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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 #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 #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 #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

Winter Solstice 2011

  By The Mandala Lady | December 22, 2011 - 4:06 pm |
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Winter Solstice 2011 Mandala

This mandala looks like a cosmic flashlight exposing an opening into an inverted version of our universe…a parallel universe. And just for the fun of it, I used the “invert” effect in photoshop on the mandala and below is the result. Interesting.

Winter Solstice 2011 Mandala - Inverted in Photoshop

The mandala also looks like a magnification of one of the items flying by in the stream of red, green and gold flowing horizontally across the paper.

At the Newgrange mound in Ireland, built over 5,000 years ago, the only time the sunlight comes in to light the passageway and chamber inside is at sunrise on the winter solstice. Those who built the mound paid attention to and paid homage to this time of year. The sunset is aligned at Dowth.

So what does it all mean?  What’s the message here?

Winter solstices mark the beginning of a new cycle…it’s Earth’s new years day in the northern hemisphere. New light is shed onto the next 12 months, with new energy to help us move along in our earthly and spiritual evolution.

Why wait until the new year to start anew with whatever goals and aspirations we have for ourselves in 2012? If we start now, we’ll already have a running start by the time we sweep all the party favors up off the floor on January 1.

Along with this winter solstice we will also experience a new moon in three days on December 24…an added energy boost for starting anything new.

Rather than setting specific goals such as lose 40lbs or organize the garage, how about we strive for more deep-rooted life-style commitments such as loving and respecting ourselves in every way, living authentically, or being true to ourselves.

When we truly love and honor ourselves, we will naturally eat more appropriately and take better care of our bodies…which will produce the desired results of dropping 40lbs.

We when love and honor our surroundings, we will naturally do whatever we can to make our environment more pleasing…which will produce the desired results of having a clear and organized garage.

And we have the added bonus that when we love and respect ourselves, we will automatically love and respect others.

We just have to remember that when we do something counter to our commitments, that we quickly recognize it, pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and get back on track.

I hear this countless times and it’s just as true here…slips are not the problem, it’s what we do after we slip. Do we want to wallow in self-pity and self deprecation or do we want to move forward with the intent of doing better next time? It’s your choice.

Just like they tell us when meditating…as soon as we catch ourselves thinking about anything, we are to stop right there, without any judgment or further thoughts, and return to the breath…always come back to the breath.

Life is a celebration and while a lot of us in the northern hemisphere are experiencing cold and wintery weather, with nature in hibernation all around us, beneath the surface there is a promise of new growth and more light just around the corner.

Let’s release that which fails to serve us any longer and embrace a new commitment to shine our light even brighter than before…be the loving beings that we are meant to be.

Happy Winter Solstice!

joyfully, Maureen
The Mandala Lady

Mercury Retrograde & Solar Eclipse

  By The Mandala Lady | November 24, 2011 - 8:17 pm |
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Yesterday, the planet Mercury started retrograding (going backwards)…at least from earth’s perspective. In just under 3 hours, “the Moon will pass in front of the sun, slightly off-center, producing a partial solar eclipse visible from Antarctica, Tasmania, and parts of South Africa and New Zealand.”  (from www.SpaceWeather.com)

Before Mercury goes direct again on December 13, we will experience a lunar eclipse on December 10. With mercury retrograde acting as bookends to these two eclipses, I felt inspired to do a mandala reading for the opening of this event.

MR/SE Mandala Reading

In astrology, Mercury Retrogrades offer an excellent opportunity to re-group, re-organize, re-invent, re-think, re-do, re-model…you get the idea. On the downside, M.R. also tends to affect communications, travel, electronics…causing delays, missed appointments, and the like. If you can, hold off signing contracts and buying anything electronic unless it’s a re-placement for something that recently broke. Read more about M.R.s…

[ modified this paragraph 11/29/2011]]
This particular M.R. is in the sign of Sagittarius. Per the Alpha Life Trends site…

With the November/December 2011 Mercury Retrograde, the major issue of goals, plans and directions are up for revision. We are on the threshold of major change and transition regarding our direction, location and purpose. The road that we have been on for this year of 2011 now requires that we make choices and decisions. The road had ended and we must choose to go right or left, we can no longer continue the way we have. This Mercury retrograde is setting the stage for the shift out of 2011 and movement into 2012, a universal FIVE year (in numerology terms) which represents CHANGE, BREAKTHROUGH AND FREEDOM.

