Feeds:
Posts
Comments

February 2010 – Respect

January 31, 2010 by The Mandala Lady

February 2010 Mandala of the Month

February 2010 MOTM

To Download

  1. Click on the small image of this mandala on the right, it will open in a new browser window
  2. In this new window, the mouse will now be a zoom tool when you put it over the mandala (a magnifying glass with a plus in it).
  3. Click on the image, it will become very large
  4. Now you can print it

About This Month’s Mandala

When I asked the question “what’s the word for this mandala” the first word that blasted into my head  was “RESPECT” to which I was immediately reminded of Aretha Franklin and the lyrics to her song,  ”R…E…S…P…E…C…T….find out what it means to me…”

In looking up its definition, “respect” is both a noun and a verb.  As a verb it means “to feel or show deferential regard for; esteem.”  As a noun it means “the state of being regarded with honor or esteem; a willingness to show consideration or appreciation.”

And what kind of respect are we talking about?  The kind we feel out of honor or the kind we feel out of fear?  Parents/leaders/employers/elected officials/etc. often demand respect failing to realize that they have to EARN it.

So this begs the question, how well do we respect ourselves?  Do we treat ourselves with honor and appreciation?  Or do we often put ourselves down, act in a way that demonstrates low self worth or esteem.    Are we really eating that that second helping of dessert because we honor and respect ourselves?  How would our behavior change if we truly appreciated ourselves?

Which then leads into how well do we respect others?  Have you watched the news lately?  We have a lot of work to do.  Our country, our world is so divisive, so out of touch with each other that as a society we tend to be disrespectful to anyone who is different or thinks differently.  Even within our own inner circle of friends and neighbors, are we doing all that we can to be considerate/appreciative of them…regardless of how inconsiderate they may be to us?

I know it’s a tall order.   So let’s start with ourselves.  Let’s be more respective of and to ourselves.   We all  have value.  When we learn to honor ourselves, we will in turn learn how to honor others.  If this process requires that we stand up to someone for the first time, let’s do so with respect even if we fail to receive it in return. Know that sometimes the most respectful thing we can do in a given situation may be to walk away, to let them go.

Ponder the word respect…”find out what it means to you” as you color this month’s mandala.

Happy Coloring!

Maureen, The Mandala Lady

I would love to see your colorings…Upload them to Flickr at  http://www.flickr.com/groups/mandalas/

Posted in Asymmetry | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

January 2010 – Harmony

December 31, 2009 by The Mandala Lady

January 2010 Mandala of the Month

January 2010 MOTM

Download the January 2010 Mandala of the Month (~700kb)

Up until this morning I had little idea of what January’s MOTM would be.  Then I woke up from a short but powerful dream.  When I finished analyzing it I realized that I need to create more harmony and balance in my life.  Since today is New Year’s Eve, it seemed appropriate and fitting to declare this as my new year’s resolution for 2010:

Strive to create harmony and balance in every aspect of my life

If you want to read about the dream you can visit my dream blog

This mandala, to me, represents harmony…four objects floating along, separate but together.   In 2010 and beyond, let’s strive to each live our lives floating along, separate but together.

For the symmetry and asymmetry purists out there, this mandala may push your comfort levels a bit, since the two exist together here: the 4 symmetrical objects and then the asymmetrical background objects.

The idea of there being four objects is interesting as well.  In reading Carl Jung’s “Man and his Symbols” book, he talks about the four functions of consciousness:  thought, feeling, intuition and sensation.  Once suggestion I would offer is to is to focus on each function as you color each object and pay attention to what comes up for you as you do.

To all of you I whole heartily wish you a harmonious and balanced new year!

Happy Coloring!

Maureen, The Mandala Lady

I would love to see your colorings…Upload them to Flickr at  http://www.flickr.com/groups/mandalas/

Posted in Asymmetry, Symmetry | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

December 2009 – Perspective

November 30, 2009 by The Mandala Lady

December 2009 MOTM

December 2009 MOTM

Download the December 2009 Mandala of the Month (~650kb) Updated 12/4/09

Einstein defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results.  Regardless of how many times we beat our heads up against the wall, it’s still going to hurt.  So here’s my advice:  STOP IT!

If we want different results we have to do things differently and from a different perspective.  Einstein also stated that it’s impossible to solve problems from the same perspective as where they were created (I’m paraphrasing a bit).

Look at these two images…both of them are of Bondi Beach in Australia but from two different perspectives.   This ground level view looks like it could be almost any beach in the world and it with a limited view.

Bondi Beach

Bondi Beach - ground level

From the air, the view differs quite a bit. We see the horizon and what’s ‘around the corner’.  To me, the ‘peninsula’ looks like a crocodile/alligator/dragon head, with the rest of the body going inward over land.  It’s as if it is resting its smiley head in the cool, clear water, taking in some sun.

