Circles Coming Back to Me

My last few posts I have talked (or drawn) about transitions, change, waiting, renewing...all the things mandalas are good for expressing, understanding, and containing. Throughout this time the mandala has been my friend. It has patiently waited for the times I've needed to emote in that ever-healing circle and has held no judgement when weeks or a month go by without my visiting. I consider the mandala a gift that was given to me. I wasn't searching for it - but it found me and now the mandala is a part of me. It seems that there is hardly a week that goes by without me thinking about mandalas or telling someone about them. I suppose what I didn't expect was how in this verbal history that I transmit I am giving the gift of the mandala to others. They may use it - they may not...but now they know it. Once something is known it can't be unknown and therefore it lingers until needed.

I recently left my job and transitioned to a new job. It was an unusual transition but filled with the combined joy and grief that any life cycle (mandala) starts and ends with.

My previous supervisor indicated that the team of 75 volunteers I worked for had created a "gift" for me. Being the heartfelt crowd that they, are I expected some thoughtful well-wishes on my new endeavors. What I did not expect was a book filled with 75 mandalas!

The moment I realized what they had gifted me my heart swelled and my eyes became overwhelmed. 75 people had been touched by mandalas because mandalas are a part of me. Not only was I clutching onto a book filled with mandalas made especially for me, but somewhat arbitrarily, the group had decided to present these mandalas to me in a leather-bound red book. My very own Red Book. Jung's got nothing on this!