Go from Gloom to Bloom for the Holidays

Life can be hectic any time of year. And things seem to get extra busy over the holidays. Getting together with loved ones and friends is a nice reminder of how much we have to be grateful for, but sometimes the extra planning, baking, shopping and other activities associated with this time of year can be overwhelming for kids and grown ups.

The Lisa.fm Christmas Channel, a holiday-themed talk radio show at www.lisa.fm, offers a variety of tips, interviews and features that can help make the holidays more enjoyable for you and the entire family. Whether it’s how to avoid overindulging at holiday parties, to planning fun activities, and really being in the NOW enough to enjoy this special time with loved ones, the Lisa.fm Christmas Channel offers entertaining solutions.

If you have children (or you are just trying to be a better parent to yourself), tune-in to ‘Gloom to Bloom,’ segment at Lisa.fm The mother/daughter team of Michiko and Grace Rolek offer simple tips for how to turnaround a stressful or tense situation, through a simple attitude adjustment, how to go from ‘Gloom to Bloom.’

Michiko is the great granddaughter of the first Zen Master to come to America, and her daughter, Grace, is an actress and voice over artist who has parts in Disney and other cartoons, including the role of the ‘shy bunny’ in the Kung Fu Panda short film, “The Secrets of the Furious Five.” The 20 minute story is included as a bonus disk in the Kung Fu Panda movie DVD.

In order to assist Grace with the stress of auditioning for parts, and working in the entertainment industry, Michiko has created a series of mindfulness techniques she calls “Zen Mommy and Me.”

Go from Gloom to Bloom

One way to turn around a stressful situation is to go from ‘Gloom to Bloom,’ using calm, deep breathing as an attitude adjustment. Michiko calls Gloom to Bloom “a mood magic tool… where we use mindfulness to non-judgmentally observe ourselves getting mad or sad, and choose to mentally shift from gloomy frustration to blooming fascination with the potential of turning an obstacle or any difficulty into a learning opportunity.”

The deep breathing allows you to center and readjust your attitude in any stressful situation. Of course, it may take a few breaths to get beyond a truly stressful situation.

“Take as many breaths as needed, breathe a little deeper and slower, you will start to calm down and be centered, and see things differently,” suggests Michiko.

“Just like Aladdin and Jasmine on their magic carpet ride, they see everything in a new way because they’re at a higher viewpoint,” adds eleven-year old Grace.

Go through the Gloom to Bloom exercise with Michiko and Grace, and tune-in to other Zen Mommy & Me segments, click on the “Lisa.fm Christmas Channel” button at http://www.lisa.fm.

Or, here’s the direct link to the podcast: http://lisafm.podomatic.com/entry/2008-12-02T10_47_38-08_00

Piper Palin: The Media Darling

The youngest Palin daughter is the ONLY aspect of the US Presidential race that hasn’t reached burnout proportions

What a relief to learn I’m not the only one fascinated by seven year old Piper Palin, the youngest daughter in the Palin clan. Newsweek recently featured a story “Piper, Please Don’t Drop Him!” The writer, a mom, admits she too is riveted when she sees Piper on TV, often caught on tape lugging her infant brother around. Though the writer goes on to explain that she’s mortified at the thought that Piper will wind up dropping the baby on national TV!

Piper’s popularity index soared following her prime time debut at the Republican National convention, when cameras caught her applying a little spit-shine to baby brother’s hair. Then there were the videos on You Tube calling for Piper to run for the White House in 2044. These days, there are entire slide shows on news websites devoted to photos of Piper. She’s even featured on tabloid TV shows, schmoozing with the media on the campaign jet. Piper signs autographs. Piper poses with reporters. Piper says ‘vote for my mom.’

The kid definitely has leadership abilities. She’s a double king (K♥ K♦) according to my Goddess of Destiny personality profile system (based on an ancient science blending astrology, numerology and playing cards). Regardless of the outcome of this election, you can bet we haven’t seen the last of Piper (or her mom)! Find out more about what’s In the Cards for Piper, click here.

Aren't you a Charmlng Goblin! ♠ Your Trick or Treat Cards Forecast

You are charming this week - starting on Monday, under the sexy 8♥! To make the most of it, set up meetings & dates with those you wish to impress!

By Friday, you'll be handing out or heading out for tricks 'n treats! This week's Goddess of Destiny weekly forecast (based on an ancient system that blends astrology, numerology and the deck of cards) predicts that your Halloween can be a lot of fun.

