Manadal..........creating or colouring

 

This is a mandala I have created during my Lenten journey.  After viewing the mandala my spiritual director mentioned to me that this drawing looked like Psalm 23.  So I have used that Psalm throughout my travels and always remembered to make time for 'still waters' and with my experienced I do become refreshed.

Give it a try............

A Note from 71 Sunflower Lane……………ever coloured a mandala?  Joyce Rupp describes mandala – as a sacred circle that has been a part of humankind since earliest times. Mandala is a Sanskirt word that means ‘scared circle starting from the center.’  Mandalas are abundant in nature….from the flower blossom, slicing a cabbage in half – see the center & design, or view the slice of a tree as a few examples.  Start looking around your surrounding and nature to discover mandalas.  Again, nature is the teacher.

 

Mandala was often used by C.G. Jung as a kind of container.  It held what was deep within the unconscious and brought into the light of awareness by reflective drawing. 

Mandalas are thought forms that represent the energy released by the creator.  The mandala can be used in personal meditation, healing, or self-realization, and some women use them as a focus point during birthing. Creating a mandala helps center ourselves.  The circle is a symbol for wholeness, balance and harmony.

Within that circle, a person doodles, scribbles, draws, colours, paints, or sketches their inner most spirit. One need not be an artist in order to draw a mandala.  It does not need to ‘look beautiful’ in order to be insightful. 

  Be sure to date the mandala.  It is helpful to title the mandala and to jot down any insights or connections that may come as one ponders mandala.

Draw a mandala.  Begin by pausing to still and to open your entire being to the presence of the rushing wind.  Let the Spirit of God move through your being.  When you feel ready, fill your circle with ways that energy of God moves through your being.

Tools………..paper with a circle drawn on it ( I use a plate or bowl) and coloured pencils. Soft music can be quietly played, if you wish.

Place a dot in center of the circle.

Before starting to create a mandala……. Begin by quieting the mind and body.

Stop and check how you feel…..body (is it tense or relaxed), mind (chattering or free from words) and the spirit.

If you have an intention, then name or write it on the paper. 

Sit quietly, close your eyes, hands on your lap or on the table, and quiet the mind, become very aware of the present moment – the place in which creation takes place.

Become aware of your breath…………now, take 3 long deep breaths.

Wait patiently for an image or a colour or a word to become known to you. 

Open your eyes and focus on the center dot.

Pick up a coloured pencil…………let the colour choose you. 

Place the image or colour or word in the center of the circle. 

Don’t be concerned about drawing just let the pencil flow as you will be amazed as to what appears. 

Continue to add to the circle until it feels completed. 

Creating a mandala is also a lesson in Trust as you will know when you have finished…….just listen and your spirit will tell you. 

Interpreting a mandala is personal.  It will tell a story that is only your story.

I place my completed mandalas on a table or fireplace, or hang them on the wall, a place that I can view them as I walk by.  The colours mean something as well as the images.  You can check out symbolism and colour meaning on the computer but it still is a personal process.

 

Now, take a moment to stop and check how you feel…..body (is it tense or relaxed), mind (is it chattering) and your spirit.

 

Mandalas have been made as tools for concentration, mediation, or prayer or given as gifts to love ones who are going through a health crisis or grieving over a loss.

 

Now, if you don't wish to draw your mandala, Google mandala colouring pages and print one off, centering yourself into quiet and colour.  Enjoy!

 

Below are meaning of some colours that may help you find the meaning or story………

Grey: Causes indifference, non-expressiveness. Some associated terms are fixed, depressed, lifeless apathetic.

Black: Symbolizes extremes, all or nothing.

Gold: Symbolizes authority, self-confidence, creativity, perfection.

Silver: Inspires emotional stability, removes or neutralizes negativity.

Copper/Bronze: Symbolizes love and passion in personal and professional relationships and endeavors.

Red: Stimulates energy, warmth and healing. Some associated terms are courage, will-power, speed and assertiveness.

Orange: Stimulates new possibilities, creativity and enthusiasm.

Yellow: Awakens mental inspiration and energizes your muscles. (Remember, your heart is a muscle!)

Green: Inspires balance and harmony, soothes both the mind and body.

Blue: Soothes and cools.

Indigo: As a mix of blue and red, indigo combines the devotion of blue and stabilization of red. Indigo inspires coolness and electricity.

Violet/Purple: Colors of transformation, soothing mental and emotional stress. For those of you who meditate, it is believed that violet strengthens one's spiritual power.

White: White is the combination of all colours. It signifies perfection, balance and harmony.

Magenta: Inspires magnetism and extra focus to achieve power.

Pink: Restores youthfulness, inspires genuine contact to your true feelings.

Turquoise: Increases intuition and sensitivity. Relaxes sensations of stress.

