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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)

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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

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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

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April 2009 – Pretty, Please

April 2, 2009 by The Mandala Lady

April 2009 Mandala of the Month

April 2009 Mandala of the Month

I was barely started in my meditation for this month’s rather intriguing mandala when the view of the upper half just flew into my head.  The other half came in after I drew out the upper part.

The words, “Pretty, Please” came to mind while I was doing something else and I happened to ask myself, ‘what is the word or phrase for this mandala?’

When I hear the phrase ‘pretty, please’, I’m reminded of a small child being really cute, trying deparately to get what he/she wants.  What also comes to mind is the phrase, “make it pretty, please.”  That’s when I started pondering the word “pretty.”

We use “pretty” in several ways:  I feel pretty good…it looks pretty bad (isn’t that an oxymoron?)…you look pretty.  It’s the last one where we tend to get hung up.  I have people tell me often that they have stopped coloring because they have trouble making it look pretty.

Here’s what I have to say to that…FORGET ABOUT MAKING IT LOOK PRETTY…JUST HAVE FUN COLORING! It’s the experience of coloring that is more important.  If at the end of coloring you happen to like what you see, great!  Otherwise, let it go.  Just color…play with colors, practice, learn about colors…just color!

So, please, please, pretty please, pull out your crayons or pencils and color.  You’ll thank me for it later.  And if you can, have the whole family sit down and color together.

Download the April 2009 Mandala of the Month [~1m]

The download link is now working (4/2/09)

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

I would really enjoy hearing from you about your experience with coloring this or any of the other mandalas.  Feel free to submit comments (and especially your colorings) to this blog.

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

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March 2009 – Eureka!

March 1, 2009 by The Mandala Lady

March 2009 MOTM

March 2009 MOTM

 

This mandala design came to me one section at a time.  First the arched horizontal lines, then the sloping upward lines, and then the shape at the top.  When I was done and contemplating its meaning, the first word that popped into my head was “Hallelujah”.  I continued to ponder this when the word changed to Eureka! and then the words/meaning just flowed.

This is about finding the gold that’s buried inside of all of us.  Some of you may know of your gold, most of us tend to focus on our faults, failings, character defects, or whatever name you give that negative crap that keeps you from growing.  Sadly, they seem to be easier to find and closer to the surface.

Our goal this month is to take the time to find our nuggets of gold buried deep within; our talents, skills, joys, laughter, etc.  Focus on that, let that be our quest.  Color the mandala of the month and let the gold come to the surface.  As it does, proclaim “Eureka!” in any way that works for you.  

As the negative speak comes to the surface (and it will), acknowledge it, thank it for sharing, and then let it go like a feather in the breeze.  Continue digging; continue coloring.

Here’s a head start nugget:  You are whole and complete just as you are.  Eureka!

NEW FEATURE: You can now color this mandala online

As always, have fun coloring this month’s MOTM!

Download the March 2009 MOTM [~740k]

I would really enjoy hearing from you about your experience with coloring this or any of the other mandalas.  Feel free to submit comments (and especially your colorings) to this blog.

When you finish coloring it, you can upload a digital image of your coloring which will then be posted on the “View MOTM Colorings” page of this blog (see tab at top of this page).

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

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February 2008 – Calmness

January 23, 2009 by The Mandala Lady

February 2009 MOTM Thumbnail This month’s mandala came to me rather quickly today. And when I put the question out there about what word goes with this mandala, the first word that popped into my head was “calmness”.  I highly recommend that you read Wikipedia’s definition of calmness and Merriam-Webster’s definition of calmness.

It’s interesting that it is the word “calmness” (abstract noun) versus the word “calm” (adjective).   As an adjective, “calm” further describes another word (ie: a calm day, a calm sea, she remained calm…how did she remain? calm).  The word calmness, however, describes a state of being, it stands on its own.

This mandala is about creating calmness in our lives regardless of what’s going on around us.  Calmness can be achieved in many ways; yoga, meditation, deep breathing, to name a few.  In general, coloring, and especially coloring mandalas, is a fun way to meditate allowing you to achieve calmness.

This particular design has many possibilities, especially if you rotate it around; it changes with each different perspective.  To me it looks like floating sheets of paper interlaced with each other, like catching a snapshot of cards being shuffled.

For the month of February strive to achieve calmness in whatever way works best for you.  Coloring this mandala is a step in that direction.  Bring it and your pencils or crayons with you so that when you are in a situation that’s stressful (and it’s safe to do so), pull it out and start coloring.  Just 15 minutes a day will make a big difference.

NEW FEATURE: You can now color this mandala online

As always, have fun coloring this month’s MOTM!

Download the February 2009 MOTM [~740k]

I would really enjoy hearing from you about your experience with coloring this or any of the other mandalas.  Feel free to submit comments (and especially your colorings) to this blog.

When you finish coloring it, you can upload a digital image of your coloring which will then be posted on the “View MOTM Colorings” page of this blog (see tab at top of this page).

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

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January 2009 – Acceptance

January 2, 2009 by The Mandala Lady

200901_th

January 2009

A few weeks ago I had the thought that the MOTMs have a word or phrase that go with them. When I did the meditation for this month’s MOTM, along with the design, the word “Acceptance” came to mind.

