A Month For Mandalas -TRUTH – part 2

January 16th, 2017

The Truth In Nature. This is part 2 of a Month for Mandalas with the main theme “truth.”  The first blog asks, “What is a Month for Mandalas” and explains what it is, why truth is the theme and how to begin.

There are ways to know and find our truths. Because we are nature, we can find our truths there. In our quest to know, feel and live truth, we can open up to deep truths in nature, inside ourselves.  We are one with nature. Nature is within us as part of our psyche, our body, our life.  Nature can guide us, speak to us, co-create with us.  As John Muir said, “The sun shines not on us but in us.”

Listen to what nature can tell. Listen not with words but open heart and open mind.  There is TRUTH in nature.  We humans are youngsters in the long life of our planet.We need to listen to the elders of mountains, oceans,  rivers, lakes, prairies, woodland, trees.  There is truth in trees.

For this week’s creativity inspiration spend time in nature, if possible. A walk in a park, nature reserve or wilderness. At times when  outdoors is hard to enter,  a quiet time letting the energy of nature fill you helps connect with the essence of mother earth.  Opening up to being one with nature brings truths of who we are and what life is to our awareness.  The awareness comes in many ways: thoughts, feelings, insights, dreams and images.  Making simple marks and writing words as journaling, poems or prayers expands that awareness and lets it shine more brightly. Creating mandalas brings awareness within the safety and centering of a sacred circle.

When I spend time in nature, I often take photos. I stop and really look.  I have many years of photos of nature and trees.  I often spend time in winter looking at my photos and reconnecting with a sense of awe and gratitude.  I especially feel the truths and power of trees in winter with their bare branches reaching to the stars.  They collect the energy of the cosmos and bring it back into the earth.  Then when warmth arrives the blossoms and leaves emerge bringing that cosmic energy deep from the earth into sunlight.

I printed some of the photos I had taken of trees on cardstock and created mandalas honoring them, their seeds, their leaves and blossoms.  I wrote an acrostic poem called Truth In Trees and added it the the last mandala.  The words read down the page and the letters start each line.

Time is a healer

Returning me to roots

Under earth

Truths in the soul and soil

How hard it is to be patient

In the heart of trees

Nature of wisdom

Twigs & branches

Reaching to the cosmos

Entering into infinite sky

Ever pulling back stars into

Soil and soul

TRUTH IN NATURE –  Read the creativity prompt, listen to the guided meditation and then create.

CREATIVITY PROMPT
Gather your art materials.  Let these words from poet David Whyte inspire you about your truths. Listen to the meditation and then create a mandala or mandalas that bring the energy and power of nature’s (which are also your) truths into your sacred  circle.  Open to your connection and essence that is part of nature always.

All the true vows

All the true vows
are secret vows
the ones we speak out loud
are the ones we break.

There is only one life
you can call your own
and a thousand others
you can call by any name you want.

Hold to the truth you make
every day with your own body,
don’t turn your face away.

Hold to your own truth
at the center of the image
you were born with.

GUIDED MEDITATION.
Knowing our truths is the inspiration for this month. Listening with open ears of heart, body and mind lets us delve deep into who we are and what guides us. Creating a mandala of simple marks, shapes with colors or black and white lets our soul speak in images. Your own words can enhance and are optional. They can be legible or illegible, what counts is letting them be expressed.

MANDALA MEDITATION – TRUTH.  There is a place to pause the meditation for a quiet time of listening before finishing.

Let this blog inspire your creativity and help you find your truths.

PLEASE SHARE YOUR MANDALA CREATIVITY
Please share the mandalas and art journaling you create by sending an email with attachments of your art. Please use a high resolution – which can be a smart phone camera – with enough surroundings in the photo.  I can easily crop the image.  Please send to linda (at) creativityforthesoul.com.  Please use the @ sign and no spaces.

ENJOY & CREATE

P.S. I am in the planning stages of a three day workshop called “A Sacred Circle of Creativity – Mother Earth, Mandalas, Meditation & Words.”  It will be held in St. Louis and nearby during late summer or early fall.  Details will be coming soon.