Mandala Intensive, March 2010

A week long mandala intensive concluded the Mandala Certificate Program for a group of five women from the US and Italy. The retreat, "Integrating the Circle," offered lectures, case study presentations, and experiences creating mandalas. Each participant also reported on her independent study project, another element in the Certificate Program. Projects included conducting mandala groups and workshops with mentorship, producing a mandala coloring book/calendar and mandala greeting cards, and developing an interfaith curriculum for introducing mandalas at spiritual retreats. Another project was the development of a website with authoritative mandala information for an international audience http://www.mandalaweb.info/.

The week was a rich gathering that deepened personal connections as well as affirming a shared belief in the healing, centering, grounding, soothing, and spiritual growing that is possible through creating mandalas.

Soothing and Centering

Susanne and Maureen Shelton presented on healing music and mandalas at a conference entitled, "The Agony of Caring: Professionalism and Moral Distress in Healthcare," sponsored by Emory University Center for Ethics, Atlanta, Georgia. Maureen taught two of her original songs (hear more at http://www.mandalacd.com/), and Susanne explained the neurological underpinnings of human responses to the circle before guiding participants in creating their own mandalas. Our points: self-care of caregivers is an ethical obligation, and creative activities are easy, effective, and enjoyable self-care.