Starting out the new year with the idea of ‘acceptance’ seems quite appropriate.  This time of year we usually look back at the past along with looking forward to the future…creating resolutions as a way to make improvements in our lives.  To determine what we want to change, it requires us to know where we are right now.

More importantly, we need to accept ourselves just as we are right now in this moment and without judgment.

One of my greatest challenges has been dealing with remorse and/or guilt over things I’ve done in the past.  I’m come to learn that everything I’ve done, I’ve done based on what I knew and understood at that time.   To look back and say “How could I have done that?” is a waste of energy.  It’s more helpful to take an honest look at it, accept what happened, correct what needs correcting and learn to do it differently next time.

Along with accepting ourselves, let’s also look at accepting others in that same light. Like us, everyone is where they are based on their choices and life experiences.  We are all doing the best we can where we are right now.

While coloring this month’s MOTM, keep the idea of acceptance in mind and how it plays out in your life and in the lives of others.

As always, have fun coloring this month’s MOTM!

Download the January 2009 MOTM [770k]

I would really enjoy hearing from you about your experience with coloring this or any of the other mandalas.  Feel free to submit comments (and especially your colorings) to this blog.

When you finish coloring it, you can upload a digital image of your coloring which will then be posted on the “View MOTM Colorings” page of this blog (see tab at top of this page).

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

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December 2008

December 8, 2008 by The Mandala Lady

200812_th My apologies for this being so late.  Some of you, including myself, may have thought that this month’s mandala would be seasonal (holidays, winter, etc.).  However when I did the meditation for it I initially saw steps starting at the upper left and proceeding downward to the bottom right.  The rest just fell into place after drawing what I saw.

With this design I see all sorts of possibilities.

  • It looks like something opening or closing (like a clam shell)
  • A river running through hills, valleys, or fields
  • Pleated material
  • Ties overlapping each other just a bit

Maybe you see something completely different.  Take you time and look at it from all angels. 

As always, have fun coloring this month’s MOTM!

Download the December 2008 MOTM [770k]

I would really enjoy hearing from you about your experience with coloring this or any of the other mandalas.  Feel free to submit comments (and especially your colorings) to this blog.

When you finish coloring it, you can upload a digital image of your coloring which will then be posted on the “View MOTM Colorings” page of this blog (see tab at top of this page).

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

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November 2008

October 18, 2008 by The Mandala Lady

November 2008 MOTM

November 2008 MOTM

For this month’s MOTM, I easily saw the basic shape in the upper right corner of the mandala…a line with a half circle attached at the end.  From there it just flowed to repeating that basic shape around the circle.  To me it looks like sheets blowing in the wind back when I was a kid and responsible for hanging the laundry out on the clothesline.

You may, I hope, see something completely different.  You could color in patterns within each “sheet”; either doing each sheet the same way or making each one different.  Because of the asymmetry of this design, I recommend rotating the mandala around to find the perspective that works best for you.   At some angles, it looks like a bunch of ‘Y’s, which makes me think that this mandala would be a good one to contemplate the ‘whys’ in your life.  Do you have any burning ‘whys’?  From another angle, the ‘Y’s look like lower case ‘h’s.   Does that trigger anything for you?

As always, have fun coloring this month’s MOTM!

Download the November 2008 MOTM

I would really enjoy hearing from you about your experience with coloring this or any of the other mandalas.  Feel free to submit comments (and especially your colorings) to this blog.

When you finish coloring it, you can upload a digital image of your coloring which will then be posted on the “View MOTM Colorings” page of this blog (see tab at top of this page).

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

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October 2008

September 23, 2008 by The Mandala Lady

October 2008 MOTM

October 2008 MOTM

Receiving this month’s MOTM was a little different.  While I was preparing myself to connect with my team, I began seeing an abstract version of the Eiffel Tower.   I sketched it out as I saw it after making my connections.  It was very odd and felt very cold and heartless to me, which is the opposite of what I know mandalas to be.  If I had to apply a sound to it, it would sound like a cracked bell…a clanking thud.

I re-grouped, and made sure I was listening to and seeing what my team wanted me to see.  My intuition was right, the mandala that then came through was totally different…it’s what you see here.  This felt more like the mandala for this month.  To me it feels more alive and vibrant with all kinds of possibilities.

So what’s to be gained from this experience?  It’s okay, and probably highly recommended, to question something that feels off and to trust your own judgment and intuition.

Before coloring this mandala, look at it from a variety of angles.  How does the line figure into this?  At first it may look like circular objects (mini mandalas? snow? bubbles, rain drops?) falling down from the sky.  Look at it again.  Imagine you’re a bird flying around and you happen to look down.  Does it look like people walking (viewing them from the tops of their heads), near or on a road and/or vegetation (trees, bushes, etc.)…similar to a landscape plan?  What other perspectives can you see?

Have fun playing with this one.

Download the October 2008 MOTM

I would really enjoy hearing from you about your experience with coloring this or any of the other mandalas.  Feel free to submit comments (and especially your colorings) to this blog.

When you finish coloring it, you can upload a digital image of your coloring which will then be posted on the “View MOTM Colorings” page of this blog (see tab at top of this page).

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

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