whimper. Is there any truth to this statement?

I want to use this article to examine what if any changes have happened since 1991 and how women's lives may or may not have changed.

Women have always been necessary to the workplace even if not respected for their contribution. Latent history informs us that due to the First World War (WW1) in 1914 -18, women were necessary to move out of the home where they worked to fulfill the employment gap due to men being at war. When the war ended, women did not naturally want to give up this level of financial independence and return to the home. Cross-referencing historical information, the fight for Women's Rights began much earlier therefore women were already aware of the injustices towards them thereby informing of the reluctance to 'return to the home.' In 1848, 68 women and 32 men outlined grievances towards women including women having the right to vote and signed a Declaration of Sentiments in New York. It was in 1872 that saw the national movement begin in the UK in the form of the National Society for Women's Suffrage and later the more influential National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies. Without this cross-referencing, one would be forgiven for mistaking that up until WW1 in 1914, women were not knowledgeable about their unjust treatment towards them.

With the knowledge that women did indeed know that they were being treated unfairly and that they actually felt strong enough to take action in different forms showed both tenacity and strength; words that were not used to describe women at all. Since 1991, what has changed to strengthen Women's Rights to being more equal to men?

Not much in my opinion from the viewpoint of entry-level top careers for women although according to a recent research carried out by Astbury Marsden, they found that this year has seen an increase of 100% of women in management positions. This equates to 12% overall from 6% overall last year. We should be grateful! What about the significant pay gaps between men and women for equal jobs? Well, according to Dr. Carla Harris from the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA), the gap is widening, currently for every dollar a man makes, his female counterpart earns 82 cents. I doubt very much that you will find a noticeable difference in the UK. In fact, upon research, women earned 15% less than men. Is this gap made worse in poor economic times?

So not much has changed in terms of respect for females and the contribution they make in society and for society. Not much in terms of how females are viewed, mostly negatively and for sexual pleasures. However what is more startling (perhaps an over-exaggeration) is that although there have always been women 'night-workers' (prostitutes), women appear to be engaging in their own war against themselves. Let me put this into perspective about this internal war going on with women. Notwithstanding the 'glamour' needed for night workers to attract for work, women are now using this same concept for approval from men and in the meantime waging an unsubstantiated war on their self-esteem. Not that those women did not care for their looks previously, as their grooming ritual is natural in attracting a mate. However, because of the Beauty Myth, the natural birthing process of grooming for a mate has become blurred, confusing and instills a lack of confidence in a female. The precocious instigation of the Beauty Myth undertaken by men but calculatingly not clearly defined (Naomi Wolf) has left women attempting to attain not just the indescribable but the unattainable as beauty is left open for interpretation by the beholder (men).

What has been the result?

Financial contributions to cosmetic, diet and surgery have all seen a surge in willing captors, all seeking this beauty myth and all rather quite despondent when they realise that the goalposts keeps shifting. Cosmetic companies revel in ascribing what their latest product is and how wonderfully powerful some ingredient is, now contained in their product. I mean, who on earth really heard of Pentapeptide, let alone researched what it did before buying the product?

Companies such as those in the cosmetic industry rely on the poor self-esteem of women to direct their products to. Women in return respond in an impassioned grab for the 'miracle' product that will stave off or at least slow down the ageing process. Women are made to feel that they no longer visually please and according to Wolf, companies can take steps in removing the female from her role in the workplace in favour of a younger model. Remember Miriam O'Reilly winning her claim against the BBC for what she alleges being dismissed on ageism and victimisation grounds? A second rate victory because she did not win on the grounds of sexism. What this tells me is what Wolf already identified in her book, that it is very difficult for a woman to claim against sex discrimination as the law fully supports what it calls a BFOQ (bone fide occupational qualification- USA) or the UK's version of GOQ (genuine occupational qualification- Wolf). What this means is that a company may dismiss a woman if they feel that she does not measure up to their ideology of beauty. Now remember, this level of beauty is not defined and what would this really say? As beauty is in the eye of the beholder (self) is it not?

