MANDALA DAYS
contemporary mandala practice for the awakening artist.
Join me over the course of twelve months to create a collection of mandala art with true meaning.
In Mandala Days, we will awaken and cultivate our connection to the creative fire that burns within each of us and connects all of existence.
Each month we will make mandala art as a response to our individual inquiry, where the creative process forms the ground of our personal practice.
Through this practice we realise the actualisation of the artist archetype that resides in each of us.
Mandala Days is an invitation to realise that which already resides within you, providing a container and process where it is safe to emerge.
We have the symbolism of the mandala and we have the basic principle of the mandala. As a basic principle, mandala is that which is contained within everyday life. – Chögyam Trungpa
Mandala Days is a twelve-month creative program that combines personal mandala practice with the practical application of the mandala principle, exploring a different theme each month.
It’s an evolution of the much-loved Mandala Magic program, in which we studied the archetype of the mandala in relation to our personal psychology.
Mandala Days invites us to move our art out of our journal pages and to create mandala art as a response to the deep longing within to understand and express ourselves in this medium that is outside of the ordinary – a symbolic language communicated from our very unconscious.
MANDALA DAYS
contemporary mandala practice for the awakening artist.
Mandala Symbol
The mandala is a living archetype that speaks to us by means of our unconscious and calls us to our soul’s truest desire as a symbol of the individuation process.
This process is driven by innate forces that reside in our personal psyche and within the very nature of existence itself.
Each of us is destined to live a unique existence as a particular expression of consciousness and actualising this realisation of the true self through a return to wholeness is what is being initiated by our connection to this striking, persistent and long-lived symbol.
The symbol continues to appear to us until we pay attention!
When we begin to actively work with the mandala as symbol, we learn to understand its ability to help us create a joyful life full of meaning by way of active participation, connection to ourselves and others and appreciation for our own depth of soul.
Mandala Principle
The mandala principle in practice means we bring to our awareness our inherent connection with Self. Through this awareness we become conscious of the nature of our own being and that of the greater cosmos.
Within the principle we can hold the paradox of existence, replacing the ‘either/or’ binary beliefs of the dominant culture and the opposites of experience (good vs bad, pain vs pleasure) with a new concept of connectedness where ‘either/or’ is replaced with ‘and.’
The structure of the mandala offers us an effective symbol for the complicated concepts and patterns integrated into our life’s experience and the very world around us, where everything is interrelated and reflects a single totality.
It is a simple truth that energy follows awareness and when our awareness is re-focussed in this way, we are invited to undertake a journey of discovery into the truth of who we are and how we engage in the world.
The mandala’s basic motif is the premonition of a center of personality, a kind of central point within the psyche, to which everything is related, by which everything is arranged, and which is itself a source of energy….
This centre is not felt or thought of as the ego, but if one may so express it, as the self. Although the centre is represented as the innermost point, it is surrounded by a periphery containing everything that belongs to the self — the paired opposites that make up the total personality.
This totality comprises consciousness first of all, then the personal unconscious, and finally an indefinitely large segment of the collective unconscious whose archetypes are common to all mankind. – Carl G Jung
Creating mandala art as the expression of your self inquiry practice allows you to communicate with the otherwise inexpressible.
It cultivates your understanding of the creative process as a deeply embedded archetypal force that can, if ignored, result in a continued cycle of dissatisfaction, disappointment and disease.
This fracture of your whole, truest self can leave you confused, exhausted, unfulfilled and always seeking answers from outside your direct experience.
Working with the mandala in a conscious fashion, we can reclaim the harmony in our lives and bring our creative practice right into the very heart of our every day.
MANDALA DAYS
contemporary mandala practice for the awakening artist
is your invitation to;
Develop a sustainable creative practice as a means of understanding your personal psychology.
Create a body of work that holds true meaning for you and acts as a transformative device for everyone you share it with.
Give voice to your inner experience within the container of practice, process and communication.
Expand your capacity to cope with whatever life presents – in turn, increasing your capacity for compassion, connectedness and greater consciousness.
Erase psychological falsehoods by learning to identify your inner truth from the mind’s nonsense.
Subvert the accumulated limiting beliefs, values and accepted behaviours of a corrupt and patriarchal society.
Fully individuate from cultural, societal and familial norms that don’t allow your expansive + creative self to flourish.
Align your inner experience and outer world through the fresh awareness gained as part of your creative process.
