Saturday, July 31, 2010

The Circle and The Self

Mandala is Sanskrit for circle. In my current paintings I'm using a circle within a square to represent the circular passage of time anchored by the four cardinal directions, time circling in space. Carl G. Jung said the circle represents the unconscious self. He said, "It became increasingly plain to me that the mandala is the center. It is the exponent of all paths. It is the path to the center, to individuation.... I knew that in finding the mandala as an expression of the self I had attained what was for me the ultimate."



Tibetan mandalas have coded teachings and prayers embedded in their intricate designs. This White Tara mandala is used in initiations and to look upon it is considered a blessing.

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