The tribunal for Miriam O'Reilly was held on the 4-19th November 2010, 19 years after Wolf's publication therefore women are still demonstrably being targeted and treated according to how they look and not what talents they may have in the workplace. So no real progress here then!

Next time you go shopping, look out for the number of different beauty products. Be aware of the amount of time and energy that commercials use to sell you their copious amounts of products and the images they use. The use of anti-wrinkle creams on models probably not even yet 20 years old yet. Why on earth they need anti-wrinkle cream is beyond me. Next, these kinds of adverts will be shown using a 13 year old!

Now look at grounded products such as lipsticks. Now you can get ones that last all day. In fact, you need another product to get the lipstick off because normal cleanser and water does not always work. Companies have to keep re-inventing the wheel to keep their profits up so their imagination runs riot and comes up with all sorts of products all doing the same thing but differently. Women fall for this; just take a look at her make up bag, products of the same but different thing, hardly used due to the copious amounts.

What about products containing a certain ingredient that will 'benefit' perceived 'bags' under the eyes. Do you really think that by buying this product will alleviate 'baggy eyes'? Why should it, because if it did then you would have to stop buying the product once you have been cured? So companies use only enough to make a slight difference and you have to keep re-buying to secure better results. I imagine companies laughing at women as they stand far at the side of the room throwing in the magic ingredient (that is to say how offensively low the ingredient is in terms of weight and productivity). Now, I am not saying that a particular ingredient does not work, for example caffeine. However, following your lovely cup of tea, you could quite easily reconstitute the teabag and put this on your eyes. Probably has more caffeine in the teabag than in the expensive product you buy.

Let us look at how other companies have cashed in on the creation of poor self-esteem in women. An ostentatious amount of money is spent by females on diet products in the hope that the 'extra' pounds they think they are carrying will disappear leaving the female with a sense of acceptance and perceived beauty. The sugars used in many foods are replaced with a substitute that is less calorific. To me, this is just a lot of useless chemicals being pumped in the body and for no real gain. Processed sugars are not good for anyone in huge amounts and a wise thing for health purposes would be to reduce your intake not substitute this with something that requires the body to work harder to break it down if it is able to use at all.

For research purposes, I typed in 'what effect does artificial sugars have on the body?' and I did not have to look far to clearly see the dangers of artificial sweeteners. According to author Marcelle Pick, (Obstetrician and Gynecologist) she speaks openly about being properly informed of possible side effects of sweeteners. I will not mention the company as I do not wish to give them any form of exposure but you can do your own research. This particular name brand is the trade name for Sucralose; a synthetic compound stumbled upon in 1976 by scientists in Britain seeking a new pesticide formation. (Marcelle Pick) What this company did was twist the sugar component of their product by citing the 'natural sugar' aspect. Yet more importantly, did you catch the word 'pesticide?'

Now we go onto cosmetic surgery. This phenomenon has increased tenfold since the 1970's. Now you can book a botox in your lunch hour and be back to work. The lackadaisical procedure should be seen as worrying and not that companies are seeking to make life easier for women to attain this face stiffening procedure. Remember the poor actress infamously known for her 'trout pout?' I will leave this here to save her blushes! The point I am making is some of these procedures are downright dangerous yet women are still clambering to risk life or limb.

We do not have to search our brains too hard to recall some other poor soul who underwent breast surgery to enlarge her already natural assets and perceptually ended up looking misplaced. The female body is perfect as it stands and whilst some females may have to undergo a surgical procedure on medical grounds, this should not be confused with the female body, being nature at its finest.

Women are undergoing all sorts of procedures in an attempt to gain the unattainable body. Bum enhancements, face lifts, eye lifts, neck lifts (anything that is deemed lift-up-able), nose adjustments, liposuction on any part of the body and do not get me started with lace fronted weaves or extensions. The woman spends a great deal of time and money on products and services to achieve the ideology of beauty and remember this perceived beauty is undefined. So what this means, is they end up chasing a mirage that disintegrates the moment they think that they are now acceptable. This results in a cyclical pattern in women dabbling in metamorphosis, re-inventing something else to feed that ever-growing pit in lost souls leading to other behavioural and emotional difficulties.