Brown: Represents solidity and grounding, natural and simple.

Hope you enjoyed the experience.

If you create a mandala then I hope you will share your drawing and experience.

Thank you for stopping by........see you on Thursday.   Marlene

 

This mandala is painted on fabric and became a cushion on a chair.

Title.........'to everything there is a Season'

 

 

 

 

 

Fear.......a Four letter word

symbols to help release fear............

 

Cyclist’s Ramblings………..a four letter word that begins with ‘f’” causing the mind, body and spirit to freeze……….fear.  Other words that denote fear……..to be terrified, anxious, distressed,  to be frightened, panic, to be afraid, dread and to be scared.  We have all experienced fear.  Have you ever noticed that people very rarely every share the happy stories.  The stories told at baby showers are usually the difficult and fear laden delivery stories….what went wrong.  Same with accidents, it is the grouse details that are shared.  Fear comes in the form of rejection as well as fear of failure or not measuring up or letting the mind slip into ‘what could happen’ stories. Imagination fuels the fear and the more we imagine the instinct; the higher the mountain of fear.  Sometimes, I think of what could happen as I cycle alone.

I remember my dad and me baking a cake and fearing that it wouldn’t turn out.  I shared my fears with my dad and his reply was “if it doesn’t turn out, we will bake another cake.”  I had forgotten those words until the word rejection has popped into my life causing me to stop creating.

 I have wondered how to overcome this hill or mountain of fear.  Below are some ways of centering:

 Mountain pose, a wonderful yoga pose, that will calm the mind instantly.  Stop when fear ignites.  Stand in mountain pose, sway forward with the body thinking of the fear---breath the fear in with an inhale, then sway backwards with the body releasing the fear with an exhale.  Then just breathe.

Taking the letter f and using this as a staff to lean on.  I have been reading Psalm 23 “You are forever with me, your rod and staff will guide me.”  A staff symbolizes a walking stick for me which I use in the woods and sometimes that is where my imagination ignites the fear of unknown, lurking in the woods.  Leaning on the walking stick switches my brain vibrations to calm, instead of panic.

When you have time, grab a pencil and paper; draw a table with plates.  On each plate write what you fear.  View each word & think of the positive outcome from a fear-filled situation.  Draw another shape then write the positive word or experience inside the shape.  I did this and was amazed at the how the positives outnumbered the fears.  It only takes a few moments.

 Share your fears.  Hearing you repeat your fears to another person can assist in untying the knots of fear.

 Move.  Go for a walk, cycle, garden, ski …………just move releasing that fear-filled energy. 

Find a symbol that will give you courage to face your fears.  Something solid to touch such as a cross – faith in the Divine, a pebble – for courage to get through the hard spots, walking stick – to lean on, penny – good luck, seed – symbolizing growth from fear, a word on a piece of paper – a positive to balance the negative, and miniature bird – flying free are a few suggestions.

What symbol would remind you to be not afraid?

 

 

Being Cradled...........

 

A Note from 71 Sunflower Lane……………my spirit knew, before I did, that the basket cover was to be placed on the bottom which symbolizes God gently cradling me during my journey. My spirit knows these things and waits for my mind to catch up.  Sometimes I do things, such as placing the cover on the bottom, then a few days later I understand why I did that particular thing. Sometimes I pick the basket up and the cover falls off or remains on the table.  It is a reminder, for me that I do leave God behind.  I start out trusting and ending wanting to do it my way.

Symbols are mirrors, so I know with every fibre of my being that I am the basket, while the Divine is the cover.   The Divine is calling me deeper.

 The interior of the basket reminds me of a mandala…….every mandala/journey begins at a point starting from the centre. The wooden strips branch out in many directions pointing to the many paths.  Some of those paths lead nowhere while others will have to be checked out and still other paths will lead me part way, only to realize that I will have to venture back to the centre. 

Isn’t that life……….travelling one path or another for a long time or a short time?

In a dream, I was asked to Be Still and Sit with God.  I woke up from the dream, sitting straight up in bed……….as the dream felt so real.

This morning my husband suggested that maybe I am being called to slow down as I am not 40 years old and can’t continue to move all the time.  He went on to explain that I don’t do just one or two things a day in the house - I clean, bake, do laundry, meals and then go snowshoe for 40 minutes or more.  I think he has a point………time to BE.

 Are you a Doing person or a Being person?

Do you have a symbol that speaks to you……….that mirrors your thoughts?

 

Thank for taking time out of your busy day to stop by..............hope you feel refreshed by being & maybe a few words will make you stop and think,  Enjoy the NB Sunshine.

