Day 29~Flattery of Complements

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On the 29th day it occurs to me that there is very likely a reason that doctors are advised not to attempt to diagnose themselves. In the interest of using art and mandalas as a part of the healing process; it might be more effective to do a series of mandalas which do NOT consult the reference materials until the series is complete. It seems to me that in reference to any use of Joan Kellogg's Great Round concepts for interpretation, the work would be a more honest, unclouded representation of the phase or stage of development the person is in at that time.

Stage 6 is considered a confrontational phase in which the individual works to resolve the duality within herself/himself. "We feel ambilvalence as we are forced to confront the paradoxes in our existence and endure the tension of the opposites within ourselves....Complementary colors may appear side by side giving a sense of energetic confrontation."  ~Fincher

In my attempts at self evaluation I first look for the stage, then the color meaning, and the meaning of the forms. The blue tip of the left triangle is pointing to the orange tip of the right triangle, which are both at the center of the image. (Keep in mind, I did not even think of these forms as triangles DURING the drawing process. At the time, they were just 'by-products' of a need to divide the left and right circles.) Triangles are said to have some significance in identifying important concerns or direction oriented decisions based on which direction they point and the subject of their gaze.

Fincher's  text reminds that the significance may be clearer upon evalution of color choices as well. My color selection here was quite random. As I began the drawing it was facing in a horizontal position with the circles placed and intended simply as a sort of reflection of each other.
So-o-o-o, I went to the color place. I chose the color system associated with chakras as this one is new to me, hence the most "pure" interpretation might be revealed there.
Orange is said to be of the second chakra representing the development of autonomy. Light blue/blue is said to be the fifth chakra, the ability to love without receiving anything in return. "This chakra also has to do with sharing your gifts, talents, and abilities without expectation of reward."

The duality of this particular combination hit a sharp note regarding my current life. In reality my basic autonomy (which is something I am certain that I NEED) is ENTIRELY dependent upon my ability to expect and accept rewards/payment for sharing these 'gifts, talents, and abilities.' I am in the transitional phase of learning to expect monetary payment for the work that I produce in my studio. This is a big adjustment in my life as I have, as many artists do, made art for its own sake for many years. It is not surprising then, that this 'confrontation' occurs at the center of the mandala.

Likewise the reds, associated with basic survival needs, are exactly opposite the green of caring for others. This too, is a prevalent motivating concern underlying most of my decisions. As I am sure this is an inherent concern of the human condition I am not surprised that the two colors were assigned these associations as conflicting entities.
In any case, I proceeded to assess the drawing in this manner after it was completed.

The pros and cons of autonomy weigh heavy at times.  In self-diagnosis, I am not surprised to 'find' these conditions in my drawing. It would be interesting to know how somebody, better versed than I, would interpret these images WITHOUT knowledge of my day/life.

Day 28~ Another Midnight Mandala

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The most powerful lies are the ones we tell ourselves. They have the power to define our reality and how much we accept the reality defined by others. The reconciliation of our fantasies to the revelations of reality is expressed throughout the symbolism inherent to the cycles of Joan Kellogg's Great Round.

“Mindfulness helps us get better at seeing the difference between what’s happening and the stories we tell ourselves about what’s happening, stories that get in the way of direct experience. Often such stories treat a fleeting state of mind as if it were our entire and permanent self.”
― Sharon Salzberg, Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation

I have, in this brief, soon-to-be 30 day, exploration of the use of mandalas for healing, come to the conclusion that they are a method of developing, revealing, reflecting, documenting, and exposing our journey into "figuring it our for ourselves."

From: The Dance of the Seven Veils; Skinny Legs And All ~ Tom Robbins (1990)
"...there would be willing followers until humanity reached that philisophical plateau where it recognized that its great mission in life had nothing to do with the struggle between classes, races, nations, or ideologies, but was, rather, a personal quest to enlarge the soul, liberate the spirit, and light up the brain." 

"Even though the great emotions, the great truths, were universal; even though the mind of humanity was ultimately one mind, still, each and every single individual had to establish his or her own special, personal, particular, unique, direct, one-on-one, hands on relationship with reality..."

