Encouraged to draw and paint by my mom from the age that I could hold a crayon, I would create circular designs beginning in the center, as a way (I understand now) of bringing order to the world when it felt “jumbly”.
It was not until twenty years later that I knew there was a name for these designs (mandala) and that they had a rich history. You can read Four Fascinating Facts about Mandalas (from my website).
I was fifteen years into my career as an artist and having some success as a watercolor painter of the desert southwest when I was called back to the mandalas. I’ll admit to some pretty strong resistance to changing styles, but the Mandala Series that resulted was life-changing for me and humbly, I’m going to add, for some others as well. Initially it was seven mandalas in the colors of the chakras, and then guidance shifted to mandalas by intention (or theme) beginning with the Forgiveness Mandala (2005).
The Mandala Series spanned twelve years and produced fifty “major” and over a hundred smaller mandalas. During this time I learned of their use by Carl Jung in psychotherapy (the past) and science began documenting results of the benefits of meditating with, and coloring mandalas (the present and future!)
For me the magic was in the way the information, images, stories and colors came through, just at the right time (not always MY time) to optimize and illustrate the lessons each mandala delivers, (documented in the stories that accompany each piece).
You may have already experienced mandalas, and if not, I am happy to e-mail you a black and white mandala to print and color. Simply join my e-mail community here: https://vikki-reed-studio.aweb.page/Mandala and it will be sent to you.
I would love to hear about your experience with mandalas!
Magical Mandalas 