What's This Water Thing I Keep Hearing About?

Everything good, everything magical, happens between the months of June and August. 
                                                                            Jenny Han

Welcome back to our Co-Creative Mandalas blog!
 
Each month, we share insights, inspiration, and all the ways the

cycles of the Great Mandala uplift you and support your journey

toward Unity.

This month's theme is Oneness.

---

As the seasons change, so do our lives…


Since the winter solstice,  Earth slowly tilted back toward the

Sun. On June 21st it reached its peak. We're nearly halfway

through the cycle of the Great Mandala and on the heels of

summer solstice.  


From ancient times, the coming of summer's light and warmth

has been a time of happiness and celebration. This is the time

to contemplate all that's happened to us individually and

collectively since the winter solstice.


As we move through this summer season, it's the perfect time to

stretch yourself, move your body, and grow towards a lighter,

more conscious self. It's a great time to get outdoors, into your

garden, to feel the earth under your feet, to simply stand in the

sunshine and feel the warmth of the Sun on your skin.


All in all the mid-way point of the cycle of the Great Mandala

along with the energy that comes with the summer season

infuses us with not only hope but possibility, potential, the

mystical, and magical.


Summer is symbolic of personal growth. It is a wonderful time to

nurture your potential as you would nurture a tiny seedling and

let your creative energy express itself.  It's also a good time to

consider the bigger picture of your life, your spiritual path,  and

the direction you want to stretch and grow into as you

energetically release darkness and embrace the light.


Right now, everything in nature is growing rapidly, opening up

and soaking in as much of the Sun's energy as possible. Our

gardens are beginning to produce in abundance. And the

seasonal energy is encouraging each of us to do the same.


Sometimes it's not easy, and you may have had challenging

times (or been impacted by collective changes and challenges)

over the past few months.


Yet here you are still here, showing up and reading a blog

like this - which means you have hope and a strong desire to

co-create and experience a better way, a better life and a better

world. Thank you.


I wonder what will blossom for you during the summer season?

Flowers always make people better, happier, and more hopeful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.
                                                                        Luther Burbank

The summer season also highlights the importance of inclusion

and welcoming everyone's light. I believe it's essential (and

sometimes challenging) to remember and honor each other's

unique path.  


Sometimes I look at the actions of others and find it difficult to

understand what motivates them. I try to lean into the belief that

we're all doing the best we can with the information we currently

have.


Paradoxically, it is only through recognizing and respecting each

other as separate, individual, autonomous human beings that

we can co-create deep and meaningful connections.


So our job is not to judge ourselves or others but to shift the

balance of light in the world by remembering our Wholeness,

and the Wholeness of all beings. And, letting go of the burden

that comes with feeling separate.


Just as in the joke where one fish asks another, “What’s this

water thing I keep hearing about?” we are immersed in Oneness

in every moment we live, often without being aware of it. And

because our senses tell us that we're separate from the other

people and objects around us, our complex brains have trouble

letting go of that perception,  even when we say we believe in

Oneness, we don’t realize the immense scope of all that

Oneness implies.

Whenever I touch a flower, I touch the sun and yet I don't get burned. When I touch the flower, I touch a cloud without flying to the sky. When I touch the flower, I touch my consciousness, your consciousness, and the great planet Earth at the same time. This miracle is possible because of insight into the nature of inter-being. If you really touch one flower deeply, you touch the whole cosmos. The cosmos is neither one nor many. When you touch one, you touch many, and when you touch many, you touch one...
                                                                        Thich Nhat Hanh
                                                                 Cultivating the Mind of Love

We live in an intimately connected world.


In the late 1960s, the first photographs of Earth taken from

space had a powerful impact on humanity’s perception of the

world.

For many of us who saw those photographs when they were

first shown on television and then in magazines, it was the first

time in our lives that we’d ever felt a deeper connection to

everyone and everything on this beautiful blue planet we were

sharing.


In the decades since then, this realization has spread and

expanded, as more and more people have experienced

Oneness in various ways, and seen it for what it is— the very

essence of our being, individually and collectively.


Today, Oneness is expressed through many different streams,

religion, philosophy, indigenous traditions, art, and science…

commingling and converging.


Even in the midst of what appears to be the darkest of times, I

hold the belief that we--individually and collectively--are moving

toward bringing darkness to the light.  


This is the time to celebrate the "beauty of our diversity and the

unity of our existence", and to join hands to serve humanity’s

collective awakening.


The possibility of living life from the perspective of Oneness

represents a profound shift in humanity’s culture from one of

competition to one of co-creation, compassion, and caring.

Every thought we have and action we take becomes part of the collective energy of the planet.
                                                                          Anonymous

When we use our energy to bring light into the world, it

combines with the light brought by others to dispel the darkness.

Many groups are telling us that when the entire family of

humanity understands that each of our thoughts, choices, and

actions affect us all, we will share an incredible level of

consciousness -- one that puts Oneness above all else and

helps us evolve into the best version of ourselves.


This is a very powerful time to ask yourself: What's meaningful

to me? Where do I want to direct my energy? What work am I

meant to do in my life? And then just pay attention to what is

illuminated for you in the coming weeks--being a beautiful

expression of conscious living in your own way, and assisting in

co-creating a whole new way of living on the planet.


Can you imagine anything more inviting than doing what we

came here to do? Whatever that may be for each of us in our

unique manifestation?


This is the time to fulfill your purpose--remembering your

Wholeness--on Earth. The seasonal energy is supporting you,

providing you with the clarity you need.


