Inspiration transforms the way we perceive our own capabilities.
Jennifer Grant
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 and support you. We draw upon the metaphors and messages of each season to explore and celebrate our individual and collective journeys toward Freedom.
The Co-Creative Mandalas have a name that represents something about the natural world and the energy of the current time.
This month's mandala is Inspiration.
Wishing You the Blessings of the New Year.
We're nearly two weeks into the next trip around the Great Mandala. This time of reflection, belief in new beginnings, invites us to open our heart and mind to the best we can be by raising our vibration. When we raise our individual vibration it has a ripple effect which moves out into the world to help raise the vibration of our collective consciousness. We’re grateful to be sharing this moment with you.
Even if you aren't feeling the shift in energy that comes with this time of year, no worries; it can take a few days, or a week or more before we fully feel the impact of the New Year energy.
Full disclosure: Even though I was all fired up to begin another year of sharing the Co-Creative Mandalas blog, it took me over two weeks to write this blog post. I just wasn't feeling it. I'm calling it "blogger's block". More on that later.
In the meantime:
The New Year celebrations, our resolutions and intentions are all human creations. I'm pretty sure that nature doesn't throw a party on December 31st or check her calendar on January 1st and set intentions for the year ahead. But our belief that crossing the liminal space from the old to the new opens the doorway to believing we have the power to co-create new possibilities. Our intentions and our resolutions acknowledge that power.
One of my deep beliefs is that there are no accidents in life, and there is purpose in everything that happens--even if I don't see that in the moment.
So for the past few days (14, to be exact), I've been thinking about the topic for this blog post. Perhaps because the Co-Creative Mandala for January is Inspiration, I (sometimes) trusted that Inspiration would surface at the right time. (I hoped) It always does.
And, today it did! So, here goes:
In the new year, I wish you the wisdom to know you already have and already are everything you wish for.
Geneen Roth
This year, Co-Creative Mandalas offers you tools for remembering your Wholeness and raising your vibration by sharing 12 Qualities that support your upward spiraling journey toward Freedom, the word, the theme, for 2023. Freedom, not just to do and have what we want (which is important), but Freedom to be who we are meant to be. Freedom to stand, unshakable, in Wholeness amidst the chaos of everyday experiences.
With Freedom in mind, the 12 Qualities that govern this year are Inspiration, Equanimity, Emergence, Connection, Authenticity, Generosity, Tenderness, Compassion, Harmony, Kindness, Appreciation, and Acceptance. By embracing these Qualities you have many opportunities to experience Freedom on your journey; these Qualities are your guiding lights. Stay tuned: We'll be sharing more about each of these Qualities in the months ahead.
But first: What is Freedom?
For me, Freedom means there is no resistance to what is. Or, if there is resistance, it is witnessed without judgment. Freedom is remembering your Wholeness; living in alignment with the Universe, Life, the flow, your soul--your True Nature.
I don't always experience Freedom. At times, I may feel constricted by circumstances, limited by old beliefs and patterns, or faced with life happening. Has that ever happened to you?
When that happens in my life, I may feel anything but free and expansive. I may feel a range of emotions--despair, frustration, disappointment. I've learned to allow those feelings, because I know they need and want my attention. As you may have also discovered, allowing those feelings and loving and accepting yourself anyway is the pathway to finding the Freedom to remember the limitless expressions of Wholeness. I find my way there with daily practices, in nature, breath work, EFT-Tapping, and journaling--most of the time.
How do you find Wholeness when life appears to be fractured?
It takes courage to let go of the long held beliefs about our self that have kept us safe and to immerse our self in the potential and possibility that Life calls us to co-create. It takes courage to live life in alignment with the magic of Life, where we surrender control, where Life uses us to express all the expansive possibilities, beyond our wildest dreams, beyond our goals, or beyond our intentions, beyond our perceived limitations.
By shifting my perspective from the limits of the world (and the ego) to the expanse and perfection of Spirit, peace fills me. I remember there is universal energy seeking to emerge through me and as me. I experience inner strength when I release limiting beliefs and remember that I am whole and complete, right here, right now--whatever the outward appearances are.
This view of Freedom includes accepting and allowing what is, which don’t focus on end results; rather, they are processes. Accepting and allowing provide many opportunities for developing awareness and self knowledge that support us in finding the truth of our being, who we are, and our purpose. This truth can then set us free from limitations and allow the flow of energy and co-creativity that is seeking to emerge through us.
What is Life, the Universe, our deepest impulse seeking to express through each of us now, throughout 2023, and beyond? Where and how to begin again?
We begin with Inspiration. Inspiration is a feeling of enthusiasm you get from someone (including yourself) or something, that gives you new and creative ideas.
Derived from the Latin word “inspirare,” meaning to “breathe into,” inspiration is the feeling of being mentally stimulated to manifest what we want to create.
D. Welke
Inspiration has an intelligence that knows what to do even if we don't. Often, Inspiration seems to just happen; Inspiration "strikes" the saying goes. I think we can spontaneously experience Inspiration, it can arise from within, and/or it can elude us if we aren't paying attention.
Why does that happen?