See you Thursday...................................Marlene

 

 

 

Cyclist’s Ramblings…………sights, sounds, smells are always experienced on the morning trip but what about touch as well a bit of taste.  It amazes me what I hear as I cycle in the morning but I don’t wear earplugs with music blaring because I have to be so aware of sounds of vehicles.  Taking the turn on Otis Drive, I could hear a woodpecker in the woods playing the drum while the groundhog crouches low to the grass in the field ahead.  Brooks have slowed so the melody is soft & gentle……soothing.  Then I experience pure silence with no sounds from the animals or vehicles or brooks and even the bicycle tires don’t crunch on the small rocks.  Love that sound….joys of silence, of clarity. Looking down towards the mud mixed water are the loons….black & white (all colour & no colour) but very dominant to the eye.  On the left are two deer, one on each side of the driveway standing like statues on guard.  Such an awesome sight!  The last creature is a red fox standing on the yellow line watching me as I cycle towards him/her.  Is this fox going to turn & run or stand & greet me as I acknowledge the smell from the farm.  One would be led to believe that touch/feel doesn’t play a part in cycling.  When the wind hits my body to slow me down, then it makes me realize touch is a part of cycling or when the sun warms my arms and lastly when the bumps ricochet up the through the seat.  Take time to experience Nature……..stop-look-listen-smell-feel-view all the surroundings.

 

Let me know your experiences.

Thank you for stopping by see you on Tuesday.

Symbol for my Journey

A Note from 71 Sunflower Lane…………… a small woven basket with a cover sits on my prayer table created by Mik’maq artist Irene Condo. The basket was woven by using sweetgrass and wooden strips; however I don’t know what kind of wood.  I can feel the energy of the weaver.

 Symbolizes of basket –

***Woven –our life is woven with many strips and fibres creating who we are past and present

***Holder or container – my mind, body and spirit.  A basket takes time to weave just as we take time to grow into wisdom.
***Represents the seasons…….seasons of life – to everything there is a season. 
***When the basket is filled symbolizes joy.
***When the basket is empty symbolizes sadness or being empty, just as I am at times
***if the cover remains on the basket, then all remains closed
***if the cover is removed……..open to receive
***symbol of the harvest
***represents the feminine (whether male or female) as the baskets are usually woven by women.

 

What does a basket symbolize for you?

Does one of the above symbolisms of the basket speak to your spirit?

Thank you for stopping by.  Take a moment to comment or say hi.
Meet me here on Thursday.  Enjoy the day..............Marlene

 



Cyclist’s Ramblings………..on a sunny windy day.  Have you ever been restless and not able to center your mind/body/spirit?  That was me, yesterday!  I couldn’t seem to settle my mind or restless body and spirit is part of that equation. Today as I was cycling up a hill, the message came that this is my centering, my way of calming, and a form of mediation.  The body uses the excess energy to burn off the lactic acid in the muscles; the mind is free from all those busy thoughts and to-do list; just savouring the beauty, and the spirit is along to enjoy the ride……..experiencing the calm.  It amazes me how a walk or bicycle ride can change the format of the mind.  Jennie reminds us in yoga class ‘as above….so below.’  What are the thoughts in your mind that are causing havoc in your body stirring up your emotions to cause digestive complaints? 

Take 15 minutes to walk or cycle in the woods, on the street, or on a groomed path…….beware of your breath and the serenity that begins to flows through the body. 

How does your body thing and feel now after you have walked or cycled?

What is your centering practice?

Symbol for the Journey

A Note from 71 Sunflower Lane……………I wanted a symbol as I journey.  Being a very visual person, I wanted something that was physical but symbolized my journey. Symbols speak to the soul.  Unlike words, symbols don’t hold a preconceived idea or meaning.  Symbols are a unique way of giving expression to my life, especially during the storm that engulfs me, as well as discovering the rich meaning by viewing the symbol that is calling me deeper and deeper. As the mind ponders the symbol, ideas float in and out until I realize what the truth is for me. Symbols communicate meaning thus opening doors for transformation.  Jesus used symbols like the vine and the mustard seed.  Symbols mirror my feelings.

The items I pondered that may work as a symbol were dreamcatcher, dragonfly, key, rock, fairy, star, feather, leaf, tree, arrow, compass, and puzzle. I know that I am creative so I didn’t need a key to unlock that door.  I really don’t need a guide like a compass or arrow which points in one direction only.  Most of all I trusted my instinct and none of those items fit my journey.  I knew that I would discover what my symbol was to be………with time.  While working in the design room, I noticed a basket and knew immediately that was my symbol.  Not just any basket. I wanted a basket woven by a Native artisan. I contacted a friend to inquire if she knew where I could get a small round basket that had been woven by a Native American Indian.

I walked away and trusted that what I wanted would appear.

 

Glad you stopped by.  Come again as the door is always open.

If you have time, leave a comment or just say 'hi' so that I know you visited.

