“Pathway”

For this mandala design, I created one full-color version using color pencils:

My asymmetry mandalas come about by drawing in-the-moment inspired doodles.

The Pathway mandala is one of a series of 21 asymmetry mandalas created over a three-week period in autumn 2007. I went into the creation of this mandala with the intent of drawing a spiral, and then proceeded to add five overlapping lines wherever they felt like going.

Since I usually color my mandalas with bright colors (mostly the primaries & secondaries), I decided to change it up a bit and do this version in greyscale…with only 5 shades of grey.

The Message

Pathway reminds us that our journey, both in life and beyond, takes us in many different directions, seeming to look like we’re all over the place or even going in circles, when in reality it’s all working together just fine.

With this mandala design, several components jump out more so than others depending on our area of focus. The spiral makes up the whole design, while the 5 lines dissecting it, create different components seeming to take us away from the spiral.

Going in Circles

At times it seems like we’re going in circles. Rather than seeing it that way, see it instead as a spiral…that, yes, it may seem like we’re back where we were before (same script, different scene, different characters), however this time we’re actually in a different place than we were the last time…we have a different perspective.

Just being aware that we seem to be going in “circles” is huge. By having that awareness, it allows us to check in with ourselves to ask:

• Why do I keep doing this?
• Do I really want to go through this again?
• Okay, I’ve done this before…how can I change the outcome this time?
• How can I see this differently?
• Is there anything to be gained in going through this again?
• Do I want to change directions?
• Which way do I really want to go?

Side Trips

Along with the spiral, we have the dissecting lines, creating new sections. They appear to be separate from the spiral however they really just overlap the spiral, making them a different dimension of the spiral…like side trips. Each offering a different experience or opportunity to learn and grow.

We may think we want our journey to be a straight line so that we can arrive there faster however we all know that we find our trip a lot more interesting when we take the scenic route.

What’s our hurry anyway?

The Journey

Our journey, our purpose if you will, involves experiencing as many adventures as we care to experience. With each one we gain more insight about ourselves, who we really are, who we really want to be, and what we really want to do.

I want to be the one to walk in the sun
Oh girls they want to have fun
– Cyndi Lauper

In the end, all we really want to experience is peace, love and joy, especially love, in all that we do.

Namaste

FYI…

• original “Pathway” is available for sale
• “Pathway” has yet to find its way into a Mandala Coloring Book.

joyfully, Maureen
The Mandala Lady