If you fulfill the pattern that is peculiar to yourself, you have loved yourself, you have accumulated, you have abundance; you bestow virtue then because you have luster. You radiate; from your abundance something overflows.
                                                                                                     Carl Jung

Co-Creative Mandalas have a vibration that
anchors, activates specific qualities, and
represents something about ourselves,
the natural world, and the energy in the Universe
at a particular time. This year the mandalas support Choosing Love’s Presence within,
with the rhythms in nature,
and with the Great Mandala.

The mandala archetype for this month is Wholeness.

As this new cycle begins, many of us feel the pull to reaffirm and realign with what truly matters
and to step into life with more clarity and intention.   There is a place inside each of us where Love’s Presence, wisdom, and our soul-guided purpose rise naturally.

It's been fun, illuminating, and surprising to explore Wholeness and all the ways it supports
Choosing Love’s Presence.

Love’s Presence within mind, body, and spirit is seen, felt, and experienced by listening to
your inner guidance
and finding joy, peace, and wonder.

How is Wholeness calling you to embrace
Choosing Love’s Presence?

This Co-Creative Mandala--Wholeness—is from photographs of Peruvian lily (symbolizes love), blue spruce and snow (symbolizes spiritual foundations), and dahlia (symbolizes joy) and is associated with all the chakras. This mandala reminds us that we don’t need to strive for Wholeness. We are already whole and complete. When we change our mind about who we think we are, our life changes, our perspective shifts. With compassion and acceptance we welcome all parts of ourselves, those parts that we love, those parts that we don’t, those parts that we embrace, those parts that we reject. Through the lens of Wholeness you can see the deepest truth about yourself.

Happy 2026!
Thank you for being part of the Co-Creative Mandalas community. I’m grateful for you. I trust the New Year will bring more joy, peace, and abundance to you and to the collective.

Before the beginning of a new year, with my spiritual support allies, I reflect on the intention I envision for myself and the collective. The intention arises from a place of fullness, not from a place of lack. It's less about the goals, resolutions, and next steps... and more about the slowing down and grounding into the present moment. That’s when I take a breath. Feel into the upcoming year—not from my mind, but from your body.

This year my intention...and by extension—Co-Creative Mandalas...is Choosing Love’s Presence. Throughout the next 12 months, we’ll explore what Love’s Presence means, what it feels like, its qualities and vibration. We’ll offer inspiration and insights that activate the qualities of Love’s Presence. Our monthly blog and the Sacred Mandalas card reading for the collective are offered as ways to align with the vibration that supports Choosing Love’s Presence.

It may seem odd to you (I know it does to me) that I’m writing the New Year blog about what happened during the past holiday season, but I trust you’ll see how it’s message is perfect for the year ahead. So, please bear with me.

I had a different kind of Christmas this year. The annual—here’s-what-happened-during-the-past-year-update letter wasn’t stuffed in a card, signed, sealed and on it’s way by December 1st. There was no hustling right after Thanksgiving to make a wreath, decorate a tree, and to arrange greens to add beauty inside and outside the house, or to wrap presents. Instead, the usual timeline was pushed back more than once. I just didn’t have the bandwidth to repeat the same decades long traditions. Initially, that bothered me—a lot—and I worried that nothing would get done if I didn’t push myself. Which didn’t give a boost to my bandwidth or self-esteem.

Usually I have a well laid plan for making sure it would be the best Christmas EVER! The holidays are tricky. Memories of wonderful, and not so wonderful Christmases linger. There’s a little girl who still longs for the joy and anticipation of a merry and bright Christmas past, in the loving presence of her grandparents. And, she’s also determined that there won’t be a repeat of the less than happiest holidays.

The idea of not meeting my self-imposed deadlines wasn’t a pleasant thought at first. I don’t think we talk enough about how the holidays change with aging or with life happening. Roles change, friends and family move away, or pass away, unexpected, life changing events happen, leaving us to find a new holiday center. Even if I have the freedom to do what I want—which might be different and the same as traditions and rituals I grew up with, those traditions shift with the changes and challenges that shape every day reality.

The “Hallmark” moments, as seen on TV and in lovely cards, make it seem as though people effortlessly and joyfully glide through the weeks leading up to and including The Day, finding joy, sharing meals, laughter, and beautifully wrapped gifts. But at what cost? I suspect the truth is quite different for many of us. My usual, well-worn strategies for making sure we experienced perfect Hallmark holidays, without dealing with life happening, just didn’t fit anymore.

So, this year, I made it up as I went along.

Second, I appreciated myself for all that I had accomplished. Instead of a “to do” list, at the end of the day, I reflected on and wrote a “ta done” list as a way of celebrating myself and all that I accomplished in a single day. I was often amazed at just how much I’d done that day.

By Christmas Eve, the wreath was hung, the tree decorated, the gifts were wrapped, the popcorn and cranberries were strung and hung, lovely evergreen arrangements graced our home and front door, and a holiday letter and cards were well on the way to their destinations.

Now we’ve crossed that liminal space from the past into the New Year. If there’s anything that I carry forward with my new found Christmas joy it’s remembering to be kind to myself and to let of some things—like self-imposed timelines, rituals and traditions that I no long need to hold on to and don’t serve my most expansive self.

I’m feeling excited and hopeful about 2026. I’m focusing on all the ways I can be kinder to myself and others, and looking for opportunities to support others and myself on our journeys toward positive change both in our lives and in the world.

From my heart to yours...I wish you and those you love a happy, healthy, and abundant New Year.

Blessings of love,light,and joy,

You can’t always get what you want…but if you try sometime…you’ll find you get what you need.
                                                                              The Rolling Stones

Co-Creative Mandalas have a vibration that anchors, activates specific qualities, and represents something about ourselves, the natural world, and the energy in the universe at a particular time. This year the mandalas support Aligning with Wisdom,
within ourselves,
with the natural rhythms in nature,
and  with the Great Mandala.

The mandala archetype for this season is
Joy of Manifestation.

It's been fun, illuminating, and surprising to explore
Joy of Manifestation and all the ways it supports
aligning with wisdom:
Your wisdom--mind, body, and spirit--by listening to your inner guidance and finding joy, peace, and wonder.
How is your wisdom calling you
to embrace Joy of Manifestation?

This Co-Creative Mandala, Joy of Manifestation, from a photograph of fallen leaves (symbolizes letting go) and evergreens (symbolizes hope)  is associated with Archangel Ariel. She has been a constant presence beginning with the first Co-Creative Mandala that emerged. This mandala reminds us to trust that Manifestation of our visions comes from a place of receiving and from co-creating with the Universe.  The Universe wants us to succeed. When you're present and connect your vision to the support of the Universe the possibilities are limitless. With just a single thought, you can go directly to Source where your thoughts and feelings are in alignment with the vibration of Manifestation.

Happy Holy Days:

This morning, I awoke to the winter sun pouring through the window, a warm contrast to the season’s chill, on the first day of winter.  My partner asked how I felt, and after a moment's thought, I said, "I feel blessed to be alive, bathed in winter light, and curled up beside your warmth. I feel hopeful, joyful, and full of wonder."

I wish the same for you as we enter the season of Holy Days—with so many opportunities to celebrate nature’s rhythms. We extend you a heartful  turning of the Great Mandala and a peaceful, joyful winter.

This season of deepening darkness calls for rest, reflection, and a return to what truly matters. Nature’s quiet rhythm offers us the gifts of stillness, reflection, and renewal—whether through time in nature, connections with loved ones, or simple moments to pause and breathe.

We invite you to invest your time and energy toward rebuilding trust in yourself, nature, and the Universe, and reaffirming your power to manifest.

We've just passed through the manifestation portal between 11/11 and 12/12. It offered a time to pause, set clear intentions, and align actions with your visions. But that energy didn’t end on 12/12, and it won’t end with the solstice, the Holy Days, or the New Year.

Change and manifestation aren’t reserved for special days, though those moments are scared and very powerful. The time that stretches out in front of us offers opportunities for deep spiritual growth and reflection on what did and didn’t manifest over the past year. It’s also a season for new beginnings, bringing clarity, motivation, and hope.

