Spiritual and Healing Guides... For a number of years I have explored my inner self from a variety of angles. Each of these was God-centered, even when I was unaware of that connection. I have come back to a Christ-centered life and am more at peace than I have been for years. I have been blessed by many miracles in my life, talked to many people to work through issues, read many books, attended many support group meetings, and grown in ways that I would have never thought possible. My life has taken many turns and is continuing to evolve daily. I offer below some of own experience, strength and hope in various areas of my search for clarity. The pages listed below touch upon some of the resources I have been able to tap in my quest for personal growth.

In December 2001 I joined the Church of the Cross United Methodist in Salina, Kansas. Here I have found a true spiritual home with an extended family of brothers and sisters in Christ. Last year I took part in a 34 week Disciple I, "Becoming Disciples through Bible Study" course, which took us from cover to cover. This group continued to meet as a book-on-tape study through the summer. In September we will begin Disciple II, "Into the Word, Into the World," a study of Genesis, Exodus, Luke and Acts. Renewing my faith and finding ways to express that in my daily life is bringing more and more peace to my heart. It is also challenging the way I think and act, allowing me to make more changes that are healing to my soul. Sharing the love of Christ Jesus through living by example as best I can is one of the best gifts I have ever given my children. I still struggle with many issues in my life, but know that God's mercy and grace are there for me at all times. John 5:14 holds an important lesson for me. I not only need to ask for God's forgiveness and invite the Holy Spirit into my heart to feel the love of God envelope me, I also need to consciously turn away from sin. I am so grateful for the love and support I receive from all of those in my church family.

• Al-Anon and Alateen homepage -- This is a source of online help for families and friends of alcoholics. There are links to literature sources, descriptions of our program, as well as connections to people who can help you find support both face-to-face as well as online. The Al-Anon organization has been a lifeline for me for over seven years. This program offers experience, strength and hope to people from all walks of life who may still be living with active alcoholism, as well as to those of us who no longer live with it but are still affected by it. The principles practiced and taught are applicable to every area of my life and it takes practice and persistence to maintain balance in my life. It is through the power of "We"--me (or you), the group, and a Higher Power as s/he may present her/himself in your life--that we move through the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous ourselves and grow.

Spiritual growth is an aspect of myself that I work on continually. Angels are an important part of my spiritual connection. Through hard work and faith in the universe I am more often finding balance in my life and faith in a Higher Power whom I choose to call God. I truly believe in the presence of Angels as His helpers and keep emblematic "Guardians" around me as a reminder that I'm never alone. If I can only Let Go and Let God, there is help out there. It's when I try to put my hands in the mix and try to pull strings or control in a myriad of ways do I get truly frustrated and lost. When I then let go I find that life has a way of working out in ways I would never have thought of. I am not in charge and have to remind myself to let go so that God can do his work in my life.

I have enjoyed the books of many authors including Deepak Chopra, M. Scott Peck, Daniel Quinn, Caroline Myss, Bob Mandel, Sondra Ray, and the recent "Conversations with God" series by Neale Donald Walsch.

The Life Support System site offers a free newsletter sharing life, love and laughter, published by Steve Goodier. I have grown to look forward to this daily dose of wisdom. You can subscribe to the newsletter at the site dedicated to the LSS, which includes an archive of his articles and an opportunity to purchase several books he's published. It's well worth checking out! Brighten your day with a truly uplifting e-mail a day by subscribing.

While I have personally only read parts of A Course in Miracles Homepage, I have read several books based on it including Marianne Williamson's A Return to Love and Gerry Jampolsky's Love is Letting go of Fear. I recently discovered a most wonderful website centered around the similar teachings of Bijan, the founder of the Miracles Happen Foundation, called Effortless Propserity. He has created a series of thirty daily lessons as "a guide into the realm of Truth, where we are divinely provided with everything we need to be totally prosperous" in all areas of our lives -- physically, emotionally, spiritually, and financially -- if we are only willing to heal. The free thirty-day seminar is available online at the site and I check in often to get another dose of spiritual training and support.

I have spent a lot of time in the past three years or so exploring health issues and how my life has been affected by diet, attitude, and other outside forces. I continue to work, as I am able, to keep my mind free of negative activity, to exercise with more regularity, and to eat a cleaner, healthier diet (less junk food, less meat and dairy). I am switching to a mostly vegetarian diet, whole grains, and am experimenting with different recipes and ingredients on an on-going basis. Since doing these things I have seen significant results within myself. I am no longer dependent on an asthma inhaler (which I have been using with some regularity since I was about 12 years old). My seasonal allergies, which used to plague me frequently throughout the year, now only surface on rare occasions, usually after I've had several days of poor eating habits which tend to include fast food or items made with refined white sugar or flour. I have also discovered a direct link between how stuffy my sinuses are with how much cheese I have been eating! Even my mom has commented on the variety of things that I eat and that I'm no longer a picky eater!

Being a fairly light eater I needed to find some way to get more fruits and vegetables into my diet without having to force myself to eat more. Several years ago I began juicing (I use a Champion masticating juicer) and have found several recipes that I really enjoy. While I don't juice every day, these particular juices have become elixirs for me -- fresh carrot/apple/celery juice, carrot/celery/parsley/kale/spinich sometimes spiced up with either a garlic clove or a slice of fresh ginger root, or my favorite fruit smoothies made of fresh pineapple/strawberries/orange and then blended with a banana (or two), some nutritional yeast and a couple ounces of Rice Dream. That one is a whole meal in itself and often keeps me going through lunch time!

• Dr. Andrew Weil's Homepage gives wonderful tips and guidance in holistic approaches to physical, mental and spiritual health. Although I have not recently had the time to explore it, I understand there are great links from here to information specifically for women and our varied health issues. When time allows I plan to look at natural ways to deal with the varied symptoms of menopause through diet and homeopathy.

Updated August 20, 2002