What is a Mandala? Can it help me deal with stress?

Does your mind sometimes run like a hamster racing around a wheel?

Harried desperate and frenzied ... moving in circles?

Since mandalas relate to both sides of the brain

they are a helpful way to deal with the stress and anxiety of life.

With the left brain we can use reason and logic
to acknowledge the frenzy associated with stress
and consider possible forms of healing.

These ancient geometric images of interlocking shapes

are found all around the world.
Their balanced and repetitive patterns
appeal to the left side of the brain. 

Carl Jung encouraged creative and relaxing use of mandalas 

to help the subconscious open up to healing.

Journal flower-doodling

  

Mandalas also appeal to the right side of our brain as we

contemplate them and slowly settle into inner silence.

We find the concentric symmetry of a mandala all around us.

Consider a daffodil, ferris wheel, compass,

or stained glass window.

Rose Window in St. Chapelle, Paris

At this point you might be thinking about
how a mandala can help you deal with your daily stress.

Here are three spiritual practices you might try with mandalas.

* Print and color a mandala with three or four crayons, markers, or colored pencils. You can use one of the ancient sacred geometry mandalas above or the creative mandala below that Catherine Whipple created.

Mandala Swirl 6 by Catherine Whipple

Her website www.self-help-healing-arts-journal.com has 

many more mandalas for you to enjoy.

After you print your mandala select colors to use. You may either intentionally choose or randomly select the colors. Slowly color or lightly sketch different sections. The process of repeating or alternating colors around the shape will both derive from and lead you into the subconscious or your deeper self.

** Draw your own mandala.  Any concentric symmetrical shape can serve as a model.  Some people experiment with shapes on a computer; some draw flowers or the spokes of a windmill; others simply doodle with circles, triangles, and other shapes.

*** Reflect on a mandala shape that appeals to you, perhaps something you've noticed around you. As you observe the image you select, soften your eyes and relax your focus; simply rest with the colors and shapes to move into mystery beyond words and thoughts.

Our daughter often finds mandala-like shapes!

Each of these practices is an invitation
into sacred time and holy space.

There is no correct or incorrect technique, 
no proper or improper procedure.

It is the process itself working within us: a means of grace.

I'd love to hear about the process of working with your mandala

or see a picture of it; you can send it to me by email.

Enjoy the journey!

Beautiful Yearning

Last night I ran across

this poignant vintage image;

I spent a thoughtful morning with her

today -- while also learning

how to add the transparent image

and beautiful score of music.

It seems as if every fiber of this woman's

heart, soul, mind, and strength

stretches up in hopeful yearning.

Can you see the lift of every muscle

in her neck, every rib in her torso,

every breath that she takes?

Can you see the hope in her upturned

face, in the soft corner of her eye,

in her gently closed lips?

Hope radiates from her soul,

sings from her heart,

lifts her entire being.

She reminds me of Bernini's exquisite

carving St. Theresa of Avila in

Santa Maria della Vittoria in Rome.

I'll share that with you one day soon.

But for today, what is it that you yearn for?

What would make your heart sing?

Go ahead and reach for it.

Reach for it like she does, with every fiber of

your heart, soul, mind, and strength.

What Helped?

People often ask me,

What helped you get well?

For the breast cancer it was radiation.

But they usually know that.

It's the depression most people ask about.

It's not an easy question to answer.

I worked so hard to get well -- but it took more than two years.

There were the usuals:

A good counselor, meds, vitamins, healthy food,

plenty of sleep, yoga, meditation, spiritual reflection,

caring family, humor, good books, chic-flicks ...

And time. Lots of time. Much more time than I wanted it to take.

But I'm convinced that the most important thing

for my healing has been friends.

For years my focus had been on our family and the people

in congregations I served as a United Methodist pastor.

I loved everything that I was doing, even thrived on it.

But there was little time left for personal friendships.

And over time this took its toll.

But when I went on medical leave all I had was time.

Time and more time. Time to rest, time to sleep,

time to practice yoga, time to walk, time to bike,

time to meditate, time to journal, time to play the piano,

time to read, time to watch movies, time to do crosswords,

time to visit family ... and time to seek new friendships.

