A Sneaky Mandala

Last weekend, I led a day retreat on the theme "A Hidden Wholeness". In the morning we explored the idea of wholeness and contrasted it with the expectation of perfection. We also reflected on what it means to embrace our whole self by reflecting on the idea of an inner village. In the afternoon, we created mandalas - a symbol of wholeness. 

While leading mandala workshops, I tend to hold back and just be available for people to seek me out if needed. Every now and then, however, I get a bit fidgety looking at all the art supplies and want to jump in with the group. This usually only happens when the group are very settled and well in to their creations. I stood there, watching the group, realising I hadn't made any time for mandalas in my own life this year and grabbed some paper. It is never quite the same as making my own space, as I am conscious of the group and still being available, but I still love giving myself permission to throw a bit of colour on the page.

I didn't take the time to reflect on my mandala at the retreat, but looking at it now I see a great reflection of my soul space right now. There is a lot of growth and transformation, particularly around the exterior of my life. Some small and cautious blossoming is emerging from within, perhaps not obvious just yet. The peaceful, inner calm - the place where I am most grounded and authentic - is bubbling out in places, but also restricted by barriers in other places.

This sneaky mandala, probably taking 15 minutes of my time, has some important messages for me at this time. It is also a great reminder that it is not necessary to find a whole morning to complete a mandala. They can be created in those in between times, giving ourselves a little time out from thinking and planning for the next thing. This mandala was unexpected, unplanned and created very quickly, but it will be speaking with me for a while to come.

Sharing Mandalas

As many of you will be aware, this year I released "A Mandala a Month Workbook". I am gifting myself another copy for Christmas to work through in 2019. In many ways, this book achieved what I was hoping - except one. The inspiration for this book came from a program I ran in 2013 where people met together each month and shared their experience. A small group also registered online. These people would send in a picture of their mandala each month with a few words and I would add them to our dedicated website. It was wonderful to share with others as we worked our way through the year with our mandalas.

I was reminded of this recently, as I received an email from someone who had completed the first mandala in their book. It included a picture of the mandala they created and a reflection on the process and what it means to them. It was such a joy to receive. The importance of sharing the journey with someone was highlighted again. It is one thing to engage in spiritual practices for ourselves, but in sharing this with someone else I find the value is increased for ourselves and benefits the one with whom we share.

Please feel free to share your mandala experiences with me by emailing deepwaterdwelling@gmail.com or if there was enough interest, I could launch a private group page where these reflections and pictures could be shared. Let me know your thoughts. 

Mandala Workshop - Perth

On Friday 3rd August, I will be holding a mandala workshop in Perth. The workshop will be more than simply an introduction to mandalas. We will explore together how they can be used as a spiritual tool in our own personal lives and how they could be used in the faith communities and groups to which we belong. 

The workshop will commence with a presentation and discussion, followed by a time of meditation and creation of a mandala. We will conclude the evening with some sharing time about the process. Supper will be available during the workshop and all materials will be provided. The cost of the workshop is $30 per person. Registrations are essential as places are limited. To register, please email deepwaterdwelling@gmail.com and payment details will be provided.

I will also have copies of my new book "A Mandala a Month Workbook" available on the evening. If you would like to pre-order one before the night this can be arranged. The workshop is at Noranda Uniting Church, Camboon Road, from 7-9.30pm on Friday the 3rd of August. Look forward to seeing you there!!

Mandala Book Available

Over the years, while running mandala workshops many people have asked about resources to continue learning and engaging with mandalas. Mandala colouring books are readily available and there are a few books that provide information about mandalas in general. I saw the possibility of producing a workbook that would guide people in creating their own mandalas, whilst learning more about their use in a variety of traditions and disciplines. 


A number of months ago, I began compiling the resources I had developed for Mandala a Month in 2013 and adding to them. I took the time to create a fineline mandala for each theme. I took the plunge in submitting this material to be considered for publication. I was absolutely staggered when I was informed that they would be very interested. Well, I am very happy to say that the book is now available.

