Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing nobody’s going to know whether you did it or not.
Oprah Winfrey
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 Aligning with Wisdom,
within mind, body, and spirit,
with the natural rhythms in nature,
and with the Great Mandala.
The mandala energy for this month is Integrity.
It's been fun and illuminating to explore Presence and
all the ways it supports aligning with wisdom: Your wisdom--mind, body, and spirit--by listening to you inner guidance: How is your wisdom calling you to be present? By noticing the wisdom of nature, the intelligent power of life within a flower blooming, the change of seasons, the ebb and flow of the tides. By trusting the wisdom of the universe that always has your back--is always supporting you and co-creating with you.
This Co-Creative Mandala, Integrity, from a photo of alstroemeria--Peruvian lily (symbolizes honor) is associated with the root, solar plexus, heart, and crown chakras. It reminds us to reassess what matters by listening to our inner guidance. It invites us to use our wisdom, our spiritual practices, and our spiritual journey as keys to freedom. As we take each step with integrity we contribute to bringing the light of love to the world.
These times call on us to have courage.
When confronted with turbulent times and an uncertain world, never forget YOU can make a difference when you live your life with integrity, when you remember, and stand in, the Wholeness of your being.
In the changing tides of the world, I invite you to find comfort in the wisdom of this Co-Creative Mandala, which reminds us of the strength of our human spirit, that no matter how dire the circumstances may appear to be, we always have the opportunity to choose love and integrity that can bring light to the world.
There is a strength in the human spirit that does not come from force or control, but from the courage to face all our feelings with an open heart. When we meet life with love instead of fear, we awaken our integrity — a soul force that can heal and transform.
Thanks to spring clearing I’ve been practicing the habit of aligning with Wisdom--in my words and actions. This month, specifically the ways I live (and don't) my life with integrity.
I'm discovering that being brave means living life from integrity means being my true, most expansive self, affirming that I belong to love. My everyday life offers opportunities to remember my Wholeness, align with wisdom, and reclaim my essential, divine being. With every direct encounter with the sacred I'm cultivating love and integrity in the midst of the mundane, ordinary moments.
When I allow myself to encounter the reality of the moment, I ask myself if I can show up with compassion in the midst of being human. That means letting go of my limited perspective of what being spiritual means. It means living from integrity with the moment and holding space for whatever arises without judgement.
Living each moment with integrity is personal and each of us defines integrity for ourselves.
Doing a quick search, you'll find that there are a couple of definitions of integrity, including being morally upright, soundness, and wholeness. From the Merriam Webster online dictionary:
I'm most interested in the third aspect of integrity: Wholeness. From a Reddit post by venerable-1, this is their Buddhist perspective on integrity:
The objective, measurable state or condition of being whole, complete, unbroken, unimpaired, sound, in perfect condition.
You likely already know that integrity is an important quality to have in your life. Following your own moral code, even when you are the only one who knows about it, gives you peace of mind so you can live a happier life. In many spiritual disciplines integrity is seen as crucial for reducing suffering within and in the world.
What are the values you want to live by? By leaning into a growth mindset, identifying the behaviors you want to adopt, and which habits to nurture you'll cultivate integrity.
Living from integrity is based on each person's values and beliefs. I hold the belief that integrity arises from Wholeness. I believe that living with integrity means I embody and express such qualities as love, peace, joy, kindness, and compassion. It means I honor myself when I'm not embodying those qualities. It means I trust myself, life, and the Universe in all areas of my life. It means my words and actions are aligned with Wisdom.
When we take the time to look within, listen to what our bodies are telling us, and understand our true selves, we lay the foundation for sustaining integrity. This process involves peeling back the layers without judgment, honoring and acknowledging what our words and actions feel like in the body, and allowing ourselves to reconnect with our Wholeness. When we do this, we reveal beliefs, passions, values, and gifts.
We're humans who aren't perfect. Being perfect isn't the goal. There will be times when we aren't aligned with Wisdom, when we aren't living life from our beliefs and values. Recognizing what it feels like to live life in alignment, and when we aren't, is the first step toward sustaining integrity. With curiosity, an open heart, and a growth mindset, we reflect on how integrity (or the absence of integrity) feels in our bodies.
There’s something powerful about tuning in to what feels aligned, and what doesn't, on the inside—especially when no one else is watching. In those moments when I sense I’ve drifted from my integrity I feel the tension, the constriction, the guilt, and shame that shows up in my body. When those feelings arise I'm learning how important it is to feel compassion toward myself, to embrace self-acceptance and not to push those feelings away, but to see them as signposts that can point me back toward what truly matters, back toward aligning with wisdom and living life with integrity.
The journey to uncover who we truly are, and to acknowledge the barriers to remembering Wholeness, is a never-ending one — from the day we are born and our first cry to our very last breath.
It’s a beautiful thing to be so awake that you can no longer pretend to be asleep.
Cheryl Richardson
When we awaken to who we truly are, we understand our strengths and areas for improvement, and our choices and actions become more aligned with Wisdom. This alignment brings harmony in our daily lives while adding to our overall happiness and well-being. It brings joy and fulfillment to simple moments and reveals our soul purpose. We start to recognize that our choices illuminate our unique gifts and how they can contribute to the harmony, peace, and joy in the world.
Living with integrity reminds us that time and energy are precious commodities that call to be used wisely. At some point, as a result of investing in personal growth, you realize that it’s healthy to challenge the voices that tell you to keep believing the beliefs or doing the things that no longer serve your most expansive self, your Wholeness.
It takes practice and intention. You begin by asking how your words and your actions in everyday, moment to moment life feel in your body. Do you feel expansive? Constricted? Joy? Sadness? Peace? Turmoil?
What does your body tell you:
>When post on Facebook?
>When you keep (or don't) your word--your promises to yourself and others?
>When you show up with presence or you don't?
>When you interact with family, friends, strangers?
>When you're true to yourself and say "yes" only when you mean "yes".
What other questions could you ask yourself to help you notice when you're embodying integrity or not?
Investing time in self-reflection, whether through meditation, journaling, or spending time in nature, are all simple ways to deepen your ability to listen to your body.
For me, this is a reminder that living life with integrity isn’t just about meditation or stillness. It’s about how I show up in each moment, how I speak and listen, how I treat others and myself—and how I stay true to myself, even when it’s uncomfortable. My values are always here, quietly offering direction. I just have to keep listening.
What would it look like to trust your inner wisdom, living your life with integrity, even if you don't fully embody it, yet?
So, wherever you are on your spiritual journey...
Keep listening. Trust in divine timing. And keep honoring the path that’s uniquely yours.
May you choose your thoughts and actions based on aligning with Wisdom.
Blessings of Love and Light,
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