more mandalas

With the publication and launch of my coloring book, Mandala Cycles, I circle back to the cause and inspiration that led to its creation initially. 

Within its intricate circular patterns, there are common symbols throughout mandalas. Traditionally, they depict an abstract form of Buddha Mind. 

Most common sacred symbols are the wheel, tree, flower, or jewel. At its center the dot - representing being free of dimensions. The starting point, the beginning of contemplation, and devotion to the divine. 

coloring book art by Issa Urra - image by MayeeFab

From there, the center expands outward - lines and geometrical patterns symbolize the universe. All these encompassed by the outer circle - representing the cyclical nature of life.  

Mahashivratri | a night of awakening

Mahashivratri is an opportunity and a possibility to bring yourself to that experience of the vast emptiness within every human being, which is the source of all creation. Shiva is also known as the destroyer. He is known as the most compassionate. Shiva is also known to be the greatest of the givers. Shiva is the primal Atman (Self) of the universe.

Lord Shiva statue at Murudeshwar

There are many both benevolent and fearsome depictions of Shiva. In benevolent aspects, he is depicted as an omniscient Yogi who lives an ascetic life on Mount Kailash as well as a householder with wife Parvati and his two children, Ganesha and Kartikeya. In his fierce aspects, he is often depicted slaying demons. Shiva is also known as Adiyogi Shiva, regarded as the patron god of yoga, meditation and arts.

classic Shiva mantra

Mahashivratri is a special night for receiving too. It is our wish and blessing that you must not pass this night without knowing at least a moment of the vastness of this emptiness that we call as Shiva. Let this night not just be a night of wakefulness, let this night be a night of awakening.

#Sadhguru #MahaShivRatri #MahaShivRatri2022

Pauline Oliveros | deep listening

Pauline Oliveros was a composer, performer, and humanitarian whose career spanned fifty years of boundary dissolving music making. She founded Deep Listening Institute, formerly Pauline Oliveros Foundation, now the Center For Deep Listening at Rensselaer in Troy, NY.

The Met gardens & cloisters

In the '50s she was part of a circle of iconoclastic composers, artists, poets gathered together in San Francisco. In the 1960's she influenced American music profoundly through her work with improvisation, meditation, electronic music, myth and ritual.

meditation medication

Studies now support the added benefits of meditation to our health and our lifespan.

One Nobel Prize-winner is finding the scientific in the spiritual

Just like the ends of a rope or string, the tip-like telomeres within our DNA begin to fray over time, especially under stress. 

Damaged telomeres are linked to many diseases of aging - such as diabetes, cancer, depression, anxiety, etc. Thankfully, telomere damage can be slowed down and even reversed. 

Recent findings equate it this way: If your genes are the piano keys, and your lifestyles choices are the pianist, then meditation may just be Mozart. 

We owe it to ourselves to create as much harmony and balance in our lives. In however way we can, no matter how challenged we are. 

OM shanti indeed. 

soothing the savage beast

That's me!

aswirl in a chaos of lines & patterns

Of late it really does not take much to rile  or ruffle me.

easing into some mindless freefall

I walk around in a daze my heart in shreds at our humanity.

pacing myself, one quadrant at a time

Ready to tear my heart out or tear into others.

slowly & surely, working towards center

Pity the plebe who encounters my wrath.

move, moving, movement

In sheer desperation I turn back to my coloring book to soothe my troubled soul.

mandalas of mine

Read all about it on Medium.com.

https://medium.com/@icurra/pen-ink-53298dcef11