Bondi Beach - aerial view

Let’s look beyond what we see right in front of us and find a different perspective, a different view of what’s going on in our lives. Before coloring this mandala, rotate it around, look at it from multiple perspectives to find the view that works best for you.

Happy Coloring!

Maureen, The Mandala Lady

I would love to see your colorings…Upload them to Flickr at  http://www.flickr.com/groups/mandalas/

Posted in Asymmetry | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

November 2009 – Grateful

October 28, 2009 by The Mandala Lady

November 2009 MOTM

November MOTM

Before and during my recent travels to and from South Carolina, I found myself using the “H” (hate) word a lot.  To soften the harshness of the word, I’ll use h8 instead.

Some of what I said during the trip were: “I h8 how the airlines treat us like crap”, “I h8 having to go through security, it’s so degrading”, “I h8 the humidity”, “I h8 being hot”…you get the idea…a regular ole whiner I was.

Then on top of that I have the nerve to turn around and pontific8 about how awful it is that certain TV and radio programs promote and spread h8.  How am I any different from them with my thoughts and words of h8.  Yes they do it on a grander scale…but h8 is h8.  If we want to eliminate h8 from this planet, it has to start with us.

When I returned from my trip last week (10/21) I pondered this month’s MOTM and the word “grateful” popped into my head.  Ideas streamed in like instead of h8ing the airlines be grateful that I have the opportunity to fly anywhere.  Instead of h8ing that I have tinnitus be grateful that I can hear at all.  Instead of h8ing how much of a klutz I am, be grateful that I move around. Instead of h8ing the job, be grateful to have one.

Along with the gratitude, also see if anything can be done to change what we h8.  For example, send feedback to the airlines, have ears checked, be more careful, see if any other jobs are available or find a way to make the current one better.

After all this pondering, I then realized that November is the month of Thanksgiving here in the US.  How serendipitous (I got the spelling right the first time…yeah…I’m grateful my brain still works!)

So this month as we go about our days, be conscious of the subtle ways h8 infiltrates our thoughts and words.  Adopt an attitude of gratitude.

Go from h8ful to grateful!

Now go have fun coloring!  :-)

Download the November 2009 Mandala of the Month (~650kb)

I would love to see your colorings…Upload them to Flickr at  http://www.flickr.com/groups/mandalas/

Happy Coloring!

Maureen, The Mandala Lady

Posted in Symmetry | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

October 2009 – Ray Dance

October 1, 2009 by The Mandala Lady

October 2009 MOTM

October 2009 MOTM

Late one afternoon, about 9 years ago my husband and I drove to Mary’s Peak (Oregon) even though the road to the top was still closed due to snow. We stopped at the parking lot next to the road block.

Our initial intent was to hike the trail up for a little while to just check it out and maybe go to the top…it seemed like it should be pretty close to where we were on the trail. As we hiked along, it always seemed that around each ‘next turn’ would be the top of the peak. Two hours later with much exhilaration and being quite sore and worn out we made it to the top.

In the middle of climbing this path, in the midst of a gazillion trees, a defining moment occurred when these gorgeous rays of sunshine came streaking through the trees at a steep angle that just lit up the whole area. It took my breath away it. Regardless of  the forest,  the sun still managed to cut through all the trees and shine before us.

October’s MOTM is all about letting our light shine through regardless of what tries to block us along the way.  What blocks us from shining our light?  What blocks us from moving forward?  Family? Friends?  Fear? Anger?  Doubt?  Chances are we and our negative dialog are our own worst enemies.

Pay attention to the blocks.  Be aware of them first then do what you can to go around them or through them.  It could be that they are there to test your resolve.  How important to you is it to you?  Do you really want it?  What are you willing to do to achieve it?  It could be the block will alter your course to something better.

The road block may have stopped us from driving to the top, yet we managed to find another way up.  The trees may have blocked out most of the sky, yet the sun still managed to find openings to shine through.

Let’s keep moving forward.  Even if we can only take baby steps, we’re still moving forward.

Now go have fun coloring!  :-)

Download the October 2009 Mandala of the Month (~335kb)

I would love to see your colorings…Upload them to Flickr at  http://www.flickr.com/groups/mandalas/

Happy Coloring!

Maureen, The Mandala Lady

Posted in Asymmetry | Tagged , , , | Leave a Comment »

September 2009 – Vibrations

August 31, 2009 by The Mandala Lady

September 2009 MOTM

September 2009 MOTM

Some of you may be old enough to know the Beach Boys song, “Good Vibrations”.   That’s what we’re striving for this month…good vibrations.  We are all energy…you, me, the computer keyboard I’m typing on right now, the chair I’m sitting, and so on.  Energy has a vibration, a frequency.  This month’s MOTM is all about vibrations and what rate of frequency do we want to vibrate.

