Category Archives: Weekly

Weekly Reading #11: Wake Up!

  By The Mandala Lady | March 13, 2012 - 11:14 am |
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Weekly Mandala Reading: Wake up!

Wake up! Rise & shine! Up and at ‘em! Beep-Beep! A-OOO-Ga!

This is our universal life-force wake up call. The time for holding back, playing it safe, self-sabotage, blocking our forward movement, and letting fear have control has ended! Ding-dong the wicked witch is dead! The light at the end of the tunnel is here! Stay away from that snooze alarm!

Do we have your attention?

Right now we’re in this semi-conscious state of just opening our eyes, waiting for our whole self to fulling engage. We’ve been living most of our lives in this day-to-day dream like state wondering most of the time how we got from point A to point B…like zombies.

Please note…we have the option to stay in our zombie-like states for as long as we want. It begs the question, however, “how’s that working for you?”…to quote Dr. Phil.

Being fully engaged means being fully present at all times: body, mind and spirit. A monumental task that we can easily break down into simple moments at a time. It starts by remembering to be aware as often as we can; “am I fully awake in this moment, fully aware of everything going on around me and in me?” Just asking that question brings us to the present moment.

Why do we want to be aware/awake? Because only in this moment can we make any adjustments, any changes to our current situation.

For example, quite often I catch myself walking into the kitchen, opening the refrigerator and grabbing something to eat…as if sleepwalking…when in reality I wasn’t even hungry.

When I catch myself like that, I realize that I’d rather eat than take care of whatever it is that I’m really trying to avoid. Chances are what I’m avoiding has fear wrapped all around it. Looking even further, going deeper within myself, I recognize that the fear comes from some distorted illusion that I am not enough, I am not loveable, I am not worthy, or some other such nonsense.

Repeat after me…

I am enough! You are enough! We are enough!

I am loveable! You are loveable! We are loveable!

I am worthy! You are worthy! We are worthy!

Now go outside and play :-)

joyfully,

Maureen, The Mandala Lady

Weekly Reading #10: The Bigger Picture

  By The Mandala Lady | March 7, 2012 - 7:17 pm |
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Weekly Mandala Reading #10: The Bigger Picture

Ever notice when flying in a plane how the view inside looks like a human sardine can? It’s packed with people in very uncomfortable seating arrangements with at least one poor child screaming in agony throughout the flight and another using your seat back as a kicking bag. Just getting up to use the rest room becomes a major ordeal, especially when seated in one of the inner seats.

But with one turn of our heads, the view completely changes. Looking out the window of this flying sardine can gives us a grand view, a bigger picture of where we are. Depending on the plane and how far along in the flight, the earth lays 30,000 feet below us in all its vastness as we fly amongst the clouds.

This mandala reminds us to turn our heads, look for a different perspective, see the bigger picture. What an amazing view we would miss if we stay focused on all the inner chaos of the plane. In this case we would miss beautiful clear night’s sky and the rising of the moon from behind a grand mountain range as it reflects off the large body of water below.

Today, while speedily walking towards my next errand and thinking about the next task after that, I caught a glimpse of a bright red, metallic star balloon, floating above the street. It contained just enough helium to keep it afloat without it going off into the stratosphere. I stopped to watch it as it floated up an down with the wake of the passing cars and trucks, without an apparent care in the world. It reminded me 1) to slow down and appreciate the view around me instead of being lost in my monkey mind thoughts as I scurried along, 2) to breath and be present in the moment,  and 3) to go with the flow.

Of course we can delve deeper into this idea of the bigger picture…of how we let ourselves become so wrapped up in what seems to be important in our tiny little worlds and forget to stop to take in all the wonderful and amazing things and people all around us.

What’s in your bigger picture?

joyfully,

Maureen, The Mandala Lady

ps…just for the heck of it, I decided to color this same mandala using the same colors but on white paper just to give you an idea of how different the mandala would look and as to why I chose (or rather was guided) to use black paper for these weekly mandala readings.

"White" version of this week's mandala

Weekly Reading #9: Leap

  By The Mandala Lady | February 29, 2012 - 6:56 pm |
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Weekly Mandala Reading #9

We continue our discussion about our paths.

Are we seated on the sidelines looking at all our options going back and forth over which one to choose? Or have we chosen one without yet being fully committed to it; as in “one foot in and one foot out.”

For the longest time I struggled with which path to take. What if it turns out to be less than what I wanted? What if I fail at it? etc. In the end I heard “just pick something…you can always choose again.” That made it so much easier to handle.

Recently it came to my attention that while it looks like I’m on my path, I have been reluctant to commit 100%. I let some fears about success and the responsibilities that come with it hold me back.

What this fear usually boils down to is the supposed lack of confidence we have in ourselves to handle success. When I seriously looked into this, I remembered how many leaps I’ve handled over the years, reminding me that I can handle it.