Mandala Days : contemporary mandala practice for the awakening artist is the result of five years of full-time mandala study, seven years of full-time self inquiry, fifteen years of Jungian psychology study, a lifetime of research into world mythology and philosophy with feedback from thousands of mandala workshop participants.
It is offered to bring you a deeply grounded experience of the mandala archetype as a code to your personal inquiry, creative expression and self actualisation process.
Understanding the primordial symbolism of the Mandala can lead not only to greater awareness, but ultimately to a transformation of the ways in which man responds to the world in all its impulses.
– José and Miriam Argüelles
Coming to understand the mandala principle and how it applies to your ordinary, every day life is a key you can use to unlock your full human experience – in all of its disappointments, hardships, joy and wonderment.
Practicing mandala art in combination with right intention, focussed attention and truthful dialogue, we can consciously open up our creativity to include our spiritual practice and fully integrate the non-separate aspects of human, earth and divine.
MANDALA DAYS
contemporary mandala practice for the awakening artist
is a program designed to offer opportunities for you to;
Ignite (or re-ignite) and engage your artistic passion and relax into your individual artistry.
Engage with and understand the mandala principle as it applies to your individual life and personal psychology.
Develop a sense of trust in yourself and in turn, increase the potential for harmony, lusciousness, richness, spaciousness and openness in your life.
Be willing to open to a fresh perspective and develop confidence that the world around you does not demand anything from you other than your agreement to exist in the here and now.
Learn to follow your natural curiosity and appreciate the phenomenal world from both an inward and outward perspective.
Practice beginner’s mind as you commit to create, uncovering your individual style through the act of just doing.
Experience symbolism not as a magical message from something other, but rather as a direct experience of your living life – you as the living symbol of yourself.
Unpack and engage with the obstacles that show up in your life experience, loosen fixed ideas and escape the monotony of a life lived asleep and unaware.
Discard outworn perceptions of self in favour of an attitude of humour, celebration, gratitude and appreciation for a life filled with connection, authenticity, truth and joy.
In Mandala Days you will learn how to decipher maximum meaning from your creative practice and mandala images.
Your understanding will come through your own direct experience, by attending to regular practice within the structure and guidance of the program.
Over twelve months you will develop your unique mandala style by engaging with three foundation practices, and as part of this process bear witness to your personal symbolism.
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Mandala Workshops News + Updates
Join the mailing list for news + updates about mandala workshops, classes and related offerings from Julie Gibbons.
Make sure don’t miss out on early bird offers, prize draws and new product announcements.
What it’s like to take a mandala workshop with Julie
This is one of the best on line courses I have taken. Julie is one of the most delightful, spiritually aware people I have had the pleasure to learn from. Her monthly prompts and technical lessons are clear, easy to follow, fun and in depth. I would take this course again and again. A wonderful experience!
Mandala Magic might actually be magic, I have been able to emotionally process material that I haven’t thought of for years, but has clearly been holding me back. At 45, I can say I am living my best life ever and Mandala Magic is a key piece of getting me here today.
Mandala Magic offered me the opportunity for self exploration using art as a form of self expression and discovery. Julie weaves in yoga, movement, sound and color in a playful and accessible way in order to bring you to the limit of your own understanding of who you are and where you are headed. This course has wildly exceeded all of my expectations and has honestly, expanded my understanding of myself and place in the world.
“At last a class that matters! Thank you for not selling out.” ~ Gena
Is Mandala Days Right For You?
Mandala Days : contemporary mandala practice for the awakening artist is for you if you resonate with the mandala symbol and wish to explore mandala practice as a focus for your creative expression.
You can be a beginner artist, with no previous experience, although this program is not an art class and isn’t for you if you simply wish to learn how to replicate my mandala designs.
The focus is on creating a sustainable creative practice and will introduce you to some easy methods (perfect for beginners and adepts) for mandala creation which allow you to produce your own, unique art – completing a body of work that holds true meaning for you!
In combination with the mandala creation, you will most benefit from the program by engaging with each of the foundation practices to fully integrate your art-making with your self inquiry practice. This will be a guided practice that takes place in addition to the art piece and will require some inner listening, usually undertaken by means of written journaling.
The program lessons, prompts and invitations invite your engagement with your own direct experience and this material is not aligned any particular religious or spiritual tradition, dogmas or world-views. We will work with the ‘spiritual’ aspect of being, not as something from outside yourself, but rather that which holds true for your everyday world and the world around you.
Any of the benefits and invitations listed here are only possible if you engage with the practices – this course is about practice, not reading and digesting written material alone.
