To celebrate today's Spring Equinox, I have created a botanical mandala.
Historically, cultures brought spring botanicals into their living spaces on the day of the equinox.
Aromatic woods and essential oils were heated to release their beautiful aromatic fragrances and art mandalas were created to encourage and explore feelings of hope and future dreams.
Many cultures welcome the spring equinox with music, dance and art, including one of my favourite art forms - ‘mandalas”.
Creating a botanical mandala with your favourite inspiring items
Mandalas, most often take the form of a circle and represent the self, the sun and or the earth. I create mandalas myself for relaxation and when teaching group work, using them to gently encourage meditation.
I’m not talking here about sitting on the floor crossed legged finding quiet peace (although that is a lovely action to discuss another day). I’m talking about physical meditation, where you allow you mind to focus on a specific intention while creating (in this case - a mandala.)
For example your thoughts or intention could be to think about your family and a lovely moment when you have been together or maybe your intention is a goal that you would like to achieve such as planting and growing a botanical border in your garden.
Whatever your intention, make it a positive and gentle thought.
Then with that thought in mind, you can begin to create your botanical mandala. As I always say to my students, there is no right or wrong here, rather its an opportunity to be creative and experimental.
For this mandala, I’ve used daffodils (to represent spring), bay leaves, small tea lights, my handmade uplifting aromatic wax melts and tumble stones. I chose many of these items as they represent my creative work and this was the subject I wanted positively focus on, when creating the botanical mandala.
You can choose to use anything you want, but it’s good if you can include some form of spring botanical item.
The basic principle in creating a mandala is to form a circle pattern with the items you use. Circles, are the most popular of mandala shapes but you can use intricate patterns of squares, hexagons, or any other shape of your choice. It’s up to you, whatever you want, just try to create balance within the overall pattern and if possible let the outlier become a circle.
Once your mandala is completed, you can sit and reflect on your artwork, taking time to connect with each piece and what it means to you . If like me, you include candles, you can light them to celebrate the Equinox and share your art with family and friends. Just remember candle safely whenever lighting candles.
As an art form mandalas are suitable for all ages (just don’t include the candles if children or vulnerable people are present). They can be a lovely way to create art as a family and can bring about opportunities to discuss plans or dreams.
I hope you have enjoyed this Bettyrose Creations - Creative Wellbeing Project and do share you mandala art work
with me.
Happy Spring Equinox everyone.
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