Write a 10 page paper, the syllabus said...but then down the page a ways, it also mentioned that possibility of a creative project. Maybe I thought I was going to give myself a break from writing boring academic papers, or sneak one by my professors as I colored my way through my homework. However, about a quarter of the way into my project, I quickly realized the paper would have been the much quicker, easier option and the joke was on me. Also, I continue to learn nothing from procrastinating other than a hard deadline scares me into extreme action that results in a photo finish.
Having the privilege of being the sister to one of the most in-tune {to body, mind, spirit, the earth, you name it} humans on the face of the planet, I have long known about energy forces, chakras, and the many ways to be in accord with myself and my surroundings. After completing my summer class, I decided to take the opportunity to research the chakras further and create an art piece for each in the style of a mandala as my final project. In studying other artistic depictions of the chakras, I noticed they generally tend to become simpler designs as they move to the root chakra, but you will quickly see I could not contain my need to fill the space. I'm sure this says something about one of my own chakras being imbalanced... Maybe it explains my need to fill all the time I have with more than I can possibly handle while maintaining any shred of sanity? Do I sound like a broken record finding different ways to say the exact same thing about the need to slow down in every blog post I write? Probably.
I digress.
During the class, we also studied the power of haiku, so each piece is accompanied by its own haiku that hints at the energy behind the individual chakras. Each mandala is hand drawn with marker on raw wood panels measuring one square foot.
Crown Chakra | 12 x 12 | marker on wood
Energy flowing
Connecting and transcending
Each and every one
Third Eye Chakra | 12 x 12 | marker on wood
The balance that's found
Seeing within and without
Becomes the way through
Throat Chakra | 12 x 12 | marker on wood
Authenticity
Listening deeply, and yet
Speaking truth to life
Heart Chakra | 12 x 12 | marker on wood
Wholeness embodied
The truest essence of self
Weaving love throughout
Solar Plexus Chakra | 12 x 12 | marker on wood
Power radiates
From within, expanding and
Accepting freedom
Sacral Chakra | 12 x 12 | marker on wood
Passion resides here
Among the grit of today
Transforming the now
Root Chakra | 12 x 12 | marker on wood
Energy propelled
From the beginning of time
And on and on and
The full collection will be on display at Park View Federal Credit Union in October. Go have a look!
The class I took this summer was called Building Resilience in Body, Mind, and Spirit and it will be offered again as part of next year's Summer Peacebuilding Institute at the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding. My instructors were so knowledgable, flexible (guiding me through a movement based class while I was mostly immobile and hopped up on pain medication after all!), and generally pretty amazing. I couldn't recommend it more. I realize this sounds like an attempt to make sure I get that A+ but they're the ones that deserve it.