It’s an exciting invitation to dedicate your creative practice for a complete year, with an option to create a body of work outside of your private journal : perfect if you have been art journaling and wondering how to move beyond the pages!
The monthly lessons provide structure and container for you, containing foundation practices that will serve you long afterwards and you can assign as much or as little time to the practice as befits your circumstance.
Mandala Days is open to everyone with an internet connection and email address. There is no limitation on age (over 18’s only!) gender identity or location – and you can use whichever art materials you feel most comfortable with.
I’m so excited to release something new into the world after working with the hugely successful Mandala Magic program for five years and look forward to welcoming you into something fresh, alive and in full alignment with my own personal experience and practice!
What it’s like to take a mandala workshop with Julie
I highly recommend this experience. Julie provides a comprehensive journey through the Great Round. Enlightening and expertly led, this is a course that will really tune you into who you are and your own personal symbolism using beautifully constructed Mandalas designed to tap into you..at your core. A great way to experience Jung through art for all levels of participants.
Mandala magic has certainly helped me to understand my place in the world a lot more. It has opened my world to possibility, insight, understanding of my self and activated creative pursuits. I am truly grateful for this program.
This program is wonderful for anyone who is interested in getting to know themselves throw art journaling and entering your consciousness in a creative way that affects your day to day reality. I had doubts about learning something online, I wasn’t sure I would be enough “self discipline” but it turned out to be so fun and enriching that I find myself waiting each month eagerly for the next lesson!
“This course is outstanding in combining mind, body and soul inner work.” ~ Linda
SIGN UP FOR MANDALA DAYS
choose from a single payment or monthly payment plan
Sorry! Mandala Days is now closed for registration.
Mandala Workshops News + Updates
Join the mailing list for news + updates about mandala workshops, classes and related offerings from Julie Gibbons.
Make sure don’t miss out on early bird offers, prize draws and new product announcements.
The cost of MANDALA DAYS (1st edition) is listed in £GBP and *all other currency listings are approximate and depend entirely on the daily exchange rate – check www.xe.com for currency conversions.
All payments are processed by PayPal, who will automatically calculate your local currency.
When you register for MANDALA DAYS (1st edition) you automatically agree to the terms and conditions listed below in the FAQ section. Please read through before making your purchase – thank you.
Often it is necessary to clarify a vague content by giving it a visible form.
This can be done by drawing, painting, or modeling.
Often the hands will solve a mystery that the intellect has struggled with in vain. – Carl G Jung
Mandala Days Schedule 2018
JANUARY 16th : Symbolic Mandala
FEBRUARY 15th : Self Inquiry Mandala
MARCH 17th : Personality Mandala
APRIL 16th : Dreaming Mandala
MAY 15th : Medicine Mandala
JUNE 13th : Nature Mandala
JULY 13th : Relationship Mandala
AUGUST 11th : Personal Mandala
SEPTEMBER 9th : Archetypal Mandala
OCTOBER 9th : Chronos Mandala
NOVEMBER 7th : Living Mandala
DECEMBER 7th : Ceremonial Mandala
The publication schedule follows the New Moon dates according to the UK.
Chapter headings are not fixed and subject to change.
Mandala Days : What’s Included
Detailed Getting Started Information.
Mandala : Essential + Recommended Supplies.
3 x Foundation Mandala Construction Guides.
3 x Foundation Practice Guides (Inquiry, Creation + Communication.)
Membership Classroom Access until end Jan 2019.
12 x Monthly Mandala Principle Video, according to Chapter Theme.
12 x Monthly Mandala Practice Guidance, Invitations + Prompts, including printable PDF ‘worksheets’ for each month.
12 x Monthly Guided Mandala Meditations.
12 x Monthly Sonic Mandalas (music playlists,) specifically crafted for each theme.
Private Facebook Group for sharing, witnessing + discussion.
Virtual Exhibition at the end of the year.
What it’s like to take a mandala workshop with Julie
I would recommend this course to others, without doubt it has improved my life in so many ways. I have realised that by journalling and making mandalas as often as I have time for has quite simply made me happier! Through self-exploration I have been encouraged to look deeply into things I have shied away from in the past. At times I have cried and yet I have moved towards forgiveness and I am so much more aware of the amazing world around me. The Facebook group and Julie’s gentle, encouraging teaching have both provided a supporting place to learn about myself.
