During the week of September 12, 2011, I began to put together my website, my business cards and a few social media sites. I quickly realized I needed a photo or some kind of cool image. I sat at my computer thinking of what I could possibly use. I looked up and saw my mandala hanging on the wall. “Hmmm,” I thought, “That might work.” It was my very own mandala.
I had just come back from a fabulous weekend conference sponsored by the Hay House (a publisher). They said all new and emerging writers need social media. I said, “Okay.” I started jotting down ideas on the plane ride home.
My mandala is pretty, colorful and meaningful … a choice that is so much more than just a drawing. My kids and friends agreed this should be my symbol online. Besides, I now had an instant image to use consistently throughout my social media.
I remember the inspiration that pushed me to draw it. During the summer of 2011, I found a local class that taught how to draw mandalas. Unfortunately, I could not attend. I was a little disappointed, but I still felt drawn (pun intended) to create my own mandala. (I am an artist … I have to try it.) Not knowing how to go about it, I looked it up on Google, of course.
A few days after that, my daughter had two friends over to the house. The one child, I knew, was into metaphysical stuff (he dabbled with the pendulum), so I asked them if they were interested in drawing the energy part of themselves. They agreed. I pulled out the bin of colored pencils and cut copy paper into large squares. The mandala website recommended a few dots in a circular pattern to help guide the layout of the image, so I penciled on some dots.
We all sat down at the dining room table. I did a quick guided meditation to get them in the right frame of mind, turned my iPod onto my favorite metaphysical music by Steve Halpern and grabbed a few of the colored pencils. The kids and I drew for about an hour. They came up with some very interesting ideas. A mandala design can contain anything.
I think mine represents the chakras – individual, yet flowing together.
When we were finished, I told them that when they feel a little stressed, they can look at their mandala and it will help them relax. It is relaxing since it reminds them of the love that came from deep within their own true self.
Take a moment and do a Google image search for “mandala”. You will find many intricate, beautiful pieces of art. Get inspired and draw your energy. Whatever comes to you is for you. It all comes from deep within you. Get out your pencils, paint, chalk, pastels, crayons or markers and draw one today.