Earth Day Mandalas
April 29th, 2017
It was the weekend of Earth Day. I held a mandala circle at my studio where a guided meditation connecting Mother Earth to our creative centers started the evening. We let the energy of this connection bring forth the mandalas we created.
Linda Massie (inside page of 2 page book on black paper)
It was as if a seed of inspiration germinated deep in our creative centers and grew as the colors, shapes, images and words found form on the paper.
Linda Massie (cover of 2 page book, an explosion of creative iridescence)
We used paints made from different colored soils dug up from the earth. One was the red clay soil of North Carolina, one a brown from Missouri and one the deep black of Minnesota. We also used watercolor paints that sparkled with the iridescence of mica powder, which is mined from the earth.
Janet Gray – mandala with brown dirt paint and bright flower feathers
Janet Gray – dark black sumi ink circle with dirt brown branches and flowers
We used sumi ink for the deep rich blacks. Sumi ink is traditionally made in Japan from the soot of burned pine branches during the opportune time of year. Its creation in is a long held tradition that connects calligraphy artists with Mother Earth.
Janet Gray – mandala with sumi ink, brown soil paint, white paint and blessing words
The deckle edged papers were handmade in India from recycled cotton. Some as soft as a bed sheet and very absorbent. Each sheet is handmade. The wet pulp of cotton is in a vat that the papermaker scoops a screen the size of each sheet through. The water falls through and the cotton pulp remains. Each sheet is then dried. The wavy deckled edge shows each piece is made separately and not cut from a big sheet into smaller pieces.
Linda Massie -seed spiral mandala with soil paint and iridescent gold and green
Linda Massie – blue greens of earth and water, with words barely shown through
Ann Brune – bold stripes of water, sun and the greening of earth
Martha Schermann – mandala of earth, water, sun and her connection to dragonflies
Martha Shermann – We must love the earth as we do ourselves, if not more
Martha Schermann – iridescent moon and sky
Barbara Lehmeir – joyous growth mandala
Barbara Lehmeir -centered sun and growing earth surrounded by blessings
My mandala – Water, earth and green growth. A love letter to Mother Earth in the corner.
My mandala – square symbol of earth with green around it and water spiral
My mandala – water spiral and the Hopi symbol for rain
Martha Shermann – earth, sky, me and you
Let everyday be Earth Day filling you with joy, wonder, love and wisdom. Let those knowings be an honoring, protection and nurturing of our one and only great earth.
ENJOY & CREATE