This season carries a sense of promise.

When you tune into your inner knowing—the part of you that trusts the process and believes in the outcome—your energy shifts from contraction to expansion. I believe the Universe wants us to succeed. It’s up to us to create space for the Universe to fill, in perfect timing and form. By learning to receive, this becomes second nature.

Before that happens, we may face energy blocks, setbacks, and impatience. Our energetic container might feel too small to receive what we want. I’ve been there.

If I could sit down with my younger self—no gray hairs and more energy than patience—I’d say: “Trust yourself. Trust the process. It’s okay not to know, even if it feels uncomfortable. “That’s where the light comes in” (to borrow from Leonard Cohen’s wisdom).

As a Gemini, patience isn’t my strong suit. My imagined tombstone will read—“Patience isn’t a virtue. It’s a waste of time”. I used to rush through the discomfort of waiting for my visions to become concrete, wondering what was wrong with me when they happened slowly or in a different form than I expected. But over time, I’ve learned that some of my most profound growth and happiest surprises come from staying with the uncertainty a little longer.

When I first dreamed of co-creating Sacred Mandalas: Mandala Messages for Aligning with Inner, Nature, and Universal Wisdom, I thought it would happen quickly. But, as can happen with manifestation, it took years—waiting, growing, and aligning with the right support. I had to stop forcing it and let it unfold in its own time.

Here’s what I learned from that process:

Wisdom  is the deep connection to intuition and divine guidance—seeing blessings and challenges as part of the path.

Alignment  is living in harmony with your true nature, attuned to inner knowing and something greater.

I believe the same applies to manifesting our dreams. We can’t rush trust in ourselves or the process—it grows slowly through presence.

We’re always manifesting, even when things don’t look how we expected. Manifestation works, even if the timing or outcome is different from what we envisioned. When we try to control the “how,” we resist the flow of magic, slowing down manifestation.

So, if you’re waiting for your vision to manifest and it’s not happening yet, don’t assume you’re off track. You’re likely right where you need to be.

These days, when I feel impatient, I ask myself,

What’s the invitation to see something differently, to pause and appreciate the unknown, the magic that is emerging?

This simple question can turn frustration into curiosity, and curiosity into progress.

During this season of shadow and light, I hope you’ll slow down enough to notice the invitations life is offering, especially when you’re working on manifesting your next big thing.

And remember when it appears you're not getting what you want:

This or something better—for my most expansive self—will manifest!

Stay open to the magic that’s waiting to emerge.

Have a wonderful winter season.

Wishing you a peaceful, joyful winter and a season full of light, love, and magic.

Co-Creative Mandalas have a vibration that anchors, activates specific qualities, and represents something about ourselves, the natural world, and the energy in the universe at a particular time. This year the mandalas support Aligning with Wisdom,
within ourselves,
with the natural rhythms in nature,
and  with the Great Mandala.

Welcome to the season of Reflection and Release:

Are you feeling a familiar cycle resurfacing as the year closes, and as a nine year and a nine year cycle come to an end? Do you feel the pull toward a deeper energetic reset?

This is an exciting time...for reflection, for appreciation, for preparation for the future...

To prepare us for the end of this cycle, the cosmic window between 11/11--a portal for spiritual awakening and 12/12--holistic completion offers us the opportunity to integrate the cosmic energy from the past month and welcome the beginning of a new cycle.

As we move deeper into December, the energy of the season continues to shift. The daylight hours are short, the night time hours are long, and nature is drawing inward.

This is the time of year when the Earth rests, integrates, and quietly prepares the soil for what will grow in the spring.

Your spirit is asking for the same.

This week, I invite you to continue reflecting on the year that’s ending — not to judge yourself or to tally accomplishments, but to understand the journey you’ve walked.

Reflection and release are powerful soul work.

They transform your experiences into wisdom. They turn challenges into clarity. They help you carry forward what matters… and lay the rest gently down.

Allow reflection and release to be simple, honest, and kind.

While I'm not an expert in numerology, I am expert in what cosmic and nature cycles feel like in my body, in my bones, in my heart and in my mind. This year has brought challenges and blessings, the mundane and the miraculous, holding on and letting go. With this nine year, symbolizing closure and growth, its natural current of completion aligns effortlessly with Manifestation--(December's Co-Creative Mandalas archetype) aligning your inner wisdom to co-create your life.

This Collective Card reading supports us in integrating the lessons of this nine year (2+0+2+5) and releasing the what no longer belongs.

Winter draws us inward. It quiets the noise and invites us to listen to the whispers of the soul.

Winter gives us permission to rest, to breathe, to dream without striving--to be in tune with nature's rhythms.

Co-Creative Mandalas can be your companion through this powerful season of reflection and  release. We invite you to find ways to flourish! This month’s oracle card reading focuses on self-reflection, tying up loose ends, and aligning with wisdom,  as the season shifts.

The reading doesn't predict your future. It can shift your perspective. When I sit down to do these readings, I ask the Universe to show me/us where there is Manifestation in our life and to reveal a map that helps us navigate our lives with hope, clarity, and intention as we align with wisdom and move toward living our soul-guided purpose.

When I draw the oracle cards and I sit with them--the color, the essence, the mandala meaning, something shifts.

Everything settles. The noise in my head becomes quiet, followed by clarity. I can see truths I may have been too overwhelmed to notice before.

I've noticed that in the winter this becomes even more powerful.

This card reading supports Aligning with Wisdom, receiving guidance as you grow into your next chapter, and discovering new ways to bring the magic, mystery and power of Manifestation into your life. Come back to this reading whenever you’re feeling stuck, seeking clarity, or when you're ready to Align with Wisdom--within, in nature, and with the Universe.

Before I drew the cards, I asked:

What do we/you/I need to know about how Manifestation supports Aligning with Wisdom in December?

The first card, the Focus Card, reveals what we are called to cultivate and expand.

SPIRITUAL GROWTH

This mandala is from a photograph of Himalayan blue poppy (symbolizes spiritual enlightenment) and is associated with the solar plexus, third eye, and crown chakras.

Mandala message:
This is a wonderful time. You are on your karmic path, headed in the right direction. You are in tune with your soul-guided purpose. Trust yourself and trust the Universe.

Possible barriers to honor and clear:
Do you feel like you've lost your way, fallen off your path? Do you feel distracted by old habits, fears, limiting beliefs or worry? Do you feel stuck in constricted, energetic patterns?

Affirmation:
My mind and heart are open to Truth. I trust that my inner guidance and Universal guidance will show me the way.

The 2nd card supports the Focus Card.

What are we/you/I ready to receive that supports Manifestation and Aligning with Wisdom?

ROOT CHAKRA: STABILITY and SECURITY

This mandala is from a photograph of snapdragon(symbolizes grace).

Mandala Message:
Issues and challenges from the past are resolved and released. You are grounded, centered, and establish health boundaries. You allow yourself to feel increasing trust in your own power to safely move forward on your path.

Possible barriers to honor and clear:
Do you fear for your safety and/or security? Do you worry about or are you afraid of what the future could bring?

Affirmation:
I am strong, stable, safe, and secure. I trust my needs are, and always will be, met.

The 3rd card supports our next steps.

What action step can we take that supports seeing Manifestation as a pathway to Aligning with Wisdom throughout December and beyond?

HEART CHAKRA: LOVE and SELF-ACCEPTANCE

This mandala is from a photograph of rose foliage (symbolizes new beginnings).

Mandala Message:
Open your heart to receive love for yourself and from others. Your broken heart is healing. Gentle waves of encouragement remind you to gift yourself with compassion and acceptance. Cultivate the qualities of love for yourself and others.

Possible barriers to honor and clear:
Do you have lingering feelings of abandonment or heartbreak? Is it difficult to love and accept yourself? Is it difficult to let love in?

Affirmation:
The energy of love flows to and through me now. I love and accept myself. I easily give and receive love.