So plan to get together with your favorite ghosts and goblins for the big night. Just be safe, and avoid too much drinking and other illusion-making festivities. That's because Halloween is ruled by the dreamy 4♥ card, which is ruled by neptune (planet of dreams and illusions). It's a good idea to be extra careful if your Halloween festivities will be held nearby or on the water.

Tune-in to or sign up for the Goddess of Destiny Daily & Weekly one-minute podcasts. Or, get your Daily Card on the GO, follow Lisa.fm on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Lisa_FM

Looking for a last minute, easy & inexpensive costume idea? Tune-in to my podcast with Lisa.FM Party Pal Donna Leeds.

Madonna's Divorce: What's in the Cards for Mr. & Mrs. Ritchie?

The media keeps saying the divorce between Madonna and Guy Ritchie will get ugly. But, as the Goddess of Destiny, I took a look at Madge's Cards for the year and it looks to me that things are going to go the way Madonna wants them to.

That's because this is Madonna's "Make a Wish" year, according to the Goddess of Destiny system, which is based on an ancient science that blends astrology, numerology and the deck of cards.

This 'Make a Wish' year is the culmination of a rare five year cycle of success. This success cycle only comes around every 45 years. So when it arrives for you, you could literally make a big wish and have a good chance of having it come true!

Madonna's birthday is August 16 (1958), which makes her a 10♣ in the Goddess of Destiny system. Ten is a number of mastery, clubs are the suit of mental (thinking) and communications. So, you could say that Madonna, as the 10♣, is a master of coming up with ideas and plans that appeal to (or inflame) the public. Barbra Streisand, Shirley MacLaine, Diana Ross, Jim Morrison and Kim Basinger are other famous 10♣.

Madonna's 'challenge' for this year, per the Cards, is letting go of love. The 9♥ shows there will be a change (or ending) of an important relationship. Madonna's result is hard work (10♠ ). To me it signifies that she's getting over her relationship by putting her all into her current world tour.

Guy's birthday Card (born September 10, 1968) is the cunning A♦. This is known as a playboy card (rare is the faithful A♦). Personalities of this card range from benevolent (Paul Newman) to mercenary (Adolf Hitler).

Ritchie's Card layout for this year suggests he needs to overcome struggle, negative thinking and/or hardship by taking a spiritual approach to life. He probably won't be embracing Kabbalah as Madonna has since there are rumors that it was Madonna's dedication to the mystical Hebrew teachings that has driven the couple apart.

Madonna's publicist is denying a report that said the couple has agreed on a $60 million divorce settlement. With Madge's estimated net worth of over half a billion dollars, this would be a relatively painless payout, considering there's no pre-nup.

Word is, Guy isn't interested in Madonna's money. But if he was, he should be happy to know that another A♦ is still known today for her mega-million dollar divorce settlement. A♦ Amy Irving (September 10th birthday) received $100 million when she and husband Steven Spielberg broke up.

For more on this story, tune-in to the In the Cards: Madonna Divorce podcast.

Discover your Destiny, and learn more about yourself and the important people in your life. Click on your birthday, or sign up for the free daily one minute podcast, at goddessofdestiny.com

Get your Daily Card on the Go, follow Lisa.fm on Twitter.


Here's the scoop on the "Make a Wish" year


This 'Make a Wish' year is the culmination of a five year cycle of success. It only comes around for most of us every 45 years, and it arrives for you, you could literally make a big wish and have a good chance of having it come true!

Madonna's birthday is August 16, which makes her a 10♣ in the Goddess of Destiny system. As you can see (okay, you have to look real close at the top line!), the 10♣ is one of only three cards to sit in the 'fame' or 'sun' line of the Deck of Destiny. This year, the 10♣ card is in the very center of the board (in the position where the 10♦ sits in the photo). That's what makes this year so special for her.

Interestingly, Guy Ritchie's A♦ card follows Madonna's 10♣ around the Destiny layout. This means, that he has been in his most-fortunate five year cycle during most of their 7 and a half year marriage. Next year (age 41) will mark Guy's "Make a Wish" year.

Discover your Destiny, and learn more about yourself and the important people in your life. Click on your birthday, or sign up for the free daily one minute podcast, at goddessofdestiny.com

Get your Daily Card on the Go, follow Lisa.fm on Twitter.