The truth is - genuine connection is ease. It is peace. When you find it you will know.
Bianca Sparacino
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 time of year marks the opportunity for envisioning the future and for opening to how we want to feel throughout 2024--whatever our goals and intentions are.
This month's mandala is Connection.
Happy First Day of Spring!
With the arrival of spring, we're reminded of the promise of new beginnings and the beauty of brighter days ahead. Spring is a season of hope, ushering in warmer weather, colorful blossoms, and promises of a bountiful harvest.
The vernal equinox (at 9:06 PM on the 19th in Colorado) is a point of balance in the Great Mandala, the magical moment when the light and the darkness are in perfect balance. We're called to remember the ever-shifting balance of light and shadow within us, as well as the impermanence of our inner seasons. It’s the time to acknowledge the importance of balance in every aspect of our lives. Balance--Yin Yang--is the state of living in harmony within ourselves and with the outside world.
Have you noticed there's something special about springtime--Nature's New Year (and the astrological new year)-- that holds an exciting energy of possibilities? I just love it! I just want to jump up and down and do a happy dance!
The growing daylight of Spring invites us to begin again. This is the season to waken and blossom and find yourself bursting with life! It’s a time for spring cleaning inside and out, to reconnect with the earth, and get your body, mind, and spirit moving. Love, hope and gratitude are springing forth.
Across diverse faiths and cultures, spring is also the season to observe many religious holidays, rituals, cultural traditions, and spiritual practices—and festivities often focus on community, rejuvenation, and joy. The most ancient spiritual wisdom was centered around the predictable shifts in seasonal rhythms that govern all of life. With mindful awareness, we can draw down a multitude of healing blessings inherent to each season, even though, sometimes, the difficult times we’re witnessing don’t make it easy to achieve.
You may not quite be feeling that fullness of fresh, new and bright energy. You may find yourself in that "land of the in-between"--in that liminal space of "caterpillar turning into a butterfly but currently just goo" stage, which is actually quite common this time of year.
The "goo" stage is marked by feeling separate from self, others, nature, and Source, out of sorts, off-kilter, not quite yourself, a bit lost, hazy and confused even, not sure what you think or believe or if what you thought you believed is even serving you...
Or you're waiting on dreams and visions that have been incubating for quite some time behind the scenes to take physical shape and form in your life.
You might not be where you want to be yet. But you're also not where you used to be.
Mel Robbins
It can be an uncomfortable place. Trust me, even with all my enthusiasm for the spring season, I know this firsthand, and I can tell you that many of my clients are going through this right now. Which isn't surprising. It's kind of a marker of this part of the annual cycle and season, that re-birth energy brings about. (Did I mention the Eclipses starting next week, too?)
And do you know what tends to be the most helpful thing when you find yourself in the "goo"?
Recognizing, honoring, and naming it: Remembering your Wholeness. In that remembering you're reminded that there is purpose to it all, an unfolding happening which is always on your behalf. Whew.
Spring is the time to continue to cultivate the inner strengths of Curiosity and Courage. This is a time of awakening and trusting how amazing it's going to be as the magic unfolds.
And, in the midst of it all it's the time to lean into the energy of Connection. What is life like when things are flowing gently and easily? When you feel Connection to who and what's in front of you in this moment AND you enjoy it?
Spring is a particularly important time for deep Connection. The Connection that we all need to activate Wholeness. This is time for Connection to your expansive, essential self, your Buddha nature; to the beauty of nature and biorhythms of the seasons; to the present moment; and to the infinite Universe (Source, Spirit, God, Goddess,--whatever you call that creative force that animates and supports all life).
It's a powerful opportunity to just practice being, trusting, and demonstrating great and tender self-care, self-compassion, and self-love the way you would for a dear friend going through the same thing, until breaking through the cocoon happens - which it absolutely will.
Connect, Connect, Connect--with every ounce of your patchwork heart. Connect with the people who make you feel deeply. With the moments that bring tears to your eyes. With the things that make your hands shake, embrace the things that make you aware of just how lucky you are to be alive.
Bianca Sparacino
Just like I did at the calendar New Year when I set intentions, this is the perfect time to think about, envision, and choose what I want my life to look like and how I want to feel during my journey around the Great Mandala. This is the time when the vision for moving forward begins to take root and new life emerges in this season of life, full of flourishing. I'm choosing to use the wonderful spring energy as my springboard into the next part of my life.
I'm choosing Connection:
To the excitement of being alive on Earth.
To all that life has to offer.
To who I am and who I'm becoming.
To being present and moving forward.
To allowing myself to be grateful, just to be me, in this world right now.
To that place from which everything gently flows.
Are you ready to become a beacon of love and light and embrace the blessings of Connection within, with nature, with others, and with Spirit?
This Co-Creative Mandala, Connection, from a photo of daffodils (symbolizes rebirth and hope) is associated with the sacral, solar plexus, heart, and crown chakras. It reminds us to offer the great gift of our attention. Connection requires presence, love, patience, and willingness to believe in the heart of goodness--in ourselves, each other, and the universe.
honor the spiritual connection that grows from that offering with trust, respect, kindness, and affection.