The workbook contains twelve chapters, one for each month of the year. They do not have to be started at the beginning of the year, but take the participant on a journey through a whole year. Each chapter contains introductory material which outlines one aspect of the use of mandalas, followed by a meditation on the theme. These meditations are also found in the form of an enclosed CD. These meditations are accompanied by the beautiful music of Cath Connelly on the Celtic Harp. There is a space for people to create their own mandala and a fineline mandala for colouring.

The workbook emphasises the use of mandalas as a spiritual practice and the format encourages regular use throughout the year. The book is available from Mediacom for $32.75. I will also have copies available at mandala workshops in the future.

What to expect in a Mandala Workshop

On the weekend, I had a conversation with someone considering hosting a mandala workshop for their community. They asked me what exactly happens at a mandala workshop, so I thought it might be worth letting you all know.

The mandala workshops offered generally last for three hours. They begin with an introductory session providing information about some aspect of the use of mandalas. Being a universal symbol, there is much to share. In the introductory workshops I try to give an overview of the use of mandalas that only touches on these different aspects. In subsequent workshops we can delve deeper into their use in various spiritual traditions, cultures and psychology.

After a time for questions and discussion, we then prepare to create our own mandala. The different tools and media available are introduced to the group and some suggestions given for how to begin. The group is lead in a short, guided meditation that links in with the theme of the workshop. Participants begin to create their own mandala. Sometimes this is slow process and at other times it happens quite quickly. I have seen participants walk away with one unfinished mandala and at other times with three they have completed in the time. It is the process that is important, not the final product.

The creative time is spent in quiet. Occasionally there is need to talk with others, but we try to allow each person to maintain their own space. Refreshments are available throughout this time and we usually play some soft music to create a contemplative atmosphere.Towards the end of the workshop we gather again as a group to reflect on the process. People are invited to share as little or as much as they would like. Creating a mandala can be a very personal and emotional experience. It can often be a time of healing and self discovery. We aim to create a safe place for sharing.

Participants in the workshops do not have to be "arty". In fact, it is often an advantage not to be. Unlike creating an artwork, the importance is not about choosing the right colours or using the correct techniques. There are no rules! So, if you think your community would enjoy hosting a mandala workshop let me know. We can tailor it to the needs of your group.

Mandalas: Menacing or Marvellous?

I was recently sent a link for a blog post that was sharing a person's deep concern about the use of mandalas. This person had been given a gift of an adult colouring book, which are all the rage at the moment. They were bewildered to find that many of the pictures and patterns in the book were mandalas. The person writing the blog had done some research into the use of mandalas and focused in on one way of understanding their use in Hinduism and Buddhism which talks about them as a spiritual tool "to merge" with the deity. This person's opinion was that this would open the door to demons. These new colouring books encourage people to spend time reflectively colouring mandalas and in so doing our tricking us into merging with deities. The conclusion - Christians should not colour mandalas.

Well, as a Christian who has a great love of mandalas, I feel I must put forward a different view. My first concern is that there is a view that one or two particular faith traditions "own" mandalas. A mandala is a circle. They are found in nature and in society every you go in this world and beyond to the universe. I don't think it is any accident that the circle in most cultures is symbolic of wholeness and universality. Some traditions have used the mandala more than others in their spiritual practices and have become known for this. Others, like Christianity, have also used the mandala perhaps without being conscious we are doing so. There are an enormous amount of old cathedrals that have beautiful rosary windows or a circular layout. We are happy to call this sacred geometry, but have not been as familiar with the term mandala. I do not see the mandala as something that particular people own. It is something we all innately relate to, but maybe our culture has forgotten its significance.

My second comment comes from my own experience with mandalas. Some of you will know that I have done a bit of work with mandalas and spiritual direction over the last 6 years that has involved my leading workshops where people create their own mandala. My own personal experience, and what I have heard from others, is that there can be a "merging with the deity" that I happen to call God. I have a large mandala on my office wall that I created and it speaks to me quietly of a time when God was stirring me about my call to ministry and my faith journey at the time. Creating the mandala was a "God moment" for me and I don't believe any demons were involved at all. To say that mandalas are not of God negates many people's experiences of connecting with God throughout history.