Enjoy the sunshine.                               ..............Marlene

The Hawk

Cyclist’s Ramblings………..my spiritual teacher – Nature--- provided me with the chance to mediate. Nearing completion of my travels this morning, I noticed a vehicle stopped on the highway—not off to the side of the road but in the lane of traffic.  As I approached, a woman rolled down her window and pointed towards the field. Thinking that she was looking at the wooded area for a deer or other large animal is where my eyes focused.  Then her hand motioned upward to the electrical wire. There sat a Red Tail Hawk.

 

  Imagine being to watch such an awesome creature with only the width of a secondary road between us.  I was able to watch a high-wire performance of the Red Tail Hawk as the large bird stepped back and forth, back and forth on the wire with eyes zoomed on the prey below. Standing there motionless watching the hawk, I realized that I was mediating.  My mind was clear, my body was still and my spirit was at peace………..a tremendous gift. 

 

Viewing the hawk from such a close range I was able to see the off-white ruffled front features, watch the head turn, twist from front to back, or looking straight at me; observing the claws curled around the wire. Standing, watching, observing, certainly was a gift.  Suddenly, the large wing span opened to swoop down on the tiny prey.  Breathtaking! 

 

The magnificent bird flew with its captive to the frozen snow covered patch of soil blending in so well that it would take a few minutes to discover him.  Finally, the hawk flew and I cycled on. 

 

 Another surprised awaited me as I turned my bicycle onto Otis Drive to discover the hawk flying parallel with me.  Eventually, I lost sight of the Red Tailed Hawk behind the trees. 

 

 

Take time today to mediate with your eyes open viewing the many changes in nature.  Sit on your porch gazing as the clouds float, scoot, or roll across the skies; mediate by observing the dried copper coloured leaves tap dance across the ground or check out the different colours that create the snow………..take time to sit with Nature to be with the One. 

 

 Reap the rewards of taking just five minutes to sit quietly with the Divine/the Great Spirit/the One named God.

Hope you will take a moment to share that you have stopped by with a simple ‘hi’ or with a comment or question.

 The door is open so invite others to stop by for a few moments.

Take care………………..Marlene

 

Ministry of the Arts by the Sisters of St. Joseph

 

These little cards are created by the Sisters of St. Joseph called Pocket Notes.

The pocket cards can be placed in a handbag or on a coffee table or desk at work or kitchen or great in a studio space.

 

The sun is shining in New Brunswick and sending cheer your way for a wonderful day of blessings.

 

take care and stop by again.

Marlene

Sharing...........

A Note from 71 Sunflower Lane……………Sharing.  I have made the decision to share my personal spiritual journey.  Over the years, being told that it isn’t wise to share what is happening in my life, keep it close to the chest (notice the word heart isn’t used) and that may be true.  But how does a person learn about life if life experiences aren’t shared. I am always grateful for the person who shares their journey, struggles and joys as my spirit can relate.  Sharing creates community which every person needs.  Sharing signifies that I am not alone in this world as others have traveled before me with the same or similar problems.

I am artist.  An artist who is struggling with the many wonderful gifts that God has blessed me with.  I believe that there is a message for me in this struggle.  What that message is I haven’t got a clue, but in time that will be revealed; so it is very important that I continue this journey through the flat times, revealing times, the struggling times as well as the pain-filled times.

Creating has been the centre of my life.  As a child, my parents had cabins that were rented to the tourist in the summer.  I would make pot holders on a small red metal frame then sell the pot holders to the tourist for $0.25 - now that was in the 1960s.  It was so much fun to create patterns by using colour loops.  This endeavor occurred every summer for many years.  The point I want to make is that I would create, sell and stop.  Now that was part of the cycle/season but this cycle or habit has followed me through life.  I do get bored as well as inspired by the many new ways to create so I am off and running with a new idea.  I am thrilled to have a challenge to figure how things are put together……..just breathes life and excitement into every cell in my body.

My journey during Lent, meaning Lent for me is a spiritual time, giving me permission to slow down, ponder and examine my life.  I don’t give anything up during Lent, such as candy; instead I try to focus on my intentions to create change such as adding a little more loving kindness.

My journey is this………..there is a craving, a knowing that there is something in the centre of my being that is being called to change.  As I mentioned, I don’t know what that change or yearning is but it all started by my being exhausted with my artistic pattern, sometimes I call it a habit.  Create, sell and stop.  Maybe this is God’s way of getting my attention…………well I am focused to either accept this pattern/habit or change it to something wonderful.

 I invite you to stop by again as my plan is to share my personal journey the first of the week, even plan on adding a recipe or two, then on Thursday I will post my Cyclist’s Ramblings.

Hope you will take a moment to share that you have stopped by with a simple ‘hi’ or with a comment or question.

 The door is open so invite others to stop by for a few moments.

 

Take care………………..Marlene