10 things life has taught me - expert advice

• Thursday, 4 February 2010
• Alexandra Wenman
• 0 Comments

Prediction's Mind, Body, Spirit experts give their top tips to living a fulfilled life

 Steve
Judd

Steve
Judd has been a professional astrologer for over 30 years with
many appearances on TV and radio. He's the only astrologer in the UK to have a
drop-in practice

1

Life has taught me how mysterious the word really is, as
demonstrated by the magic at the moment of dawn overlooking fields in Alton
Barnes in the Vale of Pewsey on a summer morning and seeing a new crop circle
in the fields below.

2

If the speed of light is the fastest speed there is, what
is that stronger force that sucks light into black holes? (PS - this one's
really good for messing up scientists' and physicists' heads at parties).

3

How can you help anyone else if you're not in good working
order yourself? Sometimes putting yourself first isn't selfishness, it's self
enlightened interest.

4

The patterns that the planets make in the heavens are so
precise, and so perfect in both their beauty and their geometrical accuracy,
that the only conclusion possible is that their placing and motion is not
random. Translate that as you will.

5

Astrology really started a million
years ago when the first humans got off their knuckles and looked into the
night sky. The moving lights they saw inspired them to make stories, and the
first legends were born.

6

Without humour there is no hope. Without humour there is no philosophy, no magic, no optimism, no faith. So laugh as much as
you can, even through the tears. Remember - negativity can't exist where there
is humour.

7

The geometry and topography of the
British Isles is so perfect that it defies coincidence. The patterns on the
landscape point to a time many thousands of years ago where things were very
different to today, in a way we can't imagine but that we constantly yearn for.

8

It might sounds really corny, but
words like compassion, empathy, nurturing, spirituality, balance, intuition,
sharing - if these words and others like them aren't part of the human future,
what kind of future will it be?

9

How little we really see. The occasional glimpses into the
Summer Land, the land of the 'Faer', our sixth and seventh senses, our faint
memories of how magical our lives once were - all this is there, just outside
the boundaries of consciousness.

10

How linked we all really are with each
other, and how each and every one of us is a star. ‘As above so below' is the
oldest of astrological lore, and the current dramatic changes in planetary
positioning is being reflected down here on Earth. Hang in there!

Visit Steve's website at: www.stevejudd.com where he offers synastry, composite comparisons and locational advice using AstroCartoGraphy. Consultations are in
person, by phone and are recorded

 

Simon Parke

Simon Parke is an acclaimed writer and retreat leader for those
seeking adventures of the spirit. His own life experiences range from being a
priest to a shelf-stacker

1

Life is difficult. Sometimes things go well but most days
bring problems. Rather than being surprised or furious, I allow my breathing to
settle and accept difficulty as part of life. There's always something to be
discovered in the moment. I like the story of St Francis meeting a slug. "Ah,
Brother Slug. What message do you bring for me today?"

2

Everyone's an explorer. Columbus set off in search of Asia,
but only found America... This is the thing about exploring - you don't know
what you will find. The bravest explorers seek truth, treasure what they find,
but know also that the adventure is never over.

3

The Mad Hatter was right: how you travel is where you arrive.
Some people are in a mad rush for answers, thinking there must be something out
there that solves everything. The wise attend only to the journey, looking ever
more deeply into daily experiences. Such awareness is a constant arrival.

4

I'm slowly learning to make a friend of impermanence. Much
unhappiness is caused by a blind insistence that things must last forever; it
helps us feel secure and in control. But the only permanent thing about nature
is impermanence; and so we learn how to let go gracefully.

5

The roadside dandelion is under-appreciated, as are all things
of unassuming beauty or wonder. Sometimes we are so busy we notice nothing else
- a shame. As the poem says: "What is this life, if full of care, we have no
time to stand and stare?"

6

Abandon all labels, they make people less than human. Ten
could not adequately describe you, so one of mine will certainly fail. Once we
label someone, we devalue them; once they are devalued, we feel justified in
hurting them, as history shows.

