03. WORD MANDALAS

Mandalas are forms of sacred geometry; ancient, and cross-cultural visual tools for initiation, spiritual development and enlightenment. While the word "mandala" originates from the Sanskrit and while we have come to associate this kind of form with India and the Buddhist tradition, every culture around the globe creates what they consider spiritually-informed symbols that could be seen as mandalas.

Mandalas have been traditionally created in specific shapes for specific purposes. Mandala-making is considered both an activity and an illustration of a spiritual process, both for the artist making them as well as the audience viewing them. Highly simplified versions of mandalas have become more popular lately, and seem to be especially effective as psychological tools for self-help. But ancient Tibetan Buddhist mandalas are highly complex forms that require the ability to "translate" before the viewer can appreciate the spiritual meanings inherent within them. They are not immediately understandable to the layman.

I have studied cross-cultural religious traditions, mythology and symbolism for most of my life, and this provides the fundamental sources I have used for this work. Coupled with my life as a designer and type-lover, I created Word Mandalas to try and continue this ancient tradition for the modern Western world. The complex use of letterforms re-creates the original intent of these ancient references, but in my case, the mandala is dominated by wisdom phrases that can be seen and read by anyone who can read English. Using text as a code to "decipher" and joining it visually with color, form and movement, I have begun to develop another kind of sacred geometry. More to come!

a. The Web of Life
Combines shapes and visual wisdom from the American Indian tradition and the Taoist tradition of China.

b. Points of Perception
This shape was inspired by the Tree of the Sephiroth (Tree of Lights).

c. Creating Possibility
This is the ancient Hindu Shri Yantra form and sometimes called a "machine for creativity". This mandala focuses on helping to develop and keep our creative juices flowing.

Word Mandalas

a. THE WEB OF LIFE

Quotes Used:
"Humankind has not woven the web of life, we are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect."
– Chief Seattle

"Follow after it, and it proves endless. Go before it, and no beginning can be found."
– Lao Tzu

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b. POINTS OF PERCEPTION

Quotes Used:
"We find what we look for, nothing more and nothing less."
– Proverbial Wisdom

"We do not see things as they are, we see them as we are."
– The Talmud

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c. CREATING POSSIBILITY

Quotes Used:
"Imagination is evidence of the Divine."
– William Blake

"Each thought creates according to its own nature."
– Paramahansa Yogananda

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