Allow the messages from this reading guide you back to a steadier rhythm, one that makes room for more clarity, honesty, and choice in how you move through each day, and how you'll move through the season ahead.

Take your time—this reading is available for you to return to for support whenever you're ready to align with your wisdom, with the wisdom of nature, and Universal wisdom.

As we experience this final month of 2025...this is a powerful time...reflect on what is surfacing from deep with you:

*What have I learned?
*What do I want to take with me into my future self?
*What do I want to leave behind?
*What do I want next?

Let's affirm to trust our wisdom — we are exactly where we're meant to be.

Speaking of endings and new beginnings, this reading will be the last Co-Creative Mandalas Oracle Card reading--not just for 2025, but as we go forward into the future.

We're retiring that deck. It's been a wonderful and meaningful companion since 2014, bringing insights and inspiration to hundreds of clients and to us every day since then. We say a fond goodbye and welcome, beginning in January of 2026, the new 48 card oracle deck and guidebook,  Sacred Mandalas: Mandala Messages for Aligning with Inner, Nature, and Universal Wisdom.   Stay tuned for more information about pre-ordering, bonus personal Sacred Mandalas reading, and the opportunity to see the deck before it's available to the general public.  

Wishing you blessings of love, grace, and gratitude,

If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.
                                                                                      Mother Teresa

Co-Creative Mandalas have a vibration that anchors, activates specific qualities, and represents something about ourselves, the natural world, and the energy in the universe at a particular time. This year the mandalas support Aligning with Wisdom,
within mind, body, and spirit,
with the natural rhythms in nature,
and  with the Great Mandala.

The mandala archetype for this month is Convergence.

It's been fun, illuminating, and surprising to explore Convergence and all the ways it supports
aligning with wisdom:
Your wisdom--mind, body, and spirit--by listening to your inner guidance and finding joy, peace, and wonder.
How is your wisdom calling you
to embrace Convergence?

This Co-Creative Mandala, Convergence, is from a photograph of coleus (symbolizes unconditional love) and is associated with the sacral, heart, and crown chakras. It reminds us that during times of apparent divisiveness there is something unseen happening. Even though our goals, aspirations, and hopes at times may appear to be in conflict, we are all seeking connection with something greater than we are. View life from a more expansive perspective. Look for ways to make connection, to join rather than separate. You may find that you have more in common that you ever dreamed possible.

Welcome the Season of Gratitude:
At this time of year we're offered opportunities to gather with loved ones and reflect on the meaning of the season. We are reminded how powerful gratitude, compassion and community are.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to you, our Co-Creative Mandalas community--for investing your time and energy toward reading our posts, blogs, and newsletters. Your presence and deep spiritual work toward bringing more love and light to the world is seen and appreciated.

The channeled mandala and the archetype for November revealed itself as Convergence. I must admit, I didn't know which direction to go with this post because I haven't focused on the meaning of Convergence since I traveled to Tibet for the Harmonic Convergence in 1988. Even then, I wasn't familiar with the concept. I just knew I was meant to be in the Himalayas. Being there during that powerful cosmic event was a deeply transformative experience.

All these decades later, when I watch or read the news (yes, I believe it's important to stay informed about what's happening in the world of the world--because this is where we reside as spiritual beings having a human experience), my heart sometimes feels heavy. I worry about the present and the future. I've discovered that I find peace in the midst of those feelings when I remember in Tibet I experienced my goodness and connected with goodhearted people from all over the world who, like many of us, are working toward aligning with wisdom. And, there were also those who appeared to be doing the exact opposite.

I'm reminded about what A Course in Miracles says about war and conflict--"the war we see out there is the war within,"--our internal state is what we see in the news, social media, and other people--bliss and blisters. It's a battle between our human and spiritual selves, our ego and  Wisdom. So, of course, if we're not at peace, what we see "out there"--is judgement, conflict, anger, fear, a feeling that we're separate from the Universe and from each other--until we choose love over fear.

This isn't about shaming or blaming ourselves.

Like all aspects of our spiritual journey, it's an inside job. We start where we are...with curiosity, realizing and accepting that we may not know what is true for another person, and often, even for ourselves.

It's challenging holding sacred space for a world that bombards us with negativity from the news, social media, other beings...and from within. Even if we don't watch the news or follow social media or we live in a cave somewhere in the Himalayas the energy of the world is clamoring for our attention. It's up to each of us to choose what we place our attention on. "Our experience is shaped by what we attend to". William James, Psychologist.  And from the Hawaiian Huna principle of Makia--"Energy flows where attention goes".

How do we hold the belief in goodness alongside all that appears to be the opposite in the world and within? I believe it starts with acceptance for what is. Not everyone sees the world through the same lens. Acceptance means that’s okay. (I hear the gasps--even within as I write those words). Let me be clear, I'm not saying harmful actions or unkind words are okay, they aren't. Acceptance isn't giving up or giving in--it's our pathway to freedom.

I believe--and often forget--that we humans, even those with whom I disagree, are here for one purpose: Remembering our wholeness. Our paths are diverse, and often times at odds. But our goal is the same.  What if we could agree to disagree about the form our paths are taking, while recognizing that on another level we are all seeking to bring the darkness to the light?

I know...it's a tall order. I face that challenge every day.

I'm asking that we see each other from a spiritual perspective, from which we may find common ground in oneness rather than separation, in love rather than fear. I get it--this isn't something that all people will be on board with. That's okay. Not all hearts and minds will embrace this opportunity. The best we can do is offer loving kindness, compassion, and acceptance--even when we disagree.

Let's trade in our judging for appreciating.
Let's lay down our righteousness and just be together.
                                                                                          Ram Dass

What matters is that we're being honest with our self.  This is the time to recognize and honor that you may be at war in your mind. It's the time to come back to your Wisdom, to what’s true for you, to return to your inner sense of home, and to affirm what you want to plant going forward.

Do you sense that you're awakening to the part of you that has been feeling… something?

Maybe it’s been subtle. Maybe it’s been loud. Maybe it’s been with you for years.

That sense that there's more you're here to do. That there's a part of yourself that you have yet to discover and fully express. That there's a deeper purpose to your life than what you're living right now. That's where we find our shared belonging and the sacred thread that binds all of life. This is a reminder when we're feeling separate, life always invites us to connection, into the truth of our Wholeness, and to co-creating deeper Convergence.

Convergence, by definition, creates an inner spaciousness. It brings together opposites to create something new. It brings the  expansive (not constricted) feeling that  you’re connected to yourself… connected to other people… connected to nature, connected to the Universe… it reaffirms and embodies your soul-guided purpose.

The power to birth a new story has always been right here, right now, in the intentions that I - You - We dare to hold, in the choices that I - You - We passionately make, in the courage to love into being a breathtaking, inspiring story that is worthy of who we truly are.
                                                David Brand, The Everything Kid

When we see  with the heart, with Convergence, the world softens. We recognize how we belong to each other, where we once walked parallel, separate paths we now  find peace in knowing that Wisdom is guiding our way.

That inner spaciousness comes with bigger, deeper, and more soulfully inspired perspective about how Convergence can shape life now and in the future. When we feel safe enough, spacious enough, and connected enough to align with wisdom--we see ourselves and each other in the same Light.

I invite you to give those feelings space...

I wonder if it's possible that whatever our beliefs, values, and practices we can recognize that all beings are seeking a deeper connection with the Universe or whatever name is given to the Creative Intelligence, the Source, of all life? Convergence shifts our focus to shared experiences of love, peace, and connection.

For those looking for a way to join, rather than separate, and  are looking to bring Convergence into your daily life, into your spiritual practices for bringing peace to the war within--I encourage you to explore the Buddhist concept of Metta--loving kindness. The practice consists of four prayers; First for yourself (that can be a hard one);  then for those who support and love you, and then for those with whom you disagree or believe have wronged you (often the most difficult and challenging beings for whom we choose to extend loving kindness) , and finally, for the world, all beings, and the Universe.

The practice is simple, the words are profound. Feel free to change and add to the loving kindness prayers. Incorporate this practice in your daily rituals and/or whenever you recognize you're not experiencing peace.

