Imagine taking a journey through a labyrinth, and at the centre you find your own heart.
That’s the journey I want to invite you on with Mandala Discovery. You’ll follow a meandering path of self-discovery, and you’ll get closer and closer to your own Centre.
Perhaps something new wants to be born but you’re unclear about what it is. Maybe you’ve found yourself on the edge of a new calling and you’re afraid to step onto the path. Perhaps a relationship is changing and you don’t know what that change might mean for you. Or maybe an old story is clinging to you and you’re trying to loosen its grip on you.
Whatever that restlessness is, mandala-making can help you find a path through it.
I can help you develop your own unique mandala process.
What is a mandala and why make them?
“Mandala” is the ancient sanskrit word for circle and it symbolizes wholeness. It’s pretty simple, really – anything that shows up in circular form – whether it’s art, dance, or a slice of kiwi fruit – can be considered a mandala. I love the fact that they are so universal and can be found everywhere. In every part of the world, mandalas show up in the art work, nature, and cultural and spiritual history of a place.
Mandalas have been used in various spiritual traditions (especially eastern religions like Buddhism and Hinduism) for spiritual teaching and meditative purposes. They have also been used for therapeutic purposes by psychoanalysts, most notably Carl Jung.
Mandalas combine spirituality, meditation, therapy, creative process, and play in one holistic circle. They help us slow our minds, process our complex thoughts, and shift out of our logical left-brains into our intuitive right brains.
They also have a strong feminine aspect to them, with connections to the womb and the birthing process, as well as to nature and Mother Earth. They ground and centre us and bring us back to the heart of who we are.
What do I bring to mandala-making?
You don’t really need anyone to teach you how to make mandalas – just start making art in circles and see what emerges. But if you want to take that deeper, I can help you.
I have developed a unique process that combines mandala-making with intuitive journalling. This process has been gradually emerging for me over many years of journal writing, creative process and art-making. I use the process when I teach creativity, writing and personal development workshops. My first mandala poem was published in a poetry journal twenty five years ago and I’ve been exploring it as a tool for my personal development ever since.
Unlike some of the more traditional mandalas that rely on specific symbols, follow certain rules and are closely associated with specific traditions, my mandala process is intuitive and unique to each person who does it with me. I give you guidelines and support, but I never give you rules.
To learn more about why I make mandalas and what I get out of them, read this post.
Who could benefit from this mandala process?
- anyone seeking clarity in their life
- anyone birthing new ideas into the world
- anyone trying to find simplicity in the midst of complexity
- coaches looking for creative processes to add to their toolboxes
- teachers and leaders who want to invite creativity and fresh energy into their classrooms or communities
Here’s some feedback from clients who’ve already done mandala sessions with me:
“As a result of our work I created a new bio that is much more about the invitation I am issuing than the specific things that I do. I felt empowered to come out of the closet with my real work and not cloak it in lesser terms. I am inviting people to the “more” that we talked about rather than the “fix it” or “problem -centered” description I was using before. I will see if I can find the bio I wrote. Our work together has been extremely powerful for me. As a professional doing something similar to what you do it takes a lot to impress me. I am very grateful for your mentoring. You have been a coach’s coach for me.” - Dr. Kay Vogt, psychologist
“In just a few minutes Heather invited me to a level of both creativity and deep thought that was invaluable. My brain is working on overdrive almost all of the time, so to be invited into an experience that provided me insights while NOT working so hard at it? Gift beyond compare.” - Ronna Detrick
“I love how accessible and simple mandala-work is, and I love that Heather is offering this as part of her work now. Heather is a wonderfully skilled and creative meaning-maker. If you’ve got something bothering you that you haven’t been able to “figure out” with your left-brain thinking, sign up for one of Heather’s mandala sessions and let her show you how you can access the creativity of your right-brain thinking and intuition to change your perspective or move forward.” - Cath Duncan (read more about Cath’s session on her blog, Remembering for Good.)
“I was one of the lucky few to win a trial session from Heather as she fine-tuned her
mandala sessions. The initial phone work was instrumental in getting me unstuck, and the followup mandala work surfaced some new truths and complexity for me. I would recommend this process to anyone starting on a new path, wanting to dive deeper into an issue, or seeking clarity about a confusing issue.” - Sandra Whisler, non-profit manager and artist
“This has been a great experience and what Heather offers others through the process is amazing. After completing my mandalas, I feel a lot more confident about what I have to offer the world.” - Shirley Keeton
How can you do mandala work with me?
1. Mandala Discovery for One
A one-on-one session includes:
- one call with me (approx. 30-45 minutes) that includes a narrative coaching conversation and guidance on your individualized mandala process
- a worksheet with guidelines for the mandala process I recommend for you
- follow-up emails once your mandala has been completed. (Though it’s not required, I will encourage you to share your completed mandala with me along with any new insights you’ve gained from it.)
Optional
- a follow-up call to unpack whatever emerged during your mandala process
2. Mandala Discovery for a circle of Ten
Note: The current session of Mandala Discovery is closed. The next session will start in late May 2012.
In Mandala Discovery, you’ll get:
- six mandala lessons – beautifully designed worksheets that will walk you through a new mandala process each week
- six story circle calls – I’ll guide you in an intimate (no more than 10 people) group narrative coaching process and you’ll share your stories and learn from others. I’ll also provide further guidance on the weekly mandala process. (All classes will be recorded.)
- access to a private Facebook group to communicate with me and other members of the story circle, and to share your mandalas with each other
- a one-on-one mandala session with me in which you’ll be coached individually and we’ll work together to develop your own unique mandala process.
BONUS - I’ll send you a unique handmade mandala journal that I will design specially for you
The next session of Mandala Discovery will start in late May 2012. Calls will be 90 minutes long and will be held on Fridays at 11:00 CST. Recordings of all calls will be made available.
3. Mandala Discovery for Communities
I have developed mandala workshops that can be used for communities, organizations, churches, etc. Participants in the workshops make their own mandalas, share their stories, and then weave those stories into a large collective mandala. Contact me to discuss how this might fit your community gathering, staff retreat, or learning event.
Purchasing options:
1. For $100 USD, you get a basic mandala session, an instruction sheet, and follow-up emails.
Click “buy now” to pay by Paypal or credit card, and I’ll be in touch to book your session.
2.For $150 USD, you get a mandala session, an instruction sheet, and a follow-up call to unpack what showed up for you.
Click “buy now” to pay by Paypal or credit card, and I’ll be in touch to book your session.
3. For $180 USD, you’ll get Mandala Discovery - six group calls, six weeks of mandala worksheets, a private one-on-one session, a mandala journal, and access to a private Facebook group. WATCH FOR THE NEXT SESSION IN LATE MAY 2012.
Questions or concerns? Please contact me.
