Symbol
Image: Heather William, H.W., M.
SYMBOL: a visible sign of something invisible; an object or act representing something in the unconscious mind that has been repressed
QUESTION: Are you aware of the DOT symbol in Mandala Art?
STORY: Art has been a vehicle for the invisible Essence of Life to express through people for thousands of years. Tibetan Buddhists were visual artists. They painted mandalas, wove tapestries and sculpted huge Buddhas. Their art was part of their way to express their love of the Buddha. One favorite mandala was to paint a DOT in the center of a square. The DOT represents the nucleus of the Buddha (INNATE Self, God). Around the DOT they painted characters (humans, animals, plants and more) who either protect and express the DOT or they view the DOT as an illusion. I have three ways to center myself in our changing world. One way is to write in my journal and a second way is to draw. A third way that I use to center myself is TranslationR. I use what appears to be a problem (lack, limitation, difficulty) and Translate it back to the Invisible Essence (DOT) or TRUTH. Always remember, the DOT (TRUTH) is the invisible Essence that is present back and behind everything that appears.
QUOTES
Image: Heather Williams
“Symbols are powerful because they are the visible signs of invisible realities.” ~ Saint Augustine
“When it comes to mandala art, quotes often focus on themes of inner peace, wholeness, connection, harmony, and the journey to self-discovery; reflecting the circular nature of a mandala representing the interconnectedness of life and the universe.” ~ Dalai Lama
“Words are but symbols for the relations of things to one another and to us; nowhere do they touch upon absolute truth.” ~ Friedrich Nietzsche
EXERCISE
STOP.
Sit quietly.
Assume an erect posture.
Sense the breath.
Relax and imagine the invisible Essence that is always alive within you.
Feel this energy flowing through your body and mind.
Get your pen and paper and write words or draw lines expressing the invisible Essential Energy that lives in the center of you.
Move forward into your day, feeling the Essence of Life flowing through you.