"We're making it up. All of us. It. All of it. The world, the universe, life, reality, especially reality. WE make it up. WE made it up. WE shall make it up. WE have been making it up. He, she, it makes it up."

The key is that we all must figure out how to apply that knowledge/realization to our daily lives. We must figure it our for ourselves.

We, you, me, I define reality. That definition is based on an instinctive, intuitive, inherited knowledge of the cycels of human existence.

"It is good to let ones mind travel from one dimension to another, alwasy to find its way back to the familiar, the land, the woods. For the ultimate secrets of the universe are contained withint the mind of man (humans). We have had the key, and it is within the abilities of each of us to fit it into the lock." ~ The Summer Woodlands, John R. Quinn (1980)

The development of My reality is also influenced by the realities of others which I permit to permeate, bump into, or overlap my own.  The extent of the influence is indicated or pre-determined  by my own confidence, security, and convictions regarding my existing perception of reality.

The power to make up reality is a power that can be used for good or evil. The duality of human nature indicates that it will be used for both.

Day 27~ Layers

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"Circles in your mandalas can remind you of the flow of life whose currents spiral in and out of things bound solid in time and space."
 ~Fincher

The Great Round Diagram ~Kellogg

Several stages of Joan Kellogg's Great Round seem to be in evidence here. I could not isolate one specific stage when I cross-referenced the diagram in Fincher's guide.
 These are the ones that seemed most evident:
Stage Three ~ Labrynth or Spiral
Stage 5~The Target
Stage 8~ The Functioning Ego

Fincher states that Stage 8 is the culmination of Stage 3. I suppose it makes sense that elements of both might appear in the same image.  I am not yet certain, but there seems to also be some sense of hierarchy in the drawings. As explore the references I am discovering on this journey, it occurs to me that perhaps, there are layers of meaning in each which indicate the general phase or stage of development juxtaposed with reactions to an experience of a given day.

To me, this drawing seems to show the path I am on in my creative/career journey and the progress I am making there overlapped with my personal journey and some of the persistent insecurities which shadow my accomplishments.These forms seem to be an odd balance of steady, consistent direction with random concerns popping up in an overwhelming way.  I have to assume that there must be some significance to the deconstruction of the star as the tirangles progress but perhaps those associations will be discovered with further research regarding the significance of the spiral and layering in mandalas.

Day 26~ Big Wheel

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As the demands of the days have left me to complete and contemplate most of these late into the wee hours of the morning, it occurs to me that I should have named this series, "Midnight Mandalas."

Upon completion the first thing I realized is that the magenta/purple/pink areas look like a cross of sorts that is buried under the other forms. Fincher suggests, "The cross is associated with the human challenge to know one's dark hidden side....Crosses rotated to form an X may also represent the end of a cycle....When a cross appears in your Mandala you might want to consider that you are balancing the duality of human nature."

12:52 a.m. of Day 27...I am exhausted. I must complete this post after I have had some sleep.

Sleep is good.   Awake now, I can see that this drawing is a layering of previous concepts into a new whole idea. 
"The clash of opposites is resolved with the Squaring of the Circle  (day 21). There is no longer the tug-of-war that was experienced in stage six...We have incorporated within ourselves the qualities of each that are necessary for a fully functioning adult identity... One is ready for a mate."

A single Mandorla (day 22) is in front of or on top of the cross and at the center of an unintentional tree. Full and robust, it differs from the leafless one in September Satellite, the Circle Game  post (day 19). The first tree has far reaching roots but a small barren top.

September Satellite

Fincher counsels that, "When the roots of your tree are exposed you may be feeling insecure, uprooted, or vulnerable.You might even be experiencing problems with your feet. The trees you draw portray your whole self: the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of who you are."
A bountiful tree can indicate connectedness to the outer world, active motherhood- even increased involvement with your adult children, and a balance between the dualities of human existence.

How I saw the drawing when
I first picked it up this morning.

