Releasing Anxieties to Gather Strength

This summer as we continue to explore the art of the mandala – creating within a circle – our practices begin to intertwine.  Our first workshop addressed how to let go of, release our anxieties through the process of “intuitive” mandala drawing which we featured in our June 28^th entry.  Discussing the importance of recognizing the emotional and spiritual issues that walk side by side a cancer diagnosis, our conversation turned to the importance of expanding our views of what gives us strength and what matters most in our lives.

 

Through a free-flow writing practice, a waterfall of strong poignant words cascaded through our group.  We took the energy from those words and began to create intentional mandalas for Centering Strength utilizing the method of Radial Symmetry. 

Radial: adj.  arranged like rays in a circular outward reaching manner

Symmetry: n. balance among structures or parts .  Symmetrical arrangement of elements, especially of radiating parts, about a central point.

Starting by planting a seed, a dot in the center of the page, we imagine that seed as an element of who we are becoming. Symbolically we surrounded our seeds with rich fertile soil, by encircling our potential for growth.  From there we draw empowering lines and shapes that radiate outward from our planted seed.

Slowly color was added with watercolor pencils.

Everyone made different color choices that reflected the various nuances of what it means to have strength. 

There is strength that is vivid and fierce, bright and brave.


There is strength that is soft spoken and quiet, fluid and full of movement.






Sometimes we need to follow our own direction and let the creation lead us where it may.  This mandala intertwines both techniques.

The creator of this mandala took an organic approach to drawing her mandala.  After completing it, she made several unexpected associations.  The golden colored center shape seemed lion-like, a fierce protector while the figure it surrounded seemed embryonic, a newborn dancing outward from the sea. 


She titled her mandala of Centering Strength - Becoming Whole Again.