I'm convinced that it's the friendships that turned things around.

Centuries ago Dorotheus of Gaza taught that

our spiritual lives are much like the spokes of a wheel.

The closer we move toward the holy, the center of our being,

the closer we move to one another.

Likewise, the closer we move toward one another,

the closer we move to the holy.

Then there's the corollary.

When we intentionally move away from one another,

and also When we fail to move closer to one another,

we find ourselves moving away from the center, the holy.

Without taking time for myself and deep personal friendships

it was like I was skipping around and around the spokes.

Eventually I found myself spiritually drying up

in a very different way from the natural ebb and flow

of desert times and bountiful times.

It's truly not enough to focus just on our spiritual lives.

The pairing with meaningful relationships provides a rhythm,

a continuity, a balance to our journeys.

Thanks everyone.

You're parading through my mind as I write.

Wow! It's true, I just realized!

Enough friends, enough meaningful friendships,

for an entire parade!

Singing the Blues with Buddy Guy

We planned our day in Chicago:

an afternoon wandering through the Art Institute

and then an evening listening to the blues

at Buddy Guy’s Legends.

What is it about the blues that I love so much?

I think the movie Adventures in Babysitting got it right.

The children and their sitter find themselves

racing through Chicago on a Friday night rescue mission;

they escape one predicament just to find themselves in another.

But things change when they find themselves in a blues club.

They can’t leave until they sing the blues:

Nobody leaves this place without singing the blues.

They’re slowed down because you can’t escape or run away;

you can only go through what life puts before you.

So Elisabeth Shue (the babysitter) takes the microphone

and tells their woeful story.

It’s amazing what happens when we tell our story.

Things aren’t quite as bad as we thought.

Oh, they may be bad alright,

but naming them takes away ruthless their power.

A little perspective helps too.

This is what I love: when you sing the blues you go through them.

And it’s really the only way.

Oh, I’ve tried other ways. Haven’t you?

The old Spiritual explains it though:

You can’t go around them ‘cause they’re too wide;

you can’t go over them ‘cause they’re too high;

and you can’t go under them ‘cause they’re too low.

So there we were in Chicago

celebrating the blues -- on Buddy Guy’s 73rd birthday.

We showed up early for front row seats,

played pool, and shared our table with new friends.

We sang and listened, laughed and talked.

We shared stories of cancer, unemployment, and new jobs.

We worked our way through the blues

and came out on the other side.

Even news of a positive breast cancer biopsy

could be experienced in a different light.

Our new friend hugged me good-bye

and added through tears, It’s going to be alright.

I pulled back, looked into her eyes,

and saw the strength reflected there.

Yes, I agreed.

It would somehow be alright for them.

For mother and daughter would go through it together.

That’s what the blues brings. Hope.

Eighty-Five and Proud of it!

At age 84 Mom took up water coloring.

"Rose in Vase" is her favorite

(so far she reminds me).

What an inspiring way 

to show us how to live, love, and enjoy life.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Grace: Unconditional No-Matter-What Love

Who does this bring to mind?

Is there someone in your life that

provides this kind of love?

In our family it's 

Mom.  Gramma.  GG (Great-Gramma).

Everyone ... every child, every niece,

every nephew, every grandchild,

every great-grandchild ... everyone

has said at one time or another

Gramma will be there for us No Matter What.

No-Matter-What Love.

Always there.  Always will be.  Always.

That's Grace.

Who do you love like this?

Notice how you're changed, even as

you think about loving someone in this way.

Now ... Enjoy. 

The Delight of Wonder

What would it mean to approach

every day with wonder, as Rabbi Abraham Heschel taught?

What would it mean to see life

as through the lens of a camera, as our son-in-law does?

What would it mean to pause,

to re-approach life with wonder,

so that we might experience

the delightful mystery of life all around us?

Dear Lord, grant me the grace of wonder.

Surprise me, amaze me, awe me, enrapture me

with Your marvelous things without number.