Start with centering, grounding breaths. Then offer the following prayers:

1. Focusing on the prayer you offer for yourself (sometimes this is the most difficult of all the prayers). May I know...compassion. May I know peace. May I know kindness. May I know well-being.
2. Focusing on those who love and support you. May you know...compassion. May you know peace. May you know kindness. May you know well-being.
3. Focusing on those who have wronged us, for those for whom we are unable to find common ground. May you know...compassion. May you know peace. May you know kindness. May you know well-being.
4. Focusing on the world at large, the Earth and all beings. May you know...compassion. May you know peace. May you know kindness. May you know well-being.

There are many routes to experience the creative, life-giving force from which we are made, for ending the divisiveness created by the war within. I believe from that place of peace, there is no division- only Convergence, connection,  and expansion. At that point of Convergence there is unity--we realize we belong to each other. We're not alone. I believe as more and more people find their unique way to embrace and practice Convergence, peace will spread to every corner of the Earth, to all beings, and throughout the Universe.

Let us meet these insights with compassion and forgiveness, for ourselves and for others. Let’s move forward with no blame. As Native American Grandmother Agnes Pilgrim, "Grandma Aggie" said,

We’re all in this leaky canoe together.

Blessings of love and light,

Co-Creative Mandalas have a vibration that anchors, activates specific qualities, and represents something about ourselves, the natural world, and the energy in the universe at a particular time. This year the mandalas support Aligning with Wisdom,
within ourselves,
with the natural rhythms in nature,
and  with the Great Mandala.

Welcome to November Grace and Gratitude!

I love the energy of a brand new month, especially ones where the energies seem to distinctly shift, ushering us into the next phase of the Great Mandala cycle. Even though this is a more reflective, inward time, the energy still promises possibility and potential, doesn't it?

The month ahead officially ushers in the holiday season. November is when we tend to start to wind down the year. We may start thinking ahead for the next year - so it’s a great time to set some intentions for the month and consider what you may need to feel supported.

This Co-Creative Mandala oracle card reading for the collective extends an invitation to take a sacred pause to connect within, increase your awareness, and move about your life from a more expansive state of Aligning with Wisdom.  

This is the time for releasing something powerful, or releasing something which no longer suits you.

This is all about letting go and detoxing your life, so there may be something that has been a prominent feature of your life for a long time that is finally moving on to different pastures.

Perhaps you are witnessing the end of a relationship or a job or career, or a certain chapter is closing. Don't think of this so much as an ending in the obvious sense, but rather making space for clearing out something in the way so that something new can grow in its place.

Although this season invites us to go inward, we may also find ourselves pulled toward gathering, toward community, toward celebration. We may find ourselves at odds with the pull to connect, and the equally strong pull toward resistance to the differences of opinions and perspective that can sometimes arise.

I invite you to lean into the concept of Convergence--the natural tendency of life to co-create something new out of differences. Look for our November blog that specifically builds on the archetype of Community and how Convergence supports shifting our perspective.

So, the oracle card reading for this month focuses on the intention to discover Convergence in relationships and in our shared collective. I invite you to consider that intention, as well.

As with all evolution of consciousness, this is an inside job.

Co-Creative Mandalas can be your companion through this powerful season of pausing and reflecting. We invite you to find ways to flourish! This month’s oracle card reading focuses on nourishing the body, mind, and spirit and restoring balance as the season shifts.

The reading isn't for prediction, it's for perspective. When I sit down to do these readings, I ask the Universe to show us where there is Convergence and to reveal a map that helps us navigate our lives with hope, clarity, and intention as we align with wisdom.

This Co-Creative Mandalas Oracle three card reading for the collective taps  into the energy of the month so we can navigate the weeks ahead with grace and ease and to help us reconnect with our path, align with wisdom and our soul-guided purpose, and open up to the abundance and hope the Universe has waiting for us.

This card reading supports you to Align with Wisdom, receive guidance as you grow into your next chapter, and discover new ways to bring Convergence into your life. Come back to this reading whenever you’re feeling stuck, seeking clarity, or when you're ready to Align with Wisdom--within, in nature, and with the Universe.

Before I drew the cards, I asked:

What do we/you/I need to know about how Convergence supports Aligning with Wisdom in November?

The first card, the Focus Card, reveals what we are called to cultivate and expand.

THROAT CHAKRA: COMMUNICATION

This mandala is from a photograph of scabosia (symbolizes respect) and is associated with the solar plexus, heart,  third eye, and crown chakras.

Mandala message:
Use our power to communicate. Open to truthful communication with ourself and others. It is safe to share our ideas, opinions, and feelings.

Possible barriers to honor and clear:
Did you experience an event or situation in the past or present that caused you to shut down, not speak your truth, or feel safe to express yourself?

Affirmation:
I am free to lovingly express myself in all ways.

The 2nd card supports the Focus Card.

What are we/you/I ready to receive that supports Convergence and Aligning with Wisdom?

CROWN CHAKRA: WISDOM

This mandala is from a photograph of scabiosa (symbolizes understanding) and is associated with all the chakras.

Mandala Message:
This is the time to for appreciating that our energy is open and flowing channel of spiritual understanding from  our inner and outer resources. Now is the time for calm awareness. Tap into our deepest knowing. Connect with all the beings who support us. Use this inspiration to find the answers we seek and the blessings we  deserve.

Possible barriers to honor and clear:
Does fear of opening to your intuition or receiving help block trusting your inner and outer resources? Do you think it's unrealistic to trust your wisdom?

Affirmation:
I trust my intuition and the allies who inspire me.

The 3rd card supports our next steps.

What action step can we take that supports seeing Convergence as a pathway to Aligning with Wisdom throughout November and beyond?

WISDOM:
This mandala is from a photograph of crocus (symbolizes change) and is associated with the root, sacral, solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye, and crown chakras.

Mandala Message:
This is the time for sharing our wisdom...we are born to teach. Maybe that's a dream we have for making a difference in the world. Maybe that's something we do every day, in all our interactions. In either case, we have so much love and wisdom to give. Taking a leap of faith and having the courage to fulfill our soul-guided purpose brings blessings to us and to our world.

Possible barriers to honor and clear:
Are you putting off living your soul-guided purpose out of fear? Do you trust that you are enough, know enough, or wise enough? Whose approval are you waiting for?

Affirmation:
I trust my wisdom to guide me. I am open to Wisdom.

Allow the messages from this reading guide you back to a steadier rhythm, one that makes room for more clarity, honesty, and choice in how you move through each day, and how you'll move through the season ahead.

Take your time—this reading is available for you to return to for support whenever you're ready to align with your wisdom, with the wisdom of nature, and Universal wisdom.

This reading brings with it clarity — a chance to pause and reflect on what is rising within you.

• What does this reading reveal?

• What are you ready to release?

• And what is your wisdom gently whispering to you?

Let's affirm to trust our wisdom — we are exactly where we're meant to be.

With love, grace, and gratitude,

Staying vulnerable is a risk we have to take if we want to experience connection.
                                                                                        Brene' Brown

Co-Creative Mandalas have a vibration that anchors, activates specific qualities, and represents something about ourselves, the natural world, and the energy in the universe at a particular time. This year the mandalas support Aligning with Wisdom,
within mind, body, and spirit,
with the natural rhythms in nature,
and  with the Great Mandala.

The mandala archetype for this month is Community.

It's been fun, illuminating, and surprising to explore Community and all the ways it supports
aligning with wisdom:
Your wisdom--mind, body, and spirit--by listening to your inner guidance and finding joy, peace, and wonder.
How is your wisdom calling you
to embrace Community?

This Co-creative mandala, Community, is from a photograph of dahlia (symbolizes lasting bonds) and is associated with the sacral, solar plexus, heart, and crown chakras. It reminds us that changes and challenges call for deep courage, compassion, and connection. We are social
animals, so it's natural to seek a sense of belonging. Community not only sustains us, it also illuminates paths that lead to resilience. Whatever role or purpose we serve in our community, our presence and contribution are needed.