7

We only have today; or as I put it in one of my books:
"Yesterday is stale bread, tomorrow is no bread, today is fresh bread - and I
know which I would choose." Those who live in the day are wonderfully present
to people and circumstances; those who live in the past or the future are in a
dream, emotionally absent and unavailable.

8

 My thoughts make me mad. There's a big difference between
having a thought and a thought having us. Our monkey minds have thoughts all
the time, but sometimes one kidnaps us and takes over, poisoning us with convincing
illusion. The tail is wagging the dog, so shout "Stop!" and hurry the thought
towards the nearest exit.

9

The path is kind and can be trusted. When we don't trust the
path of life, we become negative; everyone is an enemy, everything a threat. We
find ourselves in a cul-de-sac of rage or complaint. I discovered trust late -
and travel all the better for it now.

10

Remember the wave. If a wave is to rise
high, another will need to dip, and vice versa. There are no celebrity waves,
for each individual is a communal activity. Of course, in the calm they are all
one, made of the same water.

One-Minute Mystic by Simon Parke (Hay
House, £7.99) More info at: www.simonparke.com

 

Kevin Laye

 

Kevin Laye is a qualified trainer of hypnotherapy and NLP. He's
also been a karate champion and a former member of the ‘special forces'

1

 What you believe is what you perceive. If you think that the
world is a horrible place full of evil, war and hatred, you can find all the
evidence you need. If you perceive the world to be full

of amazing opportunity, joy and love, with new things to do
and learn daily, you can also find all the evidence you need to support that.

2

Life is a gift not to be wasted. In my life I have been shot twice, stabbed, tortured (army days), nearly
killed in a car crash and been ill to the point of dying. This has taught me
that every day is a bonus. Wasting time is a waste of time. Looking at life
through the eyes of a child is awesome. Disney coined the phrase "wonderment".
I like that.

3

Success is different for everyone - a perception. I like the
Bell Curve of life success: At the age of 3, success is not peeing your pants;
6 - having friends; 17 - driving licence; 19 - sex; 30 - money; 50 - money; 65
- sex; 70 - driving licence; 75 - friends; and at the age of 85, success is not
peeing your pants... To some, success is measured in monetary terms. To earn you
have to learn. The more you learn the more value you have, the more you can
expect. A friend said, "Life's a crap sandwich - the more bread you have, the
less crap you have to deal with." There are lots of unhappy rich folks. To
others, success is waking up each day. You decide.

4

Words are so important - how we convey our thoughts to
others. Wars (of all sizes and scale) begin because we don't talk to each other
and wars cease when we begin to talk.

5

The Chinese have a saying: "Find a job you love and you never
need work again." It took a while, but I discovered what I do now and it is
true it isn't ‘work'. I am very lucky to have freedom. Life has taught me I am
not a good employee, but as my own boss I can create my own life and help to
change others.

6

To be valued, be valuable. As humans, our basest emotional
desire is to feel valued, so simply be, whether giving an empathic ear, hand to
hold, hug or smile to a stranger. The most valuable things in life usually cost
nothing, but they can mean the world to someone when needed.

7

I have learned that children (especially girls) are both
expensive and priceless simultaneously. What a cool phenomenon.

8

Opinions are just that: our perceptual maps of the world,
events or people. They can differ and conflict, especially when the opinion
wears the dark cloak of criticism. When that happens, remember: all the opinions
in the world added together plus £1.99 will buy me... a coffee. Skinny wet
latte, please.

9

Not everything can be explained with science. If you love
someone or something, ask: What colour is it? What shape? What unit of
measurement - kgs, $s, %, what? How could you prove you have ‘love'? How would a scientist or sceptic prove it?

10

If you love someone tell them and often.
It's free and may often be the right thing for them to hear right then.

For more
info, visit: www.kevinlaye.co.uk