If you look at the objective of The Beauty Myth, the power is monumental and the devastation that this myth leaves behind is great news for those instigating this concept for nothing more than mind-control over women. This concept reminds me of the Lynch (Willie Lynch) method; create a divide and rule mask, in this case, in women.

Choosing the Ideal Wedding Shoes

The selection of bridal shoes may not be on the top of your list of priorities when it comes to planning your big day. However, it is absolutely essential to spend time searching for a comfortable pair that also complements your gown. You'll find your chosen wedding dress designers will most likely be more than happy to provide some recommendations and these tips below might also help.

Select a Fabric

Many wedding dress designers will advise you to choose shoes made from raw silk or satin. That's because these same materials are likely to be used in the creation of your gown. However, you might also think about buying shoes made from crepe or matt satin as a suitable choice. A contrast such as this can also act as a feature of the outfit.

Consider the Colour

Those who take the traditional approach will undoubtedly be keen to find shoes in the same colour as the bridal gown. However, if you find the perfect pair in a contrasting colour, you might choose to have them dyed to match. You can even choose silver or gold shoes to match your accessories.

Opt for Comfort Over Style

You might well have set your heart on a pair of sleek and stylish high-heeled shoes. However, it would be sensible to try them out first so you are assured of being comfortable on your big day. If you're really worried about the prospect of ending up as a princess with blisters, it may be advisable to make a more conservative choice. You might enjoy ultimate comfort in a pair of satin slippers, or even a pair of exquisitely decorated flip-flops for a beach ceremony.

Think About the Weather

If you're planning a winter wedding you'll need to choose the footwear accordingly. Even if you opt for style over warmth for the ceremony, a pair of fake fur boots can see you through the rest of the reception if needs be - and add to the fairy-tale of a winter wedding. Alternatively for a midsummer wedding you might choose a pair of sparkly sandals or flip flops as mentioned above. Most wedding dress designers will be able to provide information about the seasonal trends.

Find Shoes to Suit Your Budget

It's worth bearing in mind there is a great deal of variation in the price of bridal shoes. It might be possible to find a discounted pair at the local shoe sellers, or alternatively you could head online and search for a pair of luxury Swarovski crystal encrusted shoes. You may even choose to enlist the help of wedding dress designers for a custom made pair.

Ten Points to Ponder (and Ten Things I Love) About Einstein

Einstein didn't wear socks. When he was young, he found out that the big toe always ended up making a hole in the sock. He was keenly aware that we are easily conditioned by what others do and say and he refused to let that happen. When he learned that his big toe always made a hole in his socks, he stopped wearing them.

Einstein used intuition to help him discover new things. He often felt he was right before he knew he was right. When he had a feeling about something, he listened to the feeling. Then he went looking for evidence to prove the feeling.

Einstein had a thinking chair. He spent time sitting in it when he needed to solve a problem.

Einstein rarely thought in words. He understood the power of imagination so he would daydream and use his imagination when he needed to solve a problem. When a thought or idea floated in, he'd feel it or see it and then try to express it in words afterward.

Einstein did not believe he possessed any special talents. He said he was only passionately curious. He believed we are all born into a great Mystery and he said we should stand like curious children before it.

Einstein was often so engrossed in his work that he forgot to eat lunch. He didn't notice time passing because he was connected to his deepest passion and creative source. Einstein believed the development of our creative powers is a person's most valuable asset in life

Einstein was convinced that a force or a spirit is manifest in the laws of the universe, a spirit that is vastly superior to us humans and that is beyond anything we can comprehend. He said that when we try to penetrate the secrets of nature with our limited means, we find something subtle, intangible, and inexplicable.

Einstein knew that death is not an end. He believed we live on in our children and in the younger generation. He said that our children are us, and that our bodies are like "wilted leaves on the tree of life." He understood that our existence on earth is fleeting. He described our existence like a brief visit in a strange house.