Are you willing to open your spirit to the Sun's fiery energy, and

allow it to fuel your own rapid, abundant growth?


Are you willing to love your enemy?

     Are you walking the spiritual path or are you just along for the ride?    
                                       Arlene Lawrence                                                                           The Love Project

Recently, I came across the You Tube video of Dr. Timothy

Shriver's commencement address at Georgetown University:

Dr. Shriver is the son of Sargent Shriver who founded the Peace

Corps. He has also been the Chairman of the Special Olympics

for many years. His inspiring, uplifting commencement address

invites us to "love your enemies". He says "I believe it is

the new requirement for citizenship" and reminds us "We can't

heal what we can't love".


He offers four simple daily reminders for transforming the heart

and that support bringing more love into the world:


1. Get out of your head...open to others...Practice everyday

something that opens your heart.


2. Get help...a sign of bravery not a sign of weakness. Make

your motto: Help. Seeking. Skills


3. Take a chance...don't give up on the human spirit.


4. Tell the story...of the surprising gifts you see in others. Post,

write, talk about "love your enemies".


We diminish ourselves and others when we underestimate the

power of love.

Love and belonging are irreducible needs of all women, men, and children. In the absence of love and belonging, there is always suffering. May you love and know that you are deeply lovable.
                                                                       Brene' Brown

I invite you to remember the next time you react to someone

else's actions that they are of the same Earth as you. They are

looking through a lens that's different from yours.  Find

compassion, bless them, and move along your day in grace.  


When you’re tired and scared, pause for a moment. Sit back a

little. Close your eyes, take a deep breath in through your nose,

belly expanding, and slowly release, breathing out through your

lips, belly contracting. Imagine you’re breathing in space; that

your out breath flows into the sky. Besides calming your vagus

nerve, this helps you remember who you really are – loving

awareness. Loving awareness values the innate worth and

dignity of everyone and our capacity for co-creative self-

expression, intimacy, and Oneness.


The Co-Creative Mandala below, "Oneness" is from

photographs of sunflower (symbolizes happiness), a dahlia

(symbolizes empowerment), and a rainbow (symbolizes

transformation) reminds us that remembering our Wholeness

can happen at any moment in life. The living web of sacredness

supports all beings. The summer season represents a time to

reflect on and appreciate the blessings we have received in

seasons past. And, honor our power to choose love, and look

toward transformation and new growth.  It's a time to honor and

experience Oneness within and with the world around you and

to let your inner brilliance shine forth at full strength. When we

are grounded in Oneness we are one step closer to

experiencing Unity.

The universe is a multidimensional matrix projection of your soul and each person you meet is a different version of you awakening from the illusion of separation.
                                                                           Alan Watts

Oneness Sacred Practice:


Intention:

The real power of the practice is the intention you place behind

it. Start your day by setting the intention that you are dedicating

this time to self-care, to remembering Oneness and

awakening to Unity.  This practice is a simple method of helping

you to honor Oneness.   So with practice, it can be used to

manage stress, promote feelings of well-being and be present,

without conscious effort. With practice, you'll discover that this

inner resource is available to you  for increasing periods of time.


Be gentle with yourself as you discover what nurtures and

sustains you.


Before you begin the practice:


Choose what you need to create sacred space: Flowers that

represent summer, candles that represent the fiery summer

energy, incense, and music can help guide your focus.


Invest time toward moving into stillness.


When you are ready, invite any subtle colleagues, allies, your

guides and helpers to join you in your sacred practice. Wait a

moment for that connection and alliance to form.


Next, invest some time for reflecting on the Oneness mandala.

Let you gaze fall softly on the mandala. Use these prompts for

connecting your purpose to the energy of the mandala:


What message does it have for you? What expansive energy do

you want more of in your life?  You may choose to reflect on

your vision statement. How will honoring Oneness support

manifesting your vision?  How will you nurture the mandala of

your life? How will you practice self-care and self-compassion

by welcoming Oneness into your life? How will you bring more

light into the world?


Now, the Oneness practice:*


I Notice/I Am:


I ran across this practice from Diane Ragsdale who did an

exercise called "I notice / I am" led by two of her Indigenous

colleagues at Banff Centre. I think it is aligns nicely with the

summer energy and remembering Oneness:


1. Sit outside for 20-30 minutes and jot down what you notice--in

nature, all around you, people, animals, etc.. For instance, "I

notice the clear blue sky", "I notice the warmth of the sun." "I

notice a man walking".  Read what you've written aloud.
 

2. Then come indoors review your list and substitute "I am" for

"I notice". For instance "I am the clear, blue sky", "I am the

warmth of the sun", "I am a man walking".


3. Each statement becomes part of your Oneness poem. Read

your poem aloud.


This is an example of my Oneness poem: 

I am the chaotic wind blowing every which way.
I am green leaves attached to branches and limbs.
I am the warmth in the air signaling that summer has arrived.
I am bright green grass watered by the rain and warmed by the sun.
I am the tall thick maple tree that endures season after season.
I am the red-tailed hawk crying out, where's my food, where's my food.
I am the child laughing in delight for the joy of playing.
I am a man walking, toward a destination? or for pleasure?

*This is a great exercise to do with other people. Read your "I

notice" lists to each other. Create a poem that includes each

other's "I am" list. Read your collective poem aloud.


So during the summer season, let’s celebrate our individual and

collective Oneness.  Let’s celebrate the courage and

compassion of the collective, and the appreciation of

differences.  Whoever and wherever you are, may you be held

in tenderness, may you be safe and protected, may you be well

and at ease, may you be happy.


Wishing you much love, warmth, and light,