The fourth year of my personal exploration into the Great Round of Mandala and there’s been zero inspiration for me to follow the exercises I’ve created for the Mandala Magic program.
What to do instead? I’ll be completing the canvas project, for definite, but what about the journaling aspect?
I had some realisation at the end of 2015 that I’d stopped using my words. I’d quit daily journaling back in July after five and a half years of dedicated morning and evening practice and felt the need to reduce my public sharing of words even more strongly.
There’s such a large part of me that simply doesn’t care about sharing any words – I have so little to say to anyone.
Out walking the other day it came to mind that my strong urge to create that had emerged so destructively back in 2010 had morphed into a strong urge for expression a few years later and presently has turned into something else entirely – a need only for Being.
Was there any room for any type of visual creative practice? Even the mandalas are coming and going. I see the mandala principle in everything now and as such, the need to express the symbol on the page fluctuates…
Bowie to the rescue …
Like so many others across the world, David Bowie’s death this week stirred up so much inside me. Someone shared the wee clip of him talking about using ‘cut ups’ to create and inspire lyrics and it reminded me of the Found Inspirations technique that I had been so fond of a couple of years ago.
And lo, I was instantly sure of how to approach this cycle of the Great Round of Mandala …
Mandala Magic Guidance
Each month, I prepare a PDF Guidebook for the Mandala Magicians that talks them through the stage we’re working on. It’s anywhere between twenty-five and thirty-five pages worth of mostly text.
I set about applying the Found Inspirations technique. The only rules were that each set of messages would be formed from one page of text, and the words would come in the order they appeared on the page.
Twelve messages in all.
Some were deeply personal, and others very definitely meant for transmission to the MM2016 Magicians!
I combined two of the messages to use in the MM2016 entry for this month’s stage : Void.
This feels perfect for me right now. I’m excited about how easy it was for me immerse myself into the creative process without any difficulties, angst or deeper self-inquiry.
Yet the results speak to me in a way that reminds me that everything we need is already here. We don’t need to go looking elsewhere. It’s much more simple than that.
I used Koh-I-Noor watercolour* in black in a Stillman & Birn A4 Zeta series journal.
Thank you, Monsieur Bowie for all the magic. Your legacy will never die.
*Amazon UK affiliate link
Thank you Juile. I continue to be inspired by your vulnerability and humility. It’s so wonderful the Bowie’s legacy will live on as we continue to remember him and create with gusto! With love,
Lara Stoudt
Thank you! Love to you ♡
Wonderful, that’s how a new poet is born ! You are so courageous showing us your vulnerability, it’s so inspiring. THANKS!
Thank *you* for visiting, Oly! ♡
Very inspiring! Thanks Julie
So welcome, Cheryl 🙂
This feels divinely inspired, Julie.
Found Inspirations was my first connection with you last winter and now I am on your Mandala Magic journey. MM16 has been incredibly revelatory – really there are no words.
So much gratitude for you and your work (and being!!) in the world – whatever manifestation it takes.
Love and light to you.
Today and always.
Sheila Petruccelli
Thank you for such kind words, Sheila! Divine inspiration indeed 🙂 xo
It’s so true that when you keep an open mind, inspiration comes from the most unexpected sources. The short clip of David Bowie talking about creating with clippings was surprising and wonderful.
I’m glad it jump-started you again!
Yes, quite a wonderful find that video. Thanks for visiting, Pat! xo
I love this idea Julie, in fact I love everything about this course. For the first time in many years my artwork seems to be coming from my very soul and I have many aspects of myself that I want to explore, today I will have a try at this idea as I create a Mandela of self. Thanks so much…
That sounds perfectly wonderful, Eve – thank you for visiting! xo
Thank you for sharing Julie. It’s really wonderful to hear about your process “behind the scenes” of MM2016. I particularly appreciate the honesty of sharing that you are lacking inspiration. I know we all do, but as a new student of yours there is something very heartening and real about you speaking openly of your blockages (and breakthroughs.) I’m so glad that you are enjoying the creative process!
Glad it helped, Shay 🙂