Mandalas
Last month, I created the “Cultivating Peace” mandala.
The results from Random.org drew the following three names:
- Pallavi
- Shigh
- Lisa
This means that I’m shipping the “Cultivating Peace” mandala painting to one of those three people! (I draw three because if someone resides outside of the US, or is otherwise unable to accept the mandala, I need to select someone else.)
If you are on the list above and don’t hear from me, that means that I got in touch with the winner “above” you and he/she accepted.
Warm Heart Mandala
As for the next mandala, I wanted to honor the fact that today is the celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His motto and approach to civil rights was love.
I have a couple of my favorite quotes from Dr. King:
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.
I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality… I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.
We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.
As I completed this mandala, I kept thinking about love, and warmth. This may have been due, in part, to the fact that it’s a chilly time of year, at least where I live.
[bctt tweet=”I feel a flame within: a light of closeness to family, friends, and to my own heart. ” username=”n2itvnspiritual”]
The flame of peace burns in my heart, too. A need to spread light and peace as I can. A need to spread light and peace for all people.
Martin Luther King studied Gandhi before he embarked on his civil rights movement. He took the idea of the peaceful protest to an entirely different level.
As I began this mandala, I mixed purple and red acrylic paint, resulting in a more brick-red type color. I honestly thought I’d get a more “fuchsia” color, but I went with this darker background as it made me really think of the word, “heart.”
Because the background color was rather dark, I knew that if I drew in a mandala design like I usually do, I wouldn’t be able to see it. So, this was the one of the first times I embarked on creating a mandala without any idea of what I would be creating beforehand.
I drew a few “guiding lines” so I’d stay in the center of the canvas, and they’d help me know where to work on the canvas itself.
But after that, it was one of those times where I decided to draw on my intuition and my artistic experience.
Here’s a time lapse of me working on the mandala:
This is the final piece of canvas that I have. I will select another winner now, actually.
After this, I will be switching to drawing mandalas (not painting them – for now) and creating a video series on them. Indeed! As I begin that process, I’ll keep you informed. It’s all about spreading the love. 🙂
I used a different website for the random drawing (Mini Web Tool). Random.org charges for each drawing and I thought, hmm…perhaps there’s a better way to do this. Without further ado, the winner of the “Warm Heart” mandala is….
- Joseph C.
- Jean Ann
- Brina M.
May the folks who possess these mandalas experience exactly what their titles mean: peace, and love.
I will contact these winners in that order.
Aw, congrats to your awesome winners here and also just stopping in before I am off the grid a bit this Monday Morning where both Kevin and the girls are off from work and school today, too. Happy Monday now and many hugs, my friend xoxo <3
Sweet Janine – thank you for coming on by and for your sweet comments. I hope you’re having a lovely day with the family and enjoying some time away from the computer. Loved seeing your recent posts on your blog and here’s to many more in 2018. Sending you big hugs and wishes for an incredible week! xoxo
Nice mandalas Cynthia. What a wonderfully appropriate gift for celebrating Dr. ML King. May we spread love and light to help turn the hearts of our brothers and sisters in pain. Peace out… 🙂
Brad – thank you! I’m hoping the folks who have signed up will see this pleasant surprise before I contact them, but if not, I can’t wait to email them all the same. I hope you’re having a great day. I have Dr. King in my mind and am thinking of all those who are in pain and hope that our big hearts, words and gifts of peace might be able to help – even just a little. Sending you hugs and wishes for a great week!
I’d forgotten you were left-handed, Lil Sis! Just one more reason to love you.
Positive strokes…positive actions…spreading love in small ways creates small ripples which flow outward, creating waves…I believe that, and I know you do. I’ll hang with you any old time, Lil Sis!
Proud to call you my sister.
love and hugs
Big Bro! Haha, yes, I think it was you who taught me the term “south-paw”. LOL. We’re in our right minds, no? I love what you say here: “positive strokes, positive actions, spreading love in small ways creates small ripples which flow outward, creating waves” – that is all I’m trying to do. I just want to put out good things into the world. Make people feel better in a world so often pockmarked with pain. I hope that all the ripples of good works from you and others I know will mount to a wave that makes the world a truly better place. 🙂
I’ll hang with you any time, too. So proud to know you!! Sending hugs and more hugs and a hello to Bev!
I sat memorised by your creativity here Cynthia.. Just beautiful. And I am in awe of your skill to do this free hand.. Perfection.. And the colour I feel is perfect.. 🙂 I was transfixed watching you work.. And loved each stroke on the canvas.. 😀
Big smiles and wishing you a Wonderful week.. 🙂 <3
Hugs and thank you.. 🙂
Loved the Quotes..such a great man.. We need more of his calibre to rise again.. 🙂 xxx <3 In love and Light my dear friend xx <3
Sweet Sue! Sending big, big hugs to you on this beautiful Saturday morning! Hehe…I have really come to love making these mandalas. And at first I was a little nervous about freehanding it, but I remembered to take some deep breaths and just relax into it. And the paint strokes just happened. 🙂 I love watching other mandala videos, so I can understand the feeling of just watching (not because it was my video, but I, too, get transfixed by watching them). Wishing you a wonderful week, as well. More love, and enlightened leaders? Why yes! One day!😘
Beautiful job of weaving MLK and all he stood for with your symbolic artwork – I especially love the quotes you have shared, dear Cynthia.
Congratulations to the winners of your mandalas – looking forward to seeing your drawing next month, my creative friend.
Have a peaceful week. Love and hugs, Maria
Maria – hello sweet friend! Thank you for your sweet words that always make me smile! MLK is an important figure – so much of what he stood for was love. He wanted – most of all – love in the world, translated to equality and fair treatment for all. Oh, I just love that message. 🙂 Have a wonderful week, as well. Sending you big hugs and lots of love! <3 <3 <3
Beautiful mandala and thought-provoking quotes! Thank you, Cynthia!
Thank you, Martie! I hope you’re well. Sending you hugs and wishes for a great week! <3
Sending more warm hugs your way also Cynthia this cold snowy morning this Sunday in the UK. Warm wishes for a beautiful day and a lovely week ahead my friend xxx <3
Sue – sending warm hugs to you, as well. Speaking of snow, I decided to sort of “lay low” this weekend and I went skiing today. I haven’t spent much time in front of the screen. It was really good to connect with family and spend all day outside. 🙂 I think I really needed that – and your gentle example helped me. <3 I hope you have a beautiful day, too, and wishes for an amazing week! XOXO
I am so pleased you took some time out, And I left a couple of messages on your poetry new post, but it vanished so left a contact comment, but that didn’t look from my end to have been sent.. So Hope you got them. Hugs Sue
Sweet Sue! I’m sorry about those comments disappearing into the ether. :/ If it’s any consolation, I will be changing my theme in the coming months. I’ve already purchased it – it’s a matter of finding the time to do a site overhaul, but I’m hopeful that the comments section will be more user-friendly. Alas, I’m so sorry again that I didn’t get those comments. However, just seeing your words here warms my heart. I hope you’ve had a good week! Sending hugs!