New moons are a great time to start new projects; it starts the monthly lunar cycle. Add a Solar Eclipse to this and you get an extra dose of energy to support new beginnings. To quote my astrology friend, Steffan Vanel… this solar eclipse is “the beginning of a cycle during which you can re-boot, allow to die and be reborn, what you thought was true.”   Read more about this Solar Eclipse…

[added this paragraph 11/28/2011]
And from my dear friend and Astrologer, Angelica, she states the following:

These eclipses are about opening to wisdom, discovering a new insight. Open your eyes and take a fresh look at your world, your daily routine. Look for miracles, look for unseen clues. What you are looking for is not on the surface. Look deeper, look with your toes, with your spleen, with your heart, not just with your eyes. Expand your awareness. That is the invitation being made to us. So it’s perfect for Mercury to go retrograde to slow us down and enable us to see things a differently. Try on an attitude of gratitude. During the eclipses, make lists of all the good things that have happened in your life this year. A key phrase of this eclipse is “joy through commitment.” What can you joyfully commit to? There may be opportunities to make new commitments. Look for them.

So how does this mandala relate to all of this? We are being given this wonderful window of opportunity to make use of this super supportive energy to re-evaluate our lives, both personally and on the collective.

The eclipse is blasting us with energy (volcano-like structure) and the retrograde (little gold orbs) is giving us gems of insights as we explore deeply within ourselves, awakening to the truth about ourselves, and transforming/re-defining ourselves both individually and collectively. We’re seeing some of this play out with the “occupy” movement and in the Middle East.

For me personally, I plan to use this 3-week period to more clearly define what I’m doing with my life, my business, and my art. Am I being true to who I really am? Or more deeply, who am I really and what I do value; letting go of all that has stopped serving me in any way. Am I making the most of what I have to offer this world?  What fears and limitations are stopping me from moving forward? Who do I want to be? All deep, deep subjects/questions, I know, and yet it’s the perfect time to look at it ALL.

I think of my life right now as a yet-to-be-fired clay sculpture that I’ve squished back down to a pile of wet clay waiting to be re-shaped it into how I really want it to look, how I really want to be.

So yes, we can focus on the negative side of M.R. or we can use this time, with it’s extra boost of energy, to re-group and fine tune our lives, our goals, and our values. The universe is fully supporting all of us on this quest.

Although to be on the safe side, do double/triple check appointments & travel plans. :-)

joyfully,

Maureen, The Mandala Lady

11.11.11

  By The Mandala Lady | November 11, 2011 - 5:41 pm |
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With 11 being such a magical number, it seemed appropriate to do a mandala reading for today, 11/11/11.

11.11.11

I saw and drew the road/path first. Next came the horizon line. As I painted the green onto the paper, I became aware, in my mind’s eye, of this huge party off from the horizon. While the path and the earth display a quiet simplicity, off in the sky the angels celebrate our progress.

From our vantage point it looks like little is going on except the change in direction. And yet beyond all that we’re being celebrated, cheered for, and encouraged onward.

Many years ago I ran the L.A. marathon (5 hrs 40 mins). 10,000 runners finished ahead of me. To my credit, I finished ahead of over 3,000 people. Anyway…while running that marathon, many people along the side lines cheered us on and encouraged us to keep going. It made a huge difference in how I ran (shuffled) my race (jog).

Here on earth, as spiritual beings having a human experience (marathon), we’re being encouraged to keep going, to keep up the great work. It may seem like little is happening however we need to know that we have a team of people/angels/guides/light beings/etc. cheering us on, supporting us along our way.  For me, it makes the journey that much easier and much more joyful.