Happy Halloween (Sanhaim--pronounced Sow-in):
We hope your day is Spoooktacular...full of sweet treats, warm smiles, and maybe a little mischief.

We’re sending greetings of warmth and care to each of you as we move into the rhythms of fall here in the Northern Hemisphere, and good wishes to those in the Southern Hemisphere, where spring’s renewal is beginning to emerge.

Today, and for the next couple of weeks, is a powerful time, a threshold that opens to transition from what doesn't serve us to the dreams we envision for the future. This is a time of turning inward. It’s a sacred reminder that endings are a necessary part of growth.

In some traditions there is the belief that the veil between worlds thins and we have an opportunity to connect with and honor our ancestors.

The challenges of our time call for deeper courage, compassion, and connection than at any time in our lives. Certainly, anytime in my life. You may be feeling the pull toward grounding, connection, and a sense of belonging.

As we navigate the complexities of our shared world -  - we are reminded of the importance of community. Community can sustain us. It can show us compassion. It can be a container in which we come together, reflect, and heal.

We know that the human condition has its highs and lows—with both joy and pain. Many of us face illness, hardship, or depression, and lately, so many people are
feeling a deep sense of disconnection. As we release what's run its course, honor our ancestors, and trust that we're making space for what is yet to manifest,  I want to bring us back to gratitude.

When we remember our deep belonging to this world, a fierce and tender courage begins to move through us -- along with the gratitude of our awakened heart.

In Maori, the New Zealand indigenous people's tradition, the feeling that there is a life force that connects all living things is called Mauri. It’s the vital essence that animates everything and links us to each other, to the land, and to the ancestors who came before us. Our longing for community leads us to this connection.

Community has the power to transform us, to uplift us, and to help us live as our most expansive self. Community can support a full, spiritual life when the people we surround
ourselves with support us in our evolution of consciousness and help us live as our most expansive selves. And, we do the same for others.

Have you stopped recently to reflect on and appreciate the relationships--current and past--in your life?

But what happens when you feel like an outsider, someone who doesn't belong?

If you lack the connections, be courageous enough to reach out and build them.
                                                                                        James Clear

Like me, you may have chosen to go it alone, to be a "lone wolf". That's such an interesting expression, "lone wolf". Some say it's a myth, others agree that it's rare that a wolf separates from the pack, either permanently or for short periods of time.

Like wolves, we are "pack animals", social beings. I like to think wolves live in a community, or pack, that is social and that they work together for the common good. We humans could learn from those behaviors.

It’s our cooperative connections with others that enable us, as individuals and as the human race, to thrive. Studies have shown that being alone doesn't support thriving.
Apparently, we do better with people in our lives. Something we can be grateful for and  not take for granted.

I've had challenging times in my life when I found that being connected with others, and having a sense of belonging helped me heal and grown in ways that I didn't imagine.

In that moment, I realized something profound about the kind of connections we all need—and deserve—to thrive.

Being with others, sharing a common understanding of the human condition--with both its bliss and blisters--and a desire to live a better life, helping one another. That changed me forever.

Now, as we step into the deep, reflective season, in this moment of deep reflection, ask: Who are the people you surround yourself with? Are they lifting you up, or is it time to seek something more?

As you consider what to release during the next couple of weeks, perhaps you'll let go of relationships that have run their course. On the other hand, consider letting go of the belief that going it alone is the best path to take.

During this deep, introspective time, it’s important to honor your desire to go inward, while staying connected to the people in your life.

Community supports our quest for living a spiritual life. In community we can find people who remind us of our wholeness, who support our evolution of consciousness, who help us live out most expansive life.

It’s natural to desire connection. If you’re craving community or you'd like to reaffirm your connection to others, why not set an intention to call in community? During this more introspective time, it’s important to honor your desire to go inward, while staying connected to the people in your life.

For some people, this is easy to achieve. For others like me, it's harder, but not impossible. As an introvert, this can be challenging, so I take small steps. This could mean attending one new event. Reaching out to old friends to reconnect is much easier for me. Just being intentional and contacting people who  are important to me is something that I regularly do.

If you’re ready to attract and nurture community in your life, think about those relationships closest to you. Life affirming relationships are reciprocal. How are the people in your life contributing to your life? How are you contributing to theirs?

I believe that life is easier in community. Being supportive of each other and bringing out our best is at the heart of community. It may start out as a group with shared interests or goals and deepen over time as we express care, compassion, and connection.

We’re all in this together.

May you feel held in the quiet power of this season.

May what is ready to fall away do so with grace.

May the wisdom of your ancestors guide your steps in the months ahead.

May new dreams take root in the dark, waiting to bloom in their own time.

And, may you thrive in co-creative communities filled with loving, like-minded, light-hearted beings.

I’m sending you so much love as we journey through this sacred threshold together.

Co-Creative Mandalas have a vibration that anchors, activates specific qualities, and represents something about ourselves, the natural world, and the energy in the universe at a particular time. This year the mandalas support Aligning with Wisdom,
within ourselves,
with the natural rhythms in nature,
and  with the Great Mandala.

Welcome to October Magic!

Can you feel the energy building? There’s a beautiful energy moving through this week with the harvest moon, and today, the 10/10 portal. The energy that’s guiding us toward opening new doors, trusting what’s unfolding, and stepping into greater alignment with wisdom.  This wave of light is bringing the energy of gratitude, harvesting, clarity, and expansion.

It’s been a remarkable transition into fall here at Co-Creative Mandalas. We're grateful to be harvesting the fruits of all the work--inner and outer--that we've accomplished this year.

October is generally a quiet month. Summer has passed, the kids are back at school, and there’s a sense of calm before the festive holiday season kicks in.

When I think of October, it shows up as an "in between" month-- between summer and fall. The days are shorter, the air is decidedly cooler at night and crisper in the morning. The garden needs a different kind of attention. I'm still harvesting veggies and cutting flowers, albeit more slowly--both me and the garden. I'm cutting old, spent flowers and pulling out dying vines, in the early stages of clearing the area for a "long winter's nap". But, neither garden or I am quite there. Yet.

We photographers refer to a special quality of October light as "the golden hour" or the "magic time". When the sun is lower in the sky, it casts a warm glow on everything. We seek out this light because it's warm and soft compared to the direct, sometimes harsh, feeling of summer light (everything growing needs that intensity). Fall colors--orange, red, yellow all seem brighter, more intense. This glowing, warm light happens earlier than later in the day.

That's what my inner life feels like, too--not quite done with summer and yet, fall has arrived. Some days I'm craving warm soup as if it's already winter, others I'm making potato salad as if it's still summer. I'd like to nap more, but there's still work to be done and schedules to keep--and only so much light left in the day. No getting up super early to work in the garden before the sun's intensity is too hot to handle. No longer hours of daylight, that extends my outdoor adventures well into the evening. All mixed blessings, and maybe mixed messages, too.

Are you feeling "in between"...the bright light of summer and the golden hour of October? "In between"...what's falling away and what's emerging?

At the heart of this month's collective reading is Community (the October Co-Creative Mandala archetype)-honoring inner connections and in all areas of life.

For me, sitting with these cards now, feels like a magical moment--as I take in the beautiful golden, warm light of autumn.

That’s what I want for you too!

Co-Creative Mandalas can be your companion through this powerful season of pausing and reflecting. We invite you to find ways to flourish! This month’s oracle card reading focuses on nourishing the body, mind, and spirit and restoring balance as the season shifts.

When I sit down to do these readings, I ask Spirit to show us where there is Community and to reveal a map that helps us navigate our lives with hope, clarity, and intention as we align with wisdom.

This Co-Creative Mandalas Oracle three card reading for the collective taps  into the energy of the month so we can navigate the weeks ahead with grace and ease and to help us reconnect with our path, align with wisdom and our soul-driven purpose, and open up to the abundance and hope Spirit has waiting for us.

This card reading supports you to Align with Wisdom, receive guidance as you grow into your next chapter, and discover new ways to bring Honesty into your life. Come back to this reading whenever you’re feeling stuck, seeking clarity, or when you're ready to Align with Wisdom--within, in nature, and with the Universe.

