A Nature Mandala and Visual Meditation for Uncertain Times
What is the meaning of uncertainty?
Uncertainty elicits thoughts and feelings of doubt, unpredictability, and disquiet. In early 2020, when COVID-19 took root and spread across the globe, the illusion of certainty and predictability quickly unraveled. For many, this time of COVID was and continues to be an invitation and opportunity to approach life in a new way and do things differently.
Uncertainty is an Opportunity to move forward with grace and courage
In 2020, a friend forwarded me this message below that helped change my view and experience of uncertainty in a deep way. I was unable to find the original source of these words online, but they have been attributed to Hopi Indian Chief White Eagle. My hope is that sharing these words honors and respects the original intention of this message.
“This moment humanity is experiencing can be seen as a door or a hole”. The decision to fall in the hole or walk through the door is up to you. If you consume the news 24 hours a day, with negative energy, constantly nervous, with pessimism, you will fall into this hole, but if you take the opportunity to look at yourself, to rethink life and death, to take care of yourself and others, then you will walk through the portal.
Take care of your home, take care of your body. Connect with your spiritual home. When you take care of yourself, you take care of everyone at the same time.
Do not underestimate the spiritual dimension of this crisis. Take the perspective of an eagle that sees everything from above with a broader view. There is a social question in this crisis, but also a spiritual question. The two go hand in hand.
Without the social dimension we fall into fanaticism. Without the spiritual dimension, we fall into pessimism and futility.
Are you ready to face this crisis? Grab your toolbox and use all the tools at your disposal.
Learn resistance from the example of Indian and African peoples: we have been and are exterminated, but we never stopped singing, dancing, lighting a fire and rejoicing.
Don’t feel guilty for feeling blessed in these troubled times. Being sad or angry doesn’t help at all. Resistance is resistance through joy!
You have the right to be strong and positive. And there’s no other way to do it than to maintain a beautiful, happy, bright posture. This has nothing to do with alienation (ignorance of the world). It’s a resistance strategy.
When we cross the threshold, we have a new worldview because we faced our fears and difficulties. This is all you can do now:
– Serenity in the storm
– Keep calm, pray everyday
– Make a habit of meeting the sacred every day.
– Show resistance through art, joy, trust and love.
THE STORY BEHIND THE “OPPORTUNITY WITHIN UNCERTAINTY” NATURE MANDALA
Inspired in part by this message, I made the mandala here with the title and meditation ‘The Opportunity Within Uncertainty” in June of 2020. It was a tumultuous time. I remember frequently feeling anxious and worried about my friends and family. I turned to my nature mandala art practice as a way to stay anchored and grounded and focused on the opportunity of this crisis – to practice gratitude, share with others my love and caring and to make space for self-care and living life in a new way. When I created this nature mandala, I was contemplating how this time of COVID was an opportunity to approach aspects of my life differently. The process of creating these handmade art designs has helped me clarify my intentions and connect with my hopes, aspirations and prayers with more authenticity and continuity.
A Nature Mandala is a visual meditation and tool to help focus one’s attention
Mandala, a Sanskrit word for circle, is a spiritual symbol that traditionally has been used to help focus attention and as an aid to meditation. One of the ways that I remember and reconnect with the meditation of this mandala, and other nature mandala art designs I create is to visualize the mandala in my mind and heart and simply take a moment to pause and reflect on the feeling of the word and image. This simple visual meditation practice keeps the meaning of the mandala alive in my experience and helps me revisit and remember my intentions and aspirations.
MORE ABOUT THIS NATURE MANDALA
The Opportunity within Uncertainty Nature Mandala art is made with the following plants:
Box Elder Maple Samaras
Horsetail
African Daisy
Celosia Flowers
Purple Basil
This nature mandala includes samaras picked from the Box Elder Maple trees down by the Winooski River near my home in Central Vermont. A samara is a winged seed or type of fruit that is flattened and papery in nature. The shape of a samara allows the wind to carry the seeds. These beautiful offerings from the trees are always a delight to gather and arrange. Their symmetry easily creates a natural pattern and arrangement in a nature mandala art design. Gathering them each year has become a special way to welcome spring and early summer.
‘OPPORTUNITY WITHIN UNCERTAINTY’ MEDITATION
My breath is an anchor. For each breath in -
Receiving.
For each breath out -
Releasing.
Letting go of the idea of certainty.
Letting go of the idea of control and knowing.
For each breath in -
Acknowledging the gift
Of this moment.
Focusing my attention
On joy and beauty.
Instead of fear.
KEEPSAKE ART PRINTS, CARDS and GIFTS
This Mandala art design has become one of my most popular nature mandala art prints. It is truly an honor to have created a piece of art that has become a meaningful part of people’s homes. I invite you to visit my Nature Mandala Shop.
Nature mandala art, photography and writing by: Michelle Wallace
Michelle Wallace is a visual artist living in Vermont. She has been creating handmade art designs called nature mandalas since 2017. You can find her art in stores across New England and via her online Nature Mandala Shop.