Wisdom of Labyrinths and Mandalas: Workshop Follow-up

Yesterday Sandra Wasko-Flood and I held our mandala/labyrinth workshop at Sub-Basement Studios in Baltimore, Maryland. We did have a few cancellations due to illness, death, and flooding. It is in these difficult times that I believe such opportunities to experience centering and connection are so very important. We were a small group yesterday, and that was just right for the moment. I am a firm believer that the right people show up for the times, and the opportunity to assist others on their path of insight is in itself a worthy endeavor.

While Sandra attended to business and assisted her artshow visitors in walking the labyrinth, I set up the sacred circle space. I created an altar space on the floor with fabric, semi-precious stones, cards, figurines, etc. It created a focal point for our time together in the circle.

I always begin workshops with an exercise about creating intention. I find that it helps create a container for whatever happens in our time together. At the end of the workshop, we check to see how much of what we intended did in fact manifest. Usually, there is a very high percentage of the group intention becoming reality. Yesterday's class was no exception.

Participants then had an opportunity to do some personal reflection and create their own personal intention for the workshop. This is an when they explore why they are there and what do they personally want to explore in their time with us. It could be anything from deepening a connection to themselves, a friend or family member, or spirit. It could be experiencing a sense of healing or well-being. It could be about releasing beliefs and characteristics that no longer serve them. Intentions are always framed in the positive, building on the notion that we create our reality by the words we use and the thoughts we hold.

Next, with the group and individual intentions as a frame, and perhaps having a specific query in mind, participants took their time walking the labyrinth, following the meandering path toward the center and back out again. I find that walking the labyrinth is a lot like moving through life. There are times I want to rush through, and others when I want to take my time. Sometimes I am distracted and have no idea where I was as I moved along the path. Sometimes I am completely focused on every detail of the journey. Just like creating a mandala is both a metaphor and reflection of how we go through life and deal with whatever comes up for us, walking the labyrinth is also a potential mirror if we choose to look.




Following the walk, we again took some time for self-reflection and journalling about the experience of walking the labyrinth. And then we moved into the mandala portion of the workshop. I put out lots of art materials: colored pencils, chalk pastels, oil pastels, gel pens, stencils, circles, black paper. And then we all began creating, using all the experiences and insights gathered up to this point to inform the mandala-making process.

Here's a sample of some of the mandalas created:


By the end of our afternoon together, everyone was feeling more balanced, centered, and connected, and ready to take their experiences home with them and out into the world. In systems theory it is believed that if you change one thing in the system, everything else is changed as a result. As each of us goes out into our own circles, we affect everyone around us. If we can spread a little calm, relaxation, maybe even hope, I believe that is a good thing.

Interested in joining us for another mandala/labyrinth workshop? Here are the details for our next gathering:
Title: Circles of Peace: Mandalas and Labyrinths

Where: Sub-Basement Artist Studios
The Atrium at Market Center
118 N. Howard Street
Baltimore , Maryland

When: Saturday, February 28, 2009, from 2-5pm

Cost: Suggested Donation of $45.

To Register:
Call Jennifer Judelsohn at (703) 256-0485, or
Sandra Wasko-Flood at (703) 217-6706.