Before I drew the cards, I asked:

What do we/you/I need to know about Aligning with Wisdom in October?

The first card, the Focus Card, reveals what you are called to cultivate and expand.

WISDOM:
This mandala is from a photograph of crocus (symbolizes change) and is associated with the root, sacral, solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye, and crown chakras.

Mandala Message:
This is the time for sharing your wisdom...you are born to teach. Maybe that's a dream you have for making a difference in the world. Maybe that's something you do every day, in all your interactions. In either case, you have so much love and wisdom to give. Taking a leap of faith and having the courage to fulfill your soul-guided purpose brings blessings to you and to your world.

Possible barriers to honor and clear:
Are you putting off living your soul-guided purpose out of fear? Do you trust that you are enough, know enough, or wise enough? Whose approval are you waiting for?

Affirmation:
I trust my wisdom to guide me. I am open to Wisdom.

The 2nd card supports the Focus Card.

What are we/you/I ready to receive that supports Aligning with Wisdom?

SPIRITUAL GROWTH:
This mandala from a photograph of blue Himalayan poppy (symbolizes enlightenment ) is also associated with the sacral, solar plexus, third eye, and crown chakras.

Mandala message:
This is a wonderful time! You are on your karmic path and headed in the right direction. You are in tune with your soul-guided purpose. This is the time to trust your wisdom and the Universal wisdom.

Possible barriers to honor and clear:
In what ways have you fallen off your path? What old habits or beliefs distract you or keep you stuck?

Affirmation:
My mind, body, and spirit are open to the Wisdom that shows me the way.

The 3rd card supports our next steps.

What action step can we take that supports Aligning with Wisdom during the autumn equinox, throughout September, and beyond?

WHOLENESS:
This mandala is from a photograph of purple verbena (symbolizes divine forces ) and is also associated with the solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye, and crown chakras.

Mandala Message:
This is the time for increased personal power and for speaking your truth. Tap into inner strength. Love and accept yourself. Embrace your inner resources and support from the Universe. Co-create the life of your dreams.

Possible barriers to honor and clear:
In what ways are you overlooking the truth of you power and presence? How are you giving away your power? Are you afraid to trust yourself because of past mistakes?

Affirmation:
I am whole and complete. I trust myself and I trust the Universe.

Allow the messages from this reading guide you back to a steadier rhythm, one that makes room for more clarity, honesty, and choice in how you move through each day, and how you'll move through the season ahead.

Take your time—this reading is available for you to return to for support whenever you're ready to align with your wisdom, with the wisdom of nature, and divine wisdom.

Just like photography, October offers you the chance to see yourself and the world in a new light.  October showcases the beauty of the seasonal cycles--inner and outer. It marks the transition from summer to fall--the perfect time to appreciate our blessings. 

Wishing you magic and golden hours throughout October and beyond.

...honesty is about having the courage to face your inner world—your feelings, beliefs, contradictions, and fears—and holding space for them without shame.
                                                                                        F. J. Haddley

Co-Creative Mandalas have a vibration that anchors, activates specific qualities, and represents something about ourselves, the natural world, and the energy in the universe at a particular time. This year the mandalas support Aligning with Wisdom,
within mind, body, and spirit,
with the natural rhythms in nature,
and  with the Great Mandala.

The mandala archetype for this month is Honesty.

It's been fun, illuminating, and surprising to explore Honesty and all the ways it supports
aligning with wisdom:
Your wisdom--mind, body, and spirit--by listening to your inner guidance and finding joy, peace, and wonder.
How is your wisdom calling you
to embrace Honesty?

This Co-Creative Mandala, Honesty, is from a photograph of marigolds (symbolize resilience) and is associated with the root, sacral, solar plexus, and heart chakras. It reminds us how deeply connected honesty is to integrity. This is the time to be truly honest, not harsh,  with yourself. Drop your masks. You don't need to fix yourself. You are already whole and complete. When you love and accept all parts of yourself that's when clarity and transformation begin.

Happy Fall Equinox:

I hope you’re well and feeling ready to welcome the powerful energy of renewal, rebirth, and fresh beginnings that this time of year offers--with the new moon, solar eclipse, and equinox.

Autumn is upon us, and we invite you to celebrate the turning of the seasons. In a world that often feels uncertain, even chaotic, the fall equinox reminds us of the beauty of balance—the moment when day and night stand in perfect equality before the light slowly yields to the dark. This is a time of gratitude, reflection, and letting go, as nature offers her harvest and teaches us the wisdom of release.

My garden is still quite lovely, the fruits and veggies of our labors are still going strong. Yet,  I sense that the growing season is coming to an end. This time of year brings mixed feelings for me...I love the growing season and all the summer energy. Fall reminds me that winter will follow all too quickly.

This time of year always feels like a delicious in-between. Warm days along with crisp air, and clear blue skies has me craving the coziness of soup season. I know it'll happen all too soon, so in the meantime, I'm finding the moments that let me breathe more deeply and do the things (including preparing nourishing food) that bring me joy and peace.

Yet, life is asking a lot of us these days, and at times it can feel overwhelming in so many ways. It may be hard to navigate for many of us.

Autumn equinox brings an opportunity to pause and recognize all that this year has already brought us and all that we imagine still lies ahead. After the  outward-focused energy of summer, this balance restores us. It reminds us to slow down, to recalibrate, and to come back to our center. Autumn equinox is an intersection point, a sacred reset.

We’re moving through a doorway, a significant, potent time to pause, reflect, clear the decks - inside and out - and prepare fresh ground to sow our new vision seeds for the season ahead.

As we turn the page to a new season, we’re reminded that each moment, day, week, month and season brings fresh opportunities to grow in wisdom, compassion, and honesty. You don't have to rush forward. You don't have to have it all figured out.  This is the time for choosing your truth and connecting with what matters most—again and again—every single day.

Even if you don't focus on the actual equinox event...that's okay. The energy of this seasonal shift remains during the days ahead.  Little actions open energetic pathways for soul clarity, renewal, and fresh inspiration to flow.

The simplest step—like clearing out one junk drawer or organizing one small closet,  can shift your energy in a profound way.

And, if your heart longs to go deeper - this is perfect time to clear your inner landscape, release those old, constricting patterns, and open the expansive space to truly align with wisdom.

 Create a clearing in the dense forest of your life.
                                                                                         Anonymous

Every turn of the Great Mandala asks us to grow. To shed. To rise. To expand into full potential. By listening to the whispers of your soul and making  choices that support aligning with wisdom miracles can happen.

Combined with the balancing energy of the equinox, this month invites us into a profound turning point. It invites us to live from a place of Honesty, particularly with ourselves. How can we be honest with others if we're not honest with ourselves?

The great teachers of the past and present, and our deepest wisdom tells us that basic goodness is at the core of all beings and all things--including yourself. Their teachings remind us that we, and all beings, are whole and complete. But how do we reconcile the concept of  inherent goodness when we encounter information and experiences that suggests the opposite? How do we show up to our lives in a genuine way, with Honesty?

What do I mean by "Honesty"? I'll start with what I don't mean...I don't mean that brutal, critical voice that says "you're not enough, good enough, smart enough"...blah, blah, blah.

If we believe in the basic goodness of all beings...what does that mean? Our most vulnerable place may not believe that. How do we live in honesty...remembering both things are true in the moment--our belief in goodness and our thoughts about ourselves.

First, we can't see the goodness in the world until we see the goodness in ourselves.  In this blog, I'm speaking to how we talk to ourselves. What we say when we think we've fallen short of expectations, of the perfection we ask of ourselves.

What lies are you telling yourself? "I'm not good enough", "I'm unlovable", "I must have bad karma", "I'm unworthy of"...When that critical voice tells you those stories, you begin to believe that you're disconnected from your authentic self, from your true nature. You forget your wholeness. You aren't aligned with wisdom.