Where are you on your path?  Are you ready to take the leap?

joyfully,

Maureen, The Mandala Lady

Weekly Reading #8: Stay Focused

  By The Mandala Lady | February 21, 2012 - 1:24 pm |
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Weekly Mandala Reading #8

It’s easy to be distracted by all things big and small while moving forward along our path. In continuing with last week’s discussion of finding joy on our path, this week’s mandala reminds us to stay focused on our path.

These days, lots of things try to grab our attention…from disasters, scandals, and reality TV shows to more personal things like the laundry, emails, and all the gadgets that help us ‘make our lives easier.’

We may choose many pathways in this lifetime which is part of the joy of being here, more importantly, striving for excellence (vs perfection) in all we do while honoring our authentic self is our True Path.

Fears, doubts, ego, peer pressure and other such human foibles can lead us astray, distracting us from this Path. And that’s okay as long as we become aware of this distraction and put ourselves back on track. It becomes easier with each course correction, that the distractions eventually change into mere breezes passing by as we continue on our merry way.

The Key to Staying Focused

Be diligent and vigilant about asking ourselves: am I on the Path or am I distracted away from it.

joyfully,

Maureen, The Mandala Lady

Weekly Reading #7: The Path

  By The Mandala Lady | February 14, 2012 - 6:04 pm |
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Weekly Mandala #7: The Path

Ever been on a roller coaster? Up until I received hypnotherapy for my height issues, I stayed away from them. Now, I love them!

The coolest part for me is when I relax as we quickly approach the top of a soon-to-be big drop so that as I fly over the top and drop (while still relaxed) I receive the full effects of zero gravity, weightlessness. In that tiny moment, I’m floating on air. What joy!

Having that experience requires being present in that very moment without thinking about the next hill, drop, twist or barrel roll.

We’re being asked to look at our paths and to ask questions about them…Where am I right now? Where do I want to be? What can I do now to move forward? What has to wait it bit? Is what I am about to do helping or holding me back?  What am I neglecting/avoiding? Do I even want to be on this path? How can I make it fun?

The Key to Being On Our Path:
Find the joy in where we are while moving forward, on our way to where we want to be.

Weekly Reading #6: On the Horizon

  By The Mandala Lady | February 9, 2012 - 6:42 pm |
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On the Horizon

In the movie “Contact” young Ellie asks her dad about life on other planets. He offers a wonderful answer: “I don’t know, Sparks. But I guess I’d say if it is just us…seems like an awful waste of space.” (iMDb)

When we look up at the night sky through the ‘goggles’ of this mandala, we see waves of energy radiating outward into the vastness of space. And if we observed earth from any one of these stars or planets, we would see earth radiating an energy life force as well.

At the center of this mandala, a tunnel emerges, allowing us to delve deeper on the path into our own world where we can explore the core of earth’s life force.

We can use this example on ourselves. All around us, everything consists of some form of energy…people, animals, plants, rocks, etc. Along with experiencing this energy outside of ourselves, we can experience it within ourselves. Take a moment to feel your vibrational energy field within your own body.

Energy/Life exists everywhere.

joyfully,

Maureen, The Mandala Lady

Weekly Reading #5: Supermind

  By The Mandala Lady | January 31, 2012 - 1:47 pm |
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Supermind (click for larger view)

Vernon Howard defines Supermind as the mental faculty which is above and beyond conditioned human thought (“The Power of Your Supermind” pg 14).

Ever have a brilliant idea just pop into your head at the oddest moments? Mine usually occur while talking. My left brain becomes so preoccupied with talking that the right brain takes a quick trip to access this Supermind, channeling in a brilliant idea which then blurts out of my mouth often leaving me wondering “wow…where did that come from?”

This mandala represents this Supermind where Thoughts await their journey from Thought into form. I liken it to this giant spotlight roaming the Earth in this Supermind dimension searching for anyone who may be open to it.

Howard states, “Supermind exists within everyone but [we are] asleep to it. Our entire task…is to awaken to the unfoldments of Supermind.”

We can wait for it to come to us in snippets of Divine Inspiration or in our dreams or in serendipitous events.  Or we can consciously tap into it directly when we quiet our busy little minds through meditation or creative activities (coloring mandalas works great for this).

Weekly Reading #4: To Source

  By The Mandala Lady | January 24, 2012 - 9:55 pm |
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Weekly Reading #4: The Source

All roads lead to Source, to God, to God Energy, to 100% pure white Light, to Heaven, or whatever term you feel comfortable using. Even if we choose to pooh-pooh this notion, eventually, we ALL come home to the Light, the Source.  Just because we don’t believe it doesn’t mean it isn’t true.