Imagine a social gathering.  People are coming and going.  One person walks into the room and just lights up the whole place.  Everyone is happy to see that person.  Some people even stop what they are doing to head over to that person because they just want to be in that person’s presence.

Another person walks into the room and has the exact opposite happens.  As a matter of fact some people even walk out of the room.  As sense of dread floats over the room; everyone hoping this new member to the social event stays away from them.

Notice some of the other people at the event: the wallflower, the butterfly, the observer, the BS’er, just to name a few.  We’ve all seen these people, we may have been all of these types of people at one time or another.  One thing they all have in common is that they all are vibrating at a certain frequency.  The higher the vibration, the more people want to be around them.

What frequency rate are you vibrating?  Which person at the social gathering do you want to be?  When we are more upbeat, joyful, in a place of gratitude and appreciation we are vibrating at a higher frequency.   When we are in a state of fear, anger, or worry we are vibrating at a much lower frequency.   We are all responsible for our own vibration.

The higher our frequency the better we feel on all levels.  Sure others around us my try to raise or worse lower our vibration, ultimately, though, it’s our responsibility.   Even when bad things appear to be happening, maintain a higher vibration.  This month let’s focus on our vibration; let’s do all we can to raise it.  Color this month’s MOTM with this thought in mind.  Collectively our higher frequencies can make a dramatic difference in the world around us.

Now go have fun coloring!  :-)

Download the September 2009 Mandala of the Month (~325kb)

NEWS FLASH: I set up a group on Flickr for you to post your colorings for the MOTMs!

http://www.flickr.com/groups/mandalas/

Happy Coloring!

Maureen, The Mandala Lady

Posted in Asymmetry | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

August 2009 – Up Close & Personal

July 31, 2009 by The Mandala Lady

August 2009

August 2009

This is one of those mandalas where the look of it changes as you rotate it around.  Each turn gives you a new perspective.  Last month we were to work on being still, this month its about going inward, from every possible perspective, to take a good look at ourselves.

This one deals with a heavier concept than any of the other mandalas…if you can handle it then continue reading otherwise go directly to the download link.

Too often we point at this thing or that person or that group for the cause of our grief, fears, and suffering, when in actuality we ourselves, individually, are responsible for our own grief, fears, and suffering.   Oh sure there are some outside influences that give the appearance of causing us great harm; ultimately, though, we decide, each one of us, how we are going to react and be.

Everything is an opinion, either our own or one we’ve adopted from someone else.  To read more about this concept, I highly recommend reading Stuart Wilde’s “Weight Loss for the Mind.”  It’s a little book packed with powerful ideas.  I’ve read it at least 20 times and carry it with me wherever I go.

Much of our suffering comes from thinking that the so called ‘awful’ people or ‘awful’ circumstances in our world are making our lives miserable, when in reality they are reflections of what we are hesitant/fearful to look at inside ourselves.   You know that saying “when you point your finger, three fingers are pointing back at you?”   Well that’s’ what this month’s mandala is asking us to do…when something or someone outside of ourselves is upsetting us, color this mandala (or make up your own) and as you do, take a look at where and/or how that is playing itself out inside of ourselves.

Several years ago I discovered the cause of my dad’s rage and thus a lot of our family’s anguish.  Anytime he thought someone was trying to make him feel or look stupid, he would blow up.  When I discovered this I decided to write him a letter about what I learned.  In the process of writing the letter I became painfully aware that I do the same thing as he does.  What an eye opener.  I had a similar experience when I was journaling about all the things that upset me about my mother…I realized that I did each and every one of those things.

It’s time to face up to and take responsibility for our role in our own grief and suffering.  It’s time to get up close and personal with ourselves.   Coloring the mandala while you’re doing this will help with the process.  You may end up coloring it more than once and from different perspectives.  Also try using different media (colored pencils, crayons, collage, pastels, etc.)

Now go have fun coloring!  :-)

Download the August 2009 Mandala of the Month (~650kb)

If the size of the file is a problem for you, let me know and I’ll make a smaller file version.

If you want to be notified when the next month’s mandala is available, sign up to be on my email list.

Happy Coloring!

Maureen, The Mandala Lady

ADDED 8/5/09:  Here’s an interesting read from Deepak Chopra entitled “Are You Denying Your Darks Side?”

Posted in Asymmetry | Tagged , , | Leave a Comment »

July 2009 – Be Still

July 1, 2009 by The Mandala Lady

July 2009 MOTM

July 2009 MOTM

Okay how many of you have trouble being still? Anyone? Anyone? I’ll have you know my hand went up first! Let me clarify a bit…I am quite capable of physically being still, it’s being still mentally that’s the challenge.

