The "I AM NATURE" Mandala

The rest of the Mandala Archives are HERE

This is the mandala I created Tuesday night, March 27, 2001.

It is actually about 7 inches across, done quickly in colorpencil on black paper, then scanned into the computer.

Before we get into this particular Mandala, I want to give a brief background.

The word Mandala is Sanskrit, and it means a circle, both the center and circumference. It is a symbol of Life. Mandalas have appeared throughout history in all cultures and religions. They have been painted, constructed of wood, done up in mosaic tile, and virtually every other art form. They can be abstract, or geometric designs, symetrical or assymetrical. The images can be literal or symbolic. They can be monochrome or fully ablaze with color.

Further, there are dozens of ways to interpret a mandala, depending on the individual's spiritual background, psychological training, beliefs, and many other factors. There is no single "right" way to construct a mandala or to interpret your own or anyone else's mandala. "What it means" is limited only by what it means TO YOU and/or what it meant/means to the artist who constructed it.

What I teach you is from my own experience. What you learn from Judith Cornell (whose work has influenced the way I construct a mandala) or any other Mandalist is from their own background and teaching. But I also bring a background of New Thought metaphysics, evangelical Christianity, 12-Step spirituality, Tarot, and the thoughts of every other experience and teacher I have ever had.

Do not let ANYone tell you this or that "isn't a Mandala". My work wouldn't be a Buddhist mandala, or a Native American mandala. Many of my mandalas are symmetrical, geometric patterns, while others have identifiable icons and images. But just because it doesn't fit a Buddhist pattern or conform to Native American iconography, doesn't mean my work isn't a mandala, or that your mandala wouldn't have it's own psychic energy and healing power.

Okay... having said all of that, let's review what we learned over the last three weeks:

Totem Animals

In the first section, I asked you to select a Totem Animal -- a living, moving, breathing creature that would represent the traits and characteristics you admire and would like to develop and cultivate in your life. Your Totem Animal might be one of the common symbols of strength or agility, such as a bear or deer. Or it might be a small yappy runt of a dog -- who makes up for size by a strong self-image and daringness to speak his mind! You might identify with an ant -- maybe not a leader, but strong in diligence and teamwork in achieving a goal.

Plants

Then I asked you to find something from the Plant Kingdom that possesses traits you want. Perhaps you want to become more like the rose, blooming full and fragrant in the midst of a thorny situation. Maybe your life has been dry and barren, so you might choose the strengths of a cactus, which is able to store up moisture within itself against the long dry seasons. Perhaps your ideal would be an evergreen tree, growing tall and reaching to the heavens while maintaining your color throughout the seasons, in good times and bad.

Earth Formations

The third part of Nature from which we can draw is Earth herself -- mountains, rocks, sand, valleys, plains, oceans, rain, and so forth. In the Bible, for example, geological formations like mountains, valleys, and oceans have specific metaphysical meanings, often reflecting highs and lows of spiritual awareness or the flow or constriction of Life. In fact, in every Bible story, if there is a geological formation mentioned, it is there for specific reason. (Likewise, every proper name in the Bible has an inner, metaphysical meaning -- every person in the Bible is an aspect of your personality, all the different emotions and thoughts and actions -- within the New Thought traditions, anyway. Reading the Bible with the literal meanings of the names and places revealed makes for a fascinating study of human psycho-spirituality!)

One you have selected your animal, plant, and earth formation, and decided what they mean TO YOU, you are ready to put these images into a single mandala.

Mandala Basics

A mandala created by an artist is both a spiritual expression AND a piece of artwork in its own right. The majority of mandalas that you will create might not quality as "art" in the common sense of the term, but it is art just the same. You are putting onto paper a spiritual expression of your self. No one else is qualified to judge if it is "right" or if it is "good" art. They don't know.

And, because it is NOT "art" in the strict sense, it doesn't matter if you can't draw a straight line, or can't make a realistic looking house or dog or flower. Whatever you put onto paper, and what you decide it represents, that is what it means and that is what it should be... exactly so. There can be no judgment when you are dealing with Mandalas. NONE!

Divisions of a Self-Portrait Mandala:

There are many ways to design a Mandala, with a myriad of meanings. This is the way I have developed, largely from the significances I learned in using the "Celtic Cross" Tarot spread. These significances are common in other symbolic uses. The divisions that I have marked out for this particular Mandala are NOT the same as the segments used in Buddhist Mandalas, which are constructed very differently and very specifically with ancient instructions for every detail. The details of the "I Am Nature" Mandala are my own, and they are unique to this particular mandala that you and I are creating with this specific exercise.

Above-Below:

Here we divide the image into upper and lower sections, to show:

what is above -- current situation, outer influences; and
what is below -- our foundation, or where we are "coming from"

We never live in a vacuum. Everything we do is a combination of our own foundation (values, principles, hopes, fears, etc.) interacting in the world around us.

You can also divide the segments as:

Spirituality -- the action of God/Mind/Spirit above; and
Material World -- your life in the mundane everyday world here below.

