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.
 | First, I stepped back and listened to my body—which was tired, worn out from so much on my plate during the past 12 months. I decided to be kind and loving to myself. That meant slowing down and giving myself permission to let go of the timeline. I rested when I needed to. Simplified my daily routine and decided what I wanted (and didn’t want) to do that day. I felt like I could breathe—it was such a relief. |
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.
Third, I acknowledged that even though the traditions weren’t accomplished in their usual fashion, within a set day and time, I realized that I was okay with that. With letting go of perfection, and with acceptance came a sense of relief, followed by feelings of joy and peace. |  |
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,
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