The articles in this issue highlight theosophists in action, and bring a bit of good news for the animal world. I think Madame Blavatsky would be pleased to see the teachings of theosophy being put into action by TS members and like-minded activists. Scroll down to the bottom for a new set of guidelines from the TOS-USA board of directors that defines what it is that makes a project truly "theosophical." The document is, in itself, a source of inspiration.

You have no doubt heard of the disastrous flooding in Chennai, India, including the flooding that took place at Adyar, international headquarters of The Theosophical Society.  To get a glimpse of how students at Adyar's School of the Wisdom coped with the power outages during their stay at Adyar while the rains raged around them, take a look at Tim Boyd's Facebook page--the video at the top shows students singing "Amazing Grace" by candlelight.  This, I think, is exactly what Dora was talking about.

In this issue you'll read about inspired projects from our groups in Oklahoma City and Salt Lake City. Our members have not only been inspired . . . they are also inspiring, swinging into action to help make a difference. For our healing intention, let's focus our collective mental power on the oceans and their wildlife. To understand why this is so critical, see the article below about the Salt Lake City TOS members' efforts to raise awareness about plastic pollution in the oceans. "Om . . . we ask for and invoke healing energy, love, and light for the earth's oceans and the creatures who live in them. May humanity find and implement ways to clean up and heal the damage. May highest Will be served. May the earth's oceans and the creatures who live in them be filled with brilliant white healing light. We give thanks. Om . . . "

In this issue, you'll find service ideas contributed by local TS groups and TOS members around the country. Service among theosophists is alive and well indeed! All the service ideas presented here have two things in common--they're all simple, and they all make a difference. The magnitude of the difference they make was summed up nicely by Charles Kuralt: "The everyday kindness of the back roads more than makes up for the acts of greed in the headlines."