Julie has created a unique and stunning program. Recommend most highly. I am an admirer of Carl Jung and with Julie’s class, videos, pdfs and supplementary material I have gone deep! Julie is full of charisma, has a soothing voice, exceptional tech support/troubleshooting, prompt response and most importantly the material is amazing. Several participants say this is their 2nd or 3rd time in a row to take the course. Now I understand why!
I first took Mandala Magic in 2016 and again in 2017. It is the only course that I have taken (and I have taken a lot!) that I don’t want to end. Not only do I get to indulge my creative, artsy side by creating mandalas, I get to gain insight into myself, my psyche, archetypes and learn so much through the process and reflections. I cry, I laugh, I heal, I understand me so much more and am amazed at all I have learned about my self and the Great Round through this course. I would recommend this course to anyone who wanted to dig deeper and understand themselves at a deeper level. Life changing indeed. Thank you!
“Life enhancing, life changing, life supporting – all of this and more for me.” ~Janeen
Frequently Asked Questions
+ Terms and Conditions
Who is this program designed for?
Mandala Days is designed for people of all genders across the world who wish to engage in mandala practice as part of their creative expression, within the context of their self-inquiry process.
You don’t need to have any special skills, experience or qualifications to participate, but will benefit best if you are willing to engage in the creative art of mandala-making as part of your practice.
This means you’re likely to have an interest in creative expression through visual art and feel called to work with the mandala as symbol. In this regard, you may be a beginner or an experienced artist.
You may be looking for a way to ground your interest in the ‘spiritual’ aspect of being back to your own direct, everyday experience and have an interest in personal psychology and the innate drive towards self-actualisation.
If you are looking for a structure to contain your self inquiry process, connect your creativity with your inner inquiry and come to more intimately understand your behaviours and actions in the world, then this program is perfect for you.
Mandala Days is open to everyone with access to an internet enabled device and an email address. There is no gender limitation or age limit (over 18’s only – thank you!)
Do I need to be an artist to complete this program?
You don’t need to have any special skills, experience or qualifications to participate, but will benefit best if you are willing to engage in the creative art of mandala-making as part of your practice.
This means you’re likely to have an interest in creative expression through visual art and feel called to work with the mandala as symbol. In this regard, you may be a beginner or an experienced artist.
You don’t need to be ‘good at art’ to participate, simply willing to engage with the process and see what shows up for you. Using the foundation practices, you will be able to construct different mandala forms and create a full range of individual designs each time.
If you are already an artist and wish to explore the basics of mandala construction and connect this art form to a deeper level of personal inquiry, then you’ll also benefit from the container, structure and community of the program.
You may be a well-practiced art journaler with the desire to move your inquiry out from the private pages of your journal into an art format you can share with the wider community.
If you have participated in Mandala Magic previously, then you’ll find this program is an evolution of that work, providing you with an opportunity to further develop your unique style.
What supplies do I need to participate?
You will definitely need a compass, a pencil, a ruler and an eraser.
Additionally, you’ll need something to colour in your work and a substrate to create on.
You may work in your preferred medium. That can include watercolours, gouache, inks, acrylics, illustration/paint pens or collage and you may wish to use a mix of these to explore mixed media – the choice is yours!
I will most likely work with acrylic paint on 40 x 40 cm canvas throughout the year and I also enjoy using watercolours, markers, inks and collage on paper, so may sometimes explore these materials if I feel drawn to this as a response to the month’s theme.
Your chosen substrate will ideally be A4/Letter size or larger, although you can choose to create smaller images if this suits your style.
You will also need a companion journal, suitable for writing (and perhaps sketching in.)
If you’re a beginner, then I suggest you work from a limited range of materials until you decide what works best for you. Although it’s tempting to go out and collect a whole boatload of new shiny supplies, it’s not necessary to have a comprehensive range to participate in Mandala Days.
You will find a guide to my favourite + recommended supplies in the Getting Started Guide, including an indication of what’s best for beginners.
Can I join in from my city?
This program is delivered to you online, so as long as you have a valid email address and are able to access a computer/device with internet access, you are able to participate from anywhere in the world.
The content will be delivered on this website with a mix of writing, some video and audio, so you will additionally need to be able to stream video and audio.
Do I need to attend classes in real time?
The content is hosted on the website for you to access at your own pace. There’s no need to show up at a specific time, so you won’t miss out if you’re in a different time zone, or need to login after your day’s work.
The content is released monthly according to the publication schedule above and you will be advised of this via email each month.
How long will each lesson take?
Depending on your experience, you’ll need to allocate up to two – three hours each month to watch each of the lessons and complete your own mandala.
