The second stage of the Great Round of Mandala (which provides our framework for Mandala Magic) is called Bliss.
This stage sees us grow in awareness, open to relationship and languorously enjoy the prospect of endless possibility. Soft light filters through to shine on our tender human soul and we gently relax in the recognition of it all.
The mandalas for this stage are typically fluid in design and this year I happened upon my favourite ever technique for these watery forms – working with Dylusions inks on Yupo paper.
Yupo is a synthetic, waterproof paper which lends itself most beautifully to working with fluid designs and materials.
The mandala below was one I discarded whilst practicing, but when I returned to it once it was dry, I couldn’t help but see so much beauty there!
Once again, I’ve teamed up my mandalas with some #foundinspirations poetry created from the guidebook for this stage of the program.
Sometimes when I come to glue the poems in to the journal with the mandalas, I decide to miss out a few lines from the original, or even combine some lines to create a new poem.
Looking at them again, I can see how I’d change the format of them even further, like this one;
Imagine your heart
moving the flow
and rhythm
of Life.
Can you feel
the Earth
relate
to your Bliss?
Here are the original lines as I selected and snipped them out from the guidebook;
* All images on this post shot on the iPhone 6s and edited using the ColorStory app for iOS.
I love this Julie, I have not begun yet, I have a symbol Mandala I am working on and have been waiting for ink. I am so excited by this bliss exercise. Funny we are right at the end of our Summer only two weeks away, already the leaves are beginning to fall for Autumn. Yet I am feeling a full on emergence, like springtime there is an excitement in me I have not felt since I began my journey of self discovery many years ago it’s wonderful! They say that when you reach fifty you reach the time of the crone, what they dont tell you is the transition period is between 50-58, well I am now 58 and I feel I have begun again, but now it is with the joy and the wisdom from the past and its all thanks to you. Lots of love and light Eve
Eve! Delighted to read of your renewal, even as autumn is underway in your corner of the world 😀 So good to hear this from you xo
Love these watery mandalas, Julie. And the found inspirations continue to delight.
This stage is unfolding more slowly for me than the void. I found the stop/start, ebb/flow rhythm to be true.
I have not done my actual mandala(s) yet, but I have been exploring the relationship between bliss and surrender as the same relationship of salt to the sea. Interesting exploration for sure.
This work is changing me, Ms. Gibbons. Thank you for being my guide.
Best,
Sheila
Surrender… surrender… surrender… < isn't it always, thus? Welcome to your new awakenings, dear Sheila! xo