There is an extensive vocabulary of symbolism associated with trees.  In and of themselves they can become a window into our perception of ourselves and our place in the world.
Jung enumerates some of these associations:
"...growth, life, unfolding of form in a physical and spiritual sense, development, growth from below upwards and from above downwards, the maternal aspect (protection, shade, shelter, nourishing fruits, source of life, solidity, permanence, firm-rootedness, but also being 'rooted to the spot'), old age, personality, and finally death and rebirth. (1983:272)" ~Fincher

In retrospective consideration of the mood and events of the day when these drawings were made, I can see which concepts are represented here. As I move through these drawings and learn more about the symbolism inherent in mandalas, I am developing a deeper understanding of what it means to look inward while still functioning in an outward direction. No single symbol or shape or color can tell everything. They are simply parts of a whole which must be considered in the context in which they are given and in relationship to the others around them. In a series of drawings, such as this thirty day project, the focus elements seem to overlap and repeat over the course of the time in question. For me, this demonstrates a period of transition between phases of what art therapist, Joan Kellogg, calls the Great Round.
Mandala Associates
MARI Connections
MARI Reasearch
The Great Round

Day 25~ Intangible substance

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Stage 9 is supposed to represent the completion of the stage 8 endeavors. In it you will see evidence of the slowing of the creative flow of energy. 

"during the height of our achievement we begin to sense the inevitability of our destruction." 

I suppose it is comforting during that moment of recognition to know that the cycle to achievement will repeat again. Devastation occurs when we permit ourselves to be surprised by our own rise and fall. The only constant is change. 

"There is no linear evolution; there is only a circumambulation of the self.” ~C. Jung

Incognito (BW) 9.25.13 ©Sheila L. Kalkbrenner

The absence of color changes the meaning of the form. I am hovering on the verge of something which I cannot quite define...something not-quite-right and more than a bit un-nerving for its lack of clarification. Like eyes on the back of my neck; it prickles. It is hiding in plain sight. The slightest shift of light or color will reveal the change that is coming. For all its incessant inklings; I recognize it. I have been on this part of the circle before. ~slk

“Each person’s life is like a mandala- a vast, limitless circle. We stand in the center of our own circle, and everything we see, hear and think forms the mandala of our life."

~Creativity for the Soul 100 Days for Mandalas

"Throughout the whole vegetable, sensible, and rational world, whatever makes progress towards maturity, as soon as it has passed that point, begins to verge towards decay." ~Robert Blair, poet

"I am doomed to an eternity of compulsive work. No set goal achieved satisfies. Success only breeds a new goal. The golden apple devoured has seeds. It is endless." ~ Bette Davis, actress

Read more at Brainy Quotes

Day 24~ Shine

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I feel safe in saying that we all have a heart light that we carry with us. This Mandala is the representation of the heart lights which I hold close to my own.

If we are lucky, we are surrounded by cherished people and we take the time to recognize their hearts shining, too. Some shatter easily inside of their crystal confines...shards leaving vulnerable holes, the fragments scattering upon the floor. Setting us ablaze in wonder and confusion, others burst into flame with the slightest provocation. And, still others, hover and glow independently inside of their skins... warming those who touch them .The rest of them fluctuate between these states of existence. Crossing boundaries on a whim, keeping a safe distance when it suits them; they come in and out of our lives fleetingly but effectively when we need them the most. If our heart light is strong, we embrace them as they are or mercifully let them go when we cannot. In the words of Neil Diamond, "Turn on your Heart Light." 

Day 23~Stop the Madness

ASAP logo  by Nicola Reeves

This new logo, created by Nicola Reeves,....looks kind of like a......Mandala....
I hope it becomes a symbol of great healing in our broken health care system

Mandala madness, this daily project I am doing to learn more ways of healing through art,  is briefly interrupted to bring you this important public sevice announcement to STOP THE MADNESS that allows spinal injections and invasive spinal procedures to leave so many people permanently disabled and suffering.

 I have completed the Reasonable Accommodations video for my you tube channel in hopes that it will provide some support for the survivors, information for the injured, and eventually help lead to some accountability for the arrogant.

