Before I was born, my mother named me Tara.  She had been reading Margaret Mitchell's Pulitzer prize winner, Gone With the Wind.  My name was inspired by the plantation home of the novel's flawed heroine, Scarlett O'Hara.  Little did my mother know, when she named me and then gave me up for adoption, I would grow to become a Buddhist in the Tibetan tradition and Tara would be my first practice. 
Tara, as shown here, is a feminine deity who represents compassionate action.  Even before I knew Tara was my namesake, I loved her.   
Tara was a princess, who sought enlightenment at a time when women were thought to be inferior and unable to reach transformation in the female form.  Tara told the men of her time that she did not make that distinction and that she would achieve enlightenment as woman.  And she did!  Tara's commitment to is be with us, ready to take action, on even the smallest human challenge. 
This column is named for Tara in order that the best, most careful, compassionate and wise advice go out for those who ask.  
Send your questions to [email protected] and let's see what Tara has to say  

The first post will go up Monday, June 18.