One of the most rewarding spiritual practices is to cultivate the ability to bring love into all aspects of our life and to all people we encounter. This entails learning how to include love’s presence while we speak to others, are in conflict with others, and are living with others.
Gil Fronsdal
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 Affection.
It's been fun, illuminating, and surprising to explore Affection 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 Affection calling you to embrace
Choosing Love’s Presence?
This Co-Creative Mandala--Affection--from a photograph of Peruvian lily (symbolizes positive energy), sea holly (symbolizes strength), chrysanthemum (symbolizes solar energy), and baby’s breath (symbolizes affection) and is associated with all the chakras. This mandala reminds us to love without keeping score. Give with all your heart, without expecting anything in return. When you choose Love’s Presence, people feel safe, seen, and connected. Hold space for yourself and others with kindness Your gentleness, openness, and warmth are your strengths.
Welcome to a new seasonal focus: Affection
A little love note from my corner of the Universe.
As we’re immersed in the heart and heat of summer, it’s easy to get caught up in the outward energy of the season. I invite you to take a sacred breath and pause.
This is the time for balance between the intense, rapid growth of the season (inner and outer) and the softness of Affection...a beautiful expression of loving kindness (metta), compassion, and Love’s Presence. True Affection is both inward and outward and includes compassion and gentleness with ourselves and others. This is season for inner work like mindfulness and loving kindness meditations with outer work of making this a better world—how we treat people, how we show up.
Every morning, I start my day with a ritual that feels good. I wake up, kiss my sleeping sweetie on the forehead, and head out to the garden to care for the flowers and veggies. Sometimes I weed--very meditative. Sometimes I water--very nurturing. Sometimes I sit on a bench and marvel at all the beauty that surrounds me--very soothing. Always there are bees, bumble bees, dragonflies, finches, yellow and black swallow tail butterflies enjoying the beauty right beside me. Sometimes I'll spot a tiny rabbit, that was likely born in the garden and will stay there, feasting on the bounty all around it until nature takes it's course and it finds greener pastures and meets its destiny. There is often a hawk flying overhead...ready to swoop down as soon as I’m out of sight. Then I wait and watch for whatever magic unfolds. It's like I'm a child again, following in my grandmother's footsteps, exploring the world with wonder and curiosity.
There’s something healing about caring for beings– flowers, plants, humans and animals alike. I'm reminded that we can make our small corner of the universe a little better and that caring is a form of therapy. It feels good to be kind, to show Affection.
Sometime back in January, you probably set an intention (or more than one) for the year ahead-- a quiet promise to yourself. I know I did.
Is the year I will take better care of myself? The year I will stop listening to the old, limiting beliefs? Finally, will I give myself the same Affection I give everyone else?
When we pause and look back, we can often recognize the ways the Universe has been guiding us, supporting us, and helping new possibilities take root.
As you dive more deeply into this season of rapid growth, it's time to pause, reflect, and honor the journey you've been on.
It reminds you to let the light in as you go through a very deep spiritual journey. Clear what no longer serves you. This is the time to celebrate how you’ve grown, acknowledge the wisdom you've gained, and listen for what the Universe may be inviting you toward next.
It’s time to give yourself some Affection.
If your intentions slipped somewhere beneath the busy months, the distractions, the inner and outer world that has been so intense...here's the good news:
Today is the perfect day to begin again. Every moment brings an opportunity to show up for yourself in a new way; to Choose Love’s Presence.
Where is your energy better invested right now: pushing harder or nurturing yourself with Affection?
Over the past few months, we've been exploring the themes, the archetypes of Choosing Love’s Presence--Wholeness, Reverence, Loyalty, Optimism, and Clarity, reminders to stay open to what wants to emerge, even when we can't yet see the full picture.
And isn't that often how growth unfolds...through small moments of awareness, unexpected opportunities, gentle course corrections, and quiet acts of trust?
That's why Affection matters.
Affection, for self and others, is another word for compassion. It isn't about lowering your standards. It's about creating the inner support that helps you learn, grow, and keep moving forward, especially when life doesn't go as planned.
When we respond to our set backs with Affection instead of harsh self-criticism, we can learn from those set backs and begin again more easily.
What is one small way you can offer yourself Affection today? Share your answer in the comments.
Your reflection might inspire someone else.
I’ve always said that love is a practice, and like most things we practice, it is difficult. That truth contrasts with everyone thinking love is easy, but what about when we encounter people we don’t want to love? There are times I get up in the morning, and I think, ‘Okay. Who am I to love today?’ That is not a choice based on who I think is cute, or who I want to spend time with, but it’s the recognition of the hunger we all have for love.
bell hooks
May this sacred pause offer you clarity, gratitude, and a deeper appreciation for all that has been unfolding during this season.
Love, Light, and Blessings,
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