Two weeks ago I was doing something that required me to take 3 deep breaths, and on the 3rd I was to exhale through my mouth and open my eyes. By breath 2 my mind was already a million miles away and was at count 4 or 5 before I realized it.

What do you think would happen if everyone on this planet would just be still for 10 minutes or even 5 minutes? Can you imagine that? Even for a moment? I hope so because that’s this month’s assignment, as well as coloring this rather intriguing mandala design.

We need to do whatever we can to find moments of time to just be still; that can be anywhere from taking 15 minutes out of your day, each day, to meditate, or to taking a conscious deep breath as often as you can remember throughout the day.

Just stop and be still.   On a physical level, we’ll lower your heart rate/blood pressure, think more clearly, calm our nerves, and just plain feel better.  On another level, we’ll connect with that higher part of ourselves that has all the answers, our intuitive selves, our higher conscious, our soul, or whatever your want to call it.

You can even practice being still while you’re coloring. Color one section or with one color for a while and before you move onto the next section or next color, just stop and be still.

Now go have fun coloring!  :-)

Download the July 2009 Mandala of the Month (~600kb)

If the size of the file is a problem for you, let me know and I’ll make a smaller file version.

If you want to be notified when the next month’s mandala is available, sign up to be on my email list.

Happy Coloring!

Maureen, The Mandala Lady

PS>  Deepak Chopra offers a wonderful & easy heart meditation, which involves being still.  It’s main focus is on dealing with loss or loneliness however this meditation is great for anyone regardless of your current emotional/psychological state.    (added 7/2/09)

Posted in Asymmetry | Tagged , , , | Leave a Comment »

June 2009 – Persistence

May 31, 2009 by The Mandala Lady

June 2009

June 2009

It took persistence for me to draw out this month’s MTOM; five tries to be exact.  I almost accepted the second version even though I felt it was still off a bit.

The easy way out would have been to stop at that one yet I kept feeling like I had to try again.  On the fifth try it clicked for me.  It felt right.  I’m glad I persisted; otherwise I would have settled for something less than the best.

Throughout all versions, I kept hearing this phrase in my head:  “diamond in the rough.”  And when I was done, I heard “we are a work in progress.”

Last month’s MOTM was about finding balance and being gentle on ourselves.  Regardless of setbacks, keep moving forward.  Apparently, this month we expand on this them to add persistence to the mix.  Know that we are a work in progress; like a diamond, it takes time, some effort, and a lot of patience.

I heard that Edison made 1,000 light bulbs before he finally got it right.  When asked about it, he is quoted as saying, “We now know 1,000 ways not to build a light bulb. Each “failure” was another step toward success.”

In this day and age of instant everything, we as a culture tend to give up on things if they fail to work the first, second or even third time.  If you have a passion for something or a goal you want to achieve, be persistent.  Understand that set backs are just opportunities for adjustments; welcome them instead of dread them.  Like the song says “pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again.”  I would also include “do a happy dance.”

Now go have fun coloring!  :-)

Download the June 2009 Mandala of the Month (~680kb)

If the size of the file is a problem for you, let me know and I’ll make a smaller file version.

If you want to be notified when the next month’s mandala is available, sign up to be on my email list.

Happy Coloring!

Maureen, The Mandala Lady

Posted in Symmetry | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments »

May 2009 – Delicate Balance

May 1, 2009 by The Mandala Lady

May 2009 MOTM

May 2009 MOTM

This was a two day process.  Yesterday while meditating I saw the 3-pointed celtic-like image.  The rest came today while sketching out the entire mandala.

How easy is it for you to be off balance?  For me, it usually takes a rude driver, eating dairy (lactose intolerant), too little sleep, or forgetting to stay centered and grounded.

Ever watch people who walk a high wire?   They delicately balance themselves as they slowly and steadily walk across the wire.  Rather than being rigid, they fluidly waver ever so slightly back and forth, constantly adjusting their balance with every step.

How many times have we declared we’re going to ____________ (fill in the goal) and then have a set back (loose our peace, eat that piece of cake, smoke one more cigarette, miss a deadline, etc.).

Forget about being hard on yourself for the misstep.  Instead get back on the wire and keep moving forward.  We’ll make better progress by doing a pattern of two steps forward and one step back than by stopping and giving up completely.

One of my favorite quotes of late is by Vernon Howard (www.anewlife.org) who said, “The single most important thing is for you to persist in spite of everything.”

Now go have fun coloring!  :-)

Download the May 2009 Mandala of the Month (~800kb)  [the link to this was fixed on 5/2/09 - my apologies]

If the size of the file is a problem for you, let me know and I’ll make a smaller file version.

If you want to be notified when the next month’s mandala is available, sign up to be on my email list.

Happy Coloring!

Maureen, The Mandala Lady

Posted in Symmetry | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Older Posts »