I do not ask

to see the reason for it all;

I ask only

to share the wonder of it all.

--Abraham Joshua Heschel

Workshop: Ten Tips to Create a Soul Journal

1. Start

Select a color, a word, a symbol, an image. It doesn't matter what you start with. Just start. With anything. The starting is what matters.

This is one of the first pages I made several years ago. It's still one of my favorites, and I really had no idea what I was doing. I simply started. It's really all about the soul.

2. Play

Let your imagination wander. Allow yourself to freely select words, symbols, colors, images. Remember, this is about the soul, not the intellect, and so things don't have to make sense -- in fact, they may NOT make sense.

The woman wearing aviator glasses was in a funky sports magazine ad. I ripped out the page and set it aside. Later I noticed that she seemed to say to me 'have fun! dare to be daring! you can do anything!' in a powerful combination of playfulness and courage.

3. Mess Around

Use scissors to cut something out ... or simple rip around the edges.

I love this method: because there is no way to make something perfect, there can be no imperfection -- Freedom!!!

4. Select a Journal Page

Did you notice? This does not have to be step one. If you haven't selected a journal or some kind of pages for your background, you can do that now. You can use a journal you already have as long as you're comfortable with a few bumps or wrinkles as you can see here, particularly around the glass tiles.

You can also start with a sheet of paper, a sketch journal from the dollar store, or a book from the reduced-for-quick-sale section at your favorite used book store. That's what I've done. I'm in love with books, and this just made sense to me for my Soul Journals.

5. Begin a Background

I brushed on green paint first. Any kind will work; inexpensive acrylics from a craft store are great. You can dry it more quickly with a hair dryer; then it's helpful to lay a piece of wax paper on top, held down by a heavy book so the pages won't curl. While this dried I leafed through magazines where I found this wonderful quote, the Grecian woman, and the large vintage clock.

6. Add for Depth and Texture

You can continue to work with the background to add layers.

Here I took a pad of dark brown ink to brush the edges and smear around the perimeter. I like to use my fingers, a bit of kitchen sponge, or brushes.

Then I smudged on some darker green paint. There's no rhyme or reason. The layers will add depth and interest ... much as the soul has mystery and unknown dimensions.

7. Mess Around Again

I placed words and pictures, moved them around, selected more items, discarded some, added some back in, and changed everything around again.

This is part of the process: allow the soul to freely wander.

After I cut out the clock (I think it was from a Smithsonian magazine ad) I wrinkled it up into a ball. Using the dark brown ink I rubbed over the wrinkles and around the edges -- instant aging! The numbers were from some product box or another -- there are interesting words and numbers all around us.

8. Stand Back

Do you want to move something a bit? Completely alter the arrangement? Add something else? Trust your intuition.

When it seems done, go ahead and glue down your collage pieces. Can you see a shine on these pages? Sometimes I use clear collage gel that dries with a gloss finish. (Remember, you can dry your pages more quickly with a blow dryer and then re-flatten with wax paper and a heavy book.)

9. Finishing

Ribbon, string, and pieces of fabric can be glued down the center or tied to the side; simply poke holes near the edge of the page, pull fabric or ribbon through and tie. Bronze glass mosaic tiles, dragonfly brads, an old button, and vintage stamps finished off the pages.

Is there still something you decide you want to change? You can. Or you can leave it. Imperfect? Unfinished? ... When is anything perfect? Or finished?

Maybe it's perfectly imperfect just as it is. This is all a process.

10. Enjoy

Have you noticed how a very young toddler will take a picture book and stare at the pictures for ages? I often wonder what's going on inside.

Try the same thing yourself.

Allow your gaze to wander into thoughts, memories, hopes, dreams ... allow yourself to settle into serenity, joy, quietness ... and enjoy the journey.

Look for future posts on continuing your soul journal. Meanwhile, don't forget the first step ... Start.

Please remember to post your comments and ask questions. I'd love to know you've visited and I'm always glad to explain things!

Joyous Dancing Among the Waves ... ... ... ... With Cherries!

