by atmara | Jun 23, 2014 | Art, Healing, Mandala Coloring, Mandala Monday, Mandalas
The Mandala Cure: End Anxiety Today
Whether you know it or not you are probably quite familiar with mandalas. If you have gazed upon a magnificent rose window adorning a local cathedral or spent time enjoying a fragrant spring daisy, then you have already been touched by the beauty of a mandala.
Sanskrit for sacred circle, mandalas are an ancient art form dating back to Tibet over 2,500 years ago. The Tibetan Monks saw the mandala as more than a circle divided into an ornate design, they saw it as a representation of the Universe; a blend of different symbols and colors coming together, bonded by its center, to form in harmony.
Look at the Christian\’s usage of the labyrinth or marvel at the mandala healing ceremony performed by American Indians and you will find that the sacred circle has transcended its ancient roots. Many present-day religions and civilizations have come to view the mandala, with its gentle symmetry, as a symbol of the balance in nature, the unity within the world, and the harmony we all seek within our lives. Even the world renowned psychologist and founder of analytical psychology, Carl Jung was struck by the healing abilities of the mandala. Jung went on to write many papers about the subject and regularly used mandalas as a healing tool with his patients. Now this same restorative power is in your hands.
Coloring or creating mandalas is a simple process. Basically a form of active meditation, you suspend your inner dialogue while you draw images on a page or color a pre-made design. As with any form of active meditation you will be able to achieve the same calm, peaceful effects of traditional meditation without the difficulties of sitting still for hours at a time or trying to empty your racing mind. By meditating on a mandala, specifically the center of the design, a person can easily be drawn into the circle to find their focus, and most importantly keep that focus. Great for beginners or anyone short on time, mandala coloring books are a great way to introduce yourself to this healing process.
Coloring mandalas is a peaceful pastime used by a variety of peoples and institutions to heal the mind and the body. Today you will find mandala coloring and creation being used in nursing homes, elementary schools, cancer wards, and mental health facilities across the country. As someone who once struggled with both General Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder I know first hand the calming, meditative power of coloring a mandala. For free mandala downloads, go to my website at www.30minutemandalas.com and enjoy the power and simplicity of a mandala.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/wellness-articles/the-mandala-cure-end-anxiety-today-218302.html
About the Author
Michelle Normand is a freelance health and beauty writer and the author of 30-Minute Mandalas Coloring Book: Active Meditation for the Mind and Body. For a free sample of her mandala designs or links to other great articles about mandalas and meditation, please visit her website at www.30minutemandalas.com.
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I look forward to your thoughts and comments!
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by atmara | Feb 25, 2014 | Art, Healing, Inspiration, Mandala Monday, Mandalas, Spiritual Awakening
How do You Create Your Mandalas?
Crystal Mandala 6 © Atmara Rebecca Cloe
Someone asked me recently how I create my mandalas and I thought it might be interesting to share the answer with all of you. First, I have to say the process feels more like they create themselves through me, rather than me creating them. I never know what they will look like when I start. I either just have the urge to create one, or I’ve been asked to create a personal mandala. Then I just let my intuition guide me.
Mandalas of Healing & Awakening 11 © Atmara Rebecca Cloe
My work is all digital, all computer generated. I’ll create a number of kaleidoscope images either in a program called Image Tricks or or one called Pixelmator They both have kaleidoscope filters in them. Since the creation of the OS X operating system for Mac I haven’t been able to find a kaleidoscope filter for the Mac version of Photoshop or I’d do this there. (and if you know of such a filter, please let me know!) I use photos I’ve taken or pictures from various sources, whatever seems to have the energy I’m drawn to at the moment, as the source images for the kaleidoscope images.
Crop Circle Mandala 5 © Atmara Rebecca Cloe
Then I play with combining layers of these kaleidoscope images with different blending modes in Photoshop, I play with color adjustments; I just generally play. The blending modes in Photoshop are quite powerful and can create endless variety of effects. It’s very intuitive. I just follow whatever idea comes into my head next when I’m playing. I often use Photoshop layer styles for glows or shadows, either around the edge of the image or sometimes on an inner portion of the image. I use the Filter Gallery Effects set of filters to created a painterly look to some mandalas. Basically, I use the many tools which Photoshop has to create effects and bring the mandala to life.
Mandalas from the Heart of Truth 7 © Atmara Rebecca Cloe
Eventually the mandala “feels done.” I can’t really tell you how I know that, there is just a moment when I know both the energy of the image and the visual effect are “right.” It’s really a delight, because it feels like the mandalas create themselves through me. I think of each one as a living being. I’m just the tool that gives birth to them. Creating mandalas has been a large part of my spiritual journey and spiritual awakening experience. I believe the energy of each one has a potential “message” or effect for the viewer. It’s such a joy to do this. I’m so blessed!
Mandalas from the Heart of Peace 1 © Atmara Rebecca Cloe
To see all of my mandalas and other visionary artwork, click here to visit my Zazzle Store.
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by atmara | Oct 10, 2013 | Healing, Love, TED Talks, Video
According to TEDxTalks: “Howard Martin is one of the original leaders who helped Doc Childre found HeartMath. In 1999 he co-authored The HeartMath Solution published by HarperSanFrancisco and he has been with HeartMath’s world-wide training and consulting team since its inception in 1991. In 2000 he authored The HeartMath Method, an audio learning program published by Nightingale Conant. He is also the producer of two award-winning musical recordings including Doc Childre’s Heart Zones which spent 50 consecutive weeks on Billboard Magazine’s music charts.”
Enjoy.
For those of you not familiar with TED Talks here is a brief summery from www.ted.com:
“TED is a small nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design. Since then its scope has become ever broader. Along with two annual conferences — the TED Conference in Long Beach and Palm Springs each spring, and the TEDGlobal conference in Oxford UK each summer — TED includes the award-winning TEDTalks video site, the Open Translation Project and Open TV Project, the inspiring TED Fellows and TEDx programs, and the annual TED Prize”
“About TEDx, x=independently organize event. In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized
events are branded TEDx, where x=independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.*
(*Subject to certain rules and regulations)
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I look forward to your thoughts and comments!
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