Bumble Bee Mandala
On a recent trip to Mt. Shasta I continued my quest to honor the delightful insect world by drawing a mandala based on the energy of this evocative creature, the Bumble Bee. The energy is definitely that of “where there is a will, there’s a way”.
Japanese Mandala
This mandala was done on a trip to the Hawaiian Islands while I stayed in the home of a wonderful Japanese woman. Without thinking much about it I naturally started to create a motif from my experience with Japanese patterns learned about when I lived in the Islands as an adolescent. It was a fun project and kept me busy for most of the trip. The inspiration of the simple, yet intricate motif inspired me to think about how much that culture permeated my consciousness when I was a teenager and how lovely and gracious I still consider this culture.
Sacred Heart Mandala
This mandala came to me as I was beginning to understand that I, along with many others, have had a hard time opening my heart fully. Childhood wounds last a long time and are imprinted indelibly on the young psyche. It takes a lot of discipline to start changing behaviors which can then reflect back to the soul that it is safe to come into the opening of intimacy. This can be a long journey and it is absolutely necessary for our planet that we at least try to be part of this movement toward the unbounded heart.
Star of David Mandala
For many years, I have worked with the Four Directions symbolically in both the Shamanic tradition as well as the rituals I have performed with my tribe of friends. After working with such a feminine energy in the Dragonfly piece, I wanted to try something more native to the land. This more masculine mandala soon arrived to meet my desire.
The square symbolizes the four directions, East, West, North and South and is superimposed with two Star of David motifs, which represent Unity and Balance of the spiritual and the material realms. The tiny triangles in the borders and colors of red, turquoise and green seemed to give this piece an indigenous quality and it felt like a grounded piece based on spiritual wisdom. This mandala was dedicated to David Glenn, Santa Cruz artist, on March 21st, the date of his transition to the Spirit world.
Spider Web Mandala
This mandala is a representation of the cosmic web of creation. As humans we are blessed to be a part of the radiant light the emanates from the central axis and allows us to feel a part of all the layers. It is important that there are mechanisms in place for each social and psychological collective unit to maintain unity and harmony is the microcosmic web as well as the macrocosmic. Weaving the web together periodically through group ritual recognizing initiations of birth, death, unions and the cycles of nature is an important function of maintaining the web.