I plan to observe how this ‘right hand turn’ in the road plays out. It might be interesting to do a meditation where we place ourselves right at the turn in order to see what’s up ahead.

joyfully,

Maureen, The Mandala Lady

Mayan Cycle & Jup Trine Pluto

  By The Mandala Lady | October 28, 2011 - 12:05 pm |
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At 9:46 am PST today, Jupiter (in Taurus) trined Pluto (in Capricorn). I started this mandala reading precisely at 9:46 and, interestingly enough, finished it at 10:28 am.

According to Lynn Hayes of Astrodynamics,…

“This is the second phase of a cycle that began in July and is a beautiful alignment for the expansion of our personal empowerment and confidence. Under this influence we can accomplish many things, so it’s important to be clear about what we want our lives to look like.”

In some circles, today, October 28, 2011, is the official end of the last cycle of the Mayan calendar cycles. A video on the web site “Awakening as One” explains how they figured out that it’s today rather than, December 12, 2012. They also include references to the Hopi prophecies.

So with all this going on I felt inspired to do a mandala reading for both of them.

With Jupiter energy on top

The green area is the Pluto energy; the blue area is the Jupiter energy. Both seem to intertwine with each other. Within the Plluto area are different patterns to which I kept hearing the word “repatterning” in my mind. The upwardly mobile cluster cells in the Jupiter area, create this feeling of ascension, of raising vibrations. In Astrology, Jupiter is the planet of expansion and Pluto is the planet of transformation. The trine (represented by the pyramid) sets up an easy, beneficent environment for the two planets to do their thing.

With Jupiter on top, it reminds us to grow and expand. In this context it refers to our spiritual growth and evolution. With Pluto on top, it reminds us to dig deep, to transform ourselves from the inside out. It’s interesting to me that these two areas remind me of the left brain (Pluto) /right brain (Jupiter) dynamic…transforming our patterns and opening ourselves up to the possibilities beyond our limited 3D world.

With Pluto energy on top

With either view, the whole feel of the mandala is celebratory…the equivalent of our New Year’s Eve celebrations. With the end of one year/age comes the hopes and aspirations of a new year/age, moving ever forward in our evolution.

As an aside, it’s interesting to me how the pyramid reminds me of the pyramid found on the back of the U.S. dollar bill…but without the eye.

In summary, this mandala celebrates the beginning of a new age, a new era where we explore within ourselves and beyond ourselves, raising our vibration in love, compassion and joy. The more we do this, the more we can help others do the same. Lead by example.

Happy New Age, Everyone!

joyfully,

Maureen, The Mandala Lady

Mu’ammar el-Qaddafi

  By The Mandala Lady | October 25, 2011 - 1:32 pm |
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With Mu’ammar el-Qaddafi’s recent passing, I felt inspired to do a mandala reading about him. The many components to this mandala makes it a bit of a challenge to interpret. I welcome any insights you may gain by viewing this mandala.

Mu'ammar el-Qaddfi Mandala ReadingThe upside-down green ‘boot’ caught my attention first…at least to me it looks like a boot. It being upturned brings to mind the end of his oppressive rule. The orange sun with it’s gold and red rays reminds me of a light at the end of the tunnel…especially with what looks like a narrow alleyway between two tall buildings.

The blue lower-case “i” surrounded by pink under the orange sun intrigues me. I see two different things happening there. In one case I see a small pink building with a blue door and a blue window above the door. In the other, it looks like a blue lower-case “i” with a pink field in the background leading out to the rising/setting sun. In both cases, a green pathway lays out in front of it.

I’ve often heard the ego referred to as the “little i” or “little me”. If we go with the perspective of the “i”  and a pink field, it feels like the little “i” is out in the field, with this sense of being lost and all alone. Across the field is his goal, purpose; behind the “i” is the remnants of his life.