Einstein knew that a human being is part of a whole but as humans, we experience ourselves, our thoughts and our feelings as something separate from the rest. He called this separation an "optical delusion." He said we aren't really separate at all.

Einstein believed that when a whole group of individuals becomes a "we," they collectively reach as high as human beings can reach. He believed that a sense of responsibility toward others is more important than power, success, fame and honour. He saw service to the community as one of life's highest achievements. He knew that the fate of the human race depends upon the moral strength of human beings and he believed it's our sacred human responsibility to be the best we can be.

Are you being the best you can be?

Buying Jewellery to Suit the Personality of the Wearer

Women simply love jewellery. In fact, they find it irresistible and they often feel incomplete without wearing a piece of it. It adds to their personality, especially when appearing in social gatherings, though it frequently forms a part of their work look too. It makes their day somewhat special.

No gift is as precious as a piece of beautiful jewellery. Nonetheless, no jewellery item is suitable to be worn by almost everyone. Since each woman has its own personality, the difference in taste varies widely. When getting something not to her liking, any woman would start wondering if you really know her well enough. Of course, the thought matters the most. She will welcome jewellery as a gift, but if you fail to judge her taste, she'll wear that piece only to keep you in good humor and in worst cases it'll get dumped in her drawer for good, leaving her wondering what prompted you to procure it for her.

Fortunately, there are ways to save you from such an embarrassment. You need to learn how to distinguish between different types of 'jewellery' personalities. Here's your guide in that direction and effort:

Primarily, there are six kinds of jewellery personalities:

1. The trend setter: This personality is an extrovert. Without exerting any effort, she remains stylish, forthright and confident. Clearly, they are attention grabbers and love that style of jewellery which gets noticed easily. She knows to carry it in such manner that others are immediately prompted to copy her looks. Old fashioned or even the current styles are not for such personalities. You best bet is to have a close look at her to notice that element of exclusiveness in what she is wearing. Consider yourself lucky if you can find some piece with unique style at one of the stores selling the latest styles.

2. The fashionista: This kind of personality may be a bit lagging behind the trend setter, but it is certainly confident and well-informed on the current trends. She patronizes designer stuff. Her wardrobe is often flooded with out-of-fashion jewelry and clothes from the last season, though some may be donating such old stuff regularly to make room for latest pieces in their wardrobe. Buying jewellery for such women is not all that difficult. You just need to be aware of the current trends. With so many fashion magazines around, it shouldn't be difficult to know that, else watch what most women are wearing these days.

3. The chameleon: She is not so easily spotted as the fashionsta. She is smart and decides which of the ongoing trends would suit her the most. A characteristic feature of such women is that they like a variety of designs and they know well how to mix and match them depending on her mood or occasion. She doesn't discard things easily, as she is talented enough to realize which item would go exceedingly well with her other dresses to give her altogether different looks. That makes things rather easy for you. Just think of an appropriate occasion when she could use it or match it with some of her other possessions. For example, consider something colorful for summers, plain and convenient for the day and glamorous for nights.

4. The conservative: Since she values traditions, her style is traditional. As the definition suggest, conservatives don't follow the latest trends. Moreover, they value and prefer quality to quantity. Unlike the other personalities described above, she loves having a small collection of costly pieces of jewellery. Well, if you have a fat wallet, it's not difficult to please a conservative, just buy her something in gold or silver in traditional designs.

5. The Girl-Next-Door: She personifies modesty. She is very forthcoming and natural. She has her personal style and wouldn't let go of that. When selecting jewellery for such a personality, do keep in mind her personal style and look for something that reflects feminism. You should understand if she prefers short or long necklaces, butterflies or heart shapes, and the colors she loves. For instance, if she is fond of earthy items, think on the lines of buying her some pieces of jewellery crafted from wood.

6. The Tomboy: Wearing jewellery is not part of her personality. Tomboy is characteristically fun-loving, easy-going and generally a good sport. She doesn't like investing too much of her time in her appearance, being practical is more of her style. She won't make much fuss while dressing up for any special occasion. When buying jewellery for a tomboy, you would do well to avoid explicitly feminine designs. Look for bracelets, necklaces and earring in practical designs. It will help if you take notice of her present collection of jewellery to assess her preference for colors and designs.

