“Emergence”
“Emergence” - created June 25th, 2021
THE MANDALA PROJECT - How it came to life
If you know someone whose day would be brightened by this Mandala, please pass it along! Even more magical, with a love note from you!
The Mandala Project: #26
This Mandala came together on a June morning wander, the time of year in a four-season landscape when winter’s officially behind us and the natural world is amping up to its full summer volume of colour and vitality.
It was a magical morning; the final snow was gone from even the deep shadowed corners of the forest and there was a warm sun and a gentle breeze. Life had awakened from the quiet stillness of hibernation, and it was showing off.
It was the wasp’s nest that kicked off this particular Mandala, a paper scroll telling of the arrival of a new cadre of queen bees, joining other winged and wild things as they emerged into the vibrant arc of early summer.
The world was filled with treasure, strategically planted to spark curiosity and delight.
It’s mid-December as I write this post, very near the winter solstice in this corner of the Universe, when all light is gone from the sky by 5pm.
We’re also in the midst of a huge storm cycle, any trace of summer buried beneath accumulating layers of snow, and I’m noticing gratitude for the reminder that on the other side of this darkness, life will once again explode with irrepressible exuberance.
At the same time, the contrast between now and then stirs a deep appreciation for this sacred time of year.
When I feel my connection with the rhythms of nature beneath the structures of modern-day culture, I’m also reminded that darkness and shadow have their own unique beauty.
Winter’s magic is the invitation to gather energy inward, slow to the pace of mystery, and create space to gestate vibrant expressions that require the alchemy of time to emerge.
We live in a culture that supports and encourages the ideal of self-sufficiency, and most of us spend our lives striving for it. It’s a myth, and believing it comes with a steep price.