And if you look at the surroundings of the little blue ‘i’, the colors of pink and green are light and beautiful. Even the ‘i’ is a lovely shade of blue. It’s as if he surrounded himself with the beautiful things of this world with little regard for anyone else or the adverse effects of his actions. And it could very well be that in his delusional mind he felt that all his actions were for the greater good.

My sense is that Qaddafi came into this world to help people wake up…to help them wake up to living a more enlightened life. Somewhere along the way he lost his way. While he had the potential to be a great spiritual leader, he chose a long, hard, and brutal way to try to achieve his goal (represented by the orange sun…when you add red (blood/pain/passion) to yellow…it becomes orange).

I understand that throughout his reign he amassed a fortune in gold as well as the blood of his people. The red and gold rays of the orange sun represent the blood and fortune of his material world acquisition. So all this tainting overshadows what could otherwise be a glorious sunrise.

He had the potential to be a wise spiritual leader, leading his people to live a more enlightened and compassionate life. Instead, he lead them to wake up and rise up against him. (In the chakra system, red and orange are colors of the physical world)

I’m reminded of the animated movie, “A Bug’s Life” (highly recommend it BTW). In it, thousands of ants were oppressed by a small number of grasshoppers. Because, individually, the ants felt powerless, they succumbed to the grasshoppers’ demands. When the ants finally realize that they are far more powerful working collectively, that there were far more of them then there were grasshoppers, they were able to overpower the grasshoppers and take back their lives, living in a more peaceful, more joyful world.

The people of Libya are at the early stages of waking up…they have taken back their country. For better or for worse, Qaddafi played a part in their waking up. Yes, I know that much happened in the background to assist them such as outside funding, intel, ammunition supplies and the like…yet without the people deciding to make a move, all the money and ammunition would have made little difference.

The Libyan people are at the crossroads of their lives…do they want to make a better world for themselves or fall prey to more of the same. God bless them on their journey.

For the rest of us, what can we learn from this? Are we dictatorial, leading by fear and control? Or are we compassionate, leading love and respect? Where in our lives are we asleep? Do we want to wake up on our own? Or do we want to wait until we are forced to wake up? In the words of a certain radio personality…”wake up, sheeple!”

sincerely,

Maureen, The Mandala Lady

The Birth of an Idea

  By The Mandala Lady | June 29, 2011 - 3:58 pm |
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I created this mandala on 6/20/2011 without an intention or a clue as to what it represents.

Mandala Reading: 6/20/2011

I submit this mandala today, nine days later, with a better understanding of its meaning. Each section of the mandala explains its role within the mandala

Silver Section
I am what holds the blue vase/bowl upright and attached to the pink/purple ring. I keep the whole thing together and stabilize it; without it, all the pieces would fall apart and separate.

Gold Lightning Bolt
I may appear to be just a decorative, ornate piece around the blue vase/bowl however I energize the blue vase/bowl as well as everything contained inside.

Pinkish/Purplish Ring and Green Tunnel
I am the power source for the mandala and the objects within. I am the opening into and from the green tunnel, which is the source of all life, the source of love and light. In reality my opening is white with a pink glow and purple shading. The green tunnel goes back into infinity and is more like a wormhole, without a solid shape, constantly shifting and moving; allowing for leaps into and out of it from other connected wormholes. It is the world of infinite possibilities.

Blue Vase/Bowl
I am the incubator, the place where ideas/thoughts are formed; energized by the gold, stabilized by the silver, given life from the white opening as it comes out of the green tunnel.

White Orb
I represent thought made into form, like an egg that’s newly laid, waiting to hatch into reality, into form.

In Summary
The essence of this mandala gives us a visual representation of thought becoming form, with the assistance of energy, love & light, and a way to incubate and stabilize it all. An idea is just an idea until it’s given life, power, love, energy, passion. Without it, it lays dormant and unhatched.

Next time an idea pops into your head, visualize it going through this birth process. If it lacks any energy or love or light, maybe reconsider it and let it go, otherwise give it all you have and make it a reality.

joyfully, Maureen
The Mandala Lady