My new book is a collection of images and articles about the peace, beauty and self-discovery found in the mandala.
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The Spirit of the Mandala:
Meaning, Metaphor and the Quest for Self
Mandalas have been the focus of meditation, contemplation and admiration for years too numerous to count. Since before the dawn of recorded history, humanity's intimate connection to the mandala has been a vibrant link to our universal ancestry. It is a sacred diagram that displays the structure of the spirit and the interwoven nature of the cosmos. Many have studied their design, their inherent centrality, as a path toward achieving an ideal centrality in their own selves. Such interaction with a mandala is a process of approaching enlightenment. Its elements are the essence of life, the myriad layers of existence, of being, of living, so that each mandala is but one of an infinite number of possible manifestations of the self. Its creation is the gathering of intangibles, the construction of an architecture of peace and order within a swirling, chaotic world. It is a pulse point on the universal collective consciousness. The mandala represents the center of the universe and the outward-expanding awareness of the human experience. It is a quest to rediscover that center, the nucleus, the focal point for all things. The journey's conclusion, our eventual return to that center, is inevitable—only the path may vary.
The circle
is the most archetypal form, its shape is simple yet within its
potential resides all that is possible. It is symbolic of the
universe without and within, the space that stretches away from
us and toward the deepest recesses of the self. It is simple,
efficient and beautiful. It is ancient yet constantly reborn.
It is the cycle of days, years and eons; it is birth and death
and rebirth; it is the sun in the sky and the droplets in the
clouds; it is the primeval source of man, and by extension, consciousness;
it is knowing, forgetting and remembering; it is the ring of
fire around which our ancestors sat and the horizon which marked
the boundaries of their world; it is the mandala inscribed in
the galactic core. The circle is the complete geometry of the
spirit, of the cosmos, and of the unity of the two. It is the
gate, the heart, the breath. It is within us all.
Welcome to mandalaZone. All the images you will see in the gallery are my original, hand-drawn creations. My mandalas are based on a structure of four (and multiples thereof), representing the four cardinal points—all contained within the eternal geometry of the circle, the sacred receptacle with no beginning and no end. New mandalas will be added about once a week. In the alcove you may view a collection of exclusive, commissioned mandalas. For some very informative links on mandalas and other interesting topics, as well as access to several excellent webrings, feel free to stroll through the reading room at your leisure. And in the message board you can sign our guestbook, join our mailing list or participate in our mandala discussion forum.
You can also visit the Minis page for thumbnails of all mandalas in the gallery and the alcove.
The mandalaZone Archives:
Essays on Mandalas, Spirituality and the Universe...
"The Quest for Harmony: Life and the Mandala"
It is a wondrous, harmonious experience to gaze upon a mandala, feeling the movement of its undulating lines, the energy of its sweeping curves, the stability of its central point, the bindu. Yet when you are engaged in admiring the mandala's beauty and harmony, you would never say that these qualities are concentrated exclusively in the bindu. You feel it in the entirety of the image, in this tiny detail, that little shape, finding the unified arrangement of elements to be pleasing and harmonious. Our awareness moves through the mandala, visually, mentally and spiritually, experiencing its harmony as a complete and cohesive unity. We intuitively feel the intimate relations among its various parts—parts whose apparent individuality dissolves away as their underlying oneness becomes evident. This is a vision of deep and intense subconscious impact whose relevance and importance are mirrored in our own personal experience. Yet we forget how accurately the mandala can describe our lives, the day-to-day living of it. We must remember that ingrained in the mandala are the patterns and structures of ultimate reality, and that these are valuable lessons toward the betterment of our lives. To behave in greater accordance with the mandala is to live in greater harmony with the universe... (continue)
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Upcoming Appearances
Miami Bellydance Convention:
September 3-6, 2010
Intercontinental Hotel
100 Chopin Plaza
Downtown Miami, FL
(view map)
Art in the Park:
November 13-14, 2010
Liberty Tree Park
7421 NW 5th Street
Plantation, FL
(view map)
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