Tibetan Mandala Dismantled

During September and October 2010, Tibetan Buddhist monks of the Mystical Arts of Tibet created a mandala of colored sand at Drepung Loseling Monastery in Atlanta. Their work was marked at each stage with ceremony, chanting, and meditation. They worked for weeks to complete the mandala of Avalokiteshvara (the Buddha of Compassion). The mandala was created to prepare, open, and invite benevolent sacred energies for the visit of the Dalai Lama to Emory University in Atlanta. The Dalai Lama is thought to be a reincarnation of Avalokiteshvara.

On October 12, 2010, under the guidance of His Eminence Rizong Rinpoche, the 102nd Gaden Throne holder of the Gelug lineage in Tibetan Buddhist traditions, the mandala was "closed." After prescribed chanting, music making, and meditation, the mandala was circumambulated three times by His Eminence, who was preceded by the Spiritual Director of DLM bearing incense. At a signal from His Eminence, the monks swept sand into tiny packets that were distributed as a blessing to those present for the ceremony.

Good-bye Beautiful Fish

Aren't they lovely? I will miss my three recently deceased gold fish. As always, life goes on: there are at least six others, mostly reddish gold, still gracing the dark waters of Plum Blossom pond. And we can hope for babies in the spring.

Weekend on the Alabama Beach

My husband and I went down to Gulf Shores, Alabama, for a long weekend. It felt good to give these beleagered Gulf Coast folks some of our cash. The beach was beautiful, and not crowded. We had a great meal at Louisiana Lagniappe Restaurant (crab on fried/baked eggplant and stuffed shrimp).

June 2010 Mandala Intensive

A wonderful group of women gathered in Plum Blossom Studio in Decatur, Georgia for this year's Entering the Circle: Five Day Mandala Intensive. We created many mandalas, talked about the history, psychology, forms, and colors in mandalas. We shared laughter and tears as we delved into mysteries of the circle and shared our lives for days of self-discovery through creativity. Here is our group portrait.

Huichol Beadwork Mandalas

I was in Mexico in May, and visiting the Wednesday market in Ajijic I saw some beautiful mandalas crafted by indigenous Huichol people using beads, hollowed out gourds, and wooden planks.

Moving Water Mandala

The bamboo drip fountain in my garden creates a pattern of sound and image.

Finding My Standpoint

A Mandala of Finding My Standpoint: standing still, balancing in place, tracing around my feet, painting in and around my footprints. A way of knowing my being within a particular place and time. Try it yourself sometime.