Mandala Healing Art on the Estuary

I chose to create a mandala as an offering of thoughtful and sensitive art making with earth materials for it’s ephemeral nature and healing symbolism. Creating a mandala is meditative and helps me connect to my art in nature in a spiritual way. I feel that when I am connected in my art practice, my beliefs, to the earth and spirit is when there is balance and a pureness in the work that I am making. It is also a way that viewers can happen upon this art in nature and evoke a moment for them while pausing to view it. A mandala talks about connection, balance, symmetry and is made with the intention of healing energy. According to Buddhist scripture, sand mandalas transmit positive energies to the environment and to the people who view them.

While constructing a mandala, Buddhist monks chant and meditate to invoke the divine energies of the deities residing within the mandala. The monks then ask for the deities' healing blessings. A mandala's healing power extends to the whole world even before it is swept up and dispersed into flowing water—a further expression of sharing the mandala's blessings with all.

Using a mantra and singing or chanting is another way to connect to spirit and say a prayer for the earth. This Gayatri Mantra - A Universal Prayer is the one I used for this Mandala Om Bhur Bhuvaḥ Swaḥ Tat-savitur Vareñyaṃ Bhargo Devasya Dhīmahi Dhiyo Yonaḥ Prachodayāt General meaning of the Gayatri Mantra - A Universal Prayer: We meditate on that most adored Supreme Lord, the creator, whose effulgence (divine light) illumines all realms (physical, mental and spiritual). May this divine light illumine our intellect.

Word meaning: Om: The primeval sound; Bhur: the physical body/physical realm; Bhuvah: the life force/the mental realm Suvah: the soul/spiritual realm; Tat: That (God); Savitur: the Sun, Creator (source of all life); Vareñyam: adore; Bhargo: effulgence (divine light); Devasya: supreme Lord; Dhīmahi: meditate; Dhiyo: the intellect; Yo: May this light; Nah: our; Prachodayāt: illumine/inspire. A very beautiful rendition of the chant to listen to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSmToj9VZ4s