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Creating with Mandalas

Launch gallery slideshow

Creating with Mandalas
Swap Coordinator:LadyT (contact)
Swap categories: Art 
Number of people in swap:16
Location:International
Type:None
Last day to signup/drop:January 21, 2009
Date items must be sent by:February 4, 2009
Number of swap partners:1
Description:

THIS IS AN INTERNATIONAL SWAP WITH ONE (1) PARTNER.

You will print-off a FREE mandala at: www.mandalaproject.org

You will color it via whatever medium you prefer or choose . . .crayons, markers, pastels, water paints, etc.

Upon signing up, you will receive a journaling exercise to complete when coloring your mandala.

You will send your finished mandala (or a color copy of) and your journaling work to your partner by the send date.

RULES (even though I hate them) Rating of 4.5 or better, with NO no sends in the past six months. Go ahead and message me if you’ve been rated unfairly at any point or have a good reason for your lower rating or the no sends, and we’ll talk. I’m certainly open to listening - as I understand LIFE HAPPENS!

Newbies allowed, but with filled out profiles please by the time you are signing up.

Communication is key. If you’re going to be late with the swap, let your partner know. If your partner tells you he/she is going to be late, and keeps up the communication, give him/her a break. Sometimes things come up that just can’t be helped. Life happens!

I reserve the right to ban anyone that I think might be a problem. This means people that I've noticed have a history of rating unfairly, nastiness, etc. I believe in playing nice & fairly.

ENJOY, Have FUN - after-all, this is a HOBBY . . hobbies are supposed to bring you joy & happiness!!!!!!!!

The Pattern of Creation

The word "Mandala" is from the classical Indian language of Sanskrit. Loosely translated to mean "circle," a Mandala is far more than a simple shape. It represents wholeness, and can be seen as a model for the organizational structure of life itself--a cosmic diagram that reminds us of our relation to the infinite, the world that extends both beyond and within our bodies and minds. Describing both material and non-material realities, the Mandala appears in all aspects of life: the celestial circles we call earth, sun, and moon, as well as conceptual circles of friends, family, and community.

"The integrated view of the world represented by the Mandala, while long embraced by some Eastern religions, has now begun to emerge in Western religious and secular cultures.

Awareness of the Mandala may have the potential of changing how we see ourselves, our planet, and perhaps even our own life purpose." (From Mandala: Journey to the Center, by Bailey Cunningham)

More than a Pretty Picture . . . . . Representing the universe itself, a Mandala is both the microcosm and the macrocosm, and we are all part of its intricate design. The Mandala is more than an image seen with our eyes; it is an actual moment in time. It can be can be used as a vehicle to explore art, science, religion and life itself. The Mandala contains an encyclopedia of the finite and a road map to infinity.

Carl Jung said that a Mandala symbolizes "a safe refuge of inner reconciliation and wholeness." It is "a synthesis of distinctive elements in a unified scheme representing the basic nature of existence." Jung used the Mandala for his own personal growth and wrote about his experiences.

It is said by Tibetan Buddhists that a Mandala consists of five "excellencies": The teacher • The message • The audience • The site • The time An audience or "viewer" is necessary to create a Mandala. Where there is no you, there is no Mandala. (from: You Are the Eyes of the World, by Longchenpa, translated by Lipman and Peterson).

The Mandala in Nature . . . . The "circle with a center" pattern is the basic structure of creation that is reflected from the micro to the macro in the world as we know it. It is a pattern found in nature and is seen in biology, geology, chemistry, physics and astronomy.

On our planet, living things are made of cells and each cell has a nucleus -- all display circles with centers. The crystals that form ice, rocks, and mountains are made of atoms. Each atom is a Mandala. Within the Milky Way galaxy is our solar system and within our solar system, is Earth. Each is a Mandala that is part of a larger Mandala.

Flowers, the rings found in tree trunks and the spiraling outward and inward of a snail's shell all reflect the primal Mandala pattern. Wherever a center is found radiating outward and inward, there is wholeness--a Mandala.

The Mandala in Art & Culture . . . . The Mandala pattern is used in many religious traditions. Hildegard von Bingen, a Christian nun in the 12th century, created many beautiful Mandalas to express her visions and beliefs. In the Americas, Indians have created medicine wheels and sand Mandalas. The circular Aztec calendar was both a timekeeping device and a religious expression of ancient Aztecs. In Asia, the Taoist "yin-yang" symbol represents opposition as well as interdependence. Tibetan Mandalas are often highly intricate illustrations of religious significance that are used for meditation.

Mandalas in Architecture . . . . From Buddhist stupas to Muslim mosques and Christian cathedrals, the principle of a structure built around a center is a common theme in architecture.

Native American teepees are conical shapes built around a pole that represents the "axis mundi" or world axis. Buckminster Fuller expanded on the dome design with his famous geodesic dome structures. The dome structure has the highest ratio of enclosed area to external surface area, and all structural members contribute equally to the whole--a great structural representation of a Mandala!

Experiencing the Transformational Power of the Mandala Mandalas are the visual expression of divine connection. Through their swirl of color and intention we can reach new levels of consciousness. Experience and use these Mandalas as tools for meditation, connection, and resolution.

Discussion

Net3811 01/ 7/2009 #

Can we draw our own mandala. When I went on the site I could only find one that I could print out and colour.

marinda 01/ 7/2009 #

When you say "receive a journaling exercise", does that mean you will send us a journaling exercise when we sign up for the swap? What kinds of questions are on it? Thanks!

candigirl 01/ 7/2009 #

this is an interesting idea, but holy moses, I can't possibly get through reading that whole description to figure out what the bottom line of this is..if it ever gets more "limited in scope", I might sign up.....

thanks for the idea, though..from what I gathered from paragraph #1, it sounds good.

sharone 01/ 8/2009 #

This is such a brilliant swap, well done.