By abandoning your wholeness, you deny the reality of who you are, creating a divide between your inner truth and your external facade. This lack of self-honesty can lead to living a life that feels unsatisfying and inauthentic.

You probably talk to yourself way harsher than you'd ever talk to a friend. A small mistake or forgotten detail can turn into this whole internal monologue about how you should have done better. That voice gets loud sometimes, and over time it really does chip away at how you feel about yourself.

Next time you catch yourself in one of those "I'm not enough" or "I should have known better" spirals, try this simple thing: stop and say "I'm learning. I'm growing". "I'm doing the best I can". That's it. You're not pretending everything is fine. You're not bypassing.  You're just reminding yourself that you're whole and complete, evolving and growing in this moment.

This compassionate honesty supports aligning with wisdom. When you stop being "brutally honest", by  constantly beating yourself up (how has that worked for you so far?), you give yourself permission to remember your wholeness. You stop wasting energy on shaming yourself. Being gentle and kind  with yourself just feels better, and  reminds you to nurture your inner light.

You already know what’s not working. You already know the cost of staying the same.

Today, listen to how you talk to yourself. When that critical voice starts up, pause and say "I am learning, I am growing." "I'm doing the best I can." You're not defined by one mistake or one bad moment. You're defined by how you keep showing up for yourself, even when things get messy.

So, yes honesty is the best policy...only if it comes from love.

We are at a threshold. On the other side is freedom—the kind that comes when you stop holding back love from yourself or from others. Every part of you, even the pieces you’ve doubted or hidden, is worthy of love. The only step you need to take is believing it. The Universe will do the rest.
                                                                                              Kyle Gray

Taking care of ourselves, being kind, gentle, and honest with ourselves, isn't optional. It's necessary for nurturing our light.

I know how important it is to prioritize self-compassion and lean into aligning with wisdom. These aren't luxuries, they're the practices that allow us to keep showing up for ourselves, the season ahead, and beyond.

My hope is that this season gives each of us a chance to breathe, rest, and find grounding within and in nature.

Blessings of love and light,

Co-Creative Mandalas have a vibration that anchors, activates specific qualities, and represents something about ourselves, the natural world, and the energy in the universe at a particular time. This year the mandalas support Aligning with Wisdom,
within ourselves,
with the natural rhythms in nature,
and  with the Great Mandala.

Welcome to the Second Half of September!

Can you believe we’re already halfway through September?

The days here are still warm but the evenings are starting to cool down. September is one of the most powerful months of the year. It brings a welcome relief from the high intensity summer energy, shifts toward a softening, and a return to slowing down.

As the Great Mandala turns toward autumn, we step into a season of gratitude, transformation, and clarity. The energy of this month carries us from the outward growth of summer into the gentle call of turning inward that comes with fall.

September’s Invitations:

•    Trust & Recognize — where have you shown up for yourself this year?
•    Restore Balance — where have you integrated self-care into your daily routine?
•    Turn Inward — how are you making space for stillness?
•    Reflect & Integrate — how are you aligning with wisdom?
•    Embrace Honesty — what truths are emerging?

This is the harvest of your soul-work: Honesty--with yourself. You’ve grown and stretched in countless ways this year, even if you don’t yet see the full picture. September is here to help you recognize that growth, to honor it, and to prepare for the deeper inner work of autumn.

At the heart of this month's collective reading is Honesty (the September Co-Creative Mandala archetype)-with ourselves and in all areas of our.

For me, sitting with these cards now, feels like a deep exhale--like a sigh of relief. Instead of being swept away by the swirl of life, I can see the patterns, the growth, the wisdom unfolding.

That’s what I want for you too!

Co-Creative Mandalas can be your companion through this powerful season of pausing and reflecting. We invite you to find ways to flourish! This month’s oracle card reading focuses on nourishing the body, mind, and spirit and restoring balance as the season shifts.

When I sit down to do these readings, I ask Spirit to show us where there is Honesty and to reveal a map that helps us navigate our lives with hope, clarity, and intention as we align with wisdom.

This Co-Creative Mandalas Oracle three card reading for the collective taps  into the energy of the month so we can navigate the weeks ahead with grace and ease and to help us reconnect with our path, align with wisdom and our soul-driven purpose, and open up to the abundance and hope Spirit has waiting for us.

This card reading supports you to Align with Wisdom, receive guidance as you grow into your next chapter, and discover new ways to bring Honesty into your life. Come back to this reading whenever you’re feeling stuck, seeking clarity, or when you're ready to Align with Wisdom--within, in nature, and with the Universe.

Include these self-care questions as part of the reading:

~How will I show gratitude for what’s ripening in my life?
~How will I give myself recognition for what I've weathered this year?
~How will I celebrate the harvest that’s already begun — even if it’s small, quiet, slow, or deeply internal?

Before I drew the cards, I asked:

What do we/you/I need to know about Aligning with Wisdom in September?

The first card, the Focus Card, reveals what you are called to cultivate and expand.

GRATITUDE:
This mandala is from a photograph of sunflower (symbolizes abundance ) and purple statice (symbolizes gratitude) and is associated with the solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye, and crown chakras.

Mandala Message:
You have a lot to feel appreciation for and there is more on the way. Every time you choose gratitude your energy shifts from constriction to expansion. Congratulate yourself for seeing abundance all around you!

Possible barriers to honor and clear:
Are you missing opportunities or focusing on what you don't have? Where might your energy be stuck in energetic patterns of lack or negativity?

Affirmation:
I choose to see and appreciate all life's blessings. I easily attract more to be grateful for.

The 2nd card supports the Focus Card.

What are we/you/I ready to receive that supports Aligning with Wisdom?

TRANSFORMATION:
This mandala from a photograph of lace cap hydrangea (symbolizes grace ) is also associated with the solar plexus,heart, throat, third eye, and crown chakras.

Mandala message:
You can shift challenges and transform all difficulties in to great blessings in every area of your life. Claim your power, honor your intentions, and embrace self-acceptance and self-compassion.

Possible barriers to honor and clear:
Do you doubt your ability to overcome obstacles to realizing your dreams? Are you focused on past misinformation, old stories, or limiting beliefs?

Affirmation:
I claim my power to create the life I envision. I live my truth. My life moves effortlessly toward fulfilling my soul-driven purpose.

The 3rd card supports our next steps.

What action step can we take that supports Aligning with Wisdom during the autumn equinox, throughout September, and beyond?

THIRD EYE CHAKRA:
This mandala is from a photograph of cornflower (symbolizes healing ) and is also associated with the solar plexus, throat,  and crown chakras.

Mandala Message:
Open to your intuitive knowledge. Trust it because you are in touch with your inner wisdom. You see the deeper meaning of life's experiences. You confidently trust that you make the right choices.

Possible barriers to honor and clear:
Are you experiencing confusion or unclear thinking because of old toxic thought patterns or habits of worry, doubt, or self-criticism? Do you lack trust in you inner guidance?

Affirmation:
I enjoy clarity and a strong personal vision that guides me. I have complete faith in my inner guidance and my deepest wisdom.

Allow the messages from this reading guide you back to a steadier rhythm, one that makes room for more clarity, honesty, and choice in how you move through each day, and how you'll move through the season ahead.

Take your time—this reading is available for you to return to for support whenever you're ready to align with your wisdom, with the wisdom of nature, and divine wisdom.

Here's a blessing that supports your journey throughout September and the upcoming season ahead.

Take a deep breath and read these words slowly — may they be a prayer and encouragement for your journey this month:

May this month bring you clarity and peace,
May you rest when your body whispers "enough",
May you joyfully celebrate your abundance,
May balance return to your mind, body, and spirit,
May you trust your guidance and align with wisdom --within, in nature, and from the Universe.
May you walk in light, as light.
May you know you are light itself.

Sending you so much love and light.

