Charmed Monday Minute, July 30

Hello, all -

In an effort to keep The Minute down to a minute, I fully intend to start blogging in between times. That way, for those of you who like my ramblings about this little charmed life of mine, you can tune in right here and keep up that way and I can save The Minute for more useful info.

Since I haven't gotten that organized yet, let me tell you just a bit about my most recent travels: Nashville and Memphis were so much fun. The music and the energy were different in the two cities - country for the former, blues for the latter - but just being in such musical places filled my soul in places that needed it.

In Nashville, I stayed with a good friend (and wonderful astrologer) Rosemary Cathcart and saw other amazing people: Karlen Evins (author of I Didn't Know That: From 'Ants in the Pants' to 'Wet Behind the Ears' - The Unusual Origins of the Things We Say), singer/songwriter Georgia Middleman, Thom Rutledge, author of Embracing Fear, and singer/songwriter/motivational speaker Jana Stanfield. I also had my hair and makeup done at a cool place called The Mirror. I felt like I was ready for my Opry debut, but instead I did an interview on local TV. (I scratched the rental car in the parking lot and learned that that American Express insurance really does work. They said, "We'll take care of everything." What a comforting sentence!)

In Memphis (in addition to meeting wonderful readers, including one who'd driven all the way from Little Rock), I went to Graceland and was actually inspired. My favorite exhibit was the wall that showed 42 checks for $1000 each that Elvis wrote to various charities on one day in 1962. I was home for one quick night and then took Amtrak (my totally favorite way to travel) to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, for the North American Vegetarian Society Summerfest. I hadn't been to Summerfest in eleven years and something really astonished me: vegetarians age amazingly well. The people I ran into looked great. It was strange to see young adults I'd last seen as children next to their parents who looked almost the same as the last time I saw them. I also read a terrific book by one of the other speakers: Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease, by Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr., MD., who did pioneering work at the Cleveland Clinic for over two decades. If you or someone you love is dealing with heart disease, get this book. It could change everything. Martha Graham's Prayer... A really wonderful actress friend of mine, Karen Fitzgerald, turned me on to this beautiful prayer or statement of purpose from the founder of Modern Dance, Martha Graham. I'd like to share it with you: There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening That is translated through you into action, And because there is only one of you in all of time This expression is unique, And if you block it, It will never exist through any other medium, And be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, Nor how valuable, or how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, To stay open and aware to the urges that motivate you. Martha Graham, Choreographer

New York Learning Annex: As I prepare to write The Little Book of the Spiritual Life - thanks so much to everyone who wrote with ideas for that - I've been engaged by the Learning Annex of NYC to teach a class, "How to Have More Spiritual Life." It's happening in Manhattan on August 30 and October 25. For more info, go to learningannex.com. Summer skin protection... I saw a nanny pushing a stroller and the little boy in it was baking in the sun (she didn't have the shade down on the stroller so she could use it for carrying gear). Of course I said something (I lied and told her I was a nurse) but she did nothing. (Don't get me started on some of the nanny stuff I see in this city...) The plight of that baby did remind me that I should be telling you - regardless of your skin type but especially if you're Caucasian and fair - that this is the season to step up the sun protection. Here's what I know: A barrier block (avobenzone, oxybenzone, zinc oxide) as opposed to a chemical block (PABA, Parsol, Mexoryl) can be applied immediately before you go out; if you're using a chemical block, it needs 20 minutes to provide protection. Life is short: The life of sunblock on your skin, even if you don't sweat or swim, is 2-3 hours. After that you need to reapply. That's a problem if you're wearing makeup, although your SPF-containing foundation may be reapplied. Another way around this is to use a tinted SPF moisturizer instead of foundation, or touch up every couple of hours with a sun-blocking pressed powder like the one from Physicians' Formula. It's finally legal! Mexoryl, the chemical block shown to truly protect again UVA (aging) rays is finally approved for sale in the US. (I used to buy it in England by the case.) Lancome has the patent in this country for now, and it's not cheap ($30) but to preserve my skin, I'll save up. Don't be stingy with sunblock once you've bought it. You really have to cover the exposed areas with the lotion. Don't use it sparingly like moisturizer; really use it. Should all those places be forgot... Protect the forgotten places, notably the area between you bra and your chin. This is one of the most aged areas on most women's bodies: clothes cover much of the rest, and the face get sunblock, a hat, whatever, but this no-woman's-land ends up discolored, blotchy, and noticeably damaged. Also protect your hands (use sunblock after washing and if you drive or ride a bike, wear gloves) and your arms (again, if you drive: your left arm in particular). Lips aren't immune. Dermatologists are seeing more skin cancer on lips since we've been protecting the rest of our face. Use a gloss with SPF. Plan your day. What's the line about mad dogs, Englishmen, and the noonday sun? Take heed. If you can do your jog or your errands in the morning or evening instead of midday when the sun is at the peak, arrange your life accordingly. I know some of my readers believe that chemical sunblocks have problems of their own. I certainly respect that view. If it's yours, use a barrier block like Dr. Hauschka, but do protect yourself. You're important.