Now, back to "blogger's block". I set the intention to post the January blog on the 1st. After all, I should post it then, it's the right time for a New Year's blog post, right? As the 1st came and went, I was sure each new day was the day--I'd finally write something, anything. Sitting in front of a blank screen, with an equally blank mind, was torture. I couldn't figure out what was going on. I'd done my research (turns out there are quite a few folks who write about inspiration, why it's important and ways to access it).
This was different from my typical procrastination (a subject for another blog). The self-talk was brutal. Reading articles and posts about writer's block wasn't helpful. Finally, I decided to give up. Then it happened. No, not the writing, but a small nudge, a quiet voice that prompted me to watch a The Best Year of Your Life Summit video. "Oh, great, I thought--another person telling me what to do" about setting goals for a "new year, new me"! I nearly didn't watch the video.
I'm so glad I responded to the gentle nudge and watched the video. Right away, I felt my energy shift. I love that he identified Surrender as the password to aligning with Inspiration, i.e., I don't need to know what to do (or write)! Intelligence infuses Inspiration. He reminded me to let go and let God (Goddess, Universe, Spirit, Life) and get myself out of my own way. How simple is that?
When we're in alignment with Inspiration, energy naturally flows unimpeded from nature, the Universe, through us, as us, and into our experiences. Saying yes to Inspiration, to your evolution of consciousness and growth raises your vibration and frees you to remember you are here to shine. It allows you to envision possibilities and express what Life is calling us to be and do.
How do we access Inspiration? How do we find the clues?
This is what I learned from my "blogger's block" experience:
1. Trust that Life will show you what's next.
2. Be still and listen.
3. Be curious.
4. Let go of how things "should" be.
5. Hold your goals and intentions lightly.
6. Expect the unexpected.
Right now, and throughout the month, the seasonal energy is offering space for you to pause. It's encouraging and supporting you in listening to the still, quiet voice deep within. This is where Inspiration is, where wisdom is, where guidance and direction are, and from which new ideas emerge. Trust that Inspiration is one way the Universe is inviting and using you to express the expansive possibilities that you will bring to life this year.
Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that , because what the world needs is people who have come alive.
Rev. Howard Thurman
Choose to find time every day to welcome Inspiration, envision possibilities, and allow your heart to discover the unique gifts you have to offer to the world. Little by little, choice by choice, you will gradually co-create more and more joy, well-being, and Freedom in your life.
The Co-Creative Mandala--"Inspiration" is from a photograph of pine (symbolizes strength), snow (symbolizes optimism), and ice crystals (symbolizes stillness). It is associated with the heart, throat, third eye, and crown chakras. It reminds you to pause and appreciate the time for accessing your innermost self. Surrendering builds confidence for accessing Inspiration and for acting on your ideas, dreams, and intuition. See yourself co-creating with Life. Trust you will find that the Inspiration you receive is what you truly need at this moment for allowing the deepest impulse of the Universe to effortlessly flow and express through you.
Inspiration prepares the soil for planting the seeds you want to see grow.
Inspiration Practice:
Intention:
Step more deeply into alignment with Inspiration by letting Life show you what's next.
The real power of the practice 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, to remembering Inspiration, and awakening to Freedom. This practice is a simple method of helping you access Inspiration. This practice reminds you to surrender to Life, let go and let the Universe guide you toward what is seeking to express through you.
Throughout January and the next trip around the Great Mandala, practice looking for Inspiration all around you. Inspiration works in so many different ways; it awakens us to new possibilities by allowing us to transcend our ordinary experiences and limitations. Inspiration raises our vibration and helps us align our intentions with our values, with what matters to us, it allows the flow of Life to express through us and as us.
Allow yourself plenty of time to complete this practice. You can start and finish on different days. The most powerful time for this practice is at the beginning of the new year. Remember, as you co-create this practice, be gentle with yourself as you discover what nurtures and sustains you.
Before you begin the practice:
There are two parts to this practice.
Part 1: 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 Inspiration mandala.
Let you gaze fall softly on the mandala. Use one or all of the following prompts for connecting your energy to the energy of the mandala:
What message does it have for you? How will you surrender to Inspiration ? How will honoring Inspiration support remembering your Wholeness? How will you nurture the mandala of your life? How will you practice self-care and self-compassion by welcoming Inspiration into your awareness?
Part 2: Opening to Inspiration
This is a meaningful time to find the wisdom and clarity of Inspiration. During this month, the power of Inspiration is particularly potent. Reflect, look inside and to the ones you love, and to things, events, and objects that allow the expansive energy of possibilities to flow. Setting the intention to invest your attention toward looking for the Inspiration "clues" increases the likelihood that you will recognize Inspiration when it calls you.
Find a few, quiet moments for being still and listening.
Light a candle. Take a few deep breaths to ground & center.
1. What is being illuminated in you right now?
2. What are your sources of Inspiration, i.e., people, music, nature, movies?
2. What are your favorite words for Inspiration?
3. Find Inspiration in yourself, i.e., what do you love about yourself? What are you proud of accomplishing?
Write freely, allow whatever comes up for you. Don't think about it, just listen and write whatever is on your mind and in your heart. This is a really meaningful way to connect with you inner voice. Just let whatever comes up flow out.
I hope this powerful time of surrender supports you in aligning you with the magic and joy of Inspiraton and brings you profound guidance and insight for the year ahead and beyond as your journey continues toward Freedom.
May you know peace and joy,
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