A mandala is an outwardly radiating circular pattern. Sanskrit for sacred circle or disc,  mandalas have been used for thousands of years in Buddhist and Hindu rituals to represent the universe. Today, the word refers to any kind of circular drawing we want to symbolize the metaphysical universe or our place within the cosmos. Cultures around the world embrace this design philosophy:  Celtic knots and crosses, Catholic rose windows, Native American medicine wheels, and Tibetan sand art. In nature we see mandalas in things like snowflakes, flower petals, or spiderwebs. Or a solar system. Spirals and labyrinths are mandalas, so are doilies and slices of citrus fruit.

• Fun fact #1:  if something is vaguely circular and expands out, we can call it a mandala. 

• Fun fact #2: mandalas are amazingly fun and relaxing to draw. They only look complicated and scary.

There’s a good reason that many different spiritual practices create and contemplate mandalas. Their balance and repetition are soothing, beautiful, and meditative.

In this workshop, you’ll learn how to create your own mandala. Despite how complicated they look; mandalas are pretty simple to draw. The process of creating a mandala is delicious with repetition. Your hand-drawn mandala will be sacred to you, infused with intention, love, and breath. You’ll easily get lost inside the world you’re creating on paper. 

The creation of, or meditation upon, a mandala is a quiet reflective process. It helps to calm and focus the mind, which is why so many spiritual paths consider it part of a sacred practice. 

During this two-and-a-half-hour workshop I’ll walk you through the basics of drawing your own mandala. We begin with a brief grounding meditation to center ourselves inside of our creative space. I’ll introduce you to my super top-secret easy method to create stress-free mandalas. If you can make a mark on a page, you can draw a mandala. Your spirit, brain, and hands collaborate with your pen and paper to explore a landscape of lines and shapes as your mandala is born. Not only will you create your own mandala, but you’ll also have the tools and skills to continue on your mandala art journey. You will be able to create your own new mandalas to meditate upon, color in, or frame. 

Artistic skill or ability is not a prerequisite for this course. All you need to bring is an open- minded desire to create and enter into a conversation with your mind. You can create a mandala every day for a year and no two will look alike.

I supply instructional handouts, paper, and pens which are yours to take home. Additional colored pencils and markers will be available for your use.  

This workshop is perfect for you if you would like to expand your creativity, learn something new, adopt creating mandalas as a daily practice, if you wish to move beyond coloring mandalas drawn by others, or to expand your meditation practice. I foster a nurturing and playful atmosphere with an emphasis on joy and enrichment. 

If you wish, the mandala drawings from your group can be photographed and compiled into a coloring book for all participants.

Another possibility is a walking nature mandala. In this outside workshop participants meander through a park, seashore or other natural space while collecting leaves, flowers, twigs, shells etc before forming them into their own nature mandala.

Call or email to schedule your workshop.

I will travel to you or we can Zoom this workshop. Grab a friend, or a handful of friends and we’ll meet in your vacation rental, Air BnB, yacht, home or a peaceful location of your choice. I can also arrange a location.