Saturday, June 20, 2009

Creating Mandalas for Healing...

A Weekly Expressive Art Group For Women Who Live With
A Chronic Health Condition

The word Mandala, comes from the Sanskrit language meaning “sacred circle.” The use of mandalas throughout time have been used by various cultures for meditation, self-reflection, healing and as a symbol for the self.
In this weekly group, we will create mandalas from various art mediums including oil and chalk pastels, markers, colored pencils and collage. The workshop is meant to provide a relaxing and reflective experience that supports and promotes healing.

No art experience necessary.

Group begins, Thursday, July 7th, 2009
6pm-8pm

WEST LOS ANGELES LOCATION

$20 Per session

SUPPLIES PROVIDED

Facilitated by Victoria Van Zandt, MA
Registered Art & Marriage & Family Therapist
Intern #52087

No art experience required.

Please call for more information and/or to participate in the group.
Call 310-922-3957

Supervised by Gwen Lotery, MFT #37140

Monday, June 15, 2009

Mandalas For Reflection, Meditation & Healing


I made my first mandala when I was in graduate school and have been drawn to them ever since. Mandala is a Sanskrit word meaning sacred circle. C.G. Jung discovered the healing power of mandalas when he embarked on his own healing process and soon learned the power that they possess. There is much I could say or write about mandalas including their history, the various cultures that have used them for thousands of years and the belief that they are representative of the self. I'd like instead, to share about their calming effect and how drawing them can bring about healing as we sit in a quiet place and focus on creating our mandala. Here, where there is no judgment, right or wrong or internal critic at play, the body and mind are at rest. And, I believe, when the body and mind are in a calm state, healing begins. The immune system is at rest and so are we.
Circles are all around us. Take a moment the next time you are out or when you are in your home and notice the circles that surround you. They are everywhere. Circles can center us in times of transition and bring us back to a place of balance and clarity. Mandalas are also the voice of the unconscious, where we can meditate, reflect and/or be present with their beauty.


Making your mandala


Mandalas can be created with many different types of materials such as oil and chalk pastels, paint, paper, sand, stones, shells and the list goes on. You can use colored paper, white paper, a notebook and/or canvas. It is important that before you begin to create your mandala you find a quiet place. Closing your eyes to begin and allowing your unconscious to guide the way as far as color, images, symbols and starting point on the circle. You can trace a circle from a round object or make a circle freehand using a color that you have chosen or that has chosen you as you make your circle. Don't rush, just let the process move you. Once you have created your circle, you can begin filling in your mandala. Letting images, shapes and colors come to you as you ask the critic inside of you to step aside. You can create your mandala with color or fill in the color afterwards. Once you have completed your mandala or when you feel it is at a place of completion, meditate on a title. Is there a theme in your mandala? Does it evoke a message or say something about you? Turn your mandala around and view it from different positions. When you have discovered the position that feels right, you might want to make a little mark at the top point - this will be the position you want to view your mandala from. Date your mandala to keep track of when you've completed it and number them if you make more than one a day. It is fun to be able to track the sequence of your work.

There will be more information about how to work with color, symbols, images and shapes in my future blogs. For now, enjoy the process of creating your mandalas. For more information, refer to Susanne F. Fincher's book Creating Mandalas for Insight, Healing, and Self-Expression.

In Healing,

Victoria




Thursday, June 4, 2009

Doodling Our Stress Away

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary defines doodling as scribble or draw, esp. absentmindedly. I especially like the use of the word, absentmindedly, because if we are doing something absentmindedly or without the mind, there is a tendency to be more at ease. So, it would make sense that if the mind or for that matter, the thinking brain, is at rest and not obsessing, one could experience calm. I have not done research on the relationship between doodling and relaxation, but I tend to believe that while we doodle, our brains are resting, compared to when we are sitting around waiting nervously for a physical exam or academic test to begin.
There are a few ways to approach doodling. For instance, you can put pen, pencil or marker to paper and let them lead the way as if they have command of the page and see what happens. You can continue that process and after you have completed your doodle, look for an images that surface and color them in. That is what I did with the piece attached to this blog above. You can use color or black and white. I happen to enjoy doing this type of doodling. You can doodle with an image already in mind, but then I'm not sure it is really doodling, but none-the-less, your mind is elsewhere then on pressing issues. Doodling can be done on paper napkins, the little cardboard coffee holders, newspaper, Styrofoam cups and/or anywhere that is free for the taking. I love the fact that you really can get lost in the process of doodling and free one's mind for a few moments. I have made doodles that I've turned into larger pieces by taking the original doodle and having it enlarged at a printing store. It is endless what you can do with doodling. Next time you are feeling anxious instead of reaching for the Valium, try reaching for a pad and pencil. It might just do the trick!
Peace in Art-Making