“Butterfly”
“Like the gentleness of the butterfly, so can I be to me”
For this mandala design, I created one full-color version using color pencils
While walking one day I came across a dead, fully-intact, butterfly on the ground. I carefully picked it up and brought it home with the intention of creating a butterfly mandala based on its markings.
Several months went by and I had yet to start working on it. Then I went hiking up Bald Hill. On a small stretch of trail a bunch of moths and butterflies surrounded me as I continued to walk. At first it seemed quite odd and then I realized that I had forgotten to create the butterfly mandala as promised. Out loud I said to them, ‘Ok. Ok. I’ll make the butterfly mandala.’ A few steps later, the moths and butterflies flew away. Then I knew I HAD to create this mandala. I completed it six months later.
Having trouble seeing the butterflies? Find the spiral antennae along the outer edge, it leads to the body…voila!
The Message
Plain and simple…this mandala asks us to be kind to the one person we tend to be the least kind to…ourselves! What does that mean?
- Would we say half the stuff we tell ourselves to others?
- Would we sabotage others the way we sabotage ourselves?
- Would we beat up others the way we beat up ourselves?
Conversely,
- do we show compassion to ourselves the way we show it to others?
- do we go out of our way to help ourselves the way we help others?
- do we take care of ourselves the way we take care of others?
At our core we all want to be of service to others…it gives us great joy. However over time we’ve clouded that truth with the belief that being of service requires us to sacrifice our own well-being. The truth is that unless we are operating from a place of well-being how can we be fully of service to others?
It brings up the analogy of what flight attendants tell us at the beginning of our flights. If the oxygen masks come down put it on yourself first then assist those around you. How helpful can we be if all we’re doing is just gasping for air?
So how do we differentiate between being selfish vs self-care?
On the Psychology Today web site, Karyl McBride, Ph.D posted this artice: Is Self-Care Selfish: How to take care of yourself and not feel guilty! She describes self-care this way:
Self-care is about seeking and nurturing internal validation. It is finding the sweet child within and giving him or her soothing comfort, reassurance, and warm, loving thoughts and wishes. It is about taking care of the internal emotional side of our being and learning self-compassion. – Karyl McBride, PhD
And…
As we learn better self-care, we become better people in general. When we are in touch with our own feelings, we can then reach out more effectively to others and show love and empathy to them also. If we are filling our own emotional tanks with self-respect and loving care, we have much more to give to our families, friends, and the world in general. – Karyl McBride, PhD
So starting today, remember to check in with ourselves from time to time…
- what are we saying to ourselves? is it nurturing or depleting?
- how are we taking care of ourselves in some way today?
- are we being kind to ourselves?
When we are kind to ourselves, we can truly be kind to others.
Namaste
Where Can You Find “Butterfly”
Original Artwork
- available for sale
Etsy
- Mandala Coloring Books: “Butterfly” can by found in the
- hard-copy version: In Flight Mandala Coloring Book
- PDF version: In Flight PDF Mandala Coloring Book
- Color Your Own” Prints (PDF Version – download, print, and color)
ArtFlakes
- Butterfly Collection
- Square Full-Color Art or Canvas Prints
- Posters w/Message
- Full-Color Greeting Cards (w or w/o message)
CafePress
- Butterfly Collection
- Full-Color Clothing (shirts, jackets, etc)
- Greeting Cards (5×7, 4×6, w & w/o message): Full-Color, B/W Cards to Color
- Prints and Gifts
Red Bubble
- Butterfly Collection
- Color-Your-Own Cards – w/ and w/o affirmation
- Paint-Your-Own T-Shirt (black design on light t-shirts)
- T-Shirts: White designs on Dark T-shirts
- Paint/Color-Your-Own Prints (black design on white canvas or print)
- Full Color Square Prints
Zazzle
- Butterfly Collection
- Mugs: Paint-Your-Own and Full-Color (w/ or w/o message)
- Full Color Greeting Cards (w/ and w/o affirmation)
- Color-Your-Own Greeting Cards (w/ and w/o affirmation)
- White Mandala on Dark Grey Greeting Cards
- Full Color Pendants (w/o affirmation)
Want “Butterfly” On a Different Product?
While viewing these shops, if you prefer “Butterfly” to be on a different product, let me know. I’m happy to accommodate other options/ideas.
Thank you for your consideration and your continued support.
joyfully, Maureen
The Mandala Lady
Mandala of the Week 