Enlightenment is not something that occurs in the future, after 50 years of sitting cross-legged and saying “OM.” It is right here, in this instant.
Dr. David R. Hawkins
Each month, we share insights, inspiration, and all the ways the cycles of the Great Mandala uplift and support you. We draw upon the metaphors and messages of each season to explore and celebrate our individual and collective personal growth journeys.
Life goes in circles...all aspects of life...expansion, contraction, every part is equal, valued, necessary to be in balance...
The seasonal cycles play a significant role in our daily lives, influencing our moods, energy levels, and overall well-being. The annual and monthly Co-Creative Mandalas have a vibration that anchors, activates specific qualities, and represents something about the natural world and the energy in the universe at a particular time. The mandalas support aligning ourselves with the natural rhythms of the Great Mandala and enhance our sense of connection--within, with each other, and the world.
This month's mandala is Enlightenment.
This Co-Creative Mandala is from a photo of a sunflower (symbolizes light and truth) and blue sky (symbolizes trust) and is associated with the sacral, solar plexus, heart, throat, and crown chakras. It invites us to embark on an extraordinary journey of self-discovery, well-being, growth, and the pursuit of outrageous joy. It reminds us that "finding" enlightenment isn't how it works. The power of Enlightenment resides within us, it has always been there, we have just have forgotten it. Your true self is right here, right now, buried under limiting beliefs about who you are, other people's opinions about enlightenment (and other misconceptions), and inaccurate conclusions you drew as a kid. Enlightenment is awakening to yourself. It's unlearning, a remembering of who you truly are. Enlightenment is a gift that illuminates every aspect of living. It is part of your spiritual identity, the compassion you feel, and the wholeness that is always the truth of who you are.
Summer Solstice Blessings!
My heart is at peace as I sit down to write this blog post.
I hope you’ve been well. Here we are in mid-June already, which is thankfully FULL of things to celebrate!
Yesterday was Juneteenth, today is the mid-year solstice (followed by a full moon tomorrow, making for a potent cosmic portal)...not to mention that it’s also PRIDE MONTH!! What a great time to celebrate freedom, love, diversity, inclusivity and the Light.
Today, as we honor the summer solstice, a time of peak light and the height of the sun's power in the Northern Hemisphere. While the solstice peaked today at 2:51 pm MDT, I encourage you to celebrate at any time today, or in the days immediately following the solstice.
We're in my favorite time of year ~ summer, season of the heart ~ dragon flies dancing, frogs singing, butterflies flitting, bees bumbling, and the air kissing our skin ever so gently. You may already know that I try to align my life with the guidance of synchronicity, and it always delights me to find all the lovely coincidences because it makes me feel held.
How is this time of year for you?
It touches each of us differently. However it is for you in this year, in this moment, for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, we have the opportunity to fill with light for the months ahead. To drink it deeply into our cells to nourish, heal and transform.
Even if you are quietly resting in your bed, or your feet are gently gliding over Mama Earth, you are receiving the energy of light through the bird song, the wind in the trees, and the blooming flowers.
There is SO MUCH ENERGY right now that's converging to support our becoming FREER from the things that block or encumber us from moving forward, or remembering Wholeness, especially when you consider the profoundly powerful backdrop of all the fiercely loving energy present this month.
Why celebrate the summer solstice?
The summer solstice holds profound spiritual meaning across cultures, marking a time of growth, vitality, and the full blossoming of life. It invites us to connect deeply with nature's rhythms and embrace the abundance of the season.
NOW seems like a great time to honor the old that’s passing away, while simultaneously creating space for the emergence of the new. Continually working to shed the old, outdated, divisive energy is vital for us to manifest and co-create new, unseen-until-now structures that can help bring ourselves and our collective into present time - and a future we want--for ourselves, each other, and the world.
We are part of a glorious, integrated whole, connected to every living being and to Mother Earth. We are each an integral part of the larger tapestry of the natural world. When we celebrate an event like the solstice, we acknowledge our interconnectedness and our ability to make a positive difference.
We do this for ourselves, for others, and for our beautiful planet.
Lena Stevens from Power Path School of Shamanism, has this to say about the solstice:
A solstice should be celebrated by honoring the past experiences that have contributed to your growth leading to your presence at this time. By honoring the past, you acknowledge your lessons, your wisdom and the choices you have for the future. . . . It is always potent and inspiring to think of what you are leaving behind in order to make space for growth, expansion and manifesting something better for yourself.
The summer solstice reminds us to celebrate not only the nourishing light of the Sun, but also the light within each of us.
Enlightenment may not be what you think it is!
WHAT IF “Enlightenment” ISN'T A DESTINATION?
>What if we saw enlightenment as an ever-present reality, rather than a far-off destination?
>What if we were able to touch the place inside of us that is “already enlightened, already whole”?
Enlightenment has nothing to do with trying to fix ourselves, changing ourselves, attaining spiritual states or having big special experiences. All kinds of states, experiences, thoughts and feelings may come and go --that's enlightenment. Enlightenment isn't a goal, trying to get THERE (wherever you think THERE is, or whatever you've read about wherever THERE is). It’s all about being HERE; being present and allowing ourselves to be exactly as we are, curious, about the present scene in the movie of our lives… Enlightenment is an invitation to allow all thoughts, all feelings, all urges, even uncomfortable ones, to come and go, arise and fall freely.
Jeff Foster
What is enlightenment?
It's presence...
It's co-creative power...
It's compassion...
It's awakening...
It's balance...
It's alignment...
It's expansion...
It's love...
It's wisdom...
It's connection...
It's goodness...
And, it's wholeness...
We already have it...even though we get distracted...we forget...
It takes mindfulness...
Make the choice...to be aware...when we're in enlightenment...and when we're not...and give ourselves compassion...be as loving as possible toward ourselves and each other.
Remember:
You belong
You have unshakeable goodness
You are cherished
Life is a journey of discovery--a zig zag path to remembering Wholeness, to remembering that we're already enlightened. Sometimes the roads I travel are easy and the terrain gentle. Other times, the route may twist and wind and the way may feel rocky and rough.
With eyes, ears, heart, and mind open, any journey can be one of discovery. When we are alert and aware, the world becomes bigger and more exciting. Sometimes we navigate the challenging path of doubt before we can turn onto the smoother path of trust and Enlightenment.
No matter whether your journey feels easy or more challenging or takes place within or without, it's a comfort knowing that we're fellow travelers on this journey!
Together, let's keep working to weed out and lay down the outdated othering dynamics, both within ourselves and within our collective, so we can create a present and future where everyone feels seen, heard, valued, and freer to be their true, whole, Enlightened selves.
From my heart to yours,
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