We are more powerful when we gather as one with the same intent and union of body, mind, heart and spirit.
Unknown
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 Gathering.
This Co-Creative Mandala, "Gathering", from photos of fuchsia (symbolizes welcoming) and ornamental kale (symbolizes love) is associated with the root, heart, throat, third eye, and crown chakras. It reminds us that we can intentionally recharge our "batteries" and let got of distractions by gathering energy from our surroundings and connections with like-minded, light-hearted people. This integration of mind, body, spirit and connection brings the blessings of Wholeness.
Happy Halloween!
Along with Halloween, today (including November 1st) is also Samhain or Sauin (pronounced "sow-win"), a Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest season and beginning of winter or "darker half" of the year. It's believed that the veil between worlds is lifted today and tomorrow. Many of the traditions we observe on Halloween had their roots in Sanheim, including costume parties, trick-or-treating, and jack-o'-lanterns. Children of all ages don costumes, apply makeup, and pretend, even for a few hours, to be someone or something else. There is great fun in using the power of imagination in this way. So however you celebrate (or choose not to), we're wishing you a "spooktacular" day!
On another note, for many of us, this is a painfully divided and polarized time. It's hard not to be distracted and discouraged. I extend an invitation to not allow the daily news cycle, the world events, and disharmony to grab too much of your attention.
With a meditative reflection, an encouraging spirit, and a bow, we can seek to unite us--individually and collectively. As spiritual beings living human experiences who seek to reduce suffering and promote goodwill and freedom, this is the time to add your voice and your care. We need the gathering and blessings of all hearts together.
You might be feeling depleted. This is the time for your mindful, loving awareness, your best intentions, and your courage. As our sun tilts away from Earth, this the perfect time to gather your energy. With the idea of our body as a battery we can charge ourselves quite easily.
Go outside and watch the sunrise as it ushers in the miraculous gift of a new day. Remind yourself to take time to notice the sunset, coming earlier now. The reliable phases of the moon, the steadiness of the stars, offer a refuge reminding us that change is eternal. In sunny Colorado, the air is cooler, fall leaves are turning brilliant colors, reflecting our changing moods and the pull toward a more inward, reflective time.
Here are four more simple ways to gather your energy:
Do What You Love: Perhaps the simplest way to gather energy stems from the idea of “know thyself”. Make a list of 20 things you love. If 20 is too many, just list as many as you can think of. The point is to know what makes your heart sing and your mind relax.
Earthing: The concept of grounding our bodies has existed for centuries and our current science is just beginning to explain the power of this activity. The Earth’s magnetic field resonates at the same frequency as our heart. In times of stress we can “discharge” extra energy which does not serve our well-being to the earth, by walking barefoot upon it or laying down on the ground. Too cold outside? You can do this exercise indoors, too.
Water Walks: A researcher at the University of Washington, Dr. Gerald Pollack, coined the term transition zone to describe some of the magical properties of our cellular membranes and something he calls the 4th phase of water. The cool thing here is this same science applies to the areas of the earth near the edge of a body of water.Fresh or salt water offers this gathering point for our energetic body to refuel naturally by simply walking along a shore, as close to the water that feels comfortable to you.
Human beings, by their very nature, love to gather. Yet, as much as we crave connection, the rigors of daily life frequently interfere with our efforts to come together with like-minded, light-heart individuals. For this reason, community is crucial to humanity's well-being — now more than ever.
At the most basic level, feeling genuine care helps us get along with each other. And from a larger perspective, the felt sense of connection—with ourselves, with others, with animals, with nature, with our conception of spirituality or the divine—is what brings meaning to our lives.
Sarah Willeman Doran
Group gatherings are one of the most powerful forms of charging your battery. Think of the joy and excitement that comes with a concert or live music. Yes, the music plays a role in our experienced power of the event, and it's the gathering of the crowd, in unified intent to enjoy, that brings a surge of energy for the heart and body. Because of your intention to bring people together, groups can transcend the boundaries that might otherwise create the illusion that we're separate.
Wishing you the blessings of gathering your energy within and without.
RSS Feed