BastCrystal 01/ 8/2009 #

this is a terrific idea. However, 1 week isn't much time for doing something of this depth. Would you consider, extending the deadline? I think 3 - 4 weeks would enable me to really do this project in depth as I think it deserves. gentle smile

lilrawker 01/ 8/2009 #

you might wanna store this swap under "religion" too, because this is definitely a religios thing (and not just something innocent)

LadyT 01/ 8/2009 #

Since this is YOUR own project you are sharing with your partner - you may start NOW, you don't have to wait until a partner is assigned to color to their specifics, etc. . .this is your own journey, for you . .to simply share with your partner and see what others gained from it.

But if you prefer to wait until partners have been assigned . . .then I have extended the send date by one week . . .I am finding the longer there is for swaps, many people forget and then I have to chase around getting them to finish & send.

This is an excellent way to gauge where you are starting the new year. If it were me, I'd make multiple copies of the mandala and do the exercise every couple of months . .and see your changes and explore them . .besides, you'll have beautiful art, as well!!!!

LadyT 01/ 8/2009 #

I would prefer you to download and color the ONE that is provided. Some people will do more extensive mandalas and some may have never worked with them before . .so keep a level playing field, so to speak, it is my wish for everyone to color the same one. It isn't a difficult one but its not a simple one either.

Perhaps we will do a Part 2 and could do another one that you will design - base don your partner's likes & dislikes!!!!!

carol 01/ 8/2009 #

We can start once we receive the journaling prompts, right? It looks to me like we don't need to know our partners to begin, anyway, correct?

LadyT 01/ 8/2009 #

The swap guidelines are in the very beginning of the description - its ALL the info you absolutely need - if you want more info on Mandalas, you can read more about them with the info provided, BUT IT IS NOT PRUDENT to completing the swap.

asylumgoddess 01/ 8/2009 #

I found great mandalas at www.madalarbre.com. There are about 25 patterns you can print for free.

LaTosi 01/ 8/2009 #

LadyT, this is a beautiful mandala. I've bought a few mandala coloring books in the past, I can't tell you how therapeutic and calming they are to color. You can definitley be in a meditative state. I love this swap and how we can do more. I'm anxious to see what the journaling assignment will be. P.S. the Gandhi quote is one of my very favorite.

ladydy5 01/ 8/2009 #

Sounds interesting but what exactly do you mean journaling.

LadyT 01/ 8/2009 #

Basically - you will set an intention, color your mandala, meditate upon it and then answer some questions . . to see where you've been and where you need to go? The questions are what you will journal, as well as, share a copy of your mandala.

LadyT 01/ 8/2009 #

Please use the mandala at: www.mandalaproject.org, so everyone using the same.

LadyT 01/ 8/2009 #

Yes to carol's question.

LaTosi 01/ 8/2009 #

LadyT will you pm the journaling questions individually now that we've signed up?

LadyT 01/ 8/2009 #

This is correct - I emailed each person as they have signed up and then again just now . ..again to everyone.

LadyT 01/ 8/2009 #

Its actually better to do the entire exercise in one sitting. When I teach it as a class - its a two and a half hour class - but since you are solitaire, an hour should do it - depending on how long it takes you to color it in, etc.

LadyT 01/ 8/2009 #

I suggest to my students that they do the same mandala a few times - a few weeks or months apart and see what differences come up (or not). You are almost guaranteed to get different results in coloring and journaling.

maybesomeday 01/13/2009 #

is the mandala the one that came with the email?

LadyT 01/15/2009 #

You will print-off a FREE mandala at: www.mandalaproject.org However, I think I used the same one on the journaling exercise - as on this website.

I am glad everyone is liking this swap . .should be interesting to see what the results are.

As for MORE like ones . .I have tons of books/workbooks on Mandalas and working with them . .I find them fascinating!!!

Maybe we could do a Mandala of the Month! Anyone want to coordinate this? (lol). I am opening my own store at the end of January and may have to reduce my participation for awhile.

sandyponey 01/20/2009 #

What a fantastic project. I love it. Smiles, Sandy (sandyponey)

LadyT 01/21/2009 #

Thank you sandyponey!

sandyponey 01/22/2009 #

Hi Lady T, That was the most amazing meditational experience I've had in a very long time. I found that you must allow yourself a slot of time, with no deadline. With that, I totally lost myself in contemplation as I filled each area with color. With the first aspect as a personal guide for thought, each color then becomes an extension of the thought. The thoughts balloon to encompass many things that are related to the specific intentions we seek to explore. By the outer colors, with deep focus, resolutions or at least better clarity of the reasons why of the intentions are more clear. I started out, not stressed because of the project, but tense with life things, and now feel relieved and more focused, not stressed. Thank you so much for a wonderful swap. If I were to wish to keep my original (I'm thinking of doing these once or twice a month and keeping a journal of self discovery using them as the tool), would it be okay if I sent a nice color copy to my partner, with extra somethings? Hugs and Smiles, Sandy

LadyT 01/22/2009 #

I am SO glad you got lost in this project!!!! YES, you may send a color copy of your Mandala to your partner, IF you wish to not give up your original. The only other thing to share with your partner is the answer to your questions . .what you got out of the project.

You will find if you do the same one a few times, you will get different responses EACH time!!!! Your Mandala will look different too.

Take care & Be Well!

LadyT 01/29/2009 #

If you want to delve a little further into your recent work with the Mandala project, check out the meaning of colors and see what you chose.

http://desktoppub.about.com/cs/color/a/symbolism.htm

Have fun! Traci

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