Living with Arachnoiditis means adaptation, bursts of productivity, and respect for our limitations. Learn more at Arachnoiditis Society for Awareness and Prevention (ASAP)
This video features activity at SheilaLynnK Art Studio.
Accommodations for damage to CSF rotation, the spinal cord, and CNS include:
an inversion table, The Ostrich Cot, Sunbeam Renue heat therapay pads from Fingerhut, and a great deal of time management.
Music and vocal performance ~Beth Hart , Screamin' For My Supper ~1999).
(This video uses copyrighted material in a manner that does not require approval of the copyright holder. It is a fair use under copyright law.)
You can support studio projects, reasonable accommodations, and community action goals at: https://sheilalynnkart.see.me
Follow the studio at www.sheilalynnkart.com, sheilalynnkart.blogspot.com, or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SheilalynnkArtStudio?ref=ts&fref=ts
Find out about the 2013 Allegany Artisans Studio Tours at: http://alleganyartisans.com/index.htm

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

Day 21 ~ Squaring the Circle

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This particular shade of blue brings me a sense of comfort and peace. It reminds me of Forget-Me-Nots, although most I have seen in life are a slightly darker, more lavender, shade. Yellow petals remind me of Sunflowers. Together they remind me of my mother. She was a passionate person. We were often passionate about opposite things. She told me once that she enjoyed my company because I was like my father. The knowledge of her presence always calmed me. No matter the turmoil, whether thrust upon me or self-induced; She was my friend and my companion, my confidant in all things that ever truly mattered. Knowing that it might chew me up and fling me back, She accepted my willingness and compulsion to fling myself at life.  I miss her.

My father was always there to brace her up against my adventurous nature. I imagine he must have listened to her worries. He taught me that you don't have to like something to be good at doing it. He showed me how to see the work that needs to be done and just do it. 

Young parents, I assume they must have comforted each other in the acceptance of a parents' lack of control over the choices our adult children make. 

SQUARING OF THE CIRCLE:

"This is the place of balance between maternal and paternal power....We feel capable of initiating action instead of being the passive recipient of the actions of others...We are ready to do not just be...Typical mandala forms of Squaring the Circle display designs characterized by four. Crosses, squares, stars, and flowers with four petals are often seen. The Squaring of the Circle is the place where we take a stand on what we know within ourselves to be right.  It is the beginning of life lived according to our own values."~Fincher

Day 20 ~ Diversion Tactics

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I have been working too hard the last few weeks. My body is protesting. Today is going to be a much-needed day of rest for me.

In the Secret Language of Symbols David Fontana says that, "in heraldry the cockerel represents pride and courage. Waking at dawn it is a solar symbol, a sign of resurrection." 

This illustration was drawn on an early August day not unlike today. I am in much need of resurrection.

Day 19~ The Circle Game

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The harvest moon crested the rolling hills tonight as I walked home from calling hours commemorating the life of a true friend of our community. Autumnal transition is in the air. Once again, I am reminded that we are all walking the circle, captive on the carousel of time.


"What can we gain by sailing to the moon if we are not able to cross the abyss that separates us from ourselves? This is the most important of all voyages of discovery, and without it, all the rest are not only useless, but disastrous." ~Thomas Merton


One of the first fundamental stages of artistic development is the ability to make the circle. "it's a universal stage of artistic development that every normal child throughout the world experiences. In fact, it is the first major milestone in image-making and for that reason, a child's circle drawing may be one the earliest representations of the self."~ Cathy Malchiodi 

In the origins of all humanity we have had a survivalists fascination with circles deeply rooted in our inherent connection with natural cycles of life, observations of the patterns of the solar system, and deep-rooted awe of the oh-so-magical moon.
 Myths About The Moon 
Mythology of the Moon (NASA)

In cultural art throughout history the moon is generally represented as white or silver. White is also often used to represent silver. One must take into consideration the aspects associated with the color silver if white is being used in this context.

White appears in mandalas in several different ways.
It can be applied to the fresh surface of the paper.
The white paper can be left blank in selected areas.
It can also be applied over other colors giving a pearlized look to the work.
Each of these methods lends itself to a variety of outcomes and interpretations. Joan Kellogg teaches that white paper left blank, especially at the center of the mandala, indicates a certain readiness for an imminent change.

