“Storytellers”
“Storytellers” - created June 16th, 2021
The Mandala Project: #15
A late day stroll to the top of the street, some random bits of wood and showing up to tinker in the imaginal field—and next thing ya know…Abracadabra-Shazam: “The Rabbit Leapt Over the Wolf-Owl”.
The Mandala above was my second attempt with this little team of wood friends (see the first below). It was cloudy as I was re-assembling the moving parts in this new location, but then the setting sun made an appearance beneath the clouds and carried it over the finish line.
The Wonder of Story
My Mother used to say to me, “Elizabeth, never let the truth ruin a good story.” Over time I’ve come to understand what she meant creatively by that.
Telling a story well is trusting the emergent nature of it. Listening for what to leave in, what to leave out, and what parts of the story want to speak themselves into life honours whatever is arising in the moment. The aliveness of the story becomes in the telling.
When we share our stories with care and attention, we’re weaving threads of experience together in a way that supports and holds us. The creative process opens our hearts to wonder, and helps us feel more connected and less alone in the vastness of our complex Cosmos.
Playing With Possibility
It’s striking the difference that background and lighting make.
The colourful one below was my first attempt, built on a storm drain lower down the block that falls into evening shadow earlier.
It has a unique kind of charm in its mosaic, pattern and colour, but for me, light and shadow can’t be beat for pure magic. Glad I continued to play right into the evening sun’s hands.
THE MANDALA PROJECT
I’m posting one new Mandala every Monday with a few words about how it came to be, and the challenges that arose or insights that emerged in its creation.
Check back here to see the new ones, or subscribe below if you’d like to receive them directly.
< Mandalas 1, 2 and 3, and the story of how the project came to life