Day 22 ~ Mandorla, Resolution, and Unity

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"Goethe's color theory indicates black as a symbol of matter and white as a symbol of spirit. To Goethe the colors blue and yellow represent the body and soul of human beings. ...Green is produced with equal parts blue and yellow...Green was an affirmation for Goethe of the state of harmony that can be achieved by human beings who balance within themselves both body and soul. Since blue and yellow are derived from black and white (In Goethe's color theory) green also represents the resolution of  opposites symbolized by darkness and light." ~Fincher 83-84

This combination of colors, which resulted in a variety of shades of brown, could represent the resolution of the duality which exists between the complementary colors, red and green.

Multiple circles are layered to create depth within the safe boundaries of the outermost edge of the mandala.

The Mandorla is the almond shaped space which is created when two circles over-lap. It is said to represent the coming together of opposites in a place which heals the divide between the two. In mandalas these may appear at times when the grace of this reconciliation is present.

In this mandala, there is still movement and opposition in the center showing the existence of some unresolved inner turmoil that is tightly controlled or protected by the external balance. As I witness my young-adult children venture out into the hazards of the world, a Transformation is still taking place here.

At $25,000, The Mandorla Art Award is Australia's most significant Christian-themed art prize. This competition is currently open with a registration Deadline of June 2014 Terms and Conditions apply.

Mandorla Magazine alludes to the notion of exchange and imaginative dialogue that is necessary now among the Americas. First published in Mexico City in 1991, Mandorla emphasizes innovative writing in its original language--most commonly English or Spanish--and high-quality translations of existing material. Visual art and short critical articles complement this work.

Language as Mandorla

"Johnson (1991) claims, the mandorla is demonstrated in a well-structured sentence. He says that is why we like to talk so much because it is restorative and healing. Good talk restores unity to a fragmented world. He says that to make any well-formed sentence is to make unity, or that the mandorla is formed every time the truth is told. It is similar to Freud's talking cure. When distressed, language that is properly used is highly curative. As long as we are provided the right container, we can make mandorlas of speech, and cure many things (Johnson, 1991). Also, all good stories are mandorlas. As they speak, gradually through the miracle of the story, they demonstrate that the opposites overlap and are finally the same.[Johnson, R. (1991). Owning your Own Shadow. San Francisco: Harper Collins.] ~ Brian Jensen