The flow state is a way of surrendering and trusting the benevolent forces of Life. It’s surprising that we don’t spend more time here, as it’s an amazing, creative place to be—magical and peaceful, yet brimming with potential. Flow is a state that’s readily accessible through any activity that captures your effortless focus, such as meditation, dancing, painting, or even taking a shower!
                                                                               Colette Baron-Reid
                                                           The Dream Weaver's Oracle card:
                                                           If the River Flows This Way

Co-Creative Mandalas have a vibration that anchors, activates specific qualities, and represents something about ourselves, the natural world, and the energy in the universe at a particular time. This year the mandalas support Aligning with Wisdom,
within mind, body, and spirit,
with the natural rhythms in nature,
and  with the Great Mandala.

The mandala archetype for this month is Flow.

It's been fun, illuminating, and surprising to explore Flow and all the ways it supports
aligning with wisdom:
Your wisdom--mind, body, and spirit--by listening to your inner guidance and finding joy, peace, and wonder.
How is your wisdom calling you
to embrace Flow?

This Co-Creative Mandala from a photograph of Japanese anemone (symbolizes transition) is associated with the solar plexus, heart, and crown chakras. It invites us to discover Divine order in the chaos. This is the time for Aligning with Wisdom...the natural, effortless, joyful, inter-connectedness of all things. Remember, you don't have to work so hard. This mandala invites us to find extraordinary meaning and purpose in our ordinary, everyday experiences. Slow down and allow your heart and mind to take in all of your life’s wonders by letting those simple moments fill you with joy, peace, and awe. Let your inner squirrel out to play!

Happy August!

What a time to be alive! Sometimes scary, unsettling, destabilizing--yes; meant to shake us up and reorganize us from the inside out, as any great spiritual transformation does.

August has been quite an interesting month energetically, astrologically, and seasonally-with the shift in seasonal energy, post-full moon, lion’s gate, mercury going direct and all of the other crazy things the planets are doing.

Individually and collectively, we’ve been saying for decades that we’re living in a time of great evolutionary shift–what we often call the "breakdown for the breakthrough". We are definitely in the midst of that shift.

There are times when it’s hard to see the forest for the trees, and others when it’s painstakingly obvious that change is the only constant in our lives. For many, this is one of those times. I know it is for me. I'm not big lover of change, even when the change is my idea.

Last week’s new moon brought me a moment of clarity I didn’t know I needed.

For quite some time I've been pulling  Co-Creative Mandalas oracle cards as part of my daily routine of asking "What do I need to know today?",  which is designed to help me Align with Wisdom,  tune into my soul driven purpose, and synchronize with the rhythms of nature as the season begins to shift.
 
And as I sat with the card I pulled, the Heart Chakra, it reminded me that love flows to, through, and as me.  I suddenly felt something inside me soften.

Because what I realized is:

There’s a fear I’ve been carrying – a fear that things might not work out, a fear that maybe I’m not enough, a fear that I'm all alone, a fear that I can't trust my inner guidance.
 
But what the card showed me was I don’t have to hold this anymore.
 
I can step out of the endless loop of fear thinking. I can release the grip on trying to control things – trying to figure it all out, trying to force the path forward, trying to do it all on my own.

I can let go of the pressure to create the perfect plan or have everything figured out.

I can choose trust.

I can allow room for surprises, unexpected opportunities, and new experiences. I can stay grounded — not to bypass the my suffering or the suffering of the world, but to meet it with clarity, presence, and power.
 
That shift has been a main theme for me this year and a huge part of my own summer growth: the shift from trying to control everything … to learning how to trust, learning how to go with the Flow and make peace...with my fears.

By allowing things to unfold I realize my journey doesn't require force.

It asks for faith.

That’s the invitation of this time of year — and my  deep soul work of this season:

To listen closely for what’s being revealed from within, from the Universe, and from nature.

This is the time to receive the clarity that’s ready to shine through, to   trust that everything is unfolding in its own wild, wise timing.

Maybe because, here in Colorado, we've had stretches of hot weather and the garden is still abundant while at the same time it's slowing down, I’ve found myself in a place of also slowing down and taking in the spaciousness and stillness of this time.  Overall, the energy has been calling me to be even more present. It's been reminding me how important Flow is.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, the positive psychologist credited with having popularized the concept of Flow, offered a definition for the mental state of being ‘in Flow’ in his interview with Wired magazine.

…being completely involved in an activity for its own sake. The ego falls away. Time flies. Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz. Your whole being is involved...

I've also noticed that anchoring into the truth that presence and the stillness of Flow are safe and okay… I’ve discovered a deeper level of connection than ever before.  This is really the only place I want to be– right here. Flow is a state of joy, creativity and total involvement. Our problems disappear, and there’s a feeling of transcendence.

This connection feels very purposeful. It’s focused but not rushed. It’s exciting and very grounded.

When we finally feel safe enough to pause, to breathe, to receive - that’s when our soul-driven purpose comes alive.

That's when we align with our inner wisdom, the wisdom of nature, and Divine wisdom.

Every spiritual tradition has its own way of naming the sacred space of Flow…

The Buddhists call it emptiness, or the void.

Depth psychologists speak of the essential Self.

The Taoists know it as the flow in the natural world, or the Way.

No matter the name, this is our sacred purpose and our true nature. We all carry this sacred space inside us, but too often we forget that it’s always available to us, waiting to be accessed.

Do you remember when you were a kid and everything around you was a curiosity and delight to be explored? I'm discovering this is the attitude that allows the expansive energy of Flow. This means honoring, then letting go of the fear that comes from past ideas, beliefs, and stories I tell myself that have held me back from being open to Aligning with Wisdom and living my soul driven purpose.

Sometimes it's easier just to go back to the way things were, even if that fights with my sincere intention to change. Self-love, self-forgiveness, and radical self-acceptance are key. And remembering as Louise Hay often said, " Life loves you".

I believe we're being called to live as if today is the first day, from a “both/and” and heart-centered perspective. This is where Flow and the true magic of our co-creative partnership with nature and the Universe is revealed.

Feelings of inner peace, joy, and well-being are associated with Flow. In many indigenous cultures, humor, laughter and love are considered medicines for the heart that Flow invites us to express. 

I recently completed an online course in which I learned about late cultural anthropologist Angeles Arrien's  (1940-2014) Four Rivers of Life: The Rivers of Inspiration, Challenge, Surprise, and Love. 

According the Arrien, many traditional societies believe that these rivers sustain and support us. They remind us of Flow in our lives, support Aligning with Wisdom, and connect us to something bigger than we are. The magic happens when you let yourself Flow through each of the rivers, instead of trying to force the river, or avoid the obstacles, or swim up stream.

I think the lack of stimulation allows us to hear and experience a deeper river that's constant, still, vibrant,and real.
                                                                                     Angeles Arrien
                                                 Excerpted from The Second Half of Life:
                                                 Opening the Eight Gates of Wisdom

Noticing Flow can be as easy as investing attention when it's happening, rather than taking Flow for granted.

For decades, many of us have noticed and journaled about what we're grateful for. So keeping a daily journal that tracks the moments of Flow that we're blessed to encounter and experience throughout the day may seem familiar. Mindfulness, spiritual practices, and  a daily ritual of tracking Flow can have such profound spiritual effect on our life,  help  restore our center, and invite us to remember what really matters.

These moments aren’t just pleasant little joys meant to enchant us (although that's important, too); they are spiritual medicine. They pull us away from the busy mind and its relentless chatter, the fear, the need to force. They land us back in the body where we can  reclaim our power to remember our Wholeness.
                                                                                 Cheryl Richardson
                                                                          From a Facebook Post

Perspective is everything. We have an opportunity to find peace and power in Flow by changing our minds, shifting our attention and intentions, and trusting ourselves, the Universe, and nature to guide us.

I believe many of us are being called to the power and magic of Flow. Because of this, in the midst of all that's happening, I trust the veil of fear and separation is lifting. Individually and collectively, we're piercing through it. I trust enough of us are awakening to this new consciousness, one that activates the gifts and capacities in each of us–an orientation towards remembering our Wholeness; an anchoring of inter-being and radical love; an Aligning with Wisdom.

We are the ones we've been waiting for...

Wishing you the joy of discovering many moments of Flow as the rest of the summer and the changing seasons unfold.

Blessings of love and light,