Thirdly, I would like to say that I don't have a problem with us (as one faith tradition) learning from another. If we become so arrogant that we shut the rest of the world out in order to believe that we have it right, we are really missing out. I have had conversations with Buddhist and Muslim friends that have truly enriched my own faith journey. In my opinion, talking and learning and experiencing do not compromise our own position. In fact, in my view it only strengthens it. I have seen my discovery of the mandala as a gift. I first learnt about them from reading about Hildegard of Bingen, a medieval Christian mystic. This lead me to explore further, reading about the Tibetan monks and many other cultures and religions that use mandalas in a variety of ways.

And so my plea to those who would say that Christians should not use mandalas - don't rob those of us who love mandalas from a rich and beautiful experience. They are not for everyone, but don't use fear or ignorance to forbid others of what I consider is a God-given gift.

I will be running an Introduction to Mandalas Workshop in Margaret River on May 28th.

Wondering about Wholeness

I have just returned from a week at the 14th Uniting Church Assembly. The meeting was held in Winthrop Hall, University of Western Australia. Those of you who know this stunning building may remember the amazing mandala that is found towering in the front in the form of a rosary window. There is nothing like a mighty archetype of wholeness as a constant reflection point as we talked about who we are as the church and how we relate to each other.

The church talks a lot about wholeness. It is what we hope for ourselves, the world and others. Many of the stories of Jesus are centred around a search for wholeness. Our western society, however, has a way of disintegrating us, fragmenting us. We are divided into flesh and spirit; physical, psychological and spiritual; while all we long for is to be integrated and one.

As I meditated on the mandala, I became very aware of the ways that the church can fragment rather than bring wholeness. It was very clear that for some in the church the work of wholeness is a lot easier than for others. I certainly felt this privilege throughout the Assembly meeting. Not once did I feel, for any reason, that I did not belong, that I could not contribute or that I may be judged. I did, however, experience others making themselves extremely vulnerable; those who had difficulty expressing themselves in the dominant language, those who with great courage crossed cultural differences to engage in our way of making decisions and those who risked sharing their hurts of being judged for their sexual orientation.

As I looked into the faces of these people silhouetted by the mandala behind them, I was left with nothing but admiration. Their longing for wholeness and acceptance in the church was a struggle. The place where grace and wholeness should have been readily available had often be the stumbling block. It is a challenge to keep in sight the vision Jesus had for our world and our relationships. We get so tied up with doing church that we forget to be church. It is hard work.

My prayer for myself in the days ahead is that each person I meet will have that window of wholeness behind them as a reminder to work for wholeness for all people in all situations.

Wounds of Love

This afternoon, as part of Mandala a Month, I created my March mandala. This month the meditation focussed on the words of Teresa of Avila from her "Interior Castle". As I started working on my mandala I began at the outside and worked inwards. It was not until I had finished the circle that I decided to make the wounds of love. St Teresa says that wounds of love in our life pierce our spiritual life and take us deeper within our interior castle. This has certainly been my experience. It is the difficult things that happen in life that help us to grow and be transformed.

As I created my wounds of love and stuck them proudly on my mandala, I realized how perfectly I had made them. They were actually quite beautiful. I titled my mandala, "Perfect wounds of love". I sat and reflected on my mandala for a while and decided that I am very quick to make everything perfect in life. Even the hard stuff I manage to analyze, compartmentalize and store away as some significant learning experience. As I reflected on my perfect wounds of love, I decided they need to be less perfect.

Yes, it is important to integrate and learn from our experiences. It is, however, also important to experience the pain and suffering and not push it aside too quickly. This mandala has shown me a side to myself that would have taken years to discover on my own.

January Mandala a Month

Many of you will know that for 2013 there are a group of people who have committed to creating a Mandala a Month. This community has been engaging via a separate blog, but I thought I would give you all a little sneak peek at what has been happening. There are about 25 people signed up for the group, but participants are not required to share their mandala every month. Sometimes the mandala experience can be very personal and difficult to share immediately. The image here shows 12 mandalas from those who were willing to share what they created. You can see from the image that there is a great variety. Some are very simple, others are very intricate. Some are colourful, others are more plain. The differences in media used is extensive. 

Each of these mandalas tells a story. It is a story of the person who created it at the time they created it. Each mandala is a treasure, not only to the person who made it, but to all of us. It is a sharing of self. This is such a rare and beautiful act in a world that encourages individualism. I encourage you to take the time to have a look at each one and take a moment to think or pray for those who made them. If you'd like to join us for February - just let me know.