In my image I placed a sunrise above me, indicating clear skies (which is also a symbol for clear thinking) and I put it mostly on the right side, calling for mental clarity in the future. The mountains, in this particular image, call to mind a history of heights of thought but there are crags and valleys which indicate some sense of isolation.

Behind-Ahead

Dividing the image the other way offers us a glimpse of

what has happened before; and
where we are likely to go if we continue this path or direction;

It is important to recognize that we are NEVER at the "mercy" of our past, nor are we a "victim" of what's happening around us. That is, there is no such thing as "fate" compelling us to an undesirable future. We take a look ahead to see where we might likely go IF WE CONTINUE THIS PATH.... the choice is OURS whether to go that way or to become an active participant in changing our course.

As it refers to creating a visual piece, such as this "I Am Nature" Mandala -- we deliberately create an image of what we want. In a very real way, constructing this Mandala is an act of creation: visualizing what we want to create.

In my past, the Turtle has been an important image of ME (whether I like to admit it or not, it's true) -- slow to act in my own best interests, seeking the shelter of hard-shelled emotional isolation, easily withdrawing inside myself at the least threat or provocation. But Turtles also have the strength of endurance over the long haul, slowly but surely plodding along to the destination; and when used wisely, there is great protection in taking refuge in Self. The Turtle has come to the stream. Water is a common symbol for Life. In this picture, the flow of Life is apparently coming from behind the mountains somewhere, flowing downward in the material world section of the drawing.

I put a tall pine tree in the right side because I want to focus on the qualities of reaching upward, staying "evergreen" (young and growing) along with the clarity of mind mentioned above.

Composite 1

Here we see what these segments look like when superimposed on one another. Actually, these quadrants are merely guidelines; the lines are never clearly defined, although if you wish to make a strictly formed mandala you might wish to divide it as done in the next composite drawing below.

Composite 2

Here we can see how the segments might be more easily understood, with spaces for Above/Below and for Behind/Ahead. In this pattern we also find a central section that I call "Right here, right now" -- this can be a symbol of "ME" as I might appear at the moment I am drawing this Mandala.

As you can see, the closest thing to the center is the Turtle coming to the Water ... In order for me to move forward I'm going to have to step into the water. Although it was meant to look like a regular flowing stream, the water appears more like a wall or ribbon of water over which I have to leap; it appears to be higher than the turtle, as if the turtle would have to pass through this wall of water to reach the shore on the other side. It is an interesting optical illusion that creates (for me, anyway) some interesting personal reflections about my approach to life!

But, be that as it may, as you view the image below, the parts close to the center include:

Turtle (isolation) touching water (the flow and activity of Life) in hopes of reaching the pine tree (sturdiness, and "evergreen-ness") and then enjoying the meadows and sunshine yet to come in the future. The past is "heavy" with mountains (obstacles?) while the future represents far less difficulties.

It is interesting also to note that the stream becomes steadily broader as it enters more into the lower section, representing my mundane world and everyday life. To me, this represents a desire to be more involved in the social side of life, with a larger social circle and more involvement. (if you notice at the lower right corner, the superimposed line between the "below" and "ahead" sections is almost exactly in the middle of the stream -- not planned that way at all but it is interesting.)

Ray Whiting's "I Am Nature" Mandala:

What Do I Do With It?

A most obvious question! Over the course of this study, you have been thinking about the traits you most want to cultivate in your life. Your mind/spirit has been focused on these things, already setting into motion the energy required to draw these things into your life and experience.

When you breathe, you do not pause with each breath and supervise your lungs, dictating, "Okay, Lungs, filter the dirty oxygen out of the blood and replace it with this load of clean air... okay, lungs, now squeeze down and blow out all that bad air and then suck in a new load of clean." Your body simply knows what to do and it takes care of it at the subsconscious level while you go about your business.

In the same way, when you are wanting to cultivate new traits, or replace worn out habits with new habits that support you better, you don't need to rush out and sign up for a course in "How To Become a Bear" or "How to Act like an Evergreen". Just as your body presents new air for your lungs to work with at the subsconscious level, you present your mind/spirit with the image of what you want. Regularly, daily, and frequently throughout the day.

You will place your mandala where you can see it regularly. You will look at it several time a day, and each time you will remember "I drew that deer because I admire it's swiftness" or "I want the mountain goat's agility to live in rocky places." Your mind/spirit already knows why you put those images into your picture. Viewing the mandala daily merely reminds you that your spirit is changing itself to conform to the pattern you have set for it in your image. You won't turn into a deer or mountain goat. Your spirit will alter your inner sense of being and will begin cultivating AUTOMATICALLY (i.e., subsconsciously) those traits.

Visual mandalas, like this one, work in much the same way as the proper use of affirmations. But instead of speaking/hearing words with the sense of hearing, you are using the sense of sight to accomplish the same thing.

Other Types of Mandalas to Explore:

The "I Am Nature" Mandala is a tool for cultivating new traits in your life. There are teaching mandalas, healing mandalas, worship mandalas, and many other types and styles. Each has their own purpose. The two most common would be the Teaching Mandala or the Healing Mandala.