Brene' Brown
Connection Exercise
Intention:
The real power of the exercise is the intention you place behind it. Start your day with gratitude and by setting the intention that you are dedicating time for self-care, and for remembering your Wholeness. Create a space in your experience into which the energy of Connection can emerge.
Why choose to Connection?
You haven't now or ever lost your Wholeness...you've simply forgotten.
Activating Wholeness has special meaning at Co-Creative Mandalas. Our focus, and message, is on offering you support for remembering your Wholeness and coming to a deeper understanding of what is possible for you.
There are many methods, techniques, and teachings that support activating, remembering, awakening to Wholeness. Connection is courage in action.
There's a part of you that knows the truth of your being, who knows you aren't separate, who remembers your Wholeness. When you regularly remember the peace of your true nature, no matter how much you forget, you are inherently activating your Wholeness.
Begin and end with compassion. Ironically, it's when we cultivate compassion towards the least "awake" parts of ourselves -- the parts that are the most stuck in the "goo" that the path to remembering Wholeness opens up.
Revealing the heart of your true nature isn't the end of your journey, but the beginning of a new chapter--just like the spring seasonal energy. With Connection you step into the world, embracing the personal growth you have worked so hard to achieve--with renewed hope and purpose.
Are you willing to open your heart to your essential self, to the beauty of nature, to the rhythms of the season, to the present moment, to the Universe and remember your Wholeness? Then this Connection exercise is for you!
The Connection Exercise:
Allow yourself plenty of time to complete this exercise. You can use this exercise throughout the day and the weeks and months ahead. Remember, as you co-create this exercise, be gentle with yourself as you discover what nurtures and sustains you.
Before you begin the exercise:
There are two parts to this exercise. You'll need paper, pen, pencil, color crayons, colored pencils, and/or a journal. I invite you to write, draw, color, and/or create music that reflects your experiences as you complete each step.
Preparation:
Invest time toward moving into stillness.Create your sacred space. Light a candle. Create an altar that contains items that bring you joy, delight, and peace. Include items that reflect the season--colorful blossoms, greenery, crystals.
Take a few deep breaths to ground & center.
When you are ready, invite any subtle colleagues, allies, your guides and helpers to join you in your sacred space. Wait a moment for that connection and alliance to form.
Part 1: Power of Mandala Meditation
Incorporating mandala meditation into your routine gives added support for making Connection. Mandalas are sacred geometric patterns that can help focus the mind, induce a sense of calm, and unlock deeper levels of self-awareness.
Step 1: Sit comfortably, read and reflect on the Connection mandala, the description, and the message. Let your gaze fall gently on the mandala. Take a few moments to observe its intricate details and patterns. Then, gently close your eyes and bring the image to your mind's eye. As you visualize the mandala, allow your attention to rest on each shape and color, observing, without judgment, any thoughts, emotions, or sensations that arise. Use your breath as an anchor, returning to it whenever you find yourself getting distracted. It's okay to feel distracted--simply gently return your focus to your breath and to the mandala.
Step 2: Ask yourself: What message does the mandala have for me? What does it want me to know? How can I incorporate Connection into the mandala of my life?
Continue this practice for few minutes, gradually increasing the duration as you become more comfortable.
Step 3: Journal, draw, create music...about any thoughts, feelings, or insights you have.
Part 2: Connection Exercise
Step 1--Reflect on activating Wholeness.
What does it mean to Activate Wholeness? It means let's get it going. Let's prime the pump. Let's amplify, amplify your Wholeness.
This exercise will help you activate Wholeness with the Vibration of Connection.
Allow your mind to bring to the surface whatever comes first. There are no right or wrong answers.
Reflecting on the times you have Connection with:
1. Yourself, your essential Self
2. The beauty of nature and the rhythms of the seasons
3. The present moment (with others, activities, things)
4. The Universe, Spirit, Source
How does Connection feel to you (or you imagine it would feel to you)--mind, body, and Spirit? Write down three to five words for each of the five areas of Connection. You can also draw, write a poem, create a song...that represents Connection.
This is what connection feels like to me: Optimistic, excited, expansive, joyful are my words.
When you write down the feelings, guess what? Then you can figure out when you're not there, when you're not vibrating in a space of Connection--so you know when your energy needs to be cleared. You also have information that helps determine when to take action. "Hey, I'm not in a Connection space now. So maybe I shouldn't call that person back, or write that letter".
And, when you're in the "goo" that comes with feeling separate, out of sorts, not quite yourself, you can lean back into the feelings you've identified in this exercise as a reminder of hope and possibility.
Over the next days, weeks, and months ahead, be sure to journal about your progress toward reaching your goal. What did you learn about yourself? What surprised you? What delighted you?
My major focus in this blog, in my practice as a Transformational Coach, and in Co-creative Mandalas is on cultivating spiritual Connection--for my clients and for myself. I support clients in creating a spiritual path. This includes finding purpose and meaning through heart centered practices toward oneself, each other and the world. If you’re curious about connecting more deeply with your essential nature--the source of goodness, joy, peace, and Wholeness, becoming more present to your life, and uncovering your authentic feelings…I think practices I share will be helpful for you! Contact me...I would love to co-create with you!
May you remember that your deepest roots are in nature and you are linked with all of creation.
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