The Art of the Mandala

The art of the mandala

I’ve been fascinated by mandalas recently. A mandala is simply art within a circle form, which may have a square or other 4-fold structure superimposed. In Sanskrit, the word mandala translates to “sacred circle”.  Along with sacred rituals and chants, art in the form of the mandala has been used for centuries in many different cultures as a form of healing and visual meditation.

The psychologist Carl Jung used the spontaneous drawing of mandalas with his patients.  To quote Jung:

“Most mandalas have an intuitive, irrational character and, through their symbolical content, exert a retroactive influence on the unconscious. They therefore possess a 'magical' significance, like icons, whose possible efficacy was never consciously felt by the patient.” 

Many therapists believe there are meanings connected with symbols illustrated in mandalas. You can sometimes determine the meanings in your symbols by taking notes with each mandala. Note the kind of day you had and any feelings and thoughts you are having. Over time, you may notice similarities and patterns. Through art, we can express feelings which cannot be expressed in words. This is a good thing for those of us who tend to keep things bottled up inside! There have been studies showing that drawing within a circle has a calming physiological effect. I have certainly found this to be true not only while working in a circular format. I often find myself going into a meditative state while working on a piece of art.  Sometimes one gets so absorbed in the textures, shapes and colors, that all other thoughts temporarily fade away, and what comes through your art implement comes out from deep within.

I keep a sketchbook on my night table just for mandalas. I like to draw before going to sleep. I find it relaxing and a good way to get the days thoughts out of my head.  It’s sort of like journaling, but you are using images rather than words. For added effect, you can play some relaxing music, nature sounds, or use aromatherapy oils or incense of your liking. While working on your mandala, it is important to remember that this is a therapeutic exercise and you are not trying to make an aesthetically pleasing piece of art, which I find difficult being an artist who makes a living out of creating aesthetically pleasing art!

To make a mandala, begin by sketching a circle. You may use a compass or a plate or draw a freehand circle.  Use any medium you like…paints, colored pencils, markers, pastels, etc.  You may want to try drawing on dark paper too. Quiet yourself and begin filling the circle with whatever intuitively comes to you, there are no rules.  Or, create a nature mandala with objects found outdoors…rocks, berries, seeds, leaves, flowers, etc. I am looking forward to Spring when I can create a wildflower mandala! Pictured below is my winter mandala using pinecones, juniper berries, rhododendron buds, some seed pods, pine branches, and leaves.

Stracciatella – A soup of “documented therapeutic and recuperative virtues.”

I thought this would be a good time to post this traditional Italian chicken soup recipe, since there seems to be a bad winter cold and flu going around. There are many versions of this soup recipe...this is how I make mine. My mother always made her own version for me whenever I had a cold when I was a kid. Just inhaling the steam coming off of a steaming bowl of this soup seemed to make me feel better. According to the Mayo Clinic, "Chicken soup might help relieve cold and flu symptoms in two ways. First, it acts as an anti-inflammatory by inhibiting the movement of neutrophils — immune system cells that participate in the body's inflammatory response. Second, it temporarily speeds up the movement of mucus, possibly helping relieve congestion and limiting the amount of time viruses are in contact with the nose lining." The addition of different herbs can boost its potency and serve as an immune tonic. 

According to one testimonial: 

“If you are a matron with young ideas, take stracciatella. 

If you are a gentleman in whom performance and desire are in disequilibrium,

stracciatella is your soup. If you are an infant and anemic, put

stracciatella in your little stomach. If you are a convalescent,

stracciatella is your dish.” 

One Italian grandmother stated: “It washes away the sins of the weekend.”

Ingredients:

Bones from 1 roasted organic, pastured chicken (include feet for bone and skin health)

diced, cooked chicken

2 onions, chopped

as many garlic cloves as you like

4 carrots, diced

4 celery sticks, chopped

a handful or 2 of sliced mushrooms (shiitake, maitake, oyster)

a handful of chopped kale, escarole, or chard

1 T. apple cider vinegar

1 egg

parsley

salt and pepper

small soup pasta, cooked (optional)

grated parmesan cheese (optional, note that dairy may worsen congestion in some individuals)

Optional - herbs may be added if desired:

• black reishi mushroom slices (immune stimulant, builds resistance against infections when used regularly)

• codonopsis or ginseng root (immune tonic, enhances energy)

• astragulus (immune tonic, strengthens the lungs)

• jujube dates (strengthens resistance to colds, adds mild sweetness)

• thyme (mild expectorant for wet coughs)

• hot peppers - cayenne (helps clear the sinuses and ward off colds)

Place the chicken bones in a crock pot and cover with water. Add the vinegar (helps extract minerals from the bones), 1 onion, most of the garlic, 2 carrots, 2 celery sticks, and optional herbs, if using. Turn crock pot on and allow to cook overnight. Strain into a large bowl, pressing down with the back of a large spoon to extract the flavorful juices. Discard what is left in the strainer and return the broth to the crockpot. Add the remaining carrots, celery, onion, mushrooms, kale, and diced chicken and let cook for 1 hour. Beat in the egg, add parsley, salt and pepper to taste, and soup pasta, if using (kids like this). I like to add a bit of raw garlic to my bowl before I scoop the soup in - for extra infection-fighting power. Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top if desired. Be healthy and enjoy!