Bi-Weekly Tarot Reading: 12-14-14 through 12-27-14
AND
Blog #32: What Are Mandalas?
LEGACY OF THE DIVINE TAROT
QUEEN OF CUPS: A time for feeling supportive, nurturing, and kind to others. Let the Queen energy permeate your whole being as you bring unconditional love, peace, and joy to all those you meet. Allow your aura to expand outward to others, and show them the blessings of consideration and kindness.
6 OF COINS: This is the season for giving, but it is also important to remember that there should always be an exchange of energy. This means that the balance of giving and receiving should be present, so allow others to give to you, not just in terms of material things, but also regarding time and effort. Take care of yourself by resting and by providing physical and emotional nourishment to yourself to maintain strong health and well-being.
8 OF COINS: As the New Year approaches, take a few moments to think about the upcoming year and what you would like to accomplish. Get a few ideas of what you can do to plan for your future, rather than just allowing things to happen willy-nilly. Contemplate where you want to go, and come up with even just one or two goals that are possible for you to achieve. You may be amazed at the results.
BI-WEEKLY THEME: Show kindness, love, and support to all those around you. Have a smile on your face and a kind word for everyone, for you have the power to transform the attitudes of others simply by doing this. Stay in balance by keeping your giving and receiving in equilibrium, and be sure to give yourself breaks from hectic activities. Remember to start thinking of some attainable goals you would like to work on in the New Year. You have the ability to accomplish whatever you set your mind to.
Blog #32: What Are Mandalas?
Retrieved from caterina-artfulmusings.BlogSpot.com
Mandalas have been around since ancient times and have been
created by many peoples, such as Tibetan Buddhists, Tibetan monks, the ancient
Aztecs and Navajos of the Americas, and the Taoists in Asia.
Wikipedia defines mandala as: “In common use, mandala has become a generic term
for any diagram, chart or geometric pattern that represents the cosmos
metaphysically or symbolically; a microcosm of the universe.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandala)
The word itself is a Sanskrit word meaning “circle”, which
represents wholeness. One author
describes it as “a cosmic diagram that reminds us of our relation to the
infinite, the world that extends both beyond and without our bodies and minds.”
(http://www.mandalaproject.org/What/Index.html)
Another interesting origin of the word is given by an author who says that it comes from the root Sanskrit word “manda”, which means “essence and “la”, meaning container. So it is a “container of essence”, which could be seen as an image that holds the basic, real, and invariable nature of a thing. (http://www.exoticindiaart.com/article/mandala/)
Buddhist monks continue to make beautiful and intricate sand mandalas, which take days to create. After holding a ceremony, they sweep it into a jar and put the sand into a body of water as a blessing. The creation and destruction of the mandala symbolizes the cycle of life.
Although there may be many squares or triangles in a complex mandala, the circular and concentric structure is always present. The elements are balanced, demonstrating unity and harmony. Many different kinds of mandalas can be found on the internet, so you can check out the wide variety by going to Images on Google.
What are mandalas used for?
Some people like to meditate by gazing at a mandala. You can do this whether you create your own mandala or obtain one from the internet or other source.
One author says that the design of the mandala should be visually appealing so that the mind is fully engaged and gets away from the chatter that goes on if we don’t concentrate on something else. The meditation can be used to gain the kind of knowledge within us, which could allow access to your higher consciousness or clarity on issues that have been bothering you.
Mandalas used in meditation
If you want to try a mandala meditation, here are some steps to follow:
1. Select a mandala that is attractive to you, or that appeals to you in some way.
2. Find out the meaning of the mandala that you have chosen, or set your own meaning/intention before focusing on it.
3. Set your intention. Here is an example of setting your intention using a Native American labyrinth mandala:
".
. .we know this meaning of mandala relates to beginnings, our eternal nature,
and how this is relative to our life journey. So, before meditating on the
mandala we set the intention to more clearly understand our life journey, or be
shown guidance in a particular area (where) we are having trouble on the path.” (http://www.whats-your-sign.com/meaning-of-mandala.html)
4.
Focus on the mandala, looking at the beauty of the designs. If your mind wanders or starts chattering,
just bring it back to the mandala. Fall
into it, letting it absorb all of your attention.
Creating your own mandala
If you prefer, you can create your own mandala to express your individuality or even to work through issues or challenges you may be having. The Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung associated the mandala with the Self, or the center of the total personality. He saw it as growth toward wholeness depicting one’s uniqueness and a reflection of the Self. For these reasons, he would have his patients create their own mandalas and then assist them in deciphering what their mandalas said about themselves.
If you are interested in creating your own mandalas and would like to understand more about this process, a great reference is Susanne F. Fincher’s book Creating Mandalas (1991).
Painting, drawing, or coloring our
own mandalas allows us to use our creative right-brain, and this can lead to
amazing healing and insights into ourselves and our lives. There are tools available to help you with
this process. (See http://www.whats-your-sign.com/free-mandala-coloring-pages.html).
For even more creative opportunities
that could give amazing results, just start with a blank circle and start
drawing/coloring/painting whatever comes to mind. Have fun with it! Your mandala can symbolize your journey
through life, tell a story of where you have been, or what you should do to
grow and develop. (http://spiritualawakening.weebly.com/mandalas-what-are-they.html)
If you want a different meditation experience and believe
that using a mandala may be the key to opening new doors for you, it may be
worthwhile to explore mandalas more.
Sources
Fincher, Susanne F. (1991) Creating Mandalas. Boston, Massachusetts: Shambhala Publications,
Inc.
No comments:
Post a Comment