Understanding the Novasutras Logo
The Novasutras symbol is an abstract representation of both a single tree and the whole Earth. This video walks through the meaning of our symbol, and illustrates how drawing the symbol can become a meditation practice.
The enclosing circle can be a way to ‘connect or “call” the corners‘. Drawing the line representing the bottom of the tree canopy (and later, filling in the green area, if you are doing that), one can express the wish that all beings ‘above’ — not just above your head, but all beings that mostly dwell above the surfaces of soil and water — abide in agaya and ubuntu. The lower line (and filling in the white area) then represents all beings ‘below’ the surfaces of soil and water (this is actually the majority of beings on Earth). The line for one side of the trunk is an opportunity to wish agaya and ubuntu for yourself, and completing the outline is an opportunity to wish ubuntu and agaya for all beings. The blue on one side can represent beings near you, on the other can be beings distant from you. Filling in the brown is an honoring of the ubuntu between above and below, just as a tree trunk is a conduit between the sky and the soil.

You should always feel free to express your creativity with this practice – using different colors, curved or wavy lines – as long as what you create shares the essence of agaya and ubuntu. It’s always best to use materials that also are deep expressions of agaya and ubuntu. This may be a drawing in sand or snow to celebrate the ephemeral and changing nature of life, or an arrangement of objects found while walking a trail or even picking up litter on a city street. It can be something that takes one person less than a minute, or a group activity that takes hours.
So, consider this an opportunity to express your deepest wishes for agaya and ubuntu in the world. Drawing something outdoors may also become a way to seed conversations about Novasutras, and is always an excellent chance for you to connect more deeply with the ubuntu and agaya of the living world.
Let us know about your experiences with this practice, and share your insights or ideas in the comments below. Please take photos or videos to share your creation, too!
Ubuntu and agaya!
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