A really remarkable Tarot reader: I'm pretty cynical about this kind of stuff, but I had a truly helpful and insightful Tarot reading from a gentleman named Roy Sorrels. He's a writer and understands creative sorts, but specializes in intuitive, supportive Tarot reading to help anyone achieve spiritual and practical goals. He can work with you in person in the NYC area or by phone wherever you are. If this sounds like something that would interest you, drop him an email: RoySorrels2@aol.com. Another diet book I actually like! I'm on a roll here (see my blog for the July 16 Minute where praised Linda Spangle's 100 Days of Weight Loss and Life Is Hard, Food Is Easy.) This week's book is really in-your-face (it makes Fat, Broke & Lonely No More read like a love poem) but its two authors make some points I wholeheartedly agree with. It's Skinny Bitch: A No-Nonsense, Tough-Love Guide for Savvy Girls Who Want to Stop Eating Crap and Start Looking Fabulous (Running Press, 2005) by former model agent Rory Freeman and former model Kim Barnouin who now holds a Masters in Holistic Nutrition. Their contention is that if you aren't healthy, you won't be skinny (I'd use a different word, but you get the point). To that end, they tell you that "Sugar Is the Devil" and artificial sweeteners are demonic, as well; dairy is a disaster; "The Dead, Rotting, Decomposing Flesh Diet" (i.e., Atkins et al) won't keep you trim for keeps; and they give detailed, brand-specific suggestions for putting together a whole-foods, vegetarian, eating plan that is delicious, satisfying, and easy to transition into. If you're offended by four-letter words, don't read this book because they're used a quite a bit. If that's not a problem, this is a motivating, info-packed read. Maybe I like Skinny Bitch so much because its gutsy young authors say what I haven't said since Love Yourself Thin (the 1997 reissue of 1992's The Love-Powered Diet - both are now out of print but can you find them used on Amazon). I've been keeping a lid on my vegan sentiments, figuring that once somebody with food issues gets clear on the emotional/spiritual part of things, they should be free to make their own choices. But that's only true when you know all the choices, including how delicious and filling and non-deprivational a whole foods, plant-based diet can be. I need to remember how much of staying clean with food and leaving a weight problem behind I owe to a pretty-close-to-purely-vegan manner of eating. This may not be for everybody, but I don't want to keeping the good news under a bushel either. Thanks, Rory and Kim: you guys rock.

Quotation of the week: "There are three kinds of people in the world: those who are immovable, those who are movable, and those who move." - Arabian proverb

VICTORIA'S NEW, 10th, and (we're hearing!) BEST BOOK EVER, Fat, Broke & Lonely No More: Your Personal Solution to Overeating, Overspending, and Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places from HarperOne Get your copy today! If you'd like to order online, here are links to the big guys: Amazon Barnes & Noble Or, call your favorite independent bookstore to reserve your copy! (To find an independent bookstore in your area, you can search on booksense.com here.)

Take care, and all good things -

Victoria Moran

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