Many wonder what path to follow, what belief system to adopt; others opt out completely believing that what we see here on earth is all there is. Regardless of the path we choose, this mandala reminds us that we all go to the same place.

Some paths are easier, some are longer, some are exciting and some are boring.   The question is, do you want to go the path of pain and misery or joy and peace?

So when choosing your path, go with your heart…go with the one that feels true to you and encourages you to be a better person, inspires you to make this world a better place, brings joy, love and peace to you and all those around you…choose that path.

And regardless of the path chosen…know that we can always choose again.

joyfully,

Maureen, The Mandala Lady

Weekly Reading #3: God Energy

  By The Mandala Lady | January 17, 2012 - 12:26 pm |
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Weekly Mandala #3: God Energy

My head buzzed the whole time I drew out this mandala and still does as I write this post. I feel like my head is expanding. Very intense…in a good way.

I realize that the term “God” can be challenging for some. It took me many  years of therapy to get over the strict religious upbringing that ‘taught’ me that God is this old white guy sitting on a throne in the sky judging every move I/we make and that if I/we don’t behave, I/we will most likely end up in hell.

My understanding of God evolved into this idea of a universal life force, an infinite, loving, and powerful energy. A friend calls It 100% pure white light. Whatever you call It, It exists in all of us, in all things.

So when I look at this mandala I feel this intense God Force, God Energy, continuously radiating out in all directions. The rotating cubic square depicts the Eternal All-Knowing aspect of this Energy, which we all can access at any time.

In beautiful synchronicity, I present to you today’s daily inspiration of Vernon Howard from the New Life Foundation:

“Q: You once said there is nothing I need do about my problems, 
and also that I can do everything about them. Please explain.

A: The conditioned self made up of contradictory desires and
false viewpoints can do nothing but fall even deeper into the pit.
But the new you, the Supermind-self, your cosmic consciousness, 
knows the answer to everything. This new you can reach the point 
where it needs no answers because it has no questions.”
The Power of your Supermind, Chap. 9, p. 115

Assignment

Whatever issues, questions or problems you may be experience at this time…

  1. pick one and look at it in your usual way; think about it, write about it, blog it, ignore it, draw it, whatever comes to mind for you to approach it. What answer or solution do you find? Often times just taking your issue out of your mind eases some of the pressure and from there maybe a plan of action comes out of it.
  2. Now pick that same issue and connect with this Eternal All-Knowing Energy. Please note that even though this mandala shows this Energy as if it is outside of us, it really represents what is inside of all of us. However you can do it, go within to this All-Knowing Energy, this Cosmic Consciousness…some ways you can do this are meditating on this mandala, doing yoga, being in nature, or sitting in your sacred space…whatever works best for you. Bring your issue into this space and ALLOW the solution, the answer to present itself  to you. What answer or solution comes to mind?

If the second half of this assignment feels beyond the envelop for you, belief or trust-wise, start with a simple issue or question and work your way up. In the big scheme of things all issues/questions/problems have the same weight and effect. So while it may look  like you are tackling bigger and bigger issues, they all are, in fact, just another aspect of fear.

As our confidence in this All-Knowing Energy grows, we will reach the point, as Vernon Howard states, where we need no answers because we have no questions.

joyfully,

Maureen, The Mandala Lady

Weekly Reading #2: Earth Energy

  By The Mandala Lady | January 10, 2012 - 7:15 pm |
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Earth Energy

This week we explore the energy of Earth and Earth’s place in planetary space. When I look at this mandala I sense a continual two-way communication between Earth and planetary space.

The auric image of a volcano top in this mandala shows, metaphorically speaking, how the communication goes directly into the core of Earth’s being and that it offers a direct channel between Earth and all that is beyond Earth.

We can choose to attune with Earth’s energy as well as experience this vast energetic and galactic communication.

Assignment

  • Throughout the week, take a few moments here and there to feel the Earth. Be aware that we exist on a planet that rotates and orbits out in space.  See if you can feel the Earth move. Ideally, if you can, go outside and be on a piece of Earth to really get in touch with the energy of Earth.
  • As you go about our day notice if any space in your home, property, work, street, park, etc feels better than other spaces. In our local park, I have one place that I love to visit…it feels energized and mystical to me. What is it that makes one space feel better to you than another?
  • Recall a place you visited in the past where you noticed how good it felt to be there. Meditate on that place to experience that feeling again. You can always re-connect with that feeling…anytime without having to physically be there. For me a couple of places stand out…the grand canyon, a beach near Stuart, Florida, the top of a hiking trail outside of L.A. and 3 spots at Crater Lake in Oregon.
  • Continue with last week’s assignment of connecting with our night sky only this time do it while experiencing the energy of Earth. Imagine being in on the conversation between Earth and planetary space. What are they saying to each other? What are they saying to us?

Have a delightful week!

joyfully,

Maureen, The Mandala Lady