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praise for the lotus and the lily
“Janet Conner has emerged as a vibrant and innovative spiritual teacher. In her new book, The Lotus and the Lily, Janet unlocks vital secrets to manifestation. She has created a process that helps people create their relationship to the divine and set the stage to receive what we desire in alignment with our highest good. She teaches a myriad of techniques, including an unusual way to use the mandala. My mandala reminds me daily of staying connected to my trusted source and keeps me centered on the importance of creating a receptive context. Janet has a key piece of the spiritual puzzle—this book will move you way ahead on your spiritual journey.”
—Gail McMeekin, author of The 12 Secrets of Highly Successful Women and The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women
“The Lotus and the Lily is a healthy corrective for the ego-driven, materialistic interpretation of spirituality that is epidemic in our culture. Spirituality is not about getting your stuff. It is about developing a closer relationship with the Transcendent, however named, as Janet Conner makes clear.”
—Larry Dossey, MD, author of Healing Words and The Power of Premonitions
“The principles that Janet Conner guides the reader to discover become the essential elements of a dynamic spiritual practice. These principles transcend denomination and dogma. They are practical, universal, and impacting.”
—Mary Anne Radmacher, artist and author of Live with Intention and Lean Forward into Your Life
“Jesus said we could create heaven on earth. The Buddha said we could create the conditions for manifestation. Janet Conner tells us how. Her 30-day program is spiritual yet eminently practical, deeply serious yet lots of fun. This is a step-by-step guide to expressing our own divinity.”
—Ellen Debenport, author of The Five Principles
“Janet Conner has her priorities straight. And because she does, she's written a poetically precise guide to how we can all grow beyond ‘What's in it for me?’ to ‘Just how do I seek first the kingdom?’ Do what she says and you'll know what it means to have ‘all these things’ added to your very blessed life.”
—Victoria Moran, HHC, AADA, author of Creating a Charmed Life and Main Street Vegan
“Janet Connor has taken her readers from Writing Down Your Soul to fully aligning with the pure intentions of our purpose on earth. Janet's book, The Lotus and the Lily, lifts, lightens, and leads the dedicated truth student to understanding true prosperity. Lasting prosperity is when the lower earth chakras are balanced and the heart chakra is open to allow the upper chakras of heaven to be revealed. The ‘I AM’ expression along with the gift of inner seeing lead the readers to a new way of existence—a life free of wanting and a joyful life of always having.”
—Rev. Temple Hayes, senior minister of Unity Campus, St. Petersburg, FL, and author of How to Speak Unity and The Right to Be You
“I believe there is no more important work we do than culturing our inner knowing. As a lifetime journal keeper, I have chosen Janet Conner to be my most trusted guide on my interior journey. Revealing secret paths and signposts, she illuminates our deepest and most fulfilling ways of being and becoming. Through The Lotus and The Lily I learned to plant the seeds of my intention for a beautiful life in the fields of my Soul. A bountiful harvest awaits all who journey within.”
—Diana von Welanetz Wentworth, founder of the Inside Edge motivational breakfast forum (www.InsideEdge.org), and author of nine bestselling and award-winning books including two titles in the bestselling Chicken Soup for the Soul series
“In this deeply nourishing 30-day program, Janet Conner weaves a magic carpet of the combined paradoxical wisdom of Buddha and Jesus and carries us into transcendent creativity. The Lotus and The Lily is a joy ride!”
—Ted Wentworth, author of The Enlightenment Code and editor-in-chief of Enlightenment Lifestyle Magazine
“The Lotus and The Lily is simply divine. In it, Janet Conner takes us far beyond the Law of Attraction. Through her deeply transformative process, we learn to prepare ourselves for the life of our dreams. After participating in Janet's program, I experienced a shift in focus—from wants and worries to creating the conditions for my life to flourish. This shift made all the difference.”
—Laura Harvey, editor of Daily Word
“The Lotus and the Lily is an invitation to experience more of everything that life has to offer. Wise, warm, and friendly, this is an essential guide to living the adventure of your soul.”
—Joel Fotinos, author of Think and Grow Rich Every Day
the lotus
and the lily
Access the Wisdom of Buddha and Jesusto Nourish Your Beautiful, Abundant Life
JANET CONNER
Conari Press
First published in 2012 by Conari Press
Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC
with offices at:
665 Third Street, Suite 400
San Francisco, CA 94107
www.redwheelweiser.com
Copyright © 2012 by Janet Conner
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC. Reviewers may quote brief passages.
ISBN: 978-1-57324-586-9
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available upon request
Cover design by Jim Warner
Cover photograph © VonHenry Media, Inc.
Graphics by Sandy Cromp, Sunshine Design Studio
Text design by Jane Hagaman
Typeset in Mrs Eaves and Gill Sans Std
Printed in the United States of America
VG
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials Z39.48-1992 (R1997).
For you,because your soul wants five thingsand one of them is tocreate life
Ever since Happiness heard your name,It has been running through the streetsTrying to find you.And several times in the last week,God Himself has come to my door—So sweetly asking for your address,Wanting the beautiful warmth of your heart's fire.
—Hafiz, from “Several Times in the Last Week,”
I Heard God Laughing, translation by Daniel Ladinsky
They are like shy, young school kids—time and space,before the woman and the man who areintimate with God.
The realized soul can play with this universethe way a child can a ball.
—St. Teresa of Avila, from “The Grail,”
Love Poems from God, translation by Daniel Ladinsky
contents
Our Master Teachers
Welcome