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January 2013: When All Else Fails…

Posted in Asymmetry, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on January 1, 2013 | 2 Comments »

January 2013 MotM

January 2013 MotM

Download the January 2013 Mandala of the month

When all else fails…

  • read the directions
  • start over again
  • chart a new course
  • punt

Just a short list of some possible endings to “when all else fails.” You may have a few of your own to add to this list.

With so many possible interpretations for all the sections of this mandala, here too we have many possible endings to “when all else fails.”

I sense that the overall meaning of this month’s mandala relates to our often futile search outside of ourselves for peace, joy, and the answers to our life’s questions…when in reality we just need to stop, breathe, and re-connect to that higher part of ourselves that always is there for us, offering peace, joy, answers, etc.

I use the word re-connect because when we seek outside, we disconnect and forget. And while shopping, chocolate, video games, etc. give us moments of fun and joy, their effects are temporary…until we get the next fix.

For some of us connecting with our higher self, even believing that we even have a higher self, can seem challenging. How can we trust it? What if I receive an answer I don’t like? What if it tells me to do something I don’t want to do? Ah..that’s where exploring and experimenting with it comes into play.

We always have free will. Regardless of what comes to us, we have the option to ignore it. Over time however as we start to pay attention, and even follow through on some of it, we come to realize that we are only guided with what’s in our best interest and for the highest good of all.

Start with the little things and work up to the bigger things. A fun one I like to play with is when I have more than one way to drive to a destination. I just check in to see which way feels like it would get me there quickly, safely and easily in that moment. Sometimes it takes me the longer route distance-wise, and yet I managed to arrive quicker than I thought.

Just play with it and ponder it as you color this month’s mandala of the month.

Happy Coloring! Happy 2013!

joyfully,

Maureen, The Mandala lady

www.facebook.com/TheMandalaLady

Be sure to download Section 1 of the 2013 Mandala of the Year.

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May 2011: Is that a Fact?

Posted in Asymmetry, tagged , , , , , , , , on May 1, 2011 | 1 Comment »

May 2011 MotM

Download the May 2011 Mandala of the month

How much of what we experience in our lives is factual? I know with our current state of the media, often times what is reported as fact is really someone’s opinion stated as if it was factual. Most people who watch it think “If it’s reported as news, it must be true.”

To take that comment on a more personal level, if someone of perceived authority says to us, “you’re stupid”, “you’re smart”, “you’re skinny”, “you’re fat”, “you’re ugly”, “you’re pretty”, “you’re a klutz”, “you’re a jerk”, “you’re a sweetheart”, etc”, well then it must be true…why would this person lie. All of those statements are opinions; and some can hurt. Statements of fact would be more like “you’re 5’2″ tall”, “you have blue eyes”, or “you weigh 150 lbs.”

How much of what we’ve been told over the years have we accepted as fact when in reality it is opinion? As a kid I spilled milk at the dinner table a couple of times and from that point on “they” called me a klutz…which I bought into and accepted as a fact for a good portion of my life. And yes, I have cried about it on a few occasions.

For years I hated meatloaf and declared it as if it were fact. Then one day, as an adult, I decided to make a meatloaf and found out that I love it! While that too is an opinion, it’s an opinion made after testing out my previous opinion. In another experiment I found out that “yep…I hate peas.” Still an opinion however I based it upon testing it’s validity.

A fact is black and white…it either is or it isn’t. Opinions, however, can change…and opinions vary based on perspective or context (one woman’s junk is another woman’s treasure). If I stand next to a person who weighs 102 lbs, I would be considered overweight. On the other hand, if I stand next to a morbidly obese person, I would be considered thin.

My father calls himself stupid because while growing up during the depression he had to drop out of school to help support the family. To me he’s a genius…and I make sure to tell him often. He can walk into a room and tell you how much dry wall it would take to cover the walls just by visually scanning the room. He can calculate in his head, in fractions, measurements for perfectly installing a door, building a house, making a wooden rocking horse, and so on. My dad considers himself stupid because he lacks book smarts. I tell you this, when it comes to carpentry and all things construction I’d go to my dad before I’d go to any professor at MIT. Being “stupid” is an opinion.

In my opinion I consider myself to be fat (the medical industry calls me overweight). However calling myself fat is yet another way to belittle myself and sabotage my overall well-being. The fact is, I weigh 150 lbs. Looking at it from a factual perspective, I can choose to continue to be 150 lbs or I can choose to do something different. Regardless, I am worthwhile and deserve to be happy and at peace with myself.

As we go about the month of May, let’s pay attention to the comments we make to others and especially the ones to ourselves. Is what we’re saying a fact or opinion? If it is an opinion, is it the truth? From where did this opinion originate?

Affirmation for the month: 

Even though I am (fill in the blank), I am worthwhile and deserve to be happy and at peace with myself just as I am.

Keep the affirmations in the positive and factual vs opinion. Examples:

  • Instead of saying ‘even though I am fat…’ say “even though my body weighs 150 lbs…”
  • Instead of saying ‘even though I’m stupid…’ say “even though I dropped out of school…” (or whatever the basis is for you thinking you’re “stupid”)
  • Instead of saying ‘even though I can’t afford to buy a new computer… ‘ say “even though I currently lack the funds to buy a new computer…”

Feel free to share any affirmations you are using in the comment section.

Also…be sure to check out Section 5 of the Mandala of the Year.

Happy Coloring!

joyfully, Maureen, The Mandala Lady

*IMHO – in my humble opinion

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November 2009 – Grateful

Posted in Symmetry, tagged , , , , , , , , on October 28, 2009 | Leave a Comment »

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

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February 2008 – Calmness

Posted in Symmetry, tagged , , , , , on January 23, 2009 | 1 Comment »

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, subscribe in the upper right corner.

Happy Coloring!

Maureen, The Mandala Lady

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January 2009 – Acceptance

Posted in Asymmetry, tagged , , , , on January 2, 2009 | Leave a Comment »

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, subscribe in the upper right column.

Happy Coloring!

Maureen, The Mandala Lady

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December 2008

Posted in Symmetry, tagged , , , on December 8, 2008 | Leave a Comment »

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, subscribe in the upper right column.

Happy Coloring!

Maureen, The Mandala Lady

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November 2008

Posted in Asymmetry, tagged , , on October 18, 2008 | Leave a Comment »

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, subscribe up to the right of this page.

Happy Coloring!

Maureen, The Mandala Lady

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October 2008

Posted in Asymmetry, tagged , , on September 23, 2008 | Leave a Comment »

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, subscribe in the upper right column.

Happy Coloring!

Maureen, The Mandala Lady

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August 2008

Posted in Symmetry, tagged , , on July 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment »

August 2008 I barely sat down to do my meditation for August’s MOTM design and this idea just popped into my head. At first I thought it was suppose to be more ‘perfectly’ drawn (lines straighter, circles more circular); I soon realized that this one is to be purposely off-kilter. It’s a combination of both symmetry and asymmetry in one design. When I look at some of the ‘squares’ they look like what bed sheets look like when drying on an outdoor clothesline on a breezy day. As a kid, that was one of my jobs, hanging the clothes out to dry…including the sheets. I look forward to seeing how all of you color this one.

Download August 2008 Mandala (PDF File)

Once you’ve colored it, you can upload a digital image of it to my “Mandala of the Month” web page:

You can view its various colorings by selecting the “View Colorings” tab at the top of this blog page.

Happy Coloring! – Maureen, The Mandala Lady

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