bowl of cut-up fruit from the nearby banana and mango trees. Another brought some marijuana for a ceremonial bong hit as they stood in a

circle, and then one of them would kick off a raucous half-hour game of hacky sack. Much laughter was had, then off to a day of work.

The similarity between people who get up in the morning and play in paradise and most of us getting up and going to work is that we all

want inspiration to meet the day. We all hope to have a good day and seek the motivation and strength to meet its challenges.

Through personal discovery we each learn what can inspire us or energize us to do a good job. Some activities and beliefs endure, but

most come and go as different teachings and practices appeal to our changing appetites for inspiration.

No matter what practices I currently turn to for energy and motivation, they all achieve a few basic goals:

• Release

The first is a process to empty my mind and body of whatever happened yesterday and the past in general.

• Invoke

The next is to set intentions for the day as I open myself up to what’s new, and the spiritual guidance I can receive.

• Receive

Then, with complete faith in the principle “Ask and Ye Shall Receive,” I listen for a response. In addition to the

inspiration that comes to me right then, I take what unfolds afterwards as signs that my intentions are heard.

I usually go through this daily “release, invoke, receive” re-charging process on a walk in the morning. However, if I’m jumping out of bed

and running out the door, a quick way to at least check in with myself and the day ahead is with a three-card tarot reading.

To start, I mentally repeat a prayer of invocation that the tarot give me wisdom and truth and omens about what to expect. With that

in mind, I cut the cards and lay out three. This can often give me an indication of the “beginning, middle, and end” of the day’s adventures.

It’s also a good way to learn the tarot, especially if you review at night how the particular cards reflected what happened during that day.

Besides ways to remind ourselves that “It’s a New Day,” the related basic understanding that people can change no matter where they

start from is a powerful source of inspiration. It’s often easier to not change, though, and many times, people don’t.

I am never more impressed than when somebody gets a monkey off their back, turns themselves around, and commits to doing what

makes them truly happy. Many times it’s my clients who inspire me with their stories. Reading about people who have practically risen

from the dead to create a new life never fails to life me up. When they were ready to change, the teacher always appeared! They held an

intention, they practiced and prepared, and the opportunity arrived. My final tip for a better tomorrow is to conjure up a good feeling

about the day that just ended before going to bed. This can be done by reviewing all the accomplishments since getting up, whether big

or small: you exercised; you filed papers; you met someone new; you made progress on a project. The habit of framing the day in terms of

what you learned and what you achieved helps you look forward to doing it all over again in the morning!