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Due to the diverse applications, symbolic cultural associations, and alchemical symbolism associated with the properties of the color white and its link to moon myths; it is wise to analyze its use in mandalas via its juxtaposition to other colors, shapes and symbols. As previously suggested, individual life experiences and personal visual vocabulary at the time of the drawing will also inform this assessment.

Day 18 ~ Mending the Makers, Making the Menders; Art & Healing

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Using the anecdotal stories of four artists, an introduction to Pain Exhibit, Inc., and a description of Music Therapy to convey the ethos and remedies of pain, The September ACPA Chronicle features the use of art in pain management and rehabilitation.

"I would have never considered it a coping strategy before I went to a pain management program 34 years ago. As part of our regular daily activities,we went to creative therapy and experimented with a variety of art forms,such as leather work, copper enameling,or other crafts. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I often got lost in the process of creating. It gave my mind, and in some sense, my body, a rest. It didn’t matter what I created; it was the process that mattered." 

~Penny Cowan, Executive Director ACPA

"Art therapy has shown tremendous benefits in helping individuals cope with the negative feelings associated with any illness—from cancer to anxiety to depression.The creative outlet helps the affected accept their “new normal,” improve sleep, and enhance their overall outlook on life. Even Vincent Van Gogh reportedly used his art to manage his various ailments." 

~ Erin Hart, An Artistic Approach to Pain Management, ACPA Sep 2013

"Throughout history, the idea of a universal energy pervading all nature has been held by many Western scientific minds. This vital energy , perceived as a luminous body , was first recorded in the Western literature by the Pythagoreans around 500 B.C. They held that its light could produce a variety of effects in the human organism, including the cure of illness."

 ~Barbara Brennan, Hands of Light

"All true sacred art is alive with the spiritual energies of the maker." ~Judith Cornell

"...our notions  of physical reality can never be final. We must always be ready to change these notions." ~ Albert Einstein
Mending the makers, Making the Menders: A list of Art and Healing Resources
Healing Artists
Children's Healing Art Project (CHAP)
Healing With Art : Norris Cotton Cancer Center
Foundation for Art & Healing
Art & Healing [amazon books]
Art As Healing
Art4Healing
Art and Health Psychology Today
Healing Art Projects to try Crizmac Art Therapy Exercises From Art & Soul
Veteran Artist Program
Buddha Doodles ~ Molly Hahn
Arts & Healing Network ~Grants/Support

Day 17 Atomic Revelations

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"Everything outside was elegant and savage and fleshy. Everything inside was slow and cool and vacant. 

It seemed a shame to stay inside." 

~John Cheever

My house and home have been in various states of flux for the last several years. Life teases me with the duality of trepidation & expectation  of "empty nest syndrome."  I have been reading that our mandalas reflect the phases of our lives. Although it was not intentional I am pretty sure that upon evaluation I will find that this one reflect all of the feelings that come with hovering on the axis of that transition. I pivot between full house with too many obligations/commitments and reflective, pondering, silence.   

It was a beautiful fall day yesterday. Warm enough to work outside. Between periods of requisite horizontal time, I worked on scraping paint off of my porch and trim. It must be done this year. It has taken be approximately four weeks to prep for painting. It is a small porch and should have only taken a couple of days. Fincher's mandala color theory suggests that the yellow and purple hues I have used here reflect the "clash between the desire for independence and the habit of relying on the parents." 

Since I have been independent of my parents for 20+ years, I interpret this more as a struggle to function independent of the restriction of arachnoiditis. The ebb and flow of independent motion is a constant. I feel it most in the spring and fall. As the weather transitions rapidly from warm to cold or back again, I find myself on the arachnoiditis roller coaster which accompanies these sudden shifts. 

"Blue (nurturing) next to orange (striving) may symbolize the conflict between a desire for relatedness and the ambition to accomplish." ~Fincher

 As any working parent knows, our career goals and our family obligations continuously present a dual sense of purpose. I doubt I will ever stop striving toward creative excellence. In equal measure I am certain that home and family will always be at the center of that. 

Working to prepare my house for winter brings out the "nesting" sensibilities and sensitivities which balance my studio & career ambitions.  