Teaching Mandalas, for example, are a deliberate assembly of images, either literal or symbolic, used for teaching a particular set of doctrines. There are hundreds of ancient Buddhist mandalas of this type -- each one has very details instructions for every piece of the design, and each line and color has meaning within the body of teaching expressed in mandala form. Other spiritual paths use mandalas in a similar way, and students of these paths construct their own copies of the mandala as part of the process of learning the teachings such mandalas represent. Thus, by actually creating their own copies of the mandalas, it is a form of "note-taking" ... in order to refresh the mind/spirit, one merely needs to refer to the image to remember this or that teaching.

Healing Mandalas are less restrictive, often created by an intuitive for the healing of one's own body or life experience OR for the healing of another, usually a client of the intuitive. Many healing mandalas reach beyond the strict guidelines used for the teaching mandalas, and they are often constructed spontaneously. Because they are intended as a meditation tool for the patient or client to focus on or draw healing energy, Healing Mandalas are often filled with simple designs, evoking a sense of peace, life, and health. They are often abstract, and can be totally symmetrical, in both above-below AND before-ahead angles, but they don't necessarily conform to the rules of meaning an interpretation as the "I Am Nature" mandala. That is, a Healing Mandala as a whole could be seen as the "right-here/right-now" center focus, detached and unrelated to what has come before or what might be happening around us. Again, the purpose for which a mandala is constructed dictate how a mandala is to be understood.

Affirmation Mandalas can be either teaching or healing mandalas, or they can be neither one or the other but something entirely different. These, too, can be constructed by an intuitive, or by a client for herself, or by a teacher or healer.

The "I Am Nature" Mandala that we just constructed would be an Affirmation Mandala, as an excellent example. Setting your New Years Resolutions into a mandala pattern could be another type of Affirmation Mandala.

Temporary or Permanent?

Truly, nothing in the world is absolutely permanent. But you wil find, if you pursue the study and practice of mandalas, that some of your mandalas (for example, those you including in a daily journal) are useful only for the time in which they are created, while others might be so striking or meaningful to you that you will want to have them mounted and framed for a more permanent display in your home.

Only you can decide how long you want to keep a mandala. If you discover it isn't creating for you the desired effect, feel free to put it away for a while. You may re-discover it years later, at an appropriate time when you will recognize that it did what it was supposed to do. Try not to utterly destroy and dispose of a mandala, because it is a piece of spiritual artwork. But do not feel compelled to frame and display every mandala you create or hire from a Mandalist.

What is a Mandalist?

A Mandalist is one who creates mandalas. This could be you, me and anyone else who draws a circle and fills it with meaningful images.

More strictly, of course, a mandalist is one who has actively studied the art and function of Mandalas. There a Buddhist Mandalists, Metaphysical Mandalists, and Mandalists of many other traditions. Hildegard von Bingen was a very famous Christian mystic of the 14th Century; she created a large collection of mandalas representing the visions she received during her meditations. Some of her works can be seen here:

http://irupert.com/hildegrd/hildegard.htm

Works of other Mandalists are available here:

http://www.mandalaproject.org/What/Main.html

Clare Goodwin's Mandala Page (one of the most extensive resources on the Web!)

Ray Whiting's Mandala Pages (This is my earlier collection of Mandala information)

What is an Intuitive Mandalist?

An Intuitive Mandalist is one who works largely by inner sense, or "intuiting" what needs to be put to paper. This is different from the plane engineer, who creates geometric design by pure mathematical formulas. It is also different from a regular artist. Of course all "art" is constructed by a process of inner feeling. But the Intuitive Mandalist is one who is an active intuitive -- some people call them "psychics" -- who one can "pick up" on what you are feeling or experiencing, even when there is no direct physical evidence to explain it. Having once connected with the client, the Intuitive Mandalist can then "intuit" beyond what the client SAYS and will put on paper what the client feels, OR as a prescriptive intuitive, can create a mandala that serves to treat the client for whatever condition needs healing or whatever desire the client needs to have expressed in visual affirmation format.

In my own case, I have been an active intuitive for as long as I can remember, long before my teen years. I have been an ordained minister almost 30 years, specializing in one-on-one consultations, and working with mandalas over 15 years. Over the years I have worked in spiritual healing through many techniques, including the creation of healing mandalas, some of which are available for viewing in my Mandala Pages linked above.

Why Hire a Mandalist?

The reasons for choosing one or another mandalist are unique to each individual, of course, but often but you might consider hiring one or another because

you like that artist's style
you feel a rapport with the person
the rates are within your budget
you want a permanent symbolic artwork in your home
you want a trusted intituitive to create a special gift for someone.

What Does It Cost?

The greatest cost is nothing more than a willingness to explore beyond where you have been before. Once you have decided you want a mandala created by a professional intuitive mandalist, you will consult with him or her directly. Prices can range from $25/US to over $500/US, depending on the size and construction of the mandala and the standards of the particular mandalist.

If you would like to have a mandala created for

Healing
Finances/Prosperity
Romance
Career
Relationships
Travel
Almost any other issue in your life
Or even just interesting artwork in tune with your own sense of Life

write to Ray Whiting to discuss your personal needs and describe what you would like to have on your mandala.

Only YOU can decide what you are willing to miss by not hiring a professional.