Having understood her type of jewelry personality, you can make a better guess of the kind of designs she would love and what you should avoid. If you are still unsure, you can seek help from some of her friends or relations to narrow down the gap.

However, it's not only the piece of jewellery that matters. What matters too is the environment where you give it to her and the emotion associated with it. Take her out to one of her favorite spots, or create a romantic evening that she would love. Let everything be perfect for she will be reminiscent of this piece of excellent jewelry forever. Unfortunately, if anything unexpected happens, preserve that piece for more opportune time. She would have still enjoyed spending that special time with you. Hopefully, everything would go exceedingly well, keeping you both happy, offering you the best opportunity to present that precious piece you so lovingly bought for her.

Honoring the Divine Mother: The Feminine Energy of God

Recently, I have noticed a new openness to the loving feminine energy of God. I'm not talking here about the feminist movement. I'm referring to something much deeper than that. I'm talking about the spiritual energy of the Divine Mother.

What is the Divine Feminine Energy? There are many explanations of it, but I like to keep things simple. I define it as the all encompassing love of a Divine Mother who never turns away from her children. If we choose to yield to the love of the Divine Mother, gone are the old teachings that we are bad, born with defects, sins, etc., and that we must repent in order for God to love us. We can imagine the loving care of a mother who will never turn away from her child, even when that child does things that may be inappropriate or unacceptable.

The Divine Mother is always there with open arms. All she wants us to do is love our selves, because when love is present we are connected to the Divine energy.

The love of self that I speak of is not a selfish or egoistic love. I am talking about LOVE: a spiritual energy; a force that goes beyond the boundaries of relativity and materialism.

A wonderful way to practice the Divine Feminine energy in our lives today is to (re)connect to our hearts. We must work to let go of past hurts and resentments. These feelings only block the light of the Feminine Energy from entering our hearts. When we look at others, we must try to remember who they really are, regardless of their dress, color, body art or disposition. They are our brothers and sisters. They are children of God, just as we are. Smile at them. I have a name for the practice of smiling at those I encounter in public. I call it "face yoga."

During my workshops, I have helped people from all walks of life; people who are carrying heavy baggage - addictions, dysfunctional relationships, death of a loved one, emotional, sexual or physical abuse - to tap into their Divine Feminine energy to reroute, rewire and reconnect to their hearts.

Another way to connect or reconnect to our hearts is "being in the silence." Being in the silence is all about practicing silent meditation even when in the midst of the intense activity of everyday life. It is the Mystical Feminine principle of "relaxing and releasing" tension, in contrast to the masculine principle of "striving to attain." The "silence" brings us to the conscious awareness of who we truly are - unique individual aspects of Divinity itself. It is the evolutionary expansion of our identity introducing us to the Inner State of Grace, which is the home and source of all Love, Peace, Joy and Wisdom.

Sidebar: Who is Our Divine Mother?

As with God, there are many names, but there is only one Divine Feminine Energy. To the pagans it is Mother Earth; to the Christians it is Mother Mary. In Judaism it is Asherah; to the Buddhist it is Kwan Yin and/or the Green Tara. In Hinduism, the Divine Feminine has many names, including Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Parvati, Radha and Sita. The Egyptians had Isis; the Greeks had Persephone; and the list goes on and on.

And there are the more recent female saints and avatars who have blessed us, such as Mother Frances Cabrini (1850-1917). She is credited with many miracles while she was on the earth and, even after her passing, miracles were attributed to her. Then there was Therese Neumann (1898-1962), a Catholic mystic, stigmatist and miracle women from Germany, who transformed her remarkable sufferings into means of helping and healing others.

Mother Maria Skobtsova (1891-1945), a Russian socialist intellectual who later sacrificed herself to help Russians and Jews in Paris during the 1930s and 1940s, courageously died a martyr's death in the Nazi concentration camps on behalf of her fellow inmates. Hazrat Babajan was an Afghani Muslim princess in her youth, but left home to trek into India where she studied from Muslim and Hindu teachers. She lived in solitude and later gained renown as a Sufi sage and enigmatic wonder-worker of tremendous blessing force. When she died in 1931, she was alleged to be 130 or even 140 years old.