For the purposes of this project, I have applied the suspension of disbelief so that I may remain open to the possibilities of self-reflection and growth inherent to this process. I find that if we look at things from a new perspective we may discover the truth within ourselves. In drawing this 17th mandala, I began with the central shape of a circle. Inside of the circle was a five- pointed star.  I boxed in the star. To me, in that moment, the box resembled the house outline I used to draw as a child-as most children do. I removed the branches of the star to leave the five-sided center hovering in the heart of the house. Above it I place a small circle to represent the upstairs window. I remember always feeling that the houses that I drew needed this window in order to let the world in. Sometimes now, I believe that window lets me get into the world. 

As I interpret my drawings this month, I think it is crucial to remember the life-time of meaning associated with certain symbols as well as the thoughts and feelings I was having during the drawing process. These elements combined with the theory behind mandala interpretation and analysis become a fundamental aspect of using the mandala as a healing tool. 

Upon reflection, I have to mention that my significant other saw the drawing at the beginning and mentioned the similarity to Bohr's Atomic Model. This is apparently something that people learn in basic chemistry. In our visual culture I am sure that this imagery is evident in many forms. Although I have never take chemistry, his statement, of course, made me think of imagery for nuclear concepts which may have triggered a subconscious tangent to the ideology of the nuclear family...I can easily see that my emotions and thoughts of the day are evident here as I placed my home at the nucleus of my external activity. 

Day 16

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Although D-I-V-O-R-C-E and I Don't Want to Play House still surprise me sometimes, almost twenty years after deciding to be a single parent, I really don't think the local radio station is the source of my current melancholy. In my defense, I can say that I was not the only teary-eyed person haunted by Tammy Wynette in the shampoo & toothpaste aisle today.

 In any case, I believe there is a seasonal melancholy evident in this mandala.

Once a typical "winter baby," I loved the crisp fall air that signaled the change of the seasons. The branches blazed with color around me until the magic of the glistening snow cast its spell over me. But now, I am missing the warm weather and sunlight already.

"Three may announce the commencement of heroic journey into the darkness, there to encounter teachings of wisdom through dreams, stories, or surprising discoveries about yourself." ~Fincher

After summarizing her interpretation of colors, Fincher clarifies that hers is but one point of view for evaluating the meaning of colors (& symbols) and that one must also take into consideration the associations of colors. The relationship of the colors to each other may have as much significance as the individual color choices that we make.

Although these "professional" definitions or identifiers are intriguing, I have to admit that my own personal color vocabulary invariably affects how much of that outcome I am willing to accept, how much I set aside for later evaluation, or simply reject outright. Our personal color vocabulary is an equally important indicator of the meaning of the mandala. Somewhere around the tender, influential age of eight I am pretty sure I wore out my midnight blue crayon. Preferences and associations change with time and experience. Around age twenty-four, I couldn't keep any consistent supply of orange/yellow paint in stock. As I learn more about the meaning of mandalas and ways to use them for personal healing, it occurs to me that there may be some personal, developmental significance to this transition to an "opposite" color. It may inform my own interpretive mandala vocabulary. 

Fincher goes on to describe other traditional color systems (i.e. the color wheel, the Native American Medicine Wheel, Kundalini Yoga color values, Goethe's hierarchy of colors, as well as alchemical color symbolism) which might provide rich insight into the interpretation of the mandalas we create. This may seem like a great deal of information to process, however the parallels between the interpretations of colors across systems makes it easier to digest and apply. Throughout the text there are references to the psychological implications and applications of color symbolism. All of which is provided as a means to approach the colors and symbols we use in our mandalas. I appreciate that the ideology here is never presented as the only "true" meaning for the colors we find in our mandalas. 

Day 14 & 15 Memorable Madness (Mandalas & Children)

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"Treasure Hunt (a.k.a. Between The Lines)"
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Exhausted after a busy weekend with my three year old Granson.   These are more mandalas that we made together. Although I did mention once or twice over the weekend that these are called mandalas, I did not dwell on it. We just took the time to take advantage of all of the pre-cut (by me)circles. (I still have some blank ones left.) Although for him it was mostly a mark-making activity, it was interesting to me to hear him explain what he thought should go in each circle.

