Henry Reed's Daily Mandalas--The Intuitive-Connections Network

The Daily Mandala

http://www.dailymandala.blogspot.com

http://www.henryreed.com/mandala-market/

Mandala means circle. In this case, the circle refers to the symbol for "All that is," especially all that can be, or Creation's complete and full potential, the unmanifest. Carl Jung brought mandalas to our attention and noted that they often appeared in conjunction with the square motif.

(Click on the picture to see bigger image!)

Jung noted that the square, a four-side figure, seemed to be a universal (archetypal) theme about life on earth, as in "the four directions" or the "four corners of the earth." What is the significance, then, of the circle and square together?

The mystical geometers of ancient Egypt used a compass and a ruler to explore the realms. Using only a compass and a ruler, they would devise methods of creating known forms in creation. However, they discovered that for a given circle, it was not possible to create a square that contained exactly the same area within it as the circle.

They interpreted this fact to mean that no one could, in their lifetime, give complete expression (manifestation within the four corners of the earth) of the full potential the creator had implanted within each soul. "Squaring the circle" came to mean the imperfect expression in the earth of the perfection of the underlying creation.

Both Edgar Cayce and Carl Jung expressed the same idea, in different terms, about the goal of a lifetime. Cayce called it "individuality," Jung called it "individuation."

What both meant by these similar terms was that we each grow to become individual, unique, incomplete and imperfect expressions of the universal creative principle that underlies all life.

A mandala expresses that blend of the unique and the universal.

(Click on the picture to see bigger image!)

Everyday I share with you my attempt to "square the circle," in the form of a mandala. I put it on a web blog in keeping with the current vernacular of how individuals now present their voice to the world.

There will come a time when the collective consciousness is aware of all our voices, and we will learn to sing in harmony.

To me, singing in harmony means each of us sharing of our authentic voice, and the harmony is the harmony, not of sameness, but expressive of the great mystery: how the underlying oneness manifests in so many particulars.

Before the advent of separation and judgment (as detailed, for example, in the fall of the Garden of Eden) there was an instinctive, although unconscious, harmony among the particulars of creation.

It has been our path to move beyond separation and judgment to achieve the next phase of creation. My studies and personal exploration in spiritual psychology, from Anthroposophy to Zen, has led me to the hypothesis that simply "being yourself" is the path.

It is a path with heart, as it requires a certain acceptance and love for what is, rather than for what, according to judgments, "should be."

So I create and share my mandalas daily even though they are, from the standpoint of judging their artistic merits or quality of construction, imperfect, irregular, coarse or roughly hewn.

Nevertheless, they reflect me. They express, I believe, the prayer that goes into their creation, that when viewed by others, the mandala will remind the viewer that it is OK to be themselves, it is OK to be as they are.

I hope that these mandalas awaken the heart of the viewer more than words can do, maybe even inspiring the viewer to muse inwardly, "Hey, those mandalas look like fun; I could do one myself!"

(Click on the picture to see bigger image!)

You can view my daily mandalas at http://www.dailymandala.blogspot.com. I have set up an automated mailing list at:

http://www.creativespirit.net/henryreed/subscribedailymandala/

where you may enter your email address and you will receive these mandalas daily in your mailbox. It is my "giveaway" and you may use them as you wish. It is my hope that you will enjoy making your own.

There has been a lot written about the inner effect of making mandalas. I'll not repeat any of that here, but encourage you to find out for yourself.

PS: These mandalas may be printed on artful and useful objects of your choice, for yourself or for fine gifts. Go to http://www.henryreed.com/mandala-market/


Current Update as of September 19, 2005 Inspired by The Edgar Cayce Institute for Intuitive Studies Edited by HENRY REED, Ph.D.