Time to Register

The end of the year is fast approaching. Most people are just trying to make it to Christmas and have not even thought about 2013 yet. I want to put out a challenge that goes against the grain. Why not decide now to do something for yourself and your own spiritual health next year. 

Often we put ourselves last in our priorities, especially when it comes to our spiritual journey. Well, here's a simple way to make sure this doesn't happen next year. Why not register to be involved in "A Mandala a Month". The first registrations are already coming in for both the online and in person options. My kids have even asked me to sign them up, which I am very excited about. Give yourself a Christmas gift that will last all of next year!!

If you want to find out more have a look here. Please feel free to email me at cathielambert@hotmail.com if you have any questions or concerns. I would love to hear from you.

Launching a Mandala a Month

Well, there has certainly been enough interest about "A Mandala a Month" to make it happen. Deep Water Dwelling, a ministry of the Margaret River Uniting Church, will be running this program in 2013. Have a look at this short video (very professionally made - I might add :)) and if you would like to join us in a year of mandalas next year, read the details below.

There are two ways you can get involved in "A Mandala a Month".

1. In person - If you live in the Margaret River/ Augusta area, why not join a group of us that will meet each month for a workshop to create our mandala each month. The times and dates will be arranged once I have the details of the participants. We may need more than one group if we have more than 15 participants. The groups will meet each month, probably towards the middle of the month for a two hour workshop. This will include a brief introduction with some information about mandalas and a meditation time that will set the scene for the creation time. All materials will be provided for participants.
Cost - $20 per workshop or $200 for the whole year.

2. Online - If you are not able to join us in person, why not join the online group of people creating mandalas. At the beginning of the year you will be sent an introduction and ideas for preparation. Each month you will be sent, via email, the introduction and meditation to be used for the month. You are then free to use your own materials and create your monthly mandala in your own time.
Cost - $5 per month or $40 for the whole year.

To register for either option, please email me at cathielambert@hotmail.com

If cost is an issue, please let me know. I would not want people to be excluded for financial reasons.

Let the journey begin!!


Deep Water Dwelling is a ministry of the Uniting Church in Margaret River

Mandala workshops

I had some initial discussions today with leaders in two churches about planning an introductory mandala workshop for their groups next year. It is very exciting to be contemplating sharing my passion for mandalas for the love of it, rather than for research. I am planning a 3 hour workshop that will include an introductory presentation, individual creation of mandalas and some time to share about the experience at the end. I am hoping that some of the people attending these workshops may like to join "A Mandala a Month" as well. There has been some interest in this idea and I am looking forward to seeing the unique creations that will be made throughout the year.

I see this as a wonderful way to extend my ministry and support my congregations financially at the same time. I plan to write a summary of different workshops that can be offered on this site. If you are interested in any of the ideas you have seen on this blog or you want to get a group together, let me know. 

I am really excited about the possibilities ahead of me in 2013.

A Mandala a Month

Well, I did it! I managed to get the draft of my project on Mandalas complete and off to my proof reader. It's a good feeling, but it also saw the culmination of an exciting journey into discovering the value of mandalas in my own life. I have been doing some thinking about where to take this passion for mandalas next.

I have thought about offering a monthly mandala workshop in my local area for people to create a mandala a month for the year 2013. What an amazing picture of the year this would give us. It would almost be like a map of the inner journey throughout the year. This does not need to be limited to those who live locally. I am wondering if any of you out there, around the world, would be interested in engaging in "A Mandala a Month". I'm not 100% sure how this would work yet, but would love the challenge of making it available to people if there is a need.

I am thinking that the first workshop would include an introduction to mandalas. Subsequent workshops will help people to reflect on how life has been during the month and create a mandala that is like a snapshot of the soul at that time. It would be great to share some of the mandalas people have made here for all to see the diversity. 

If you think you would like to be involved in "A Mandala a Month" either from a distance or locally in Margaret River/Augusta leave a message or send me an email - cathielambert@hotmail.com

Would love to hear from you!