"What in God might appear to us as play,

is perhaps what God takes most seriously.

We are invited to forget ourselves on purpose

and join in the general dance."

--Thomas Merton

As my preschool grandson would say,

Amazing, huh?

I've been so excited about sharing this quote with you

that I was up at 3am (!!!) to finish learning

how to combine images on Photoshop to go with it.

Enjoy the quote, enjoy the image,

Enjoy the Dance.

(PS: If you'd like the full quote email me

and I'll gladly send it to you.)

Surprise!

I had my morning coffee with a squirrel

and thought about Emily Dickenson and

Beatrix Potter with their squirrels.

Ours played beneath the corner bench

scrubbing through mulch,

intent on finding some yummy thing.

For one moment I turned my back,

set down my coffee and the last of my toast.

Ohhhh that mischievous neighbor!

But I should have known.

Wonder who enjoyed more

the crispy crunch,

the seeds and grains?

I decided that I did,

for mine was topped with

delightful entertainment,

joy and laughter.

Gazing as Prayer without Words

Just look at the serene blues and greens in this watercolor --

and the tranquil reflections in the water are amazing!

It's the lake I wrote about a couple of posts back.

I'm so grateful to Mike Thomas for permission to use

Boathouse at Smith Lake, Washington Park, Denver.

It really gives a wonderful impression of the the park.

I love how our thoughts and feelings can be subtly

affected by contemplating a setting like this. Last Friday

as I gazed at the currents flowing across the lake,

I slowly rested into hope; that was my prayer.

Words were unnecessary.

When talking isn't helpful and words only get in the way,

gazing at an image can help shift our thoughts -- and in turn

shift our physical and emotional reactions.

For example, have you ever found that talking about a problem

doesn't bring relief, but instead causes a tense visceral reaction?

Things like an anxious tightness in the back, churning knots

in the stomach, or tense clinching around the shoulders.

What I tend to notice first is how my voice rises a level or

two ... or three ... and how my pattern of speech often begins

to gallop into breakneck speed.

By gazing at a calm scene or a soothing watercolor like this,

our mindful attentiveness can become prayer.

When our lives are disrupted and our souls disturbed,

when words are insufficient even in prayer, we can

allow our gaze to settle into prayer without words.

Nicknames

Seeing old friends is great.

You know what else is great?
To be able to respond
when asked "How are you?" with
"I'm cancer free -- and
I'm depression free."

I call them
the "Big C"

and the "Dirty D"

There's power in a name.
Liberating power as well as oppressive power.
There's calm centering power,
and there's also the
whimsical redeeming power of nicknames.

What are some of your favorite nicknames
for struggles or Pains-in-the-Neck?
Favorite practical jokes?
Dreaded foods, days, or tasks?
Alter-egos or an Inner Child?

Tranquil Waters, Gentle Waves

Every Friday morning I meet a group of friends

at one of the parks in the Denver area.

Today we gathered near the Vintage Boathouse at Wash Park.

We spread my Great-Great-Aunt-Sissy's quilt with its faded pink flowers

beneath huge lakeside shade trees and lounged with

our coffee, tea, and morning snacks.

The peaceful water seemed to soothe everything around us.

Even the white geese with trailing toddlers

were more tranquil than usual.

I gazed out over the gently drifting current

and thought of friends whose days and realistic expectations

are anything but calm, serene, or tranquil.

Hundreds of applications and dozens of interviews,

sleepless nights and stressful days,

anxious weeks extending into months.

How long? How long, O Lord? echoes the 13th Psalm.

How long must sorrow remain? How long?

There are no words sufficient for my hopes.

But there are gentle waves drifting by.

Something New to Try!

What might it be like

to lighten our souls, brighten our lives,

and find joyous moments throughout our days?

(How often it is that we think of our life journey

as something 'serious' -- you know,

when even the word 'serious' is spoken

slowly, sedately, and in our deepest voice;

something weighty and pendantic!)

With my new blog,

I hope to share with you

a journey filled with

whimsical creative practices

for joyous moments in a thoughful life.