The Mandala

Crochet Mandala

Mandala is Sanskrit for circle, polygon, community and connection. The circle concept exists in nature, is found in many religious symbols and represents wholeness. Mandalas are intricate designs that can be a part of the meditating experience. When you color a mandala, your goal is to focus on the process of coloring, and being mindful of how the colors make you feel. It is very relaxing and calming.

The psychoanalyst Carl Jung, saw the mandala as "a representation of the unconscious self" and believed his paintings of mandalas enabled him to identify emotional disorders and work towards wholeness in personality. Jung suggests the mandala is a form of expression often found in dreams.  In his writings on mandala symbolism, Carl Jung refers to the mandala as "the psychological expression of the totality of the self."  [C.J. Jung, Mandala Symbolism, Bollingen Series, Princeton University Press, 1972].  http://mandalazone.com/wordpress/archetype-of-wholeness-jung-and-the-mandala/

After all that is said and done...here are a couple of crochet mandala I have done. 

Here are a couple I have done recently, inspired by http://made-in-k-town.blogspot.de/2012/05/little-spring-mandala.html

  I'm not the only one crocheting mandala's.  Check these out as well.

http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/2013/05/mandala-flowers.html

http://thepatchworkheartuk.blogspot.ca/

Mandala Sand Painting   http://www.mysticalartsoftibet.org/mandala.htm  This is incredible and always has been a fascination to me!!!

I have crocheted doilies for many years...all sizes with assorted colored threads used, "so it has been a psychological expression of the totality of the self" for me for many years. lol  As a young adult, Jung's writings helped 'open my mind' to loftier thoughts.  That lead me to some evening courses at a local college in Calgary, AB where I did some study and experimentation with mandalas.  Here I am now 60+ and still involved in mandala's...making them with yarn, paint, quilling (paper strips), and when nothing else was at hand, jiffy markers and felt pens or whatever.  Mandala's are eternal and I will most likely create them all my days in one medium or another.  Color is good for the soul, color warms my heart, and color soothes and/or invigorates my mind.                             Until next time, MO

Walkabout the Estuary

Hello
Yesterday was sunless, but nevertheless I really enjoyed my bit of walk and commune with the outdoors. Snooped around this little estuary and it is quite amazing what grows along the seaside here in this little tucked away place.  Here are a few pictures of my walk yesterday morning.

 The strong scent of these rose bushes mixed with the smell of the sea was phenomenal!  I inhaled deeply...could not get enough of it. :)

 There was a variety of flowers and greenery amongst the rocks and the driftwood logs.

 

 These are little sweet pea looking plants with lots of green foliage. 

 

All manner of greenery living intermingled lives. 

And tiny little daisies coming up out of the rocks.

 By the looks of it, someone must of had a small campfire here in this sheltered little spot.

And someone left behind a bit of 'house construction'....

 The sky was continually changing...clouds constantly on the move.

 If the clouds were not there, you would see the Rocky Mountains on the mainland.

Still waiting for the summer sunshine to come along...soon say the meteorologists.  :)

When I got back to my car in the parking lot, I noticed a couple of seagulls just sitting on the pavement.  Altho' it was an overcast day, I imagine maybe the pavement was warmth for them.  They didn't seem to be too concerned about the comings and goings of vehicles around them...quite content.

Anyways, hope you enjoyed my photo walk, until next time, MO