Hildegard of Bingen

Saint Hildegard of Bingen

On the 10th of May this year, Hildegard of Bingen was officially named a Saint by Pope Benedict XVI. For years people had called her a Saint, but she had never been through the full process of being named and given a feast day. Tomorrow (October 7th 2012) Hildegard of Bingen will become the 35th (4th woman) Doctor of the Catholic Church. What on earth does that mean? Well, to be recognized as a Doctor you must fulfill three criteria; holiness that is truly outstanding, even among saints, depth of doctrinal insight and an extensive body of writings that the Catholic Church can recommend as authentic and life giving.

More than anything, for me, it is a good excuse to reflect on her life and her works. Hildegard of Bingen was born in Germany in 1098. She was the tenth child in her family and was offered to the church as an oblate. She started experiencing visions at the age of three, but only understood this when she was five (only five!!!). She was an abbess, a philosopher, a scientist, a poet, a composer, an artist, a botanist and a visionary. Hildegard was well known for her holistic approach to life and her use of herbal medicine. Her music, mandalas and poetry expressed the visions she received from God in vivid imagery. 

She was a truly unique person, who I believe, has a lot to teach us today about the integration of our spiritual life with our whole being. The outpouring of her encounters with God were not in orthodox, traditional ways. However, we tend to fear anything that might not fit into our neat Christian circle. Hildegard's deep intimacy with God is something that I can only yearn for and hope to understand. 

Hildegard's mandala depicting her vision of heaven

"The soul is kissed by God in it's innermost regions.
With interior yearning, grace and blessing are bestowed.
It is a yearning to take on God's gentle yoke,
It is a yearning to give one's self to God's Way."

Hildegard of Bingen, attributed, 'Soul Weavings'

Mandala Fun

What an absolute gift!! I have spent today in quiet and meditation with my colleagues from the South West Uniting churches. Ruth Nelson led us with the theme of 'Hunger and Thirst'. It was a day of tying up loose ends for me. Life has been so busy lately that some of my reflection and pondering has been left half baked. A time of quiet and stillness allowed me to take stock and bring closure in a few areas.

I decided to spend some time playing with mandalas. I had deliberately taken my chalks with me, as I had watched so many people in my workshops achieve some beautiful effects with them. I started letting the colours speak and found myself creating a coloured, off-centre interior surrounded by a thick, white band. The colours then flowed beyond the edge of the circle to the periphery. This somehow symbolized for me the struggle between what is happening in my inner world and how this translates in my outer world. It started being quite a stark distinction between the two, but the more I worked the chalk with my fingers the more the white band began to disappear (and the messier I got!). 

I found the process very liberating and discovered that this is actually what is happening in life - the distinction is becoming less and less. I titled my mandala 'The Losing Battle'. I think this comes out of feeling that living an authentic life has been a bit like a battle. The more I decide to stop fighting, the easier it becomes to have integrity and just be me. This is a very fresh mandala - so I haven't spent much time discovering its meaning at this stage, but I am happy to share with you my little burst of colour. If you want to know more about mandalas let me know. If you'd like to get a group together, I could come and do an introductory workshop with you.

Creating Mandalas

Mandala is a Sanskrit word meaning "circle". My interest for mandalas was sparked when reading about Hildegard of Bingen. I discovered that after seeing her visions she often painted them as mandalas. I had no idea what a mandala was, and so did some research on the internet. I learned about the sand mandalas of the Tibetan Buddhist monks and was fascinated. I also discovered that mandalas are used extensively in healing and wholeness ministries. I found many beautiful images and became captivated by the fact that mandalas are at the heart of creation.

Meanwhile, in my own personal journey I was contemplating engaging in an activity that was a little playful and more creative. I considered different arts and crafts, but on discovering mandalas decided to engage with them more deeply.I began playing with mandalas in my own quiet days and reflective moments.

Since discovering mandalas last year, I have now created my own photo mosaic mandala (pictured right) and many sketches in my mandala journal. My creation of mandalas has mirrored my spiritual journey. I have found using mandalas very beneficial as it encourages me to go deeper in my reflections rather than staying with analysis and thinking. Being creative and playful in my art work takes me to a different and deeper place in my meditation and reflection. I have found creating mandalas of great benefit in my own spiritual journey and hope that, through running workshops, others may discover the depth and joy in their creation.