Phases of the Moon
It is with much excitement and gratitude that I introduce a
series of mandalas I have been working on titled Phases of the Moon into the Bristol Yoga studio.
For the members of the Bristol Yoga Sangha, especially those
who have seen behind the desk what we now refer to as our “prayer flags”
(layers and layers of expressions of love written on sticky notes bordering the
desk), these designs may look familiar. It started with instructors leaving
daily love notes to one another, displaying them on the desk for all to
receive, then we began writing mantras, sacred words or sounds charged with
intention used to aid in meditation, for reminders to carry through the day,
and then we began drawing mandalas.
Mandala translates from Sanskrit to mean “circle”. The
circular structure of most Mandala designs is meant to represent the cycles of
nature; the cycles of life and death, night and day, cycles of the moon, and
rhythms of the season. It is believed that within a Mandala the microcosm of
the harmony of the universe is contained.
Mandalas are among one of the most ancient art forms and, in
some cultural traditions, are used as a form of meditation, both in their
creation and in viewing. In their creation, Mandalas encourage the creator to
determine where they are and how to move in order to orient themselves within
the cosmic rhythms of the universe. For the viewer, Mandalas can be used as
meditation. When choosing a Mandala for meditation, one may choose based on
either the meaning behind the mandala, or finding one that is visually
stimulating. For the viewer intending to use the Mandala for meditation, take a
moment to set an intention before gazing into the mandala, then allow yourself
to become absorbed by the patterns, colors, and designs, letting your mind
wander. When your wandering mind returns to grocery lists, to-do lists, or work
obligations, come back to the space of the Mandala and allow yourself to fall
into its design. Relax and float with the thoughts and feelings as they come to
you.
I was under the heavy influence of the moon, well-supported
by my birth family and my chosen family, and feeling full with love when I determined
to the create these Mandalas. I had been spending many nights bathing in the
light of the moon and gushing with love over its beauty with Shelly Bullock,
Bristol Yoga studio owner and my soul sister. It was during one of these
nights, sitting underneath the moon light next to a bonfire, burning out old,
negative habits and journaling new intentions that Shelly and I dreamed up
Appalachian Luna Love. We wanted to create products using wisdom from
Appalachian wise women and other ancient traditions to encourage individuals to
become more embodied, hoping to inspire individuals to take time to connect
with themselves, take care of themselves and create practices of loving
themselves.
In the meditations through which my Mandalas were born, I
was most inspired by the influence of the cycles of the moon on the Earth’s
natural rhythms; the tides, the habits of animals, women’s menstrual cycles,
and even human behavior. I found myself repeating the mantra, “Be in the flow,”
in the Brazilian accent of Lydie Ometto, a dear member of the Bristol Yoga
Sangha. This paired well with the watercolor medium used to bring the designs
to life. Under the observation of the last quarter moon, a period for releasing
and forgiving, my meditation became a practice of letting go; letting go of the
desire to control, letting go of attachments to outcomes, and most importantly,
recognizing and learning to let go of the fear, doubt, insecurity, uncertainty
that comes from displaying my artwork. I came out of the process recognizing
heavy, unnecessary expectations I place on myself. With a heart of forgiveness
for myself, I determined that there is no freedom or truth in perfection, it is
much better to surrender to the tides of change, to “be in the flow,” in order
to better your chances of swimming.
And now, here we are. Just in time for the Thanksgiving
Holiday and the Full Moon, a period of completion, when everything comes
together, when the gardener is able to step back and reflect on her efforts.
Appalachian Luna Love is now open to the public and Phases of the Moon is available for viewing in the Bristol Yoga
Studio. Stepping back to reflect on what has been birthed, the anxiety, fear,
doubt, and uncertainty I had before has dissolved into gratitude, an
overwhelming amount of gratitude. I am beyond grateful for the support of my
fellow moon sisters of Bristol Yoga who each influenced the series in their own
way and to my moon sisters outside of Bristol Yoga who support and inspire me
in their beauty of being. I am full of gratitude for the family that was gifted
to me by birth, for their patience and support through this journey of
unfolding that is 26 years in the making. I dedicate this series to all lovers
of the moon and to all seekers, those who seek to know, to witness, to feel, to
live, to love, to understand, and to appreciate. I hope this series serves to
bring you closer to yourself, your authentic self, and with that a deeper
connection to the harmony of the universe.