If you choose to create mandala art with more detail, in a larger format or in layers that need to dry, then you’ll need to allocate a longer period of time.
What happens when I register?
Mandala Days begins on 16th January 2018. Registrations prior to this count as pre-orders.
STEP ONE: After payment, you will immediately be transferred to the registration page for the Julie Gibbons classroom/membership site to create your unique login and password. (If you are already a member of MM2016 or MM2017, please use your existing login.)
You need to complete this registration to access the classroom/membership site for the Mandala Days program. Please click the SUBMIT button only once – it may take the system a short while to respond – thank you!
Please contact hello@juliegibbons.com with your PayPal receipt details + email address as soon as possible if you are unable to complete your registration after payment – thank you!
STEP TWO: Further to registration, you will be sent a confirmation email from the classroom, confirming your login + password for the website, including the URL you need to access the classroom. Please keep this safe as you will need to use these details if you have any questions about the program in future.
Do you provide therapy or counselling?
Mandala Days is a self-guided self-inquiry creative program and is not intended as therapy or as a substitute for healthcare or medical advice.
Due to the nature of working with a self-inquiry process, please ensure you have in place a suitable support network and inform your healthcare professional if working with one that you are taking part before you commit. Many participants share their Mandala work with their therapists and counsellors with meaningful results.
I do not offer therapy or counselling as part of my work, however 1-2-1 sessions are available for participants who wish to discuss their creative response to the material within any of my programs. The cost of these sessions is not included in the fee for Mandala Days and is payable separately.
Exchange Rates + Payment Processing
Mandala Days is a year-long program, which runs from January – December.
You can choose to pay for the program in one single payment, or select the monthly payment plan of twelve monthly instalments, beginning from the date of your initial purchase.
Single payment is £180 (*approx $236USD). Monthly payments are £17GBP (*approx $26USD) (payable each month x 12*).
The cost of Mandala days is listed in £GBP and *all other currency listings are approximate and depend entirely on the daily exchange rate – check www.xe.com for currency conversions.
All payments are processed by PayPal, who will automatically calculate your local currency.
When your payment transaction is complete, you’ll receive a receipt from PayPal by email. Please keep your receipt in a safe place – it acts as your proof of purchase.
If you choose the Monthly Payment Plan, please note that this is not a subscription service. You agree to completing all twelve payments throughout the year, unless otherwise agreed with Julie Gibbons in writing. If you forfeit payments, your classroom access will be discontinued immediately.
Refund Policy + Payment Plan Terms
Refund Policy: Before the start of the program (Jan 16th 2018) you can request a refund for any payments made.
Due to the digital nature of the program, no refunds can be given after the start date. You may cancel your participation in the program at any time.
Please bear in mind that Mandala Days is not a subscription program.
This means that when you select the Monthly Payment Plan, you agree to completing all twelve payments throughout the year, unless explicitly agreed with Julie Gibbons in writing.
If you forfeit payments, or cancel membership your classroom access will be discontinued immediately.
Further Terms + Conditions
You can change your subscription or unsubscribe from all emails sent by Julie Gibbons at any time by following the Manage Your Preferences + Unsubscribe links at the bottom of each email.
All content provided on this website + in the Mandala Days program is owned by Julie Gibbons and is made available to you for private consumption only. Under no circumstances should any of this material be replicated or delivered to any third party without explicit permission in writing. If you share content created during the workshop, please respect the source and mention Mandala Days + Julie Gibbons in your post.
Thank you for supporting my small business and helping me preserve my artistic integrity!
When you register for Mandala Days you automatically agree to these terms and conditions. Thank you!
Further terms for participation in the website classroom can be read here.
Still have questions?
Send me an email to hello@juliegibbons.com or if I’m online, use the Live Chat button here on the page and I’ll reply as soon as I’m able.
SIGN UP FOR MANDALA DAYS
choose from a single payment or monthly payment plan
Sorry! Mandala Days is now closed for registration.
Mandala Workshops News + Updates
Join the mailing list for news + updates about mandala workshops, classes and related offerings from Julie Gibbons.
Make sure don’t miss out on early bird offers, prize draws and new product announcements.
The cost of MANDALA DAYS (1st edition) is listed in £GBP and *all other currency listings are approximate and depend entirely on the daily exchange rate – check www.xe.com for currency conversions.
All payments are processed by PayPal, who will automatically calculate your local currency.
When you register for MANDALA DAYS (1st edition) you automatically agree to the terms and conditions listed above in the FAQ section. Please read through before making your purchase – thank you.