Anandamayi Ma (1892-1982), known as the "Blissful Mother" and guru to gurus, was an illustrious mystic and sage who was hailed as a Divine Incarnation. Her mother had a number of auspicious dreams of gods and goddesses before Ma's birth; a sign usually indicating the presence of an imminent mahatma (Great Soul). The infant Ma did not cry at birth and throughout her childhood was remarkably serene. It is said that nobody could fail to understand her, for she addressed herself to all as if they were at the same level as children of God.

Mother Teresa (1910-1997 was born in Albania and raised as a Roman Catholic. She loved hearing stories of missionaries early in life. At the age of 18, she left home to join the Sisters of Loreto. She eventually left her convent to wander and help the poor and sick on her own, with God's help alone. In 1950, she was given permission to start the Missionaries of Charity. Its mission was to care for, "... all those people who feel unwanted, unloved, uncared for throughout society, people that have become a burden to the society and are shunned by everyone." She won many humanitarian awards, but most important she was able to give dignity to the helpless, poor, sick and dying.

Anasuya Devi (1923-1985) was God-realized from birth. She later married, raised a family and founded a large spiritual community in South India. Celebrated as "Mother of all," her remarkable teachings uphold the Supreme Power of God and the "original innocence" of all beings. Syama Mataji (b.1916) fully realized God in a short, but wonderful time by simply chanting/focusing her entire being on the Divine Names of God (Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, Hare, Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama, Rama, Hare, Hare). Awesome miracles and exquisite songs of devotion have emanated from her ever since then.

And then there is Amma Mata Amritanandamayi (b.1953) esteemed as another stupendous Incarnation of the Divine Mother. Today, she is India's leading female light, with a mission growing by leaps and bounds. She selflessly travels the world to console, hug, heal and inspire millions of children with the power of Divine Love. She is also known as the "Hugging Mother."

It is not a coincidence that these blessed women came to us within the last two centuries. After two centuries of banishing the feminine energy, I believe that these women came forth to usher in a new age of the Divine Feminine Energy.

Special Cups To Detect Date Rape Drugs

I have heard about this company called Drink Savvy located in Boston who has created special cups and straws to detect date rape drugs. I think this is a great idea and maybe it will help prevent some innocent woman from being victimized. This topic hits close to home since I possibly was the victim of date rape from a guy I used to see. On two occasions he told me we had sex but I wasn't aware of it nor did I remember it, see it, feel it or hear it. Although he never said what really happened, chances are he slipped something in my cup because the last thing I remember was him being on top of me in the bed. The following day I awoke in pain from what felt like a brutal sexual experience. The same incident happened a few nights later. I never knew what happened to me those two nights but I believe I was date raped.

Having these cups available for women is necessary because these drugs are circulating on the streets and easily obtained. The cup is able to detect three different date rape chemicals. The cup made of plastic will change color if GHB, Ketamine or rohypnol which are popular date rape drugs come in contact with the cup. These drugs are popular because of their sedative effects on a person.

GHB is a general anesthetic used to treat insomnia, narcolepsy, and other disorders and is a central nervous system depressant used as a downer or reduces excitability. On the streets it's known as liquid ecstasy, juice, lollipops, Georgia home boy and many other names. It causes euphoria and enhanced sensuality and at high levels can cause unconsciousness or death. Ketamine is a general anesthesia used in human and veterinary medicine and can cause high blood pressure and hallucinations. It is also used to treat people with depression or bipolar disorder. Rohypnol or better known as roofies is known to induce amnesia in patients and is often used in date rape situations since the victim will have no recollection of the sexual assault.

The creator of the cups and straws in fact was a victim of being drugged and wanted to prevent this from happening to someone else. If there are no drugs present in the cup it will remain clear but if drugs are present in your drink red strips will appear around the cup. The straw works the same way. The cups will be available to the public early to mid 2014.