Kindred Gifts' Blog

This week we invited Amy Cunliffe, from Creating Healing, to contribute a guest blog for us. Amy is a Transpersonal Art Therapist, also offering Reiki and guided Meditation sessions at the Living Room, a beautiful yoga and healing centre in Coogee, Sydney (Australia).

We hope you enjoy reading Amy's creative exercise (that also includes a little bit of meditation). Please let us know if you go through this exercise and create your own Mandalas - we'd love to hear all about it! Feel free to upload any pics to our Facebook page as well. You might help inspire others to set aside their own time to go through the exercise!

Amy says:

After the recent happenings to people and places on this beautiful Earth we inhabit, I was drawn to thinking about what I could do to ‘help’ in my own way. Sometimes it feels like we can’t possibly make a difference as the scale of an event feels too overwhelming, however I believe that our intentions and innate sense of compassion, kindness and love towards the Earth and its Beings can make the World of difference. One way this can be experienced is through the power of imagination, art and creativity.

"Art adapts to every conceivable problem and lends its transformative, insightful, and experience-heightening powers to people in need..." Shaun McNiff

Mandala is Sanskrit for ‘sacred circle’. Within the Mandala or circle is a space where you express your creativity and compassion. No art ‘experience’ is necessary - absolutely everyone has the ability to create, and there is no right or wrong way to do this!

* Before you begin, set yourself up with:

- A piece of paper, A3 is great if you have it, otherwise whatever size available is fine.

- Materials to draw with - e.g. oil pastels, crayons, pencils.

* Settle yourself, feeling balanced and supported by the Earth. Focus your attention within. You may like to close your eyes, releasing any tension with some slow exhalations...

* You may first like to connect with your own sense of spirituality (whether it is the Universe, God, Source, Buddha etc) and ask for support. Feel in your own way, a sense of support flowing around and through your whole being.

* Focus on your heart space, in the centre of your chest. Allow yourself to connect with your sense of compassion for the Earth and its Beings: its people, animals and nature. Feel this sense of love, connectedness and kindness flowing from your heart space with each breath.

* Notice what it feels like to you to be in this compassionate heart space. Is there a sense of warmth, openness, expansion - what are the sensations you notice? Do you sense any colours, lines, symbols, shapes, patterns?

* Open your eyes. Draw the outline of your circle / Mandala - let it take up your whole page. Allow yourself to express within the Mandala your sense of love, compassion and support……let it flow freely onto your page, without thinking too much. If you feel stuck you can try drawing with your non-dominant hand. Remember there is no right or wrong way to do this! Stop when your image feels complete.

* You might like to stick your drawing onto the wall and spend some moments meditating with your Mandala with your eyes open, again connecting to feelings of compassion, just being with this sense.. At intervals you may like to close your eyes - Can you see an image behind your eyelids?

* When you feel ready you can set an intention or prayer for this loving and compassionate energy from your Mandala to flow to where it is needed most in the World. You may have a specific place, person/s, or beings in mind… Imagine, sense or feel the energy flowing effortlessly to the place, person/s or beings. See in your mind’s eye this energy soothe and support this place, people or beings.

* When you feel ready, come back gently and fully into your physical body feeling grounded and present. You may like to spend a moment journaling about your experience.

* Thank yourself for making a contribution for the benefit of the Earth and its Beings, knowing in your own way you have made a difference!

The picture on the left is of the Mandalas that I drew during my session.

So, what would it be like if you could relate to others from this ‘heart space’ of kindness, compassion and connectedness more often in your day to day life, with your partner, family, friends, colleagues and strangers? What difference could you make to the world?

If you would like to share any Mandalas you create I would love to see them!

Please email your images to: creatinghealing@gmail.com