The first color he chooses is always green. Dark green, light green, yellow green, olive; it doesn't matter to him, as long as it is green. On the last one we made the lines first. Some were free-hand and for others he practiced learning to use one of my stencils. Then I suggested that we color the space between the lines. He had no interest in doing this part himself but would hand me a color and tell me where to put it. (He prefers lines that are free right now.)
We finished with these fairly early this morning and played construction site the rest of the day.

Educational Coloring pages offers free mandala coloring pages for kids. There are also many wonderful videos on you tube featuring children creating mandalas. Mandalas with children is a nice slide-show style example of one class lesson.

"The purpose of introducing a mandala to the children, is way for them to start becoming more familiar with their own symbology, with their own sense of self, with their own way of healing, or centering in chaos, and with their ability to feel like their story is valuable."
~Early Futures , a blog site with "supporting edge concepts about, from, and for children" explains an interesting mandala curriculum for children with wonderful examples of student work.

Day 13 Memorable Mandalas

(left)Dinosaur named Pookieand Green Snake in the Grass,  (right)Truffala Trees and the Chopper
My Grandson (age 3)                                                             For my grandson, by request

Buy this Inverted Digital File of Truffula Tree and Chopper (a.k.a.Visiting Grandchild)

My grandson is visiting for the weekend. We painted mandalas together.  He was very excited about having pre-cut circles to paint. I am thankful to have this time and this memory to share with him.

Right now he loves Dr. Seuss books. One of his favorites is the Lorax. I have lost count of how many times we have read it in the past few weeks. Every time we paint together he asks me to make truffala trees for him. This time he said he wanted some "curly truffala trees, "like when they CHOP! them Grandma."  

Some days our painting sessions are quite lengthy. Other days it only lasts a few minutes. Lately he has been processing what to do when he accidentally turns all of his colors brown. Today when his orange and purple got brown he decide he wanted to do something else. I am sure he will re-visit the problem next time. (Because his paint will still be brown when he gets back.)  

I hope you get to enjoy quiet times with the children in your life. I have found it to be the best medicine on some of the worst days.

Day 12 Talking Points

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It is my understanding that Mandalas/Yantras are intended as a means to individual enlightenment. I am learning that used in the context of "one a day for thirty days" this can become a pretty intense experience. At some point the journey inward becomes exposed to outside influences and the demands of the outside world. Remaining perpetually introverted, excluding all external input seems impossible...especially when a portion of the process involves a commitment to share that inward journey with the outside world.

Feeling invaded by outside forces today...somehow even managed to burn the rice I was making for my dog. (He has food allergies. No dog food for him.)

"It is what it is"  There are days when that phrase brings comfort and acceptance but the majority of the time seeing it or hearing it just makes me think too much. There is too much room for perception and perspective to interfere with acceptance. It forces me to ask, well, "What IS it, anyway?" How can it be what it is if you think it is something that it is NOT? How do you KNOW what it is? Once you define it, clarify it, accept it...what IF what it IS, is not to your liking? Then, how do you make it what you want it to be? Or do you just decide to let go of it because it will never be anything other than what it IS and you realize that what it IS is not a circumstance or condition that you want? Then of course you are faced with the duality of acceptance and opposition. Is "acceptance" the same thing as "giving up"?  When you choose to accept what it IS, is it a problem if this leaves you feeling defeated instead of relieved? I have a fighting nature but really all I want is peace...and maybe an awesome cup of coffee that doesn't induce anxiety.

Do you see my conundrum? 

According to Fincher, "The upward-pointing triangle in mandalas often announces the appearance of something new...a burst of creativity...Triangles pointing downward seem to indicate ideas that are being released from consciousness...Triangles are direction indicators in mandalas...they may point toward the center or away as well...outward=need for self-protection, inward=may reveal aggression against oneself...consider other objects to which the triangles seem to point...it may be your unconscious telling you to pay attention to something specific. Associations to the symbol emphasized by the triangle may help you know what has true value for you...The triangles in your mandalas introduce change and direct your attention to the timeless balance of rising and falling energies. Triangles can point you toward your soul's connection deep within the heart."  

She does not really explain what it means when your triangles are pointing at each other. Perhaps it means that my lack of a decision or true direction ...or the sensation of trying to go in all directions at once; is the aspect which has true value to me right now... Anyway, she does emphasize that additional clarity can be gained by determining your own associations with the colors that you have assigned to these triangles. 

There is a section of her book which discuss the "Great Round." Here she explains how personal developmental cycles and stages are shown in the series of imagery in multiple mandalas created by one person over an extended period of time. It is evident that these cycles repeat themselves throughout the lifetime of the individual. 

As I flipped through the pages I noticed that the "star" is the prominent element of stage eight. Although several phrases jumped out at me, I pushed myself to close the book so that I would not jump ahead or be unduly influenced by information presented here about certain imagery and symbolism. For me, the most effective, authentic use of this book will be to visit this section when I have completed the series of 30 drawings. There is the potential for significant self-discovery regarding my personal cycles of development within a 30 day period. I am interested to find out how often they repeat themselves in that short time and to clarify, for myself, how my coping skills have changed over my life-time so far. What do I do differently to address the same phase? Which aspects do I still handle in the same way. Is it effective?

Day 11 Going Full Circle

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Upon completion of this mandala drawing I looked up certain aspects of the drawing in Creating Mandalas; for insight, healing, and self-expression ~Susanne F. Fincher

Here are some examples of the information this book offered.
"Five suggests the person reaching outward to engage reality. ...five may reveal your active engagement with the real world in making your own personal vision a reality.A feeling of mission may inspire in you an active, energetic approach to your goals...when you see five objects in your mandalas, you might want to consider whether the meaning has to do with the organic fullness of your body, with your ability to take hold, or with your heartfelt desire to give the world something of yourself." 
"Three is a number suggesting vitality, energy, and motion...threeness may become prominent in your mandalas whenever the energy powering independent thinking or doing is on the rise."

Fontana states that the crescent represents ascent from the underworld, a change within the world of forms, the newborn, "the ship of light that carries the soul through the darkness and into the light of new dawn."   Dark blue is said to indicate an awareness of the deeper reality behind events in your life. Yellow was said to show "a readiness to learn and a willingness to own your point of view."  Lavender signifies "a peak experience from recent past or near future."

There is a great deal of information and hypothesis in these texts. The individual working through the process must assess the significance of the resounding qualities of his/her own drawing. There is not a general formula which applies to every type of drawing. The interpretations of mandalas intended for healing are as diverse as the scenarios and people who create them. ~slk

Yesterday's Yantra (day 10)

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Yesterday's Yantra/Mandala completed today.

No matter your belief system, if you are seeking a healing method "the best way to proceed...is to temporarily suspend any disbelief you might have and rest your faith on this healing possibility." ~Cornell

The use of mandalas in healing is not a new practice. Navajo healers still use this practice which was established long ago. In this culture it is not intended as an individual practice or journey. It is utilized as a healing ritual. The healer creates a sand mandala large enough for the "patient" to sit in. The mandala is blessed by the medicine man. The subject is provided this path to healing with the support of those around him/her. 

Carl Jung, Hildegard of Bingen, and Judith Cornell are among others who have utilized Mandalas to facilitate healing. 

Bizarre tropical conditions in upstate New York yesterday eased much of the arachnoiditis pain which colors my life enabling me to work outside most of the day. Throughout the day I was accompanied by thoughts of my mother. It was no surprise to find the sunflower mandala at my fingertips. Every spring I plant a sunflower garden in memory of her. For years my children and I would start the seeds inside and plant them on Mother's Day. My children are now grown and out on their own. This spring I planted the seeds with my Grandson.    Flowers are natural mandalas.                           

Grandma's Garden

"Flowers in your Mandala may be a harbinger...revealing a quickening of personal growth...a fulfillment of a goal or task which has taken much dedication on your part...When studying the flowers in your mandala, make note of how many appear, the color, the number of petals each holds. Incorporating this information will help you interpret the meaning of your flowers. You may want to consider that flowers reveal your soul's work, a growth